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Altra Delilah™ Review

posted by gumptiongear July 10, 2012 0 comments

 

Less is definitely more when you slip on the Delilah from Altra Footwear.  Designed specifically for women, this shoe’s close fit, light internal support, and minimalist design encourage your foot to find its natural landing position for less impact and a more efficient and aligned stride.

Welcome to the Altra Revolution my friends!

Altra Footwear is at the forefront of the natural running revolution. Their entire line of running shoes is designed on natural footbed shapes and a zero drop heel to toe ratio that allows you to run more naturally, more efficiently. This wasn’t our first rodeo with Altra, our testers have been impressed with the Instinct and Intuition.

When presented with the opportunity to review the Delilah, we entrusted the review to one of our Gumption Gal runners who is not only a minimalist runner, but also an ambassador for another zero drop brand.  Who better to review one of the newest additions to the Altra family of zero drop shoes?

In a nutshell: Our Gumption Gal raved about the Delilah. From the women’s specific fit to the light gray mesh with hot pink or royal purple trim, the Delilah is a modern women’s runner – tough enough for a regimen of hard training miles on the road or rambles in the crossfit gym, yet stylish enough for those casual adventures.

Fit and Performance….

The Delilah is a shoe made for runners, designed by runners. Unlike other companies that joined the minimalist movement by simply cutting down the heel or changing the name on their current styles, Altra has designed a shoe that puts the foot first.

In crafting the Delilah, Altra’s design team has taken everything outdoor enthusiasts and barefoot runners have loved about the Eve and capitalized on it by adding laces, a sportier vamp, and a slightly stronger midsole.

Like all Altra shoes, the Delilah maps the natural design of the foot resulting in a roomier toebox that allows the toes to spread out more naturally.  This natural fit not only enhances comfort, but reduces muscle cramping when you’re knocking out long distance runs and helps develop muscular strength—something that traditional cushioned shoes discourage.

The Delilah features a zero drop sole that is only 3mm thick, putting your foot and body in the position Mother Nature always intended. Moreover, the outsole is razor-siped to enhance grip and traction while also protecting your feet from rocks and debris.


The insole that comes with the Delilah provides some cushioning and support for those transitioning into a minimalist shoe.  For those already accustomed to running in minimalist shoes, our Gumption gal felt that removing the perforated “strengthen” insole provided greater comfort and optimal ground feedback – a big plus when using you introduce Delilah to your favorite trail.

A breathable mesh upper ensures maximum ventilation and airflow to keep your feet cool while you take on the summer heat, and for the moments you’re forced to run through a creek or rain puddle, the upper is also quick drying.

Much like when Goldilocks found baby bear’s bed to be “just right,” our gumption gal’s favorite feature was the heel cup which felt snug without being overly tight or unnecessarily constricting.  Altra’s HeelClaw technology is designed to cradle the heel in a way that makes you forget there’s a shoe on your foot – so you can frolic in freedom.

Room for Improvement…
Turns out that much like every other Altra shoe our team has put through the paces there’s a lot to love, and very little to critique. Nitpicking at an otherwise solid shoe, our gear guru did note a few specific issues. First, when one considers the unique shape and structure of the human foot, sizing can be a difficult process, yet with that considered, the Delilah felt as though it ran half size small.  Secondly, for our gumption gal the Delilah felt slightly wide in the midsection.  So despite her preference for running sockless in summer months, the fit did result in her utilizing socks and lacing up tight to ensure the perfect fit for her feet.

Bottom Line…
The Delilah is solid performing shoe that looks as good on the trail and pavement as it does around town. The roomy toebox and Altra’s HeelClaw technology are both uncommon and appreciated, especially by female runners who have had difficulty finding a comfortable performance minimalist shoe. Get on the minimalist bandwagon… get the Delilah.

Manufactured by Altra Footwear, the Delilah is available for $99.99 with either purple or hot pink trim in sizes 6-12.