The North Face Altamesa 500 V2 is a cushy and versatile daily trainer for the trails with road running shoe comfort and performance.
I’ve worn The North Face Altamesa 500 V2 for running considerable miles on a wide variety of trails in and around Missoula, Montana since the spring. It’s a soft, bouncy and versatile max-cushion trail shoe everything I’m looking for in a trail shoe—sufficient cushioning, good grip and wide-ranging versatility.
The footwear team at The North Face overhauled the original version of the Altamesa 500, giving it a better midsole foam, a grippier outsole, a sleeker upper and a lighter overall weight. Those are all good improvements that helped turn a good shoe into a great one. If you’re looking for an easy road-to-trail transition model that pretty much feels like a road shoe that handles a lot of off-road surfaces, look no further: The Altamesa might be for you.
When I first put on the Altamesa 500 V2, it was instantly comfortable. And, as fan of maximally cushioned Hoka trail shoes, I knew I would also love this shoe thanks to the over-the-top cushioning. That said, if you’re a runner who prefers to feel the trail underfoot then, well, the Altamesa might not be the shoe for you. But read on … with an open mind.
For me, the Altamesa fits the bill of just about every run. Why? Well, I run two miles of pavement to get to the trail almost every day, and this shoe transitions easily—dare I say seamlessly!—between surfaces. Plus, it’s light and soft without that super sink-in feeling you sometimes get with so much midsole foam.
I wear them for easy runs and tempo runs and, while I wouldn’t choose it for a really hard effort, I have even found myself lacing it up for a local race here and there. And guess what? It did just fine.
I’m already on my second pair. I put over 500 miles on the first, plus many more hiking, walking, running errands (I still wear pair number one for errands and easy stroller runs on the road sometimes). So, while I’ve retired the first pair from daily training, It still has a place on my shoe shelf, which is saying something about durability, especially since the shoe is so light.
The North Face Altamesa 500 V2 Specs
Price: $170 (women / men)
Approximate weights: 8.6 oz. (women’s size 8), 9.8 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-to-toe offset: 6mm; 36mm (heel); 30mm (forefoot)
Outsole: 4mm lugs
What’s New: The Altamesa 500 V2 uses the brand’s nitrogen-infused TPU Dream midsole foam from heel to toe, which is designed to give runners a soft, pillowy feel and bounce at the same time. The new outsole is made from TNF’s Surface CTRL SC2 rubber with chevron lugs for maneuvering over soft ground, gravel roads and mixed trail surfaces. Also, the Altamesa’s footprint is wider than the previous model, which increases the shoe’s stability (something I notice a lot), plus it has an engineered mesh upper and textured laces that help to keep the shoe tied.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Altamesa 500 V2 fits true to size, with a wide accommodating toe box that supports toe-splay with each step. The step-in feel is soft and comfortable with no irritation points, and despite the wider toe box, the midfoot is snug and secure thanks to targeted reinforcements on the upper and a lightly padded gusseted tongue.
I have a narrow heel, which can cause slippage in many shoes, but I have no problems with the Altamesa 500 V2, even without using the extra eyelet for the marathon lock—a cool lacing technique to help cinch down your heel. The textured laces deserve a callout here because the texture really does help to keep them tied, especially in wet or muddy conditions.
And the ribbon loop on the heel of the shoe is truly helpful to get leverage as you pull on the shoes. As someone who rarely unties my shoes when I take them on or off (yes, I know this is bad form), the loop makes my life oh-so-much easier. While many shoes have something like this on the back, the sheer size of the loop makes it incredibly helpful (you just have to try it).
Underfoot, the shoe is soft and bouncy, and only a little bit mushy. …. But in the best way. (However, if you’re used to the firm, bouncy and propulsive ride of a plated shoe, this one might not be your jam.)
Why It’s Great: The Altamessa 500 V2 is a true everyday trainer. It’s comfortable enough for daily mileage and cushioned enough for long, long, long runs. It’s also bouncy enough for light- and medium-tempo speed work. Since I frequently run pavement from my house to the trail, I need a shoe that can handle the transition without feeling awkward or out of place on any surface. (The new outsole has improved its traction on wet surfaces.) And this shoe truly delivers here. It’s smooth and effortless on pavement while also feeling grippy and stable enough on rocky and loose trails.
Why You’ll Like It: If you want a trail shoe that can handle the bulk of your weekly mileage with ease, the Altamesa 500V2 is an excellent option. It’s soft enough for easy and recovery days, but it’s also bouncy enough that it doesn’t feel blah. The broad platform makes the high stack height feel secure and stable and the upper construction combined with the textured laces help to keep your foot solidly in place.
Why You Might Not Like It: If you prefer a shoe with more ground feel and stable firmness under your feet, this is definitely not going to be your cup of tea. It has a whopping 36mm of heel stack to separate you from the trail. And, while it has worked well for most runs for me, it may be too cushy for short, fast efforts.
Pros: It’s durable. My first pair lasted over 500 running miles (plus more hiking and errand running).
Cons: The biggest knock against it is that it might be too soft of lofty for your liking if you’re used to firmer, more stable or lower-to-the-ground shoes. It’s also not a speedy, agile shoe for running fast on technical terrain, where quick cornering and nimble strides are necessary.
Bottom line: This is an excellent choice to grab when you just don’t want to have to think too deeply about the shoe you’re wearing and just want to know that it’s going to probably work on any surface you might encounter.
Check it out on Running Warehouse (women / men)
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