Altra Samson Shoe Review

Today I'll be reviewing the latest offering from Altra Running, the Samson.  Unlike many other companies, Altra focuses on zero drop shoes rather than minimal cushion, but they offer several shoes that have little in the way of cushioning.  In fact, Altra was the first to coin the term 'zero drop', a term now used regularly throughout the natural running sphere.  In the Altra portfolio, the Samson slots in between the heavily cushioned Instinct and the sandle-like Adam. Altra has added an even more supportive shoe recently, the Provision, which apparently aims to appeal to runners used to more traditional running shoes.

Description:  The Samsons are built on the same 3.4mm sole as the Adam.  Both the Samson and the Adam also come with a removable 3mm EVA insole called the "Strengthen Footbed".  The main difference of the two shoes lies sandwiched between the two aforementioned layers.  The Samson has a 3.5mm EVA midsole while the Adam does not.  With all the layers stacked up, then, the Samson has an overall stack height of around 10mm.  Without the insole, it is about 7mm.  It is, of course, a shoe with no heel-toe drop.

Fit and Construction:  At first glance, the Samson looks quite similar to any other running shoe.  It is a laced shoe built with commonly found fabrics, meshes, and synthetics.  While I have only run no more than 25 miles in the Samson, my prediction that the upper will hold up just fine, as all of the stitching and seams appear to be first-rate.  I will not make a prediction on the number of miles to be expected from the razor-siped sole, as I find that every runner has distinct wear patterns that can drastically alter the life of one. As expected with this type of footwear, the Samson has a wide overall fit that expands into a spacious toe box.  Fit of the shoe is perfect for me, further supported by the fact that I have not gotten any hotspots in my first three runs in it.  The upper holds your foot into place so that your foot doesn't slide around the footbed, but is still compliant enough to allow freedom of movement and an overall loose feel.  The only potential problem with the fit are the 'bumpers' on either side of the front of the shoe.  Here, instead of fabric catching your foot as it nears the edge of the sole, two rubber tabs extending form the bottom of the sole do the job. Walking around in the shoe makes these bumpers more pronounced, but curiously they seem to disappear when running in them.  I intend to use the Samson nearly exclusively for running, so this does not bother me, but those who purchase the shoe for casual use might want to buy from a retailer offering a good return policy.

Running:  While drop numbers and cushioning measurements can give one a fairly good idea of how a shoe will perform, running is the only true test.  Most importantly to me is how easy the shoe is to run in with good  form in a multitude of scenarios.  The Samson has passed this test with flying colors for me.  From 10+ mile easy runs to 5 mile tempo runs, proper running form came effortlessly in this shoe.  The 3.5mm cushion takes the edge off of the last few miles of a run without seeming cushy.  The sole provides great road grip, but I would not recommend this shoe for any technical off-road running.  Ground feel is decent; sidewalk cracks are easily felt, but small pebbles are not easily detected.  Having been running in thinner-soled shoes for the past couple years, I must admit that my feet feel slightly numb to the ground, but those transitioning down from more built up shoes will find that the Samson allows much better prioreception than their other shoes.

Other Information:  The Samson retails for $100, but it is possible to find discounts online and get free shipping and other small coupons.  I got the shoe for $90 shipped and delivered.

 - DV