I’ve been wearing Altras for more than 10 years; for me, zero-drop shoes with roomy toe boxes helped fix years of foot pain and turned me into a more efficient, natural runner. So when Altra released the Experience line—a series of 4 mm drop shoes with a rocker profile—I was curious, but cautious. Would it feel like cheating on my zero-drop roots? Or worse, mess with the form I’ve built over the past decade?
As it turns out, the Experience Wild 2 doesn’t feel like a departure—rather, it feels like an evolution. After several weeks of testing, I’ve come away surprised by how natural it feels and how much fun it is to run in. The new iteration of the shoe has been given a more breathable upper and a modified heel cup that feels more accommodating and secure, but these are relatively subtle refinements in what have been deemed almost universally to be very good shoes.
Experience Wild 2: trail-ready flow
Specs:
Category: Trail
Men’s: 289 g (10.2 oz.)
Women’s: 250 g (8.8 oz.)
Stack: 32 mm/28 mm (men’s); 30 mm/26 mm (women’s)
Drop: 4 mm
Price: $180
Trails in my area (southeastern Alberta) this summer have consisted of a mix of dry rock, loose dirt and post-thunderstorm mud, and the Wild handled it all without flinching. The outsole grips without feeling overbuilt, and the shoe stays flexible underfoot, which makes it feel lively and nimble, even on more technical switchbacks.
The new upper is noticeably more breathable than earlier Altra trail models, and the added foot protection comes in handy when you’re dodging roots or kicking stray rocks. What really stood out, though (and surprised me) was how well the rocker works off-road. On rolling singletrack, the Wild had a smooth, forward-driving feel that made it easy to settle into a good flow. I found myself running longer than planned, just because it felt good—something I haven’t done in longer than I’d care to admit.
A streamlined “experience”
What I appreciate most about the Experience collection is how unfussy it is. These aren’t super shoes, and they don’t rely on gimmicks or wild tech. Instead, they offer subtle innovation—light rocker geometry, a modest drop and improved foam developed as a result of customer feedback, and that quietly works with your stride. After years of sticking to zero-drop, I didn’t think I’d like anything different, but these shoes offer a refreshing change. And for runners eager to transition from a higher drop to zero drop or low drop, the 4 mm option makes an excellent waypoint.
