The Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes are the biggest surprise training shoe to be released in 2017. Not only are the Altra HIIT XT’s comfortable, but they’re also durable and stable. After putting the HIIT XT’s through many different workouts, we can confidently recommend them to anyone looking for the best CrossFit shoes for CrossFit-type workouts.
Altra
Altra HIIT XT Shoes
Product Highlights
The Altra HIIT XT introduces a new cross-training category to Altra. Designed with CrossFit and HIIT workouts in mind, it features a wrap-around, sticky rubber midsole for rope climbing and lateral traction.
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line
Video Review
Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes Review
2017 has seen no shortage of great training shoes released. In fact, this year has seen more shoes that are worthy of actually being used than any year in recent memory. Much of this is due to the increased popularity in purchasing dedicated training shoes, but it’s still nice to see.
One of the biggest (and most welcome) surprises for the year was Altra, a company known for making zero-drop running shoes, releasing a shoe made for those in the functional fitness/CrossFit space.
Although the shoes were announced some time ago and I began seeing leaked images all over, they were only recently released for the public to purchase. Although I wasn’t sure how they would perform, I was a fan of the way they looked pretty much immediately.
I’m a sucker for gum outsoles, and I like the way Altra paired the gum with the gray and red. Most of the images online made the red look pinkish. However, I can assure you that the parts that are red, truly are red.
One comment I’ve received through Instagram quite a few times is that the Altra’s look like Nike Metcon’s. I’d like to combat this by saying that although the outsole extends up the sides of the shoe in a similar way the Nike Metcon’s do, nothing else about the shoe mirrors the Metcon’s. The innovation that Nike introduced with the outsole extending up the side was a great idea that provides both stability and durability, and I’m glad that Altra ran with it.
Although I purchased the Grey/Gum/Red colorway, they also come in two other colorways for the men that also don’t look half bad (Black/White and Gray/Lime.) Overall, I like what Altra did with the looks of the shoe and to be honest, even though it’s good, the rest of the shoe’s features are that much better.
As with all new training shoes, I like to break them in with as many different movements as possible. Thankfully, as has been my experience with all Altra’s I’ve used, there wasn’t much break-in time needed.
A big reason for this is due to the flexibility of the materials used. Too often companies will attempt to increase support in a shoe by making it stiffer, which then dramatically increases the break-in time. Altra, however, is not a company designing shoes with too much support. That said, a common misconception is that because Altra’s have a zero-drop platform, they don’t offer any support.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. The ‘Zero-Drop’ platform improves natural foot positioning and prevents the heel cord from being shortened. As previously mentioned, most training shoes feature a 4mm heel drop, which although small, is still less than ideal, especially for mid-foot strikers.
The next feature of the HIIT XT’s that Altra has borrowed from their best selling running shoes is the FootShape toe box that allows the toes to splay naturally.
Most shoes, including many training shoes, although not as dramatically, come to a point. For some reason, this has become the standard shoe shape, and anything that looks different is viewed as ‘weird’ to our eyes. The problem is, your foot is not shaped in completely pointed manner and the main reason it can appear that way at times is due to the fact that you cram your feet in pointed shoes.
Take a look at your feet, and most of you will find your pinky toe hugging the toe next to it. This is not natural and is due to over use of shoes, and especially overuse of shoes with pointed toe boxes.
Altra’s FootShape toe box allows the toes to splay and grip the footbed as they were designed to. This should increase stability in your lifts as well as help your running technique. Reebok has improved their toe boxes by making them wider, but they still have ways to go before competing with Altra in this area. Seriously, if you’ve never worn an Altra shoe with the FootShape toe box, you are in for a treat.
One feature previously mentioned was the outsole that goes up the side of the shoe. It goes up even higher on the instep which allows for both increased durability and extra grip on the rope. It also has the provided benefit of extra stability of the foot in the shoe, and I think it looks pretty good as well.
The outsole has the familiar foot logo on the bottom of the shoe that is grippy and should provide quite a bit of use before wearing down.
One part of the shoe that I was happy to see was the addition of extra material and padding around the ankles. Many training shoes attempt to be as light as possible, but in this attempt, they often forget that they must be comfortable as well.
The additional padding around the ankle will keep the sides of the shoe from digging into your ankles on any lateral movements and provide additional structure to the shoe.
The upper is made of a durable mesh with a lighter mess in a non-impact area (near the pinky toe) that allows for increased breathability. I never experienced my feet getting overly hot while training in my ninety-five-degree garage gym, but they weren’t as cool as the Reebok Nano 7 Weaves (and I don’t know any other shoes that are.)
Rather than leave the upper a plain gray, they’ve added a pattern that isn’t very noticeable unless looked at closely, but is overall a nice touch.
The next feature that impressed me about the Altra’s is that they were designed to be used with or without the footbed. If you’re someone who doesn’t want much cushion, or if you’re doing a workout with lots of lifting and not much running, you could take out the footbed and have more stability. It’s a very good idea that I’m surprised more companies haven’t used, but is thanks to the stitch ‘n’ turn stitching that keeps the stitches off of the footbed and creates a flat surface for your foot.
Finally, the tongue is stitched to the side of the shoe which keeps it from sliding all over the place. It seems Altra thought of everything.Overall, the Altra HIIT XT Training shoes are one of the best training shoes available in 2017 and are at a price quite a bit lower than most of the top contenders.If you’re tired of your Nike’s, Reeboks, or NoBulls, give the Altra’s a shot, and I guarantee you will be won over. If that isn’t a good enough endorsement (from someone who bought the shoes), then this should be: Out of all of my training shoes (I have pretty much everyone released within the past 5 years) I have begun using the Altra’s as my daily training shoe.They’re that good.
Suggested Improvements
Although the Altra HIIT XT’s are an outstanding pair of trainers, there are a couple of things that could be improved. The first thing is an addition of a plastic heel clip that allows the user to slide their heels up and down the wall during handstand pushups. This has become an industry standard for training shoes, and I think it’s a good thing.
The other thing I’d like to see improved is something they may be working on, but that is more colorways. Although I like the red/gum/gray, I would like to see more options, and I imagine as the popularity increases, so will the colorway options. Therefore, be on the lookout.
Reasons for a Zero-Drop Shoe
Let me take you back for a brief second. Back to a time when CrossFit was in its infancy, and everybody was trying to become more ‘functional.’ Around the 2009-2010years, we began to see a surge in people purchasing footwear with less and less support. It started with Chuck Taylor’s and progressed/regressed (depending on your inclination) towards Vibram Five-Fingers.
The goal with people trying to remove any and everything between their feet and the ground was to get back to their roots of bare feet against dirt. The problem was not with people going minimalist, but with them doing so in such a dramatic fashion over a very short period of time. You can’t wear dress shoes for decades and expect your shortened heel cords to automatically acclimate to no heel lift.
Altra has been creating shoes with a ‘Zero-Drop’ for years and is very much an innovator in the space. ‘Zero-Drop’ refers to the rise from the toe to the heel. Most training shoes, even those that are suited toward the CrossFit market have a heel lift. Most notably the Reebok Nano’s have a pretty consistent 4mm lift as do the Nike Metcon 3. Altra’s have a 0mm heel drop that still has cushion and stability. This can lead to better flexibility in the lower body as well as fewer injuries over time.
Check out my in-depth Nike Metcon 3 review here.
A Zero-Drop shoe is a good thing and something that could greatly benefit many reading this.
Full Rating
Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes
The Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes are the biggest surprise training shoe to be released in 2017. Not only are the Altra HIIT XT’s comfortable, but they’re also durable and stable. After putting the HIIT XT’s through many different workouts, we can confidently recommend them to anyone looking for a great training shoe for CrossFit-type workouts.
Product Brand: Altra
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 99.95
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.6
Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes FAQS
Are Altra shoes good for cross training?
With Altra Running’s women’s training shoes, you can choose the ideal shoe for your gym sessions. Our cross training designs were created with stability and support in mind, making them ideal for mixing numerous activities like as jogging, weight lifting, elliptical machines, and other types of exercise.
Are Altra shoes good for weight lifting?
The HIIT XT provides a solid foundation for CrossFit training and heavy lifting. However, during short runs, Altra’s running history shines through, making it a great shoe for athletes who have a variety of training routines.
Can you wear HIIT shoes for running?
Your HIIT shoes, on the other hand, will need to have grip, traction, and flexibility for plyometrics or dynamic lateral movement. Stability is required in HIIT training shoes. Running shoes are designed for running, not for the rigors and diversity of high-intensity interval training. Cross trainers provide extra stability.
