I just got the Rivera 2 as my 1st Altra. I think it's the best model for me since I have a narrow foot and high arches. Most of my shoes are only 6mm drop except one 8mm. Yes, gradual is important. My 1st 3 mile run felt quite different from my other shoes. I'm hoping my Rivera 's will help with my propensity for runner's knee!
Solid advice - The Escalante is an awesome shoe for running in BTW. The Rivera shares the same midsole foam as the Escalante but has more stack height. The Torin 4.5 Plush is a great daily trainer with even more stack height but uses Quantic midsole foam not Ego. Thanks for your review grabbing a pair ASAP
I have been running in Torin 4 and own 4 pairs..sad to see that Altra does not have this model available again. Cannot run in Torin plush..hoping the Rivera will be a good shoe since my last pair of Torin 4 is in rotation now.
Hi I'm currently running in a 6 mm drop (Solomon Ultra Glide) - do you think i will be ok to try Rivera? I do a lot of walking in wellington boots on roads, when i exercise my old pony. The wellies are 0 drop with no cushioning. I'm currently running 8 miles with the hope of building up to 13+ miles over the summer. I'm struggling to find a 4mm drop. I'm a neutral toe / mid striker. looking at 0 drop shoes for trail and road as i like to feel the ground,. Im thinking i could walk the pony out in the Rivera and include some hills and do some small gentle runs for a few months first.
I transitioned from 4mm hokas to Altras and found a pretty quick transition. First couple runs I did notice a bit more "work" in the calf and achilles. But withing a few weeks of mixing them in I was G2G!
I know you're a fan of the kinvara. Are these any softer than the kinvara? I have the kinvara 11 and while I do like shoe, it's not something I like to run in every day. I'm looking for a zero drop shoe that's more Rincon-like. I think the new torin 5 will be too soft.
Very informative video. Thank you so much, Justin. I am currently shopping for my very first Altra and my preferences in my current pairs of running shoes are the firmer ones. So just to confirm, in this video, that's the Altra 4.0 and the Rivera right? Looks like that Rivera is calling my name. And you mentioned that the Rivera is firmer thus more stability and should feel closer to the ground right?
The Rivera has more structure, I would say it makes a great shoe for everyday use or running. I’ll tend to use mine for daily stuff once they get 200 miles in them and they work great
All my running and walking shoes are 10-12mm drop, 30mm stack, I'm thinking of getting either the escalante 2.5 or rivera as a walking shoe at first and maybe later as a recovery easy day shoe if my feet can handle it, which one do you think is best for this use case?
Super informative video, thank you! I have the torin 4 and the escalante 2.5, love then both for different reasons. Question: where do you think the rivera fits in a runners shoe rotation? Do you think the rivera is their "racing" shoe? (Since it has the altra ego midsole, but more stack height than the escalante).
I have Escalante 1.5s, 2.0s and 2.5s and love the 2.5. I do the majority of runs in them. I just clocked over 50 miles in the new Rivera’s and I have to say, I’m loving them. They worked great in a half marathon I did a few days ago, and are also working well for my recovery runs, with that extra cushion for some relief. Not sure if I want to say it out, but the Rivera may be my new daily go to 😱 Hopefully the Escalante’s are not listening...
How did you find the size comparison? I have the Torin 4 in a size 10, and ordering the Rivera on line, did you need to go up a half or a size in the rivera ?
Great info! Been looking into the Rivera. I'd like pick your brain tho and hear what you think about these shoes for someone with really flat feet. I'm currently in the Torin plush 4.5, super comfy! But they're just not quite enough support for me. I've tried the provisions and the paradigm, and wasn't really big fan of how they felt. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks for watching. I think you will find these to be more firm and have a little more support. Generally these are good for those with lower arches/flat feet, and they will help you increase your cadence
Thanks for this video. I'm currently running in a 5mm drop shoe and have no issues. I really want to try the altra's but im worried in case i injure myself. Will going from 5mm to 0mm be okay?
Where do you get off calling the Altra Escalante flimsy. Flimsy means lacking physical strength or substance. I know people who've put over 600 miles on their Escalantes and still going strong. Escalantes fit like a sock and are specifically built to mimic the natural movement of the foot. Therefore, it flexes in a very natural barefoot way. Their are 20 muscles in your foot and I would think as a physical therapist you would recommend these shoes for making your foot stronger. Plus, I have recovered without surgery from a torn ACL, MCL and torn meniscus and have no knee pain running in these. As far as alot of runners not running in them. It's a fan favorite among Altra runners. Also you said the Altra 4.0 are more twistable and less structured than the Rivera but the Rivera feels more natural. That makes no sense. Thanks for your review but I am in total disagreement with it.
Thanks for watching, you are well within your rights to disagree, what works for some doesn't work for others, that's what makes this all so fun. For me I like my socks to fit like socks and my shoes to fit like shoes. I prefer exercises to make my foot stronger, and I do and teach plenty of them, but I'm looking for a shoe that will take on some of that load, so I don't have to while running. Some people love shoes I do not, and others hate shoes I love.
I just got the Rivera 2 as my 1st Altra. I think it's the best model for me since I have a narrow foot and high arches. Most of my shoes are only 6mm drop except one 8mm. Yes, gradual is important. My 1st 3 mile run felt quite different from my other shoes. I'm hoping my Rivera 's will help with my propensity for runner's knee!
Just the review I was looking for.
Thanks for watching
Solid advice - The Escalante is an awesome shoe for running in BTW. The Rivera shares the same midsole foam as the Escalante but has more stack height. The Torin 4.5 Plush is a great daily trainer with even more stack height but uses Quantic midsole foam not Ego. Thanks for your review grabbing a pair ASAP
Thanks so much for watching, glad it was helpful.
I have been running in Torin 4 and own 4 pairs..sad to see that Altra does not have this model available again. Cannot run in Torin plush..hoping the Rivera will be a good shoe since my last pair of Torin 4 is in rotation now.
That is basically the situation I was in, I enjoy the Rivera, almost time for a second pair
@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy How many km (miles) are you getting out of a pair? Thanks for the information and videos!
@@mrsmittys got a little over 250 miles
Great and helpful review... Plus the Pebble made my day! 😁🤙
haha thanks for watching!
Hi I'm currently running in a 6 mm drop (Solomon Ultra Glide) - do you think i will be ok to try Rivera? I do a lot of walking in wellington boots on roads, when i exercise my old pony. The wellies are 0 drop with no cushioning. I'm currently running 8 miles with the hope of building up to 13+ miles over the summer. I'm struggling to find a 4mm drop. I'm a neutral toe / mid striker. looking at 0 drop shoes for trail and road as i like to feel the ground,. Im thinking i could walk the pony out in the Rivera and include some hills and do some small gentle runs for a few months first.
if you try it make a nice slow transition
I'm also wondering if I'll have trouble going to a zero drop as one viewer asked. However, I have been running for the past 7 years in 3mm drop shoes
I think you will be ok coming from 3mm, but I would still take it slow
I transitioned from 4mm hokas to Altras and found a pretty quick transition. First couple runs I did notice a bit more "work" in the calf and achilles. But withing a few weeks of mixing them in I was G2G!
I know you're a fan of the kinvara. Are these any softer than the kinvara? I have the kinvara 11 and while I do like shoe, it's not something I like to run in every day. I'm looking for a zero drop shoe that's more Rincon-like. I think the new torin 5 will be too soft.
Very informative video. Thank you so much, Justin. I am currently shopping for my very first Altra and my preferences in my current pairs of running shoes are the firmer ones. So just to confirm, in this video, that's the Altra 4.0 and the Rivera right? Looks like that Rivera is calling my name. And you mentioned that the Rivera is firmer thus more stability and should feel closer to the ground right?
Yup exactly, and currently no torin 4.0s around. I'd go for the Rivera
@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy I can still get some old stock 4.0s at a discount here in Thailand. But if the Rivera is firmer, I'd rather go with that.
@@mercurytoad yeah go with Rivera
How would you compare the Rivera to the Escalante 2.5 or Escalante Racer? Would you recommend the Rivera for everyday use or more for running?
The Rivera has more structure, I would say it makes a great shoe for everyday use or running. I’ll tend to use mine for daily stuff once they get 200 miles in them and they work great
All my running and walking shoes are 10-12mm drop, 30mm stack, I'm thinking of getting either the escalante 2.5 or rivera as a walking shoe at first and maybe later as a recovery easy day shoe if my feet can handle it, which one do you think is best for this use case?
Super informative video, thank you! I have the torin 4 and the escalante 2.5, love then both for different reasons. Question: where do you think the rivera fits in a runners shoe rotation? Do you think the rivera is their "racing" shoe? (Since it has the altra ego midsole, but more stack height than the escalante).
Glad it was helpful! I do think this could definitely be a good race shoe, but it could also make a great everyday trainer as well
I have Escalante 1.5s, 2.0s and 2.5s and love the 2.5. I do the majority of runs in them. I just clocked over 50 miles in the new Rivera’s and I have to say, I’m loving them. They worked great in a half marathon I did a few days ago, and are also working well for my recovery runs, with that extra cushion for some relief. Not sure if I want to say it out, but the Rivera may be my new daily go to 😱 Hopefully the Escalante’s are not listening...
We won't tell :)
How did you find the size comparison? I have the Torin 4 in a size 10, and ordering the Rivera on line, did you need to go up a half or a size in the rivera ?
I’m an 11 in Torin and these were true to size and I’m an 11 as well
@@Feldmanphysicaltherapy that’s great, thanks for all the info and quick reply 👍
Great info! Been looking into the Rivera. I'd like pick your brain tho and hear what you think about these shoes for someone with really flat feet. I'm currently in the Torin plush 4.5, super comfy! But they're just not quite enough support for me. I've tried the provisions and the paradigm, and wasn't really big fan of how they felt. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks for watching. I think you will find these to be more firm and have a little more support. Generally these are good for those with lower arches/flat feet, and they will help you increase your cadence
Very informative and helpful video. Thumbs up.
Thanks for watching! Glad it helped!
Thanks for this video. I'm currently running in a 5mm drop shoe and have no issues. I really want to try the altra's but im worried in case i injure myself. Will going from 5mm to 0mm be okay?
I think you will be ok, just make the transition slowly
The torn 4.5 plush is awesome but it's too narrow!! They need wide versions in all their shoes and colors too! Let that pinky toe spread out! WIDE
I don’t have a very wide foot, but I have gotten the same feedback from a lot of folks
make a 2 min video and I'll watch. Seriously, there can't be 11 minutes to talk about the differences. _"This how has this- the other shoe has that"_
Haha there’s a lot to discuss
Where do you get off calling the Altra Escalante flimsy. Flimsy means lacking physical strength or substance. I know people who've put over 600 miles on their Escalantes and still going strong. Escalantes fit like a sock and are specifically built to mimic the natural movement of the foot. Therefore, it flexes in a very natural barefoot way. Their are 20 muscles in your foot and I would think as a physical therapist you would recommend these shoes for making your foot stronger. Plus, I have recovered without surgery from a torn ACL, MCL and torn meniscus and have no knee pain running in these. As far as alot of runners not running in them. It's a fan favorite among Altra runners. Also you said the Altra 4.0 are more twistable and less structured than the Rivera but the Rivera feels more natural. That makes no sense. Thanks for your review but I am in total disagreement with it.
Thanks for watching, you are well within your rights to disagree, what works for some doesn't work for others, that's what makes this all so fun. For me I like my socks to fit like socks and my shoes to fit like shoes. I prefer exercises to make my foot stronger, and I do and teach plenty of them, but I'm looking for a shoe that will take on some of that load, so I don't have to while running. Some people love shoes I do not, and others hate shoes I love.