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9.9 oz. (279 g) for a US M9,
8 oz. (226 g) for a US W8
30 mm in heel, 30 mm in forefoot (0 mm drop)
Zero-drop recovery miles with added stability
Revamped design, engineered mesh upper, Ego Max midsole
$170
CHAD: When I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that Altra had just released the Paradigm 7, I asked Robbe if we could get some to review for the site, despite having never run in a pair of the brand’s shoes. Why you might ask?
Well, there are two reasons. First, Kara Goucher…ever heard of her? I assume the answer is yes, but if not, climb out from under that rock you’ve been living under for the last 15-plus years and look her up. She’s a legend, and this is her signature shoe. Second, about five years ago, I fell down the stairs in my house and tore my ankle apart and broke my fibula. After two surgeries and a year of rehab, my ankle still has never been 100% when it comes to range of motion. I was curious to see how it would respond to a zero-drop shoe and whether it could help activate my normally stiff ankle joint on my runs.
I trust that Austin will be able to provide more insight in this review than I can about what makes this shoe different than years past. But Altra proclaims that the Paradigm 7 got a full redesign this year, with a new engineered mesh upper and an updated Ego Max midsole foam. A stability offering, Altra states that its GuideRail system provides medial support to those who need it.
AUSTIN: Let’s rewind the clock back to 2018. What cultural moments were happening in the world? Black Panther became the third highest-grossing film ever in the US; Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer; Harry and Meghan tied the knot in England; Banksy destroyed his own art; and I reviewed the Altra Paradigm 4 (complete with GuideRails and ankle-cutting StabiliPods).
After praising the Rivera 3 back in February, I was stoked to revisit the Paradigm after a five-year hiatus. Incidentally, in a recent Instagram post, Chad indicated that the Paradigm is dubbed the “Kara-digm” by some fans based on design input from Olympian Kara Goucher. “I love the way it feels, I love how it kept me healthy, I love that I can train in it,” said Goucher about the Paradigm 6. Does the love carry over?
Excellent rubber coverage
CHAD: There are a lot of things I really like about the Altra Paradigm 7. Just like the Topo Athletic Phantom 3 that I reviewed earlier this year, Altra uses an anatomically shaped toebox that I’ve actually come to enjoy (despite my initial hesitations). It’s really nice to be able to have my toes splay out on the run and not have the piggies all cramped in. The lacing system provides a solid lockdown with standard knotting (no need for a runner’s loop), even with my narrow right heel, and the initial step-in was comfortable.
On the run, I would say that the Paradigm 7 performs like what you would expect from a stability daily trainer. The Ego Max foam is moderately cushioned and has what I would call a mid-level stack height of 30mm, but I wouldn’t call the ride bouncy or responsive. It gets the job done while not being particularly exciting. That said, with the Paradigm slotting in as a stability daily trainer, getting the job done is the name of the game. It keeps me moving forward while limiting my medial roll-in with the GuideRail system. I can’t ask for much more than that.
AUSTIN: Honestly, I didn’t think I’d run six miles at a 7:37 pace to christen the Paradigm 7. But the legs felt fresh (despite the ghastly morning humidity), and I decided to see if it would accommodate a tempo pace out of the box. Of course, I anticipate easy efforts in the coming weeks as Summer GRIT concludes, but the slog of summer simmers through August and September in Georgia.
The Paradigm 7 is heavy on paper, but the shoe felt light in hand. At least it did in the maiden run. Truthfully, the weight may be more evident on days when my legs are feeling less like springs and more like anchors. Weight aside, there’s a lot to like about this daily trainer. Step-in comfort feels great. Among Altra’s three FootShape Fits, the Paradigm is Standard (sandwiched between Original and Slim). An engineered mesh, flat laces, a padded tongue and heel collar, and some discreet overlays round out the roomy upper.
As for the ride, Chad provides a succinct summary: “Not particularly exciting.” The Paradigm 7 skews firm, but it doesn’t provide the responsiveness I hoped for. Yes, I soared in the first run, but I hoped for a bit more bounce with each step. Indeed, this is a grind, “gets the job done” shoe for easy runs, long runs, and recovery runs. Tempo? You decide. The full-length carbon rubber outsole will keep this trainer’s traction humming along in the summer scorch and summer storms when the roads are soaked.
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That’s 30 mm of foam, if you’d believe it
CHAD: Walking around in the Paradigm 7, it seemed that the midfoot was a bit narrow, and it felt like the insole was digging into my medial arch a bit. I didn’t feel it as much as I was running, but I could tell afterward that my arch had been rubbing and compressed. Luckily it didn’t cause any blisters, but with the right conditions, it probably would. My other main complaint was that the upper was not as breathable as advertised. I finished a 6-mile run in a pair of lighter socks, and when taking the shoe off, I realized my feet were swampy as all hell. I did end up getting the black colorway sent to me, so perhaps that led to some overheating, but it’s hard to tell.
This is a personal observation and maybe something that only applies to me, but I felt like my runs required a bit more effort on my part to get the legs to turn over in this shoe. It might just be that the zero-drop was a new sensation that my legs hadn’t fully adjusted to or that my mechanics are more suited to a shoe with a rocker and more considerable toe spring. I think it’s something that I could adapt to over time, but is that in my best interest? That’s debatable.
AUSTIN: As for gripes, I don’t have much to say. The laces were long, but that’s minor. I did have to stop after a few minutes into some runs to retie the laces for a tighter fit, but I’ll blame my narrow feet meshing with the Original FootShape Fit for the occasional disconnect. Finally, I think the gray and black colors are bland; go for blue or blue and white.
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Black uppers don’t mesh with summer heat
CHAD: I would classify my first time experimenting with zero-drop shoes from Altra as a success overall. The Paradigm 7 was comfortable underfoot, provided solid stability, and performed adequately on the roads. Overall a great daily trainer option for those who enjoy low or even zero-drop shoes and need a little stability in their lives (on their feet, of course). I’d definitely be interested in trying other Altra models in the future.
AUSTIN: In summary, I liked the Altrsa Paradigm 7. I rarely run in true stability shoes, but I like the GuideRail approach that manufacturers are pursuing. There’s less weight and a smoother ride. At 30mm, the Paradigm provides ample cushioning for any run except for tempo or track sessions. But if you’re feeling fast, kick the tires and light the fires.
You can pick up the Altra Paradigm 7 for $170 from Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) using the buttons below.
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An attorney by day, Chad lives in Central Pennsylvania with his wife and three kids. Never much for running growing up, Chad began running as a way to improve his physical health. He went from his first 5k in 2015 to running the Paris Marathon in 2016. Given his larger physical build, Chad is the resident Clydesdale runner, providing shoe and gear insights for those with a bigger build and taller stature.
More from Chad
Austin, who lives north of Atlanta, is a stay-at-home father and running store part-timer (year eleven). Based on his inability to provide a 10K or 5K personal record, he should probably race those distances more. It’s rare to not see a party size bag of peanut M&Ms in his pantry and a pair of Shokz on his ears during a run.
All-time favorite shoes: OG Altra Escalante, Saucony Kinvara 3, Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%
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Pretty fair review. I’ve been in the Paradigm since v6 and have really enjoyed them for my longer runs. I did my first half in the P6. I’m a neutral runner, but I find the stability features non-intrusive and kinda handy as my legs get tired on the longer runs. I’m very new to running (started in 20′ at 51) so these shoes work really well for me.
Had them in hand. Loved the 5, the 6 was good at best but the 7????
Boring , plastic . A definite step backwards.
A lot of this review, though positive in its conclusion is misleading to those reading it. You seem to be comparing this shoe to all shoes in the market vs comparing it against its peers in its own category. Saying that a daily trainer doesn’t feel snappy or responsive is like saying a Toyota Highlander doesn’t have the pick up that a BMW M3 has. Of course they don’t that’s not the intention.
Likewise saying a shoe is hot in the middle of a GA Summer is misleading. Of course its going to be hot and swampy – its Mid 90’s with 100% humidity. Beyond that speculating that a shoe might give you blisters is misleading as well – the shoe did not give you blisters in very tough conditions shouldn’t that be considered a win?
I’m so excited for the Altra Paradigm 7! I’ve been a fan of the Kara-digm for years and this new model looks like it will be even better.
I bought a pair of Paradigm 6 (11.5, grey mesh uppers) in Oct ‘22 and found them much more comfortable on the knees and soles than my Provision 6 on 12 km runs, though a little heavier and slower. Having suffered considerable wear on the foamy parts around the ankle and top of the laces, as well as the outer sole (most of tread gone, so poor grip on gritty surfaces), I am looking to replace the Paradigm 6 with the new iteration. But because I live on an island and cannot get to a physical store, I have to buy on-line. So, my question is: should I order the same size shoes (the Paradigm 6, 11.5 – 46 fit perfectly with good front toe freedom), or do I need to size up or down? Glad you mentioned the overheating issue. I was a devoted fan of the Kayano, but ever since the wide came in the black uppers I noticed my feet overheating very quickly, on the walk to park, before I even broke into a run, in winter! This was the same for my next pair of Kayano – wides (also in all black). I put it down to the black fabric dye in the upper mesh and the insole. It got so bad that the skin on the soles of my feet started peeling off, forcing me to stop running for months from the associated soreness and pain. But after switching to Altra in the grey (Paradigm) and blue (Provision) I have had few skin-peeling issues with the soles of my feet and associated sorenes. My conclusion is that the culprit is the black dye in the fabric which has a distinctive, tar like odor, which is toxic to the skin, apart from absorbing heat on warm sunny days and raising the temperature of the feet. Therefore, shoes with black-dyed fabric uppers should be avoided.
My wife running with this shoes but got knees pain. She has couple Altra shoes but this is the first one causes her knees injuries. Already processed merchandise return and hopefully her knees will be recovery soon. This shoes seems not fit for high arch foot.
What stack height or shoe type would you recommend for a track or tempo run?
Cheers
There’s really no specific formula, it’s just what feels best to you.
I have worn through several pairs of Paradigm 6, size 8.5 and loved them. Perfect fit, felt great.
I ordered the same size in Paradigm 7 and they caused rubbing and a blister on my heel, and they were just uncomfortable overall. Had to return.
Pretty tame and lame review. Didn’t mention any of the real issues with the shoe. Let’s start with the color. The “black” is actually a dark metallic green. You can see it in real photos but the marketing photos make it look black. It’s not. It’s not even close to black and not even a neutral gray. It’s green. Second, the extended heel which has minimal to zero bevel. This not only forces a heel strike, which on a zero-drop shoe is the kind of foolishness you can only get from the bozos at Altra these days. What were they thinking? You hear that a lot about Altra these days. What are they thinking? What’s more not only does it force you into a heel strike, even if you aren’t a heel striker, but the transition is the most “slappy” you will ever see in any shoe. The extended heel makes contact first and then wham it slams your foot down. Next, it obviously doesn’t have a rocker, which is good for this market segment no one wants that, but the shoe is not flexible at all. It’s a stiff shoe, that forces you to heel strike, then slams your foot down, and then no flex to toe off and no rocker either. What are they thinking? “Flexgrooves” my ass. Name one other “running” shoe on the market that is both stiff and lacks a rocker. Pick one. Next the so-called lace system whatever they call it. It’s literally nothing more than an aesthetic feature. It’s a gimmick. It’s not connected or attached to anything. It does nothing.
What else can I say about these.. they’re ugly, like basically all Altras these days. Durability is suspect like all Altras these days. The foam is dead. Very little compliance, zero resilience but it’s comfortable. Certainly not soft in any way. No gusset like all Altras, so you get that Altra signature floppy tongue. And that signature Altra fit, aka it doesn’t fit most people at all. This model uses the “standard” last which sits between the widest one and the narrowest one. Minimal heel counter so that’s not an issue but the midfoot going to the pinky toe on the lateral side specifically will be an issue for most people. Anyone that wears a 2E and tries on this shoe will have the lateral side of their foot hanging off the side of the midsole. Like basically all Altras these days.
Good things. they have a very high-quality insole like all Altras do. The laces are decent. They’re pretty comfortable for standing around which is what I suspect most will use these for. Certainly not a good running shoe by any means. sorry this was supposed to be the pros section.. Uhm.. Well, they are kind of unique in that it’s like a hybrid between a max shoe and a minimal shoe. They don’t feel as much like boats as most max shoes but they pack a lot of foam underfoot, albeit nonresponsive and on the firmer side.