The North Face Altamesa 500 is finally here... After all the influencers have tried them on and reviewed them, I finally got to try them myself yesterday.
.
What everyone says are the highlights are
- A wide, comfortable forefoot
- Soft foam
- Everyone seems to love them!
.
Yesterday, I took them out for a run on the paved road up and down Khao Bang Kaeo, with 14% gradients and 700 meters of cumulative elevation gain.
.
The forefoot really is wide and comfortable, with plenty of room both across and lengthwise, and a nice secure fit through the midfoot.
.
The foam is really the star here. I did a little research on DREAM Foam, which is made using a new technique where nitrogen is injected during the final stage after the plastic pellets have been compressed with heat and pressure. Injecting nitrogen creates a larger foam cell structure than conventional techniques.
... The result is foam that is fluffy, soft yet bouncy, and lightweight.
You can feel the softness while running, without feeling mushy, and it provides a nice responsive bounce. When I jogged uphill, it really did provide a responsive bounce that saved me a surprising amount of energy.
I don't usually run fast on flat ground anyway, and these aren't designed for speed either. But they still have a nice rolling motion, thanks to the rocker shape... Perfect for easy runs and fun recovery runs.
.
The outsole provides no problem with grip on dry, steep terrain, but I'm not so sure about wet, steep terrain. From my own experience, if you run your hand over the lugs and they don't feel grippy, they probably won't hold up 
.
The design of these shoes is minimalist and looks like it costs more than its 5,250 baht price tag. I don't get to wear trail shoes very often, but these can be worn for many different occasions. If you like this style, I think they're great value for money and well worth the price, as they look great from the laces all the way down to the outsole.
.
They are now available online at Lotsthailand, as well as at The North Face stores in Central Mega Bangna and Chiang Mai.