Altra Experience Flow ST review: Lightest stability shoe on the market that’s perfect for everyday running

WHEN two passionate runners couldn’t find the shoe they needed – they took matters into their own hands and built it themselves, and along came Altra. Grounded in the idea that running should relieve stress rather than put even more stress on your body, they made shoes to give your toes some room and actually fit your feet comfortably. Altra’s new Experience Flow ST come in a very bright colour scheme Credit: Altra These bold shoes are the lightest stability running trainers on the market Credit: Sun Exclusive Quickly establishing a reputation as some of the best trail running shoes on the market, Altra soon ventured into road running. Earlier this year, they launched a brand new collection – the Experience 3 – designed to build stronger feet and give runners greater control over their own movements. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! ALTRA EXPERIENCE FLOW ST Pairing a 4mm drop platform with Altra’s textbook roomy toe box, the Flow ST are built for the runner who values longevity and strength alongside a speed boost. Kylee Barton, Head of Product at Altra, said: “With Experience 3, we weren’t chasing artificial lift or propulsion. “We focused on creating a smooth, responsive and stable foundation so runners can stop compensating and start experiencing that effortless, locked-in feeling people chase when they run.” SunSport got its hands on the new Experience Flow ST, mixing up some easy running with some faster efforts to really put them to the test. PROS Lightest stability shoes available in the UK. Strong cushioning ensures they remain comfortable on your long runs, Altra’s roomy toe box feels very different to your ‘classic’ running shoe and feels very unrestricting. CONS The tongue of the shoe has a tendency to slip a little, and I personally found it moved to the side a little while running. Some signs of early wear within the first 50 miles of wearing them. The ultra-breathable mesh allows cold air to move through them, so a slightly thicker pair of socks might be necessary in the height of winter. Most read in Sport RATING – 8.5/10 QUICKFIRE Q&A How much are they? £130 at Altra Running. Cheaper than other shoes on the market at a similar level. Who’s it best for? Heavier runners seeking some stability shoes for long runs while still having the freedom to really push on some faster efforts. What we loved: You really do notice how light they are compared to other stability shoes. As an overpronator, I felt far more able to ‘kick’ without compromising stability. What we didn’t:The tongue slipped a little, and needed a bit of fiddling to ensure there wasn’t a gap between the tongue and the main shoe. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Wow, these are bright! The team at Altra very kindly sent me a pair in the white/coral colour scheme, though they are also available in black and light blue. Much to my own surprise, I loved the bold colours and the shoes as a whole. They felt really light, and I was very comfortable picking up the pace. Running along the seafront, I ran a progressive 5k and was able to still run a 4:00 final kilometre in these shoes, though the 25mph winds of Storm Dave might have had something to do with that! I wheeled the Flow STs out for an easy, recovery run the following day too, and felt equally lightweight without ever compromising comfort. Altra Experience Flow ST can also be bought in black and light blue Credit: Sun Exclusive DOES IT DELIVER? Yes, without a doubt. I’m an overpronating runner, and had to recently send back a pair of the popular Adidas Evo SL shoes because they didn’t offer anywhere near enough stability for me. These, on the other hand, felt just as light but with stability in tow. So far I’ve only worn them on dry days, so who knows what state they’ll be in when the weather gods are against me, but as yet they haven’t lost their vibrant colours. My only slight hesitation is that there are some signs of wear and tear on the sole after around 50 miles of running in them. HOW MUCH ARE ALTRA EXPERIENCE FLOW ST SHOES? At £130, they’re cheaper than similar stability shoes on the market. THE VERDICT The Experience Flow STs punch above their weight. I really felt able to push higher paces in these, and I didn’t feel unstable going round tight bends at speed. They’re light, they’re fast, they’re stable. I really do approve. As a fair-weather runner (the minute it rains I’m indoors on the turbo trainer!), my pair are yet to be dirtied. But if keeping them pristine is what you want, perhaps opt for the black pair. In temperatures above 8°C or so, they are great, but cold feet could prove an issue in the deepest, darkest depths of winter. HOW I TESTED I used the Experience Flow STs for a range of different runs, covering around 50 miles in them at the time of writing. Both tempo efforts and slow, recovery runs felt a breeze, and I still felt light on my feet after a 10-mile easy run. WHERE TO BUY Altra Running – £130 SportsShoes.com – Currently reduced to £90.99 ALTERNATIVES Brooks Glycerin Flex – £165 Hoka Clifton 10 – From £125.99 Saucony Endorphin Azura – From £112 Asics GT-2000 14 – £98 Comment now