The North Face
Altamesa 500 v2
A cushioned, stable door-to-trail shoe with bouncier Dream foam, a forefoot rocker and grippier 4 mm lugs. It's comfortable for long mixed-surface runs, though not nimble on technical trails.
What's new: Noticeably lighter, with a new engineered mesh upper, airier and bouncier Dream foam, and grippier rubber with sharper lugs.
About the Altamesa 500 v2
Everyday versatility on mixed road-to-trail routes is the brief The North Face gives the Altamesa 500 v2, listing training and recovery as its best uses. It is the brand's road-to-trail option, aimed at gentler ground than the Vectiv Enduris 4, which the brand positions for gravel to rocky trail and builds around a TPU plate.
This version gets a new engineered mesh upper, a revised DREAM foam midsole and grippier rubber with sharper 4 mm lugs. There is no plate. Instead, a forefoot rocker shapes the cushioned midsole, which reaches a 36 mm heel with a 6 mm drop. An Altamesa 500 V2 GORE-TEX version adds a waterproof membrane for wet-weather running, and the shoe comes in a standard width only.
Specs and features from thenorthface.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Video reviews
What the critics say
The reviews in briefBelieve in the Run's Taylor Bodin, Reese Ruland and Renee Krusemark found The North Face Altamesa 500 v2 a lighter, grippier door-to-trail option, though clumsy on technical singletrack, and Reese felt it ran long. Doctors of Running's David Salas agreed it is roomy and stable for long mixed-surface runs, but short on energy return.
- Positive: Light, responsive and stable cushioning
- Positive: Roomy, comfortable fit
- Positive: Much better grip on rock, snow and pavement
- Mixed: Runs long, so you may need a half size down
- Negative: Wide, tall platform feels clumsy on narrow, technical trails
- Negative: Limited energy return when you push the pace
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Road to trail
- Type
- 277 g
- Weight
- 36 mm
- Heel stack
- 6 mm
- Drop
- No plate
- Plate
- Inherently stable
- Support
Weight for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5.
What it feels like
Fit
True to size
Roomy but secure, with plenty of forefoot space; it runs long, so some reviewers suggest going down half a size.
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Where to buy the Altamesa 500 v2
RRP around £135. Tap through for today's price.
The North Face Altamesa 500 v2
In short
A comfortable choice if your runs mix roads, gravel, towpaths and smooth trails and you want cushioning and a stable, roomy fit. It runs long, and it isn't built for technical trails.
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