Designed with The North Face athlete team, the Altamesa 500 trail-runner (available for women and men) features a new midsole for springy comfort, plus sticky rubber outsoles to crush gravel paths or mountain trails.
The ‘500’ indicates the sole thickness (i.e., greater than Altamesa 300). Its 30 mm height (measured at the heel) feels hefty and reassuring underfoot. This isn’t an ultralight shoe (a men’s size 9 weighs 10.9 oz: light, but not the lightest), and in a crowded market there are other shoes tuned for extra-technical trails—but the Altamesa 500 is unbeatable for longer excursions on moderate-difficulty paths. (And let’s face it: the majority of trail runners aren’t looking for a tech-terrain suffer-fest.)
With a 6 mm drop (the difference in height between the heel and forefoot), this shoe offers a lot of cushioning but remains stable and agile.
TNF’s Surface CTRL rubber outsole is well-tuned for variable surfaces with 4 mm lugs in an uncomplicated medium-density pattern.
Our tester Glen says, “I appreciated the stickiness of the outsole and found that mud and debris did not build up to a great extent in between the lugs. This is a big plus for me; when the trails are damp, some shoes end up caked in mud and tree debris. I also found it easier to stay steady on transitions from rock to roots to dirt. Not every shoe can manage this quite so smoothly. Plus: The micro-grip tech in the middle and base of the sole handled very well on scree terrain.”
Our tester also noted the extra-burly and wide-coverage toecap, which is a requirement for running among the uneven rock gardens of Ontario’s Bruce Trail. (Plus: the toebox is roomier than most.) And the stability overlays on the upper along with the padded tongue with internal wings add extra support at the midfoot.
The lacing system provides a snug, tension-adjustable fit. We found the Altamesa 500 fits true to size.
TNF’s new nitrogen-infused Dream midsole is known for its high rebound (plus soft landings) and did not disappoint. “The shoe almost seems to generate its own energy,” Glen reported. “I found I could improve my run time when the trail flattened out and I could open up. And then when I hit the roots and rocks again, the sole’s impact absorption allowed me to keep my speed up while keeping my stride responsive. Whenever I hit packed-gravel or a bit of pavement, I was comfortable there, too. I haven’t run really long distances yet but I feel this shoe will keep me going on 15 km-plus missions on multi-terrain routes.”
You might also like:
Check the ML Podcast!
