Altra Superior 7 review

The Altra Superior 7 is a good buy for:

• Runners coming from older Superior models who were waiting for clear upgrades.
• Hikers who mix in occasional trail runs and want a zero-drop, low-stack shoe with a simple, natural feel.
• Altra fans who find most models too roomy and prefer a slightly more secure, less spacious fit while keeping the foot-shaped toebox.

For many runners, the main limitation of the Altra Superior 7 is its modest cushioning and low shock absorption. We found in the lab that this ride can feel demanding on the legs, especially on long days. If post-run DOMS feel inevitable with this shoe, the Altra Lone Peak 9 offers more protection while keeping Altra’s DNA.

We also think runners looking for a fully minimalist, barefoot-style experience may find that the Superior 7 still has slightly too much underfoot. From our point of view, its low stack sits in a middle ground that won’t fully satisfy purists. In that case, shoes like the New Balance MT10 or the Xero Shoes Scrambler Low could align better with you.

The shock absorption of the Altra Superior 7 is clearly low, and that is exactly what we expect from a shoe built for minimalist fans and a strong trail-connected feel. With 89 SA in the heel and 75 SA in the forefoot, the numbers confirm it, so expect very limited cushioning underfoot.

More bounce is always welcome, but Altra is not a brand known for highly energetic midsoles. Therefore, given the reasonable price of the Superior 7, we are mostly fine with the 54.9% in the heel and 56.2% in the forefoot.

While most running shoes keep getting taller, we were glad to see that the Altra Superior 7 stays very close to the ground, measuring just 20.6 mm of stack height in our tests. 

This is even slightly lower than what we measured in the Superior 6, which we see as a positive change. With this low profile, you can expect clear ground feel and with a bit of protection for running or hiking—provided your muscles and tendons are ready, as it remains clearly less protective than an average trail shoe.

The forefoot measured exactly 20.0 mm, which is right in line with what we expected. Everything we noted about the heel applies here as well, so there is no need to repeat it.

The Superior line sits firmly in Altra’s zero-drop lineup, and we confirmed that in the lab. Our 0.6 mm result is such a tiny deviation that you can expect a truly flat feel underfoot, exactly what we noticed on our runs.

The Altra Superior 7 uses a compression-molded EVA foam that feels very firm, and our tests confirmed that right away with a 27.5 HA reading. We see this as a reasonable choice for a low-stack shoe like this, since a denser material adds needed protection and this shoe comes without a rock plate.

Nonetheless, even with this firm compound, we could clearly feel the terrain during our runs.

With its low stack height and high flexibility, Altra opted to keep a flat midsole, and we were very happy with that choice. Of course, this is good news for runners seeking a natural, traditional feel underfoot.

One thing we noticed right away with the Superior 7 is that the fit is not as roomy as in many other Altra models. It is not narrow by any means, but it also does not feel ultra wide.

Putting impressions aside and looking at the numbers, our first measurement came in at 96.6 mm, which sits just slightly above the average.

The toebox width easily beat the average at 78.1 mm, but it fell short of other Altra models that pass 80 mm in this same test. That is because it uses Altra’s Standard Footshape instead of the Original Footshape.

As a result, we confirmed that the shoe is clearly foot-shaped, but it is not as roomy as other Altra options.

What may be an issue for some runners is the toebox height.

Altra chose a snug fit here, with a low 24.7 mm height that limits vertical toe movement. On the plus side, this design adds confidence and security, especially on descents.

While some may miss a Vibram outsole—which we should not expect at this price—the MaxTrac compound delivered a solid result in our traction test with a 0.66 score. That is a strong showing and makes the shoe dependable across varied conditions, including the occasional wet road section.

The Superior 7 features 3.5 mm lugs that work best on simple, non-technical terrain, with the occasional stretch of moderate difficulty. That also matches the shoe’s ideal use case, given its thin midsole and limited protection.

This trail outsole uses a MaxTrac rubber layout with angular lugs designed for reliable grip on dry dirt, gravel, and even light mud. The lugs are moderately spaced to shed debris without feeling aggressive.

Wide flex grooves run through the forefoot and midfoot, allowing natural foot movement and easy bending. A segmented heel also improve adaptability on uneven ground and boost flex even more, while the flatter midfoot zone adds stability on smooth sections. Oh, and Altra even molded “TRAIL CLAWS” into the lugs of the forefoot, a subtle but genuinely cool detail.

One of our key goals for the Superior 7 was a low stiffness score, and the test confirmed a very flexible, natural feel underfoot. At just 8.7N, it delivered exactly what we were hoping for.

At the time of writing, Altra lists the Superior 7 at 9.3 oz or 263g on their website. However, this is a good example of why lab testing shoes > official specs, because our scale showed a much lighter 8.3 oz or 235g. 

That is a fantastic weight reduction, and we must say that on our runs it already felt noticeably lighter than the previous version. Therefore, we were not surprised to see such a strong result once we weighed it.

The engineered mesh of the Superior 7 is one area where it is clear that Altra kept things simple to hold the price down. It looks basic and feels just fine to the touch, which is exactly what we expected.

When it comes to ventilation, it did its job and earned a 3/5 score in our lab tests. It is not outstanding, but it is far from a problem and works well for year-round trail use.

Under the microscope, we confirmed the straightforward material choice and the lack of complex construction.

This is not a drawback, but a direct result of the shoe’s price point, and we are comfortable with that trade-off.

What surprised us in a good way is the amount of padding used. The heel and tongue offer more cushioning than many would expect from such a lightweight trail shoe.

Overall, the upper focuses on function and comfort rather than premium details, and it stays true to the Superior 7’s affordable and minimalist character.

The Altra Superior 7 may surprise some runners with its solid stability. The minimal stack height keeps you close to the ground and lowers the center of gravity, while the firm foam helps control the stride. That said, we still see it as best suited for neutral runners.

Twisting the Superior 7 took very little effort, which earned it a 2/5 score. That is exactly what we want from a shoe designed to feel natural underfoot, making this an excellent result.

The heel counter is very easy to flex, which boosts comfort but offers little support. We rated it at 2 out of 5 again, and as with most zero-drop shoes, remember that this geometry is not meant for heel striking anyway.

We found that the Superior 7 measures 113.5 mm in the forefoot, providing a stable platform without making the shoe feel oversized or clunky.

Another sign that the Superior 7 is not built for heel strikers is the narrow heel platform. At just 84.0 mm, it clearly feels more comfortable when landing on the midfoot or forefoot.

The generous toe cap protection helps prevent early damage, and it allowed the Superior 7 to earn a 3/5 score in our test. It is not outstanding, but it is solid enough to pass.

The heel counter showed excellent resistance to damage, earning our highest possible score with a perfect 5/5.

The MaxTrac outsole also performed admirably, showing only 0.7 mm of damage in our test. While it may not be as flashy as a Vibram outsole, it clearly does the job for this shoe in every key aspect, including durability.

We measured 1.9 mm of outsole thickness. A bit more could have helped since the shoe has no rock plate, but that would likely have reduced its flexibility and increased its weight...

At 4.6 mm thick, the stock insole does not stand out in any meaningful way.

The insole is removable, making it easy to swap in a different option if needed. Or maybe you can remove it to make the stack height even lower.

The CMEVA foam in the Superior 7 is so firm that, when we tested it in our freezer, it outperformed the average shoe with only an 18% change.

It was a bit disappointing to find no reflective elements at all on the Superior 7. Even one or two small details on the heel or sides would have been enough.

Altra dropped the old lacing system and replaced it with punched eyelets plus a central lace loop, all tied into a cage-like structure that improves lockdown and spreads pressure evenly across the midfoot. From the image, you can clearly see how clean and supportive this setup looks in practice.

The tongue padding genuinely surprised us. Despite the big weight cut versus v6, we measured a generous 10.9 mm here. It felt extremely comfortable on our runs, though a slightly thinner tongue around 6-7 mm would better match the shoe’s design and shave off even more weight.

The tongue is fully gusseted, which should be standard on all trail shoes but is often skipped on affordable models.

One of the biggest strengths of the Altra Superior 7 is its price. It did not increase from version 6, which is a big plus, staying below most trail shoes and offering an excellent entry point into trail running for those who want a close-to-the-ground feel.

We found a small fabric heel tab that helps pull the shoe on and off more easily, while also looking superb!

The Superior 7 includes Altra’s GaiterTrap attachment, which lets you secure gaiters easily and keep debris out during rough trail adventures.