A pair of men's 11 weigh just 17 ounces, making them some of the very lightest running shoes on the market. They get down to this by using a reasonably thin slab of EVA in the sole and simple mesh in the upper while cutting down on the bells and whistles or support structures. This combination of low weight, compactness, and malleability clearly goes into their more natural feeling. Most trade-offs here come in the form of preference rather than quality, with the obvious exception being durability. The lighter, thinner materials tend to have shorter lifespans, though these are fairly well-made and should make it through a few seasons.

It's also worth mentioning that wider feet might find the seams along the front of the lacing across the midfoot a bit annoying, but some runners appreciated the overall snugness of the midfoot. It's a decent way to keep the upper responsive and affixed while allowing the toe box to be so open. So, if you’re powerlifting, where planting and a solid base is critical, look for another shoe. That is, unless you like sinking into a sponge every time you grip a barbell. What is frustrating is that Altra knew this would reduce the durability of the shoe and they did add a tiny patch of rubber, but only on the heel, and not on the toe where most other shoe manufacturers dab a bit of rubber to To the first limitation, if you’re going to be doing activities that require a lot of foot protection and abrasion resistance—like rope climbing—a shoe with a more robust upper will be preferable (I’m looking at you OCR crowd). All of Altra’s shoes are based on two key design principles that set them apart from most other shoe companies’ lineups. (1) Altra’s shoes all have a zero-drop heel-to-forefoot platform, and (2) a wide, “foot-shaped” toe box. Many runners love this combo, but for people coming from shoes with higher heel-to-toe drops or narrower toe boxes, it may take some getting used to.The upper works well. It’s breathable and lightweight yet very supportive during dynamic cross-training movements. The only concern I have with this model and running is that if you train outdoors and you’re running through mud or wet surfaces, then be very conscious of this shoe’s midsole and outsole durability. Maybe because these have their roots on river trips, they are also surprisingly tough and long-lasting, especially considering how light and flexible they are. In a pinch, you could also go for a run and/or lift in them (within reason). What We Like

This puts a seam right around your foot from the ball of your feet to the bottom of your pinkie toe. Depending on how you fit your shoes, this could be a place for chafing. Even the laces are thoughtfully constructed with an added foam layer on the tongue to allow for more secure tying without the ‘lace bite’. The heel and collar also feature padding that acts as a buffer, reducing the likelihood of blisters and hotspots. Its wide “foot-shaped” toe box allows metatarsals to spread and toes to engage while performing fully.For their comfort and versatility, you're going to be hard-pressed to find another shoe at this value. They're not cheap, but they're reasonably priced for all they offer. Conclusion I should also mention a couple of other caveats. They’re not really limitations, just restrictions on who will have a good experience with the Solstice XT. This light but mighty running shoe weighs in at only 300 grams, yet it’s infused with some of the world's toughest materials to give you an edge during your workout. In fact, it claims to offer the world’s ‘toughest grip’ due to its graphene-enhanced power heel, a feature developed by scientists at The University of Manchester. In the context of CrossFit, this shoe can technically work for some more casual CrossFit sessions, but as a whole, I think you’ll be capped with this shoe’s performance. Its durability isn’t going to be the best for things like rope climbs, and again, their stability may be an issue for this style of training. To my knowledge, it is the only lightweight cross-trainer that provides both zero drop and wide toe box.