The Altra Experience Wild 2 Review & Lab Test: Shop Men’S & Women’S Models of 2026

The Altra Experience Wild 2 is a versatile trail shoe designed for runners seeking a balance between comfort and performance. With a lighter, extra-roomy upper, this shoe provides an improved fit ideal for various foot shapes.

Lab results indicate the midsole maintains the same foam, which delivers a subpar energy return. This characteristic may limit its potential as a high-performance trail option for those prioritizing responsiveness in their footwear.


Pros

  • Extremely roomy toebox
  • Very stable ride, especially up front
  • Beginner-friendly drop for Altra newcomers
  • Flexible build with natural feel
  • Impressive durability across the board
  • Noticeably lighter than version 1
  • Improved heel retention
  • Better lacing system
  • Same price as before

Cons

  • Bad energy return
  • Limited ventilation
  • Non-gusseted tongue
  • Not for narrow feet

Key Features

  • Balanced Cushioning: The platform places the heel and forefoot at the same distance from the ground, promoting low-impact landings.
  • Highly Cushioned Midsole: Specifically designed to support you during high-intensity trail days.
  • FootShape Toe Box: Signature design allows your toes to spread naturally, enhancing your overall comfort and encouraging proper form.

Specifications

  • Origin: Imported
  • Sole Material: Rubber
  • Outer Material: Mesh
  • Inner Material: Polyester

Altra Experience Wild 2 Review & Lab Test: Shop Men’S & Women’S Models – Price, Ratings, Reviews & Sales Insights

Altra Experience Wild 2 On Cloudvista 2 Brooks Catamount 3 Hoka Speedgoat 6
Price $140 $150 $170 $155
Trail terrain Light Light Light Moderate
Arch support Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral
Weight lab Weight brand 9.4 oz / 266g 10.3 oz / 292g 9 oz / 255g 9.8 oz / 278g
Drop lab Drop brand 6.1 mm 6.0 mm 6.8 mm 4.9 mm
Strike pattern Mid/forefoot Mid/forefoot Mid/forefoot Mid/forefoot
Size - True to size True to size Slightly small
Midsole softness Balanced Balanced Balanced Balanced
Difference in midsole softness in cold Normal Small Normal Small
Plate Rock plate
Toebox durability Decent Decent Very bad Good
Heel padding durability Good Bad Good Good
Outsole durability Good Good Decent Decent
Breathability Warm Warm Warm Warm
Width / fit Wide Narrow Narrow Medium
Toebox width Wide Medium Wide Medium
Stiffness Moderate Moderate Stiff Stiff
Torsional rigidity Moderate Stiff Moderate Stiff
Heel counter stiffness Flexible Moderate Flexible Moderate
Lug depth 3.5 mm 3.1 mm 2.9 mm 4.0 mm
Heel stack lab Heel stack brand 32.3 mm 31.7 mm 28.3 mm 32.1 mm
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand 26.2 mm 25.7 mm 21.5 mm 27.2 mm
Widths available Normal Narrow Normal Normal
For heavy runners
Season All seasons All seasons All seasons All seasons
Removable insole
Orthotic friendly
Ranking Bottom 15% Top 35% Top 23% Bottom 11%
Popularity Bottom 42% Bottom 41% Bottom 33% Top 13%