Altra Torin 9

With the Altra Torin 9, the American brand goes back to what it does best: a zero-drop daily trainer for neutral runners who want to feel the ground while still being fairly well cushioned. In the Altra range it is still the purest "natural running" option, while the Experience range adds some drop (4 mm) and a less radical geometry for those not yet ready to go straight to zero. In the end it is a market question: more room for the toes is great, but many people cannot get used to running without drop.

Compared with the Torin 8, there are interesting changes: the stack drops by a couple of millimetres, the EGO Max foam is gone and the new dual-density P35X compound comes in; Altra has changed its compounds a lot lately and does not quite seem to find the right one. It is softer on the outside of the landing and firmer in the core so you do not wobble along the road. In practice the shoe feels a bit more like a daily cruiser and slightly more stable than the previous edition. The breathable mesh upper is lighter, the tongue is now thin (not the plush tongue of before) and the heel collar has been rounded to hug the ankle better. The FootShape™ last still leaves room for the toes, but the forefoot is rather low, so anyone with a high instep or long toes should try it on before buying, because the nails touch until the material gives.

The little detail that stands out is the Vibram® XS Dura outsole. Yes, Vibram on a road shoe. It gives welcome grip on wet surfaces or if you head off onto compact dirt tracks, although it is not a trail shoe and does not try to be. The 0 mm drop is still the usual filter: if you come from a conventional daily trainer, it will take some getting used to, especially for the calves and soleus. For those already used to it, or who want the foot to do some work now and then instead of getting comfortable, the Torin 9 does the job for daily runs and long runs up to the half marathon.