Altra Wild Experience 2 Review
Altra Experience Wild 2 review: trailblazing perfection, or just another overhyped shoe?
The claim: the Altra Experience Wild 2 is supposed to be the perfect shoe for runners who want comfort, responsiveness, and the freedom to dance across uneven terrain without sacrificing stability. Lightweight, grippy, and designed with Altra’s signature foot-shaped toebox, this shoe promises to give your toes space to breathe (or wiggle, in my case). And of course, Altra has thrown in a low 4 mm drop to keep your stride feeling natural and efficient.
But is it the real deal? Or just another shiny marketing campaign dressed up as innovation? That’s what I decided to find out.
On my running routes, I regularly switch between forest trails, rocky moorland, and the occasional stretch of tarmac where I can move fast. With this in mind, finding a trail shoe that doesn’t punish me for stepping onto the road is important. Road shoes get shredded on the trails; trail shoes feel like planks on the road. So, where does the Experience Wild 2 sit in this messy middle ground?
If you’re after a sleek road racing shoe, this isn’t it. (You might want to check out my Nike Vaporfly review for that.) But if you want a rugged trail runner that doesn’t feel like you’re hauling bricks on your feet—stick around.
Personal history
I’ve been running in Altras for years now. My first serious pair was the Lone Peak 3.5, which I wore while crossing Lake Baikal in Siberia, a frozen lake that holds the largest volume of fresh water in the world (and is home to very cute, unique seals). If they can handle Siberia, they can handle most things. After that I shifted to the Lone Peak 5.
Since then, Altra has been my go-to brand whenever I’m in the mood for long-distance trail punishment. I’ve clocked hundreds of miles in Lone Peaks, but the Experience Wild 2 caught my eye because it seemed to promise a middle ground between cushioned comfort and responsive speed.
I’ve been running in these bad boys for about 3 months now—mud, rock, rain, a bit of tarmac. The uppers are currently wearing a delightful shade of dried mud (the true badge of honour).
First impressions
The Altra Experience Wild 2 is a very respectable 9.4 ounces in weight (for a men’s US 9). Not the lightest on the market, but lighter than my now very old and retired Challenger ATR 6s.
Straight out of the box, they felt like slippers with trail armour. That famous Altra foot-shaped toebox? Still there, still gloriously spacious which, if you’ve got hobbit feet like me, means you’ll love it.
The upper is breathable yet tough enough to handle thorny hedgerows and ankle-deep mud. Bonus points for drainage: they shed water fast. My first run out in these shoes took me through numerous puddles, most of which were the size of a small lake, and the lead-boot effect faded fast.
Lacing is solid—simple, effective, no nonsense. I like that. No fiddly extras that promise the world and deliver… well, nothing. One point to note for anyone with slim feet – tightening the laces the full length of the shoes is vital, otherwise you’ll experience slippage and with that comes blisters.
Protection
As usual, Altra seems to have thought this one through.
Up front, you’ve got a sturdy toe cap that’s saved my toes from more than a few rock strikes. It’s not steel-toed, but it does the job.
The midsole features Altra’s compression-moulded EVA, but no rock plate. This latter point is irrelevant – the cushioning is plentiful, soft enough to make technical trails forgiving, but not so soft that you lose all connection with the ground beneath your feet.
The heel collar is padded without feeling like a pillow wrapped around your ankles. Unlike some shoes I’ve tested, it didn’t rub during the first few miles. No blood sacrifices to the running gods required.
Durability
Three months in, and the outsole still looks surprisingly fresh.
The lugs are moderately deep—enough to grip on wet trails and loose gravel—but not so aggressive that they wear down in a week of road miles. As a test, I upped my my total mileage to about 20% on tarmac, and while there’s a bit of smoothing on the heel lugs, nothing catastrophic.
The grip is good. Mud, wet rocks, wet leaves, wet everything—it’s handled it all. I wouldn’t use them for technical fell running in the Lake District, but for your average trail and mixed terrain, they’re more than capable.
Fit and Speed
For me, Altra’s natural foot shape really stands out. My toes are not packed in like sardines, and during longer runs (think 30–40 km), that matters more than people realise.
The low 4 mm drop feels natural—especially if you’re used to, or transitioning from, zero-drop shoes like Lone Peaks. If you’re coming down from a higher drop shoe, you might want to break them in slowly, unless you enjoy calf DOMS.
Speed-wise, these shoes have a bit more snap than my old Challenger ATR 6 (which I loved until a design change made them feel less than comfortable). Don’t expect track-shoe responsiveness, but they do feel nimble on rolling terrain. For me—6’1″ and about 200 lbs—that cushioning-to-responsiveness ratio is spot on.
Final thoughts
The Altra Experience Wild 2 is, in short, a cracking trail shoe for runners who want versatility without losing comfort. It’s not the fastest shoe on the planet. It’s not a road racing shoe. And it’s not a fell running specialist.
But it is a reliable, well-cushioned, roomy, grippy, durable shoe that can take a beating across multiple terrains.
Break-in time? Practically none, throw them on and go.
Cushioning? Just right.
Fit? Hobbit-approved.
Responsiveness? Good enough for most trail runs.
My only gripe is that the upper can hold onto moisture a bit longer than I’d like on longer, wet runs. If Altra can tweak that, this shoe could be dangerously close to perfection.
My verdict? 8 out of 10.
If you’re the kind of runner who likes a shoe that can handle mud, rock, and the occasional road without feeling like an over-engineered science experiment, the Experience Wild 2 might just be your new trail companion.
(And if Altra want to make a fully waterproof version? Santa, I’ve been very good this year.)
