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I’ve been a big fan of The North Face’s trail line-up for years. The Flight Vectiv (the first carbon trail shoe, released in 2021) and the Summit Series Flight Vectiv Pro (that came out the following year) have been some of my favorite trail shoes ever, because of their zippy carbon-plated propulsion and hyper-responsive midsole foams. But you don’t need to slip into a $250 carbon shoe for every trail adventure—sometimes you just want a plush, comfortable ride. Enter the Altamesa 500.
The North Face Altamesa 500 is the latest addition to their trail shoe lineup, and it packs a (soft) punch of cushion. The number indicates the relative thickness of the model: the Altamesa 500 has a higher stack than milder additions to the quiver like the Altamesa 300. The 500’s 30-millimeter heel height feels substantial underfoot. This isn’t exactly a light and nimble shoe (a men’s 9 weighs 10.9 ounces), and it’s not a go-to for fast or technical laps, but I recommend it as an affordable ($150) max cushion shoe built for lengthy excursions on moderate trail. After running roughly 60 miles in these bad boys on a wide range of terrain, here are some of the reasons I love running in them.
At a Glance: The North Face Altamesa 500
- Price: $150
- Weight: 9.7 oz. (women’s size 8), 10.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
- Stack Height: 38mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
- Heel-toe offset: 6mm
Pros: Soft and comfortable without sacrificing snap and responsiveness; an updated, much-improved fit
Cons: Didn’t handle well in steep or technical terrain, felt a bit sloppy and overbuilt at faster speeds
First Run: The North Face Altamesa 500
Like the Vectiv Pro, the Altamesa 500 uses TNF’s proprietary supercritical EVA midsole material that they call Dream foam. I was first struck by how chunky these feel. There is a LOT of shoe underfoot. The ride is pretty far off the ground, so runners who prefer more trail feel and sensitivity will probably gravitate toward the Altamesa 300.
As I put miles on the shoes, however, I found that while the ride is mega plush it also has a good rebound. The Dream foam really is the stuff of long-run dreams. Coupled with a solid rocker, this shoe is a good compromise between an ultra Dad shoe and a sportier kick. The Altamesa 500 felt a tad unstable at faster speeds (I would not recommend this for interval training or a VK), but the slightly flared outsole under the toe box adds a bit of stability. The foam is reactive enough not to feel like deadweight and snappy enough that I could see some runners enjoying this for longer race efforts.
The fabric-like upper, an engineered mesh, is soft and stretchy and provides a bit of structure without feeling stiff or rigid or creating friction points on the foot. The upper is roomier compared to TNF’s earlier offerings (the original Flight Vectiv ran pretty narrow, which I liked). Runners with narrower or lower-volume feet might find the upper a tad sloppy, and I had to cinch my laces down fairly tightly to make the fit feel secure. But, most runners with normal to wider feet will probably enjoy the forgiving upper, especially for longer runs or races when the feet swell. The padded tongue and collar lent themselves to a comfy, blister-free run right out of the box.
The outsole is pretty mild by trail standards. The 4mm lugs aren’t very aggressively shaped and don’t lend themselves to technical, loose or muddy trails. However, the Altamesa 500 performed well on the speedy desert trails where I tested them, and unlike the original Vectiv Pro, didn’t shred my feet on the first run out of the box. I wouldn’t try to tackle a scree field in these cushy kicks, but they’re great for milder, less techy trails and gravel. The substantial stack height and relaxed nature of the upper made this feel a bit wobbly in technical terrain, but the same characteristics also felt protective and forgiving on tired or sensitive feet.
If you liked the Brooks Caldera or Speedland GS:TAM but are looking for a more affordable option that is also a tad sportier and more versatile, the Altamesa 500 is a great choice that I’ll be reaching for more and more often as the trails thaw out.
However, I found the fit a bit sportier than the GS:TAM (I have narrow feet, and all of Speedland’s shoes are a “unisex” fit, which pretty much means male, and a bit wider).
When Zoë Rom isn’t running, she’s writing or reading. You can catch her doing stand-up and improv in the Roaring Fork Valley with Consensual Improv. A Southern storyteller turned mountain dweller, she starts every day with a cup of strong coffee and a good story.
She is co-author of the book, Becoming a Sustainable Runner with Tina Muir and a UESCA-certified coach at Microcosm Coaching.