Back in 2023 Altra made a major change to their lineup. They decided to add some lean to their shoes. Until then, every Altra was 0 drop which put some people off trying them out to save their achilles and calves. The FWD Experience added 4mm of drop to the traditional, anatomical footshape of the shoe and opened the Altra experience up to a wider range of runners.
The FWD Experience was a comfortable, if firm, shoe which was enjoyed by the team at Meta Endurance. The Experience Flow 3 adds some newer, softer foam to the mix but keeps the recipe true to the brand’s ideals.
We have been pounding the pavements in the Experience Flow 3 to see where it stands in the ultra crowded daily shoe market. Is this the sign for you to try something new in for your daily miles?
Let’s find out.
Upper and Fit of the Altra Experience Flow 3
What works for me
I am sure that most people are aware of Altra’s fit philosophy. The natural fit with room for the toes to move and give the foot plenty of space. No cramped lasts here. Initially, the step in comfort is excellent. The foot slides in easily and there is plenty of width in the forefoot. Lockdown is good in the heel and midfoot where the Experience Flow 3 is narrower.
This is a shoe for those with wider and higher volume feet. Shaped to more naturally represent the foot, Altra shoes may be an acquired taste for some. If you are used to the pointier last of most running shoes, these may feel a little insecure at first with so much room. However, once you have acclimatized to the extra room, they are great for those longer runs when the feet have a tendency to swell. They are also enjoyable for hotter and wetter runs when the feet have more space and less rubbing.
Speaking of which, breathability of the mesh is good and I haven’t had any issues with overheating or sweating. The lace chain is standard and the eyelets are reinforced all the way down the chain to ensure that there is no splitting or tearing. Meanwhile, the laces themselves are flat and untextured but they stay tied and do the job. Any lace pressure is mitigated by the relatively thick and gusseted tongue. This tongue also helps with the lockdown in the midfoot.
At the rear of the Experience Flow 3, we find a fairly stout heel counter and a reasonable amount of padding around the ankle area. The top of the heel extends up quite a way but I have found that it doesn’t irritate the achilles area and has soft padding to ensure comfort. It’s a good daily shoe upper.
What doesn’t work for me
Ironically, it is the wider forefoot which doesn’t always work for me. As I have fairly average width feet, I need to make different sock choices to make the most of the space on offer. When I wear my thinnest socks, I find that my feet can slip slightly inside. When I am wearing thicker socks, this issue vanishes.
If you have particularly narrow or low volume feet, you may want to try a pair of Altra on before making the commitment.
Midsole and Ride of the Altra Experience Flow 3
What works for me
The first Altra shoe which took the brand to the dark side of drop was the FWD Experience. It was a comfortable and enjoyable ride which was a little on the firm side. The new EGO P35 foam in the midsole really changes that. Here we find a much softer ride. While the energy return doesn’t match some of those shoes in the “Run Club Special” category with their superfoam bounce, it certainly has a much plusher feel than before.
While not being mushy and remaining quite stable, it has plenty of give underfoot to soak up the miles. I have been following a Stryd power based training plan for the last couple of months and this has been a very good shoe for the easy runs. Pace isn’t really important, it’s all about keeping it easy and getting time on feet. For those, the wider, stable platform has made the runs feel comfortable and easy.
There is a pleasant roll through the gait cycle, although, here is where dynamic drop comes into play. If you are landing on the heel, the 4mm drop soon disappears with compression. For me, this isn’t really an issue. My achilles and calves haven’t felt particularly stretched or uncomfortable.
Overall, the midsole is soft, forgiving, stable and pleasant to run in. The foam and design of the outsole also mean that it is a shoe which allows the foot to work. Unlike some stiffer soled models, the muscles of the feet get their exercise which is beneficial and makes for a different ride experience than many on the market.
What doesn’t work for me
While it is possible to pick up the pace in the Experience Flow 3, the foam doesn’t return as much energy as some other foams. For example, the 1080 v15 offers much more energy return according to the data on my Stryd pods. That said, this is not really an issue with the Experience Flow 3. It is designed to be a daily trainer and it does that well.
The only time I have found this an issue is on longer runs where I want to reduce fatigue over the distance. On these runs, I think I would probably choose something with a little more energy return. Other than that, there are no real issues with the midsole outside of personal preferences.
Outsole of the Altra Experience Flow 3
Grip and Traction
I have run the gamut of conditions in the Experience Flow 3. Outside of snow and ice, we have had torrential rain, heatwaves and misty mornings. Through all the conditions, the Experience Flow 3 has held firm. When I have had to cross grass or muddier areas, it has given me no cause for concern.
The coverage in the forefoot mimics the bones of the feet and there is a generous pad on either side of the heel. Throughout the rubber, there are many flex grooves which make the whole shoe feel less stiff. For weight reduction, there is also a fair amount of exposed EGO P35 foam in the midfoot area which does not prove detrimental to grip.
Durability
After about 75km in the Experience Flow 3, there is very little sign of wear. There is a little scuffing to the rubber on the lateral side of each forefoot where I land. However, this is very minimal and I expect rubber durability to be very high.
As far as the foam goes, it is a softer foam which means it is less dense than previous versions. Over time, I am sure there will be some compression but I have noticed no flattening out so far. This is a stark difference when compared to some HOKA shoes which can feel flat after a similar distance. I’m looking at you Clifton 10!
Conclusion
Value for Money
At £130, it sits against shoes like the Nike Pegasus and adidas’ Supernova Rise. For this price, it is a good value proposition. It offers good build quality and exceptional comfort, especially for those who have a wider foot or want a more naturally shaped toe-box. While it may not be the most versatile shoe on the market, I doubt many people will be racing in it, it will cover your easy miles and last for a long time.
It is also the kind of shoe which can be worn for walking around, daily wear and even some gym work due to the stability of the platform. I have no issues with the pricing or value at all.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
As we have mentioned a couple of times in the review already, it is a good daily trainer. The kind of simple shoe which you can lace up, run your run and come home with ease. It will cover the majority of your mileage during the week and also some of those days when you want something comfortable for a longer walk or just a pop to the shops.
I know it probably won’t be a race shoe or a spicy session shoe due to the lack of energy return but it doesn’t need to be. It is built for daily miles and it does them well.
Final Verdict
The Altra Experience Flow 3 is a very comfortable daily trainer which offers a natural foot shape and gives the opportunity for the foot to work through the gait cycle. It will work especially well for those who have wider feet or want some more stability than offered by other neutral daily trainers.
For those with achilles issues or weaker calves, the dynamic drop may prove to be an issue. That said, it is a shoe which, in a world of ever pointier lasts, should give almost every foot a comfortable run and offer a different feel to the norm. The price and build quality are also big plusses for the shoe. If you have very low volume feet or very narrow feet, this probably isn’t the shoe for you. On the other hand, for most runners who may want to try something different, give it a go.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Altra Experience Flow 3 vs. Topo Ultrafly 6
Both brands have a very different take to lasts than the majority of the industry. Both wide and accommodating, both with a good amount of toe wiggle room. However, the real difference comes in the foam. While neither is a super energetic feel, the Altra has a much more enjoyable ride than the more stability focussed Ultrafly 6. It is a lot less stiff and much more fun to run in.
Altra Experience Flow 3 vs. Under Armour Velociti Distance
The Under Armour Velociti Distance is a unique take on a stability shoe while the Altra is a different take on a daily trainer with stability inherent to the wider base. If you are a forefoot striker, the Altra wins out because the UA shoe has those hard plastic rails either side of the forefoot. If your footstrike can work with it, the foam in the Velociti Distance probably offers more back. However, the overall ride sensation is better in the Experience Flow.
Altra Experience Flow 3 vs. KIPRUN KIPRIDE
The KIPRUN KIPRIDE is a more budget friendly shoe. However, the Altra is a far more comfortable package overall. While neither offer the best energy return on the planet, the Experience Flow doesn’t feel as much like running in sand as the KIPRIDE. The fit of the Altra Experience Flow 3 will also suit a wider range of runners than the KIPRIDE.
