AltraMen's Rivera 4 Sneaker

Comfy

I hadn't heard of this brand before so was sceptical about the price tag. However after some research it became clear that there's a lot of thought gone into their making. Very high quality cushioning on the sole. The wide toe section was interesting and they looked a bit strange wearing them for the first time but I can see how it's meant for posture. I liked how comfortable they are, will be using these for a very long time

I've tried a few different pairs of ultra trainers now, and while these are not a bad trainer, they're not my favorite out of the ones I've tried.They feel like they don't really have a specific purpose. They're designed to be a little bit more of an all rounder, it seems, but that means that they don't actually excel in any area.They feel like comfortable walking trainers, but they're certainly not great for running long distances because they're quite chunky and heavy in comparison to some of the more lightweight runners that you can get.When it comes to walking, they've got quite a big soft heel on them, which means overtime they do get quite squashy, which would be more suited for a running texture.When it comes to trail running, they're not great because they don't have the harder to absorb the rocks and they don't have the higher ankle support to stop you from turning over your ankle.So overall there are trying to be a bit of a Jack of all trades but master of none. Then the by no means a bad shoe, but it seems like they don't really know what they are. I like and they're comfortable. They're great for just bopping around in town, but in terms of an actual performance shoe, not too great.

I had never heard of Altra before, and that's probably because I am not a runner/jogger however, I do love my trainers so thought I would give these a go. First impressions are great, they look well made and I like the styling. They are lightweight coming in at around 250g with a 28mm heel and forefoot for a neutral style running shoe with zero difference in height between the heel and forefoot, allowing the foot to be level with the ground.A neutral running shoe might not suit everyone, especially if you are just looking for a general, classic style trainer. They do not include extra control or stability features and instead let the foot bend and move as naturally as possible. However, the Rivera 4 is a more casual running trainer and as such I actually found them quite comfortable. There is decent flexibility, the cushioning of the sole is good and they don't feel too stiff but nor are they too soft, to me they just feel perfect as an active style trainer.I was expecting some transition to a zero drop trainer however I was able to just throw these on without issue. Even though these are regarded as a slim fit, they really are not. The upper is certainly a little slimmer than other running trainers but there is still plenty of width in the lower, I actually found them wider than my standard Reebok's and Adidas.Overall I think these are a great set of everyday active trainers. They look great, feel comfortable and offer a more casual entry to running shoes.

Altra have specialised in zero drop shoes with anatomical toeboxes for a while, so I was a little surprised to find that these Riveras are quite narrow all the way through. I'd say they fit half a size smaller than I'd expect, so beware, especially if you have wider feet.For that reason, I haven't spent much time running in them, but the short zone 2 run I took in them was comfortable enough. Since they're zero drop, they do feel a bit more grounded and natural than other high stack, high drop shoes, and your calves and ankles in particular will have to work a little harder than normal.The sole is very bouncy and comfortable. Definitely offers that extra spring you'd hope for in running shoes. This also translates to walking, and I've found them very comfortable as an alternative to my regular trainers. There's quite a lot of texture on the sole too, so grip is surprisingly good for road oriented shoes.The upper is breathable, but it's quite high volume so they might run a little warm. I've had some issues with the tongue moving off to the side, but this might be a result of the shoes being slightly too narrow for me.Overall, I can recommend these as daily trainers if you're looking for zero drop shoes with bounce and you have narrow feet (or are willing to size up).

I've never bought shoes this expensive so I was expecting a lot and wow these did not disappoint. From the moment I took them out the box, the quality was clear, these are so well made. The real test of course is in the wearing and the comfort, size wise they're true to size, i'm usually a 9 and I ordered these in a 9 with no issues.These are really lightweight but still have a very cushioned sole making them perfect for a casual runner providing support but they also look great too.

My budget on trainers tends to be £40 to £60 as I have always thought it was about paying extra for the name. I am now a convert. First of all these trainer look really stylish and really stand out. They feel really well made and of good quality. They are just so comfortable to wear I take a size 9 fitted perfectly. My feet felt cushioned and very well supported. I could tell the difference straight away from my usual trainers. They feel light but sturdy at the same time. I use these to mainly walk and train in the gym as well as running on the treadmill and they were great for this purpose. Stylish, solid and comfortable. Highly recommended.