The North Face Altamesa 500 Trail Running Shoes Review

Nearly every trail running shoe maker has at least one model that aims for the perfect mix of maximalist comfort and trail feel. Finding that perfect balance has been fleeting for most brands, but The North Face may have just achieved it with the Altamesa 500 Trail Run Shoes.

The North Face Altamesa 500 Features:

• Comfort-focused fit in the toe box with increased toe room
• Ultralight DREAM nitrogen-EVA 30mm midsole (6mm drop)
• Deep and plush heel cup and collar
• Reinforced and protective toe cap, stability overlays and lace guides
• Ghillie lacing system with pull-tab webbing for easy entry
• Reinforced internal heel counter for added stability
• Comfortable padded tongue with internal wings
• Durable SURFACE CTRL™ rubber outsole with 4mm lugs
• Weight: XX (each, 11.5 actual)
• MSRP: $155

Initial impressions — impressive

In recent years, The North Face has revamped their shoe line. Just two years ago, the VECTIV Infinite was one of my favorites from the brand, but now, the Altamesa 500 easily trumps those shoes in every way. For starters, they feature a 30mm heel and 24mm forefoot for a 6mm drop. That kind of stack height is just what my 50-year-old body needs — and even more particularly this fall as I’ve been nursing a back injury. The out-of-the-box comfort of the DREAM midsoles has been, well, dreamy.

I did notice a slight break-in period for the shoes to adapt to my feet, but throughout about a week’s worth of use, I never experienced any discomfort or hot spots. They started out comfortable and just got more and more comfortable as the miles racked up.

With my normal-width feet and low arches, it was easy to cinch them up and head out. With the mixed eyelets and loops, it does make it a little challenging to pull the uppermost laces, but with a little extra effort, the tension and foot-hugging fit is just right. The tongues aren’t thick or extra tall, but just right for comfort. There is a mini-gusset on the lower portion of the tongue to keep them in place and prevent scree

Huge kudos for the heel pull on these. Why all trail shoes don’t come with a heel pull is beyond me. The North Face and I are on the same page with the hefty pull-tab on the Altamesa 500’s and I LOVE it. In my experience so far, it makes entry a breeze. My primary socks have been from Swiftwick (Flite XT Trail, Aspire and Maxus No Show), throughout my testing and each one has worked well with the Altamesa 500.

Road-to-trail masters

With a smooth stride and grippy SURFACE CTRL outsoles, the Altamesa 500 is a great dedicated trail runner, light hiker and even a great road-to-trail shoe. Lately, instead of a quick 5 minute drive to the trailhead, I’ve been warming up with a fast-paced walk on the pavement. It’s about a mile, but these shoes handle it with ease. I mention this because not all trail runners can do that — some have way too aggressive treads for comfort on the pavement. If road-to-trail is your jam, these are great, with the only exception being they are wearing faster than expected due to all the road miles.

It’s a beautiful thing to step onto the dirt and feel these shoes come to life. Each step is met with the perfect compression and rebound for both comfort and efficiency. No, they aren’t ultra-responsive race shoes, but honestly I don’t care. What matters here is just how smooth each step is on the dirt. They are nimble and feel comfortable at any pace — from a fast hike to sprinting. I can settle into a nice pace and simply enjoy the miles or vert because nothing is holding these back.

On dirt, the outsoles offer excellent traction on flat, uphill and downhill terrain. I have the utmost confidence in every step, which adds to the stability story. You’ll notice that the midsoles splay outward like a trapezoid, which provides the ultimate stability. If you want a great shoe that is stable in off-camber or tricky terrain, the Altamesa 500 is just the ticket.

Breathability is superb. I can easily feel the breeze flowing through the mesh uppers with every step. This has been great on warm days, but downright chilly in the 20s and 30s. At those lower temps, I’m grateful for a pair of Merino-blend socks for added warmth. I have noticed just a little bit of wear on the inside cuff from the opposite shoe hitting it. To keep it from fraying further, I just put some E6000 glue on there and it should be good for the life of the shoe.

Trail feel is good. I don’t feel completely disconnected from the nuances of the trail, but I also don’t feel those pointy, sharp rocks. With a wide forefoot, my toes can splay out and propel me forward with power and control.

Fit: I’m wearing a size 11.5 here and that’s my typical shoe size from The North Face, HOKA, Adidas Terrex, etc. 

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