Which should you buy?
Choose the Vanish Pulse if you want a lighter zero-drop shoe for faster sessions.
Choose the Escalante 5 if you want a zero-drop daily trainer with maximum toe room or a wide fit.
The Vanish Pulse is 28 g lighter than the Escalante 5. It has 2 mm less foam under the heel. It costs £10 more at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Vanish PulseAltra | Escalante 5Altra |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 87/100 (1 review) | 88/100 (1 review) |
| Type | Lightweight / tempo | Daily trainer |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 241 g | 269 g |
| Heel stack | 22 mm | 24 mm |
| Drop | 0 mm | 0 mm |
| Cushioning | Firm-ish | Firm-ish |
| Bounce | Calm | Lively |
| Plate | No plate | No plate |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Fit | True to size | Runs small |
| Widths | standard | standard, wide |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £130 | £120 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedRunRepeat's Carlos Sánchez tested both and praised their roomy forefoots and breathable uppers, though he found each heavier than expected. He rated the Altra Vanish Pulse a versatile daily and tempo shoe let down by traction, while RTINGS felt its thin, firm cushioning suits only short runs. The Altra Escalante 5 struck him as livelier, but its tongue slides about.
Vanish Pulse
- Roomy forefoot and breathable upper
- Stable, versatile low-stack ride for daily and tempo runs
- Durable outsole at a fair price
- Thin, firm midsole lacks protection on long runs
- Narrow heel and weak wet grip up front
Scores from RunRepeat.
Escalante 5
- Roomiest toebox in Altra's range, great for wide feet
- Livelier rebound than the Escalante 4
- Breathable knit upper
- Ungusseted tongue can slide around
- Heel padding wears quickly and wet grip is only average
Scores from RunRepeat.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
Altra Escalante 5: Adds about 2 mm of heel stack, a slightly bouncier EGO midsole and a breathable knit upper; it is a touch stiffer and more stable than the Escalante 4 but costs more.
About each shoe
About the Vanish Pulse
Low, light and flat, the Vanish Pulse is Altra's stripped-back road shoe for speedwork, with a zero-drop platform and a 22 mm stack. Its midsole is FAST PCE, a foam that Altra says is designed for a poppy, lightweight ride for tempo runs or race day, and there is no plate, unlike the Vanish Tempo 2 and Vanish Carbon 3 above it in the Vanish family, both of which add more stack and a heel drop.
A wide-gauge knit upper, flat tongue and heel pull tab keep the build simple, over a rubber outsole. Altra rates the cushioning as low and uses its Original FootShape fit, the roomiest toe box in the range, where the other two Vanish models use the snugger Racing fit. Its tagline promises a shoe to feel free, connected and responsive. For a daily-training option on a similarly low platform, Altra also offers the Escalante 5.
Specs and features from altrarunning.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Escalante 5
Altra's low-profile neutral road shoe, the Escalante 5 is pitched at daily road running and all-day wear, with retailer listings adding short-to-medium runs, travel and some gym work to its uses. It sits on a zero-drop platform with less stack than the Torin 9, and is a daily-training counterpart to the speed-focused Vanish Pulse.
The midsole is Altra EGO foam, modestly upgraded for this version, with an updated sockliner and strobel layer, over an improved rubber outsole aimed at grip and durability. Up top, an engineered knit upper has a redesigned collar and an updated tongue with a brushed lining. The fit is Altra's Original FootShape, the brand's roomiest toe box, in keeping with its zero-drop design. It follows the Escalante 4, and Altra also lists an Escalante Racer 2 built on the same EGO foam.
Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com, altrarunning.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Vanish Pulse vs Escalante 5
In short
Two low, zero-drop Altra road shoes. The Vanish Pulse is 28 g lighter, a little lower at 22 mm and £10 more, aimed at tempo runs and short races. The Escalante 5 is the everyday option, with the roomiest toe box in Altra's range and a wide fit; reviewers found its rebound livelier than the Escalante 4.
- Better reviewedEscalante 5
- LighterVanish Pulse
- CheaperEscalante 5
- More foamEscalante 5
- BouncierEscalante 5
- More widthsEscalante 5
Get the full story
AltraEverything on the Vanish Pulse3 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Vanish Pulse
AltraEverything on the Escalante 53 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Escalante 5More comparisons
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