Altra Torin 7 review

We recommend the Altra Torin 7 as a great choice for:

• More experienced runners looking for a zero drop daily trainer
• Runners with broader feet who prefer shoes with a more natural, foot-shaped silhouette 
• Forefoot strikers whole want a good balance between ground feel and protective cushioning

Individuals with pre-existing calf or Achilles tendon injuries should steer clear of the Torin 7 and other zero-drop shoes. For those runners, we recommend a shoe with a stable base and a higher drop like the similarly versatile Brooks Ghost 15. 

Pronating runners in need of a mild-stability shoe that also sports a zero drop should consider the Altra Provision 7 instead.

We pumped the Torin 7 full of smoke to get an idea of how well heat vents from the shoe. As we can see from the video, smoke immediately escapes the shoe evenly through the upper and the tongue. This stellar performance earns the Torin 7 a perfect 5 out of 5 for breathability, making it a great choice for hot summer runs or runners based in warmer climates. 

Compare that to how the much less breathable Adidas Runfalcon fared in the same test.

Shining a light through a cross section of the Torin 7’s upper, we can clearly see how easily it peeks through the many pores in the upper mesh. 

Our closeup shots of the upper mesh show us how the more fluffy and dense weaves give way to more minimal, less compactly braided sections that form the shoe’s wavy pattern and allow heat to escape quickly and easily.

To simulate extreme wear and tear on the Torin 7’s toebox, we subjected the shoe to our dremel’s grinding element at 5K RPM with a force of 3.2N. The tool seems to have trouble biting into the upper mesh at first, but eventually starts shredding away. Once the four second test was over, we were pleasantly surprised to find relatively minor damage in its wake. With only a small hole and no major snags or rips going beyond the contact area, we give the Torin 7 a toebox durability score of 3 out of 5. 

Firing up our dremel to the same parameter as our previous test and set upon Torin 7’s heel counter for another four seconds. While it initially sent some shreds of material flying, by the end of the test we found that we had only torn through the lining and a couple millimeters of padding. This earns the Torin 7 a heel padding durability score of 3 out of 5. This means that going sockless shouldn’t result in too much friction wear on the Torin 7’s heel padding. 

We used our durometer to measure the hardness of the Torin 7’s outsole and got a result of 74.5 HC which is softer than our current lab average. This level of hardness on the one hand means that the shoe is soft enough to really bite into surfaces and provide us with good traction while, on the other, sacrificing overall durability.  

We again turned to our trusty dremel to test the durability of the Torin 7’s outsole; firing it up to 10K RPM and applying it to the shoe with a force of 3.2N. While it doesn’t seem to have much effect at first, the shorn-off material soon begins piling up next to the tool’s relentless grinding element.

Once the twenty second test was over, we found that we had lopped off 1.14 mm of material from the outsole, making it less durable than our current lab average. Thus, while we still predict that the shoe should last 400 miles, we expect to see significant signs of wear at that point. 

The Torin 7’s outsole is ever-so slightly thinner than, but still on par with our lab average at 3.1 mm thick. This means that our previous test ate away at just over a third of the outsole material. While a little more rubber would definitely increase the life expectancy of the shoe, it would come at the cost of some added weight. 

Weighing in at 9 Oz (255g), the Torin 7 is only 0.04 Oz (1g) heavier than its previous iteration despite boasting a higher stack. This makes the Torin 7 lighter than the average road shoe means that it isn’t too burdensome for tempo sessions or long distance efforts. 

We measured the Torin 7’s heel stack to be 27.6 mm thick. While this is quite a bit shorter than our current lab average, it’s still enough to provide enough cushioning for well protected landings while providing us with a good amount of ground-feel during our runs. 

As a zero drop shoe we expected the Torin 7’s forefoot stack to match the heel, but curiously we measured it with our caliper to be 28.4 mm. This is thicker than the average shoe and 3.3 mm more foam underfoot than the shoe’s previous iteration. 

As mentioned in the previous section, while officially advertised as a zero drop shoe, the difference in our stack measurements leaves the Torin 7 with a negative heel drop of -0.8 mm. This difference is very small however, so only very attuned runners will notice as the Torin 7 does feel like a zero drop shoe for all intents and purposes.

Zero drop shoes do feel more natural as they mimic the motion of our bare feet, however they can lead to calf or Achilles tendon injuries for those unused to them while many of the purported benefits are purely anecdotal. We don’t recommend that beginner runners or heel strikers used to running in high drop shoes jump straight into the deep end with a zero drop shoe, but rather transition down gradually from shoes with lower heel drops. This helpful guide goes through the pros and cons of different drop heights. 

At 4.7 mm thick according to our caliper, the Torin 7’s Ortholite sockliner is right around the average range for road shoes. What’s more, below the  insole is a lasting board made of TPE foam which acts as a soft transition between the midsole and the insole. Both these features serve to complement the shoe’s midsole cushioning and further contribute to the shoe’s soft and protective cushioning. 

We pressed our durometer against the Torin 7’s midsole to measure how soft it is and got a reading of 16.8 HA. This is significantly softer than our current lab average and means that the shoe’s cushioning is plush and comfortable underfoot. While many proponents of zero drop shoes enjoy a more barefoot running sensation, we found the Torin 7’s midsole to be a good balance between cushioning and ground feel during our test runs. 

In spite of the softness of its midsole, we found the Torin 7’s EGO Max foam to have a lively bounce that is comparable to other supercritical foams like Saucony’s PWRRUN. This meant that whether we pushed the pace during tempo sessions or buckled down for long distance efforts, the Torin 7 had our back with a ride that is protective as well as responsive.

To see how the shoe’s midsole reacts to cold conditions, we let the Torin 7 chill in the freezer for twenty minutes. We then re-applied our durometer to the shoe’s foam and got a reading of 24.9 HA. This is softer than the average shoe under similar conditions and means that the Torin 7 won’t freeze into ice blocks and should still provide a balanced level of cushioning even during the most frigid winter runs. 

With the shoe’s midsole becoming 48.5% firmer in the cold, the Torin 7 is less consistent than the average shoe depending on the surrounding temperature. While this means that the shoe will certainly feel different between warm and cold days, it’s important to note that the shoe’s post-freezer durometer reading is on par with the average shoe’s level of softness at room temperature!

When shifting our weight from side to side in the Torin 7, we found the shoe to feel quite well planted on the ground despite its relatively high (forefoot) stack and plush midsole foam. 

The Torin 7 put up a mild level of resistance as we bent and twisted it in our hands, leading us to give it a score of 3 out of 5 on our subjective scale for torsional rigidity. This level of rigidity effectively offsets any tippiness associated with plush midsoles while still having enough give to allow the foot to bend and contrast naturally within the shoe. 

The Torin 7’s heel counter is also moderately stiff based on squeezing and pushing at it with our hands, thus also earning a score of 3 out of 5 on our subjective scale. This level of stiffness in the heel collar means that we were able to achieve a good rearfoot lockdown that is both comfortable while also mitigating much side to side movement of our foot; further contributing to the shoe’s stable underfoot sensation.  

Like previous iterations of the shoe, the Torin 7 sports a broader than average midsole at the forefoot measuring 116.0 mm wide. This ensures stable and well-cushioned landings and toe-offs for forefoot striking runners. It does come at the expense of smooth cornering as the wide base up front makes the shoe feel a little blocky at high speeds. 

Moving down to the heel, the Torin 7’s midsole measures 81.6 mm wide according to our caliper measurements. This is narrower than our current lab average which lends the shoe and aerodynamic silhouette that further contributes to the shoe’s light underfoot sensation. 

On the other hand, this also means that heel strikers have a much less stable landing platform than their forefoot striking counterparts. This in combination with the Torin 7’s drop height makes the shoe a less than ideal choice for those with a heel striking stride. For those runners we recommend having a look at the Hoka Gaviota 5 with its more substantial midsole at the heel.

We secured the Torin 7 to our workbench and measured how much force is required to torque the shoe to 90 degrees. With a result of 20.4N, the Torin 7 is much more flexible than the average road shoe. This contributes to the shoe’s comfy ride as the Torin 7 easily bends with the movement of our feet during our stride without forcing it into unnatural positions and shapes. 

We repeated the stiffness test after leaving the Torin in the freezer for twenty minutes and got a result of 29.3N of force needed to bend the shoe 90 degrees. This is much more flexible than the average shoe is under similar conditions, and means that the 

Stiffening up by 43.7% means that the Torin 7 is more consistent than the average shoe, with its flexibility not being as affected by cold weather as the shoe’s midsole. This means that the Torin 7 should deliver a comfortable and flexible ride all year round. 

Despite its lackluster result in our durability test, the Torin 7’s outsole is one of the unexpected highlights of the shoe. From the way it’s patterned, contributing to the shoe’s overall flexibility, to its grippy nature that bit into and gave us great traction over various surfaces during our test runs. If it was made of more hardy material, we would even say that it’s fit for mild trails.

Measuring 103.3 mm at its widest point, the Torin 7’s updated toebox is 4.8 mm wider than the previous model and more accommodating than the average road shoe; making it a more suitable fit for runners with broad feet. Runners with narrow feet, on the other hand, will likely find the combination of the shoe’s wide base and roomy toebox a little too spacious. We suggest sizing down as we found the shoe to run a little long for its size, or, failing that, checking out the Brooks Ghost 15 with its more snug toebox instead. 

Altra has a long tradition of producing shoes with a more foot-shaped silhouette as opposed to the less natural, narrow fit that squeezes the toes together that other brands tend to go with for the sake of aerodynamics. The Torin 7 is no exception with a toebox that measures 90.4 mm wide at the big toe. This is significantly wider than the average road shoe and means that our toes have plenty of room to splay out naturally during landings; thereby removing any risk of developing hotspots or blisters in that area, even at the tail end of longer runs when our feet have a tendency to swell up. 

While roomy, the Torin 7’s toebox feels a little snug. Not on the sides however, but rather the top of the unstructured mesh upper feels a tad low. This can be mitigated by swapping out the insole for one that’s a little less thick.

The Torin 7’s tongue is non-gusseted but features a lace loop that helps to prevent it from slipping from side to side. 

The Torin 7’s tongue is a little more padded than the average road shoe, measuring 6.3 mm thick according to our caliper. This helped us achieve a good midfoot lockdown while providing good comfort around the instep and avoiding lace bite. 

The Torin 7’s midsole is removable, making it compatible with custom orthotics where necessary. 

The Torin 7 features reflective elements at the rear and rear/lateral side of the shoe. While this means that we are technically visible at night, we recommend sticking to well lit routes when going for nocturnal runs in this shoe.