The Altra Vanish Carbon 3 has had a pretty major overhaul from its predecessors and perhaps the biggest change of all is that it’s no longer zero drop (enter audible gasp here!). Altra have introduced a 4mm drop into their latest carbon-plated racer. A pretty significant shift for a brand known for doing things differently. Altra fans, I’ll give you a moment to process that!
But that’s not all that’s changed. There’s new FAST RCE foam, a redesigned and pretty unique split carbon plate amongst a few other tweaks.
So, is this a new era for Altra and has this new direction made the Vanish Carbon 3 a better racing shoe? Let’s see.
Upper and Fit of the Altra Vanish Carbon 3
What works for me
If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know I am partial to a moan about narrow toe boxes, so I was very excited to try these out. Altra is known for its anatomical foot-shaped shoes, designed to give your toes more room to spread. A super shoe that’s actually shaped like a foot? Now we’re talking!
Altra offers 3 fits for 3 different experiences with the Vanish Carbon 3 coming in their ‘Racing FootShapeTM’. This gives a much wider toe box than many traditional racing shoes. The theory being this allows your feet to function more naturally, with room for your big toe to sit straighter and your toes to engage as you push off. Think comfort and stability. The design still aims to provide a secure fit through the heel and midfoot. Therefore, you get that extra room without sacrificing lockdown.
The Racing fit is more tapered than Altra’s daily trainers, so if you’re a big Altra fan and used to the Original or Standard, don’t expect quite the same foot-shaped fit you might be used to. That said, it’s still much roomier than traditional racing shoes. In terms of sizing, it runs a little short, but due to the extra width this didn’t cause me any issues and I would stick to my usual sizing.
The upper is a comfortable and secure fit, with a wide, non-gusseted tongue that sits nicely across the top of the foot. I didn’t experience any uncomfortable pressure from the laces. The heel is lightly padded, providing a decent level of comfort without feeling overly bulky and it offers a good lockdown.
What doesn’t work for me
Honestly, I struggle to find much to fault here. The fit is spot on, the toe box gives my feet room to spread and the upper feels comfortable without sacrificing lockdown. Of course, if you do prefer a more snug racing fit, the roomier toe box might not quite hit the mark for you. But for me, the extra space is welcomed.
I didn’t have any issues with bunching of fabric over the forefoot, but I am aware others did. The upper mesh is quite thick and with the wider toe box, some runners experienced annoying bunching of the mesh over the top of the foot – especially on toe off. Maybe I am not fast enough to experience or notice this, or perhaps my wider feet minimise some of this. Either way, it wasn’t a problem for me, but again for faster runners and maybe those with narrower feet it might be a bit of a nuisance.
Midsole and Ride of the Altra Vanish Carbon 3
What works for me
Altra has made some big changes to the Vanish Carbon 3. The original Vanish Carbon and the 2’s both featured Altra’s signature zero-drop design, while the Carbon 3 moved to a 4mm drop. It’s still a low-drop shoe, but a move away from the brand’s traditional approach. The stack height has also increased to 40mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot, compared with 33mm on the original and 36mm on the 2’s.
The foam has had an upgrade, too. The first two iterations used Altra’s EGO PRO foam, while the Carbon 3 introduces FAST RCE. A supercritical PEBA foam designed for a more responsive ride. The foam works alongside the new split carbon plate, which has some interesting design features. It runs the full length of the shoe, with a forked split at the forefoot that separates at the big toe. Theoretically this allows a little more freedom of movement, especially through toe-off. In Altra’s words this “allows the big toe to engage in a more powerful way”.
So, how does all this translate in the ride? The first thing that stands out is the stability. Which isn’t usually something that comes to mind when you think of a super shoe. The wide base gives a solid platform and the pronounced rocker also helps your foot roll through nicely. The ride is smooth, controlled and honestly very enjoyable, especially for up-tempo sessions. I am currently training for a 5 mile race and the Vanish Carbon 3 have been great for the majority of my speed sessions in the run up to race day. Unlike other super shoes it also feels surprisingly good at slower paces and during warm up miles. The added stability and comfort meant that I have been reaching for them very regularly for my faster runs.
What doesn’t work for me
What’s lacking for me is that more aggressive, propulsive feel you get from some of the top-tier racers. Whilst it is responsive and your foot rolls through nicely, it really does miss that big ‘pop’ that I just love on race shoes.
It’s also not the lightest super shoe out there. Compared with some of the lighter racers on the market, you can notice the extra weight. It doesn’t bother me too much during training, but when I’m racing or chasing a PB, I’d definitely prefer something lighter with a little more propulsion.
Outsole of the Altra Vanish Carbon 3
Grip and Traction
The Vanish Carbon 3 features a full-length rubber outsole, with just a few small areas of exposed foam. Not only does it offer more coverage than most race shoes, the rubber is also quite a bit thicker than other super shoes. With all this, it should be no surprise that the grip and traction are good, with no concerns for me. I’ve tested these mostly on the road with some sections of gravel paths, and they perform well on both. They can feel slightly slippery in wet conditions, but nothing too concerning and still better grip than I have been used to with other super shoes I have tested.
Durability
As you’d expect, the extensive rubber coverage is of course also a plus when it comes to durability. So far, durability is looking very promising, with minimal signs of wear in my pair so far. It’s too early to say exactly how many miles I’ll get out of them, but the initial signs are good and I can say with fair confidence that it will be many more than most of my retired super shoes! Of course, all that extra rubber comes with the weight trade-off, so I guess it depends what is more important to you.
Conclusion
Value for Money
You can get your hands on a pair of the Vanish Carbon 3 for £220/€250. Is it worth the money? The answer to that will vary significantly depending on who you ask. It is up against some serious competition in the super shoe market.
So what’s my verdict? Well, as I’ve said, it doesn’t have the same lightweight, aggressive feel that I look for in a race day shoe. That said, it does still offer a decent ride and it is still responsive and fast. It also offers a roomier toe box and a more stable platform. It is also much more durable and versatile than others. All this makes the value question a tricky one.
I really enjoy running in it, and its versatility is of course a real plus. It wouldn’t be my first choice at this price if I were buying a shoe specifically for race day. However, if you struggle with the fit of traditional super shoes and want something comfortable and more stable, the Vanish Carbon 3 could be worth the investment.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The Vanish Carbon 3 will fit nicely into your rotation as a dedicated speed shoe. I’ve been using it for pretty much all my sessions over the past few weeks, from faster interval reps and tempo runs. Whilst I am off season when it comes to marathons, I think it would hold its own with long marathon pace efforts too. Whilst it handles the slower paces too and is fine for warm ups/cool downs, you’d need to pair it with a separate daily trainer for easy/recovery runs.
Final Verdict
The Altra Vanish Carbon 3 is a big step forward in some ways, and I’ve really enjoyed running in it. The fit is a real highlight for me, with that extra room in the toe box making a refreshing change. It’s versatile enough for a range of sessions, and really comes into its own at uptempo paces.
For me, the Vanish Carbon 3 is a great option for training, but it is just lacking that top end speed and race day pop.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Altra Vanish Carbon 3 vs. New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1
Compared with the SuperComp Rebel v1, the Vanish Carbon 3 feels more substantial and stable underfoot. Both have a plate, but the ride feels quite different. The Rebel feels lighter and more nimble, while the Altra offers a wider platform and a more controlled ride. I’d be more inclined to reach for the Altra for longer speed sessions and marathon-pace workouts, where that added stability and comfort would likely pay off.
Altra Vanish Carbon 3 vs. Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro
To me the Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro and Altra Vanish Carbon 3 feel pretty similar, although the Mizuno feels a little softer and bouncier underfoot. The Mizuno is lighter, while the Altra offers a roomier toe box and a more stable platform. Both are great options for faster sessions and longer efforts. The Altra wins on stability, whereas the Mizuno feel slightly more aggressive and have a bit more pop (to me at least).
Altra Vanish Carbon 3 vs. Nike Alphafly 3
The Alphafly 3 has a much more pronounced ride, with that distinctive forward propulsion that makes it such a popular marathon and race shoe. The Vanish Carbon 3 feels less dramatic underfoot, but as you’d expect it’s noticeably more stable. For me, the Alphafly will always win when it comes to chasing speed on race day, but the Altra offers more versatility and durability for training.
Altra Vanish Carbon 3 vs. Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Altra Vanish Carbon 3 Quick Questions
How should I use the Altra Vanish Carbon 3?
It is best for speed sessions, tempo runs and marathon-pace sessions. It’s capable of race day running, but if you are after a lightweight, aggressive ride you will likely prefer a different option for chasing PBs.
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 a good shoe for long runs?
It would be good for long runs with pace sections (marathon/half marathon pace), but it wouldn’t be the top choice for easy or conversational pace long runs.
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 a good shoe for fast sessions?
Yes, they are great for this. Although they do miss that absolute top speed, especially for faster runners.
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 a shoe for daily training?
No, they are a carbon-plated supershoe. I’d steer well clear for daily training.
Can I wear the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 as a lifestyle shoe?
Not really, it is a performance race shoe, so not really ticking the lifestyle shoe box!
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 suitable for all terrains?
No it is primarily a road shoe, it is ok on a light gravel path, but I wouldn’t try anything else. Definitely not one for trails, especially if you are a fan of your ankles.
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 a good shoe for racing?
Yes, it isn’t the fastest or lightest race shoe on the market. But you can definitely race in it.
Is the Altra Vanish Carbon 3 a good shoe for stability?
It isn’t a stability shoe. But as far as a super shoe goes, it is definitely one that offers a more stable ride.
