Orleans Shoe Co. — Room Where It Matters
Men's Altra
Two things make an Altra different: a toe box shaped like an actual foot, and a level platform with no drop from heel to toe. Both are worth trying. Neither suits everybody.
Who these are for
If Your Toes Need Room
Most running shoes taper to a point and squeeze your toes together. Altra doesn't. If you've got bunions, wide forefeet, or toes that go numb on longer runs, start here.
The Toe Box
This is the part people notice first. Your toes sit where they naturally sit instead of being funneled together, and your big toe stays straight rather than getting pushed inward. That's better for stability at toe-off and easier on anyone dealing with bunions or hammertoes.
Worth saying: wide toe box isn't the same as wide width. An Altra in standard width has more forefoot room than most brands, but if you need a genuinely wide last, see wide and extra wide.
Zero Drop — Read This Before You Buy
Altra's platform is level, so your heel and forefoot sit the same height off the ground. Most running shoes lift the heel 8 to 12mm.
That's a real change for your calves and Achilles, and it takes adjusting to. Don't switch from a traditional shoe straight into a 10-mile run. Build up over a few weeks. People who skip that step usually end up with sore calves and blame the shoe.
Some models come in a lower stack or a slight drop now — ask us and we'll show you which is which.
What We Stock
Road models for pavement and the levee, plus the Lone Peak for trail. Come in and we'll tell you honestly which suits how you run — and whether zero drop is a good idea for you at all.
Also see women's Altra · men's running shoes · extra-wide running · plantar fasciitis
Come get fitted. Free fitting, no appointment, at Magazine Street · French Quarter · Metairie Road · Severn. Don't see your size? Call 504-910-2900 — we can usually order it. In New Orleans since 2002, six-time Gambit Best Shoe Store. How we read your gait.
