If you're after a reasonably priced and cushioned trail shoe, The North Face Altamesa 500 is well worth considering.
Weight: 380g (UK size 12)
Stack height: 38mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
Lug depth: 4mm
Type: Road to trail/trail
Who it's best for: Easy & long trails, those looking for a max cushioned trail shoe.
Midsole foam: DREAM
The Shoe
It happens now and again that in amongst the noise of new releases, updated colourways, limited edition versions of shoes etc that a shoe goes somewhat under the radar when it rightly deserves a little bit more attention. Enter The North Face Altamesa 500.
A cushioned trail shoe looking to rival any brands that have shoes in the same category, The North Face Altamesa 500 has a plushness that is noticeable straight out the box and should be treated as a proper workhorse in your shoe rotation. From cruising around a field for junior parkrun with the kids, to taking on longer runs through the forest, sampling terrain from smooth tarmac, grit and gravel, singletrack, some mud and some loose rock, the Altamesa 500 handled it all whilst providing plenty of comfort along the way.
The North Face Altamesa 500: The positives
The comfort is a big positive of this shoe. The North Face have sometimes been a bit off with sizing in the past, but this shoe is true to size and not only that, the shape and width of the toe box strikes a lovely balance of being roomy enough for the toils of trail running, without feeling too spacious.
The large stack of foam feels well placed and balanced under the shoe and even when things get a bit technical, you don’t feel clumsy or encumbered by the shoes. On the long downhills the DREAM foam helped saves the quads from taking too much of a pounding, whilst the slightly more aggressive transition from midfoot to toe-off means the shoe feels positive when adding in some speed or pushing up the hills.
The 4mm lugs (built using what TNF call SURFACE CTRL) offer up plenty of grip when moving forward thanks to the chevron pattern, but aren’t so large or misplaced so as to feel uncomfortable or slow when running on the road.
The North Face Altamesa 500: The negatives
The shoes are a touch weighty and this really comes from the upper more than anything. Keeping a shoe price down comes with some restrictions and if being picky, the upper is where the savings have been made. This in no way reflects the comfort of the upper, it’s very secure and reassuring, offering a great fit. But it is slightly heavier and hotter than the more expensive, more breathable uppers on some shoes. However, within this price bracket it more than competes and was never a noticeable issue even on the hottest runs (nothing a thin sock can’t fix either). They also only come in black, so if you’re a devout wearer of colourful shoes, these won’t appeal.
The lugs reach maximum grip in proper mud quite quickly and the chevron pattern means that there is more chance of sliding sideways, but it was never a huge issue.
For those who always want the most precise feeling of ground control, then the higher stack height and softer foam won’t be for you and some runners might find them a bit too chunky for narrower trails.
RW Verdict:
I enjoy it when a shoe is recommended to me by other runners or that I hear about via word of mouth, rather than a press release, because it means that the shoe is already out there being used and enjoyed. This doesn’t guarantee that I’ll enjoy running in it or rate it, but thankfully The North Face Altamesa 500 didn’t disappoint and is a solid offering for anyone after a highly cushioned, grippy and fast feeling shoe when it comes to spending some time on the trails. At £125, I would consider this a bit of a bargain too.
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