I ordered a pair of 4's on Feb. 3 from Run Moore and they arrived on Feb. 5! Thanks Steve....I've had 2 pair of Rivera 3's and here are my initial thoughts on Rivera 4 on things that have changed from the 3: 1) heel is wider and doesn't have the 2 "balloon" things (also found on the AltraFWD) that keep your heel secure, although so far I don't feel a difference 2) laces are improved and don't appear that they will ever come untied like the 3's, however, they are extremely difficult to pull out or thread into an eyelet, which is more of a slot than a hole 3) tongue is more padded and is comfortable although continues to slide to lateral side like the 3's did 4) I don't see any reflective striping which previous Rivera's have had, which is unfortunate 5) the black color is really gray and 6) these are lighter than the 3's as my size 12.5 for the 3's weighed 10.8 oz. and same size in the 4's weigh 10.2 oz.
Nice to hear your thoughts on the Rivera 4. Interesting find about the weight. In our catalog, Altra claims that the Rivera 4 is slightly _heavier_ compared to the Rivera 3, weighing in at 10 oz on the 4 compared to 9.8 oz on the 3. Otherwise, we found the midsole on the 4 to feel almost identical to the 3.
Is the upper more like the FWD or Torin 7. The upper on my FWD seems to last forever. The upper on my Torin 7 started tearing at the bend points after 100 miles…
I have a wide, typically Altra foot and surprisingly I’ve come to love the Rivera 1 &2 more and more. They don’t fit me as well as my favourite Escalante 2.5 but do fit me a hell of a lot better than the Escalante 3. Despite the slim foot shape both the Rivera 1 and 2 feel much wider than the Escalante 3 after a bit of break in. The cushion is great for a high mileage shoe. Just enough without feeling dead like the Torin. I can’t wait to try the Rivera 4.
Glad to hear the Rivera is fitting you nicely. It is in that nice midweight cushion category where it has more than the Escalante, but not as much as the Torin. We hope the Rivera 4 fits you well too.
Very keen to try this shoe. I bought a pair of the original Rivera cheaply when they had just been discontinued. At the time I was wearing the Escalante 2.5 for road but only running around 30-40km per week. At first I disliked the Rivera but it grew on me steadily. Two years on and the Rivera 2 & 3 became my shoes of choice. I have a very wide forefoot and more normal width midfoot and every Rivera I've tried has fit me much better and felt dramatically better that the hated Escalante 3. The Escalante 2.5 does fit me better but doesn't have enough cushion now that I'm running much higher mileage. I actually still have a virtually new pair of Esc. 2.5 and another new in box but I run almost exclusively in the Rivera and save the Escalante 2.5 for the occasional session. I recently ran a 100km road ultra in the Rivera 2 and they performed superbly. I'm a bigger guy at 97kg and the Rivera has just enough cushion for me.
Glad to see that Altra continues to make and improve this shoe, as it is somewhat forgotten. I liked the Escalante 2, but starting with the 2.5, the upper got too loosey goosey -- you'd fall off the platform take a turn at even a moderate speed. But the Rivera has a nice secure lock down, and you got much better lateral stability. Hope more people try this shoe out so Altra keeps making it!
Thank you for the very helpful review of the Rivera 4. I've worn all three versions of the Rivera and the 3 has been my favorite -- primarily as an everyday walking shoe on days I don't run. I find that in spite of the Rivera's rep for being "narrow", my Torin 6's actually bother the outside of my left foot after a while whereas the Riveras were comfortable from day 1. And the Riveras just felt way more responsive than the Torins (although I can't speak to the Torin 7). I may pick up another pair of 3's before they disappear as well as the 4's. Wish they would bring back the black/gray midsole combo! Thanks again!
Nice to hear your thoughts on the Rivera! The Torin definitely is a bit sloppy feeling compared to the Rivera. The EGO Max midsole in the Torin is going to be much softer, while the standard EGO in the Rivera adds a pinch of firmness that gives it a bit of responsiveness.
Hey Steve. I just heard about the altras through your channel. Any recommendations for wide feet and high arches? I like the fit of Men's Gel-Venture 8 Running Shoes size 11 extra wide but really wanna try the altras and it sounds like you know you stuff
i don't like this channel's attitude of always making things super flaccidly official WHILE saying "NO AFFILIATION YADAYADA". while having very limited comment interaction
I hope altra will have pure white color. I have plantar fasciitis and zero drops shoes help deal with it. I’ve been workinh more than 12 hours in hospital floors altra helps me a lot. ❤️
Thanks for the review. The Rivera 3 is my favorite shoe. I love the flexibility, especially in the forefoot. It really promotes natural foot movement. It's also the most comfortable heel that Altra produces. I hope the new depth retains the heel comfort.
Thank you! I have been an Altra girl for years because of the zero drop but I get a burning sensation on my foot soles from both the Torins 6 and 7 and the Olympus Via, suspecting they are too wide for me and cause too much friction. I might give the Rivera a try.
Can you do a video covering zero drop and how it affects your body? I wore Altra zero drop for 8 years and just recently experienced knee pain. I switched to the Altra shoe with a 4mm drop and the pain went away. Not sure why this had a positive affect. Just happy knee pain is almost gone.
The Rivera is a nice more streamlined version of the Escalante. It also has a pinch more cushion. If you don't need that extra width, then the Rivera is a perfect fit. Let us know what you think about them!
Perhaps there's a misunderstanding by most people: If your foot is not slim, then the Rivera is not for you. Therefor the fact that it is ''slim'' is not an issue! Try other models :-)
I wear Paradigms for the extra support, but I have to tie them so tight the fabric bunches a little. My feet are low volume, and I’d try the Rivera if they weren’t a neutral shoe.
I have narrow low volume feet in a size 12.5. Joy me, but not really. I discovered the Rivera 3 and wear a size 12. I wish the foam was just a tad less soft, but I’ve ran a half marathon and finished with zero foot fatigue. So, it’s real ward to complain. To all the people that complain about the Rivera being narrow or slim thank you Altra for making shoes I can wear. I own four pairs of Rivera 3’s. I bought the Escalanta 4’s and I’m most happy with them too.
Steve - I am enjoying the Rivera 4 that bought online from your store. I can't believe it took me this long to figure out that Altra offers a narrower shoe like the Rivera. Maybe I missed it, but Altra needs to do better job of explaining their lineup. Too many models. I had been using Altra for years, but had given up on the brand because their shoes seemed to grow wider (especially the Escalante 3 which was like a clown shoe on me). This video explaining the narrow Rivera showed me the way! Are there other narrow fitting Altras that I should be considering? Maybe the Tempo?
Most of the speed shoes from Altra would be in the same slim fit category the Rivera is in. The Vanish Tempo is a great option that fits narrower and adds a bit of fun to your lineup. If you want a race day shoe, check out the Vanish Carbon.
Compared to the Torin 4.5 Plush it is much more lighter than that model. Much lighter overall than any of the Torin models. The Rivera is not as "plush" as the max cushion options from Altra either.
Escalante = Footshape (Largest, the original) ; Torin = Standard (Narrower but close to Footshape) ; Rivera = Slim (Really different from the 2 others but still larger than most of the competition) The Escalante don't make much sense now, as the Torin do better in almost every aspect. I would be interested to try the Rivera though, as they seem to be lighter. The slim shape doesn't bother me at all in my Superior even during 20km+ trails.
Interesting you found the listed weight way too high; I just picked up a pair of Torin 6s cheap online, for walking mostly to replace my Provisions. They felt really light to me so I weighed them and they were also 9.0oz each (M10.5). Couldn't find a listed online weight anywhere close to that.
In my experience, the “slim” foot shape has served my feet quite well. I have pretty wide, low feet and have loved the Rivera since the first generation. The right shoe ks totally a personal thing, but it just works so well for me. Then trying the Torin 5, I’m just confused - on paper it’s a much “better” shoe. It’s apparently very wide, but it hit my feet in totally the wrong place and felt very narrow and constrictive. It’s also supposed to be among the most cushiony, but feels like a hard rock and the arch support digs into my foot. Then there’s also the known issues with the tongue of the 5. Does anyone have thoughts or had a similar experience?
I’ve been through 8 pair of Rivera. Love the fit but the quality on the 3’s were awful. The upper blew out on my first run. This review makes me want to reluctantly try the 4’s since they’ve beefed up the upper.
Thanks for watching! Sorry to hear the 3s didn't work out for you. The 4 does have a better upper in my opinion. If you try out the 4s let us know your thoughts.
These would be fine as a strength and conditioning shoe. There is a shoe from Altra that would be slightly better for what you're looking for. The Provision 7 has the same amount of cushioning as the Rivera, only it has extra support on the medial and lateral sides.
Best explanation of Rivera yet! Many thanks
Glad it was helpful!
@@RunMoore Just bought Rivera from your store and its already shipped. Very nice
@@nordicwilly6650 Thanks for supporting our small business!
I ordered a pair of 4's on Feb. 3 from Run Moore and they arrived on Feb. 5! Thanks Steve....I've had 2 pair of Rivera 3's and here are my initial thoughts on Rivera 4 on things that have changed from the 3: 1) heel is wider and doesn't have the 2 "balloon" things (also found on the AltraFWD) that keep your heel secure, although so far I don't feel a difference 2) laces are improved and don't appear that they will ever come untied like the 3's, however, they are extremely difficult to pull out or thread into an eyelet, which is more of a slot than a hole 3) tongue is more padded and is comfortable although continues to slide to lateral side like the 3's did 4) I don't see any reflective striping which previous Rivera's have had, which is unfortunate 5) the black color is really gray and 6) these are lighter than the 3's as my size 12.5 for the 3's weighed 10.8 oz. and same size in the 4's weigh 10.2 oz.
Nice to hear your thoughts on the Rivera 4. Interesting find about the weight. In our catalog, Altra claims that the Rivera 4 is slightly _heavier_ compared to the Rivera 3, weighing in at 10 oz on the 4 compared to 9.8 oz on the 3. Otherwise, we found the midsole on the 4 to feel almost identical to the 3.
Is the upper more like the FWD or Torin 7. The upper on my FWD seems to last forever. The upper on my Torin 7 started tearing at the bend points after 100 miles…
Your cushion scale will be great to show my employees so they understand better too! Thank you
Thank you! We really appreciate it!
Great overview! I picked up the 2 on a whim at a discount store and I really like it. Can't wait to try the 4.
Glad to hear you like the 2. Hope you like the 4 just as much!
Another fantastic, informative and helpful review!! Thank you and keep the great content coming!!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you again for the always reliable reviews!
Thanks for watching!
I have a wide, typically Altra foot and surprisingly I’ve come to love the Rivera 1 &2 more and more. They don’t fit me as well as my favourite Escalante 2.5 but do fit me a hell of a lot better than the Escalante 3. Despite the slim foot shape both the Rivera 1 and 2 feel much wider than the Escalante 3 after a bit of break in. The cushion is great for a high mileage shoe. Just enough without feeling dead like the Torin. I can’t wait to try the Rivera 4.
Glad to hear the Rivera is fitting you nicely. It is in that nice midweight cushion category where it has more than the Escalante, but not as much as the Torin. We hope the Rivera 4 fits you well too.
Very keen to try this shoe. I bought a pair of the original Rivera cheaply when they had just been discontinued. At the time I was wearing the Escalante 2.5 for road but only running around 30-40km per week. At first I disliked the Rivera but it grew on me steadily. Two years on and the Rivera 2 & 3 became my shoes of choice. I have a very wide forefoot and more normal width midfoot and every Rivera I've tried has fit me much better and felt dramatically better that the hated Escalante 3. The Escalante 2.5 does fit me better but doesn't have enough cushion now that I'm running much higher mileage. I actually still have a virtually new pair of Esc. 2.5 and another new in box but I run almost exclusively in the Rivera and save the Escalante 2.5 for the occasional session. I recently ran a 100km road ultra in the Rivera 2 and they performed superbly. I'm a bigger guy at 97kg and the Rivera has just enough cushion for me.
Glad to see that Altra continues to make and improve this shoe, as it is somewhat forgotten. I liked the Escalante 2, but starting with the 2.5, the upper got too loosey goosey -- you'd fall off the platform take a turn at even a moderate speed. But the Rivera has a nice secure lock down, and you got much better lateral stability. Hope more people try this shoe out so Altra keeps making it!
Exactly! I am swimming in the Escalante 3. Way too roomy for narrow foot.
Thank you for the very helpful review of the Rivera 4. I've worn all three versions of the Rivera and the 3 has been my favorite -- primarily as an everyday walking shoe on days I don't run. I find that in spite of the Rivera's rep for being "narrow", my Torin 6's actually bother the outside of my left foot after a while whereas the Riveras were comfortable from day 1. And the Riveras just felt way more responsive than the Torins (although I can't speak to the Torin 7). I may pick up another pair of 3's before they disappear as well as the 4's. Wish they would bring back the black/gray midsole combo! Thanks again!
Nice to hear your thoughts on the Rivera! The Torin definitely is a bit sloppy feeling compared to the Rivera. The EGO Max midsole in the Torin is going to be much softer, while the standard EGO in the Rivera adds a pinch of firmness that gives it a bit of responsiveness.
Hey Steve. I just heard about the altras through your channel. Any recommendations for wide feet and high arches? I like the fit of Men's Gel-Venture 8 Running Shoes size 11 extra wide but really wanna try the altras and it sounds like you know you stuff
i don't like this channel's attitude of always making things super flaccidly official WHILE saying "NO AFFILIATION YADAYADA". while having very limited comment interaction
I hope altra will have pure white color. I have plantar fasciitis and zero drops shoes help deal with it. I’ve been workinh more than 12 hours in hospital floors altra helps me a lot. ❤️
This shoe is available in all white if you check the site!
Thanks for the review. The Rivera 3 is my favorite shoe. I love the flexibility, especially in the forefoot. It really promotes natural foot movement. It's also the most comfortable heel that Altra produces. I hope the new depth retains the heel comfort.
Thanks for watching!
I see the drastic change in upper materials from a mesh to cloth. How is the breathability considering?
Thank you! I have been an Altra girl for years because of the zero drop but I get a burning sensation on my foot soles from both the Torins 6 and 7 and the Olympus Via, suspecting they are too wide for me and cause too much friction. I might give the Rivera a try.
The Rivera would certainly be a great option to try. Thanks for watching!
Can you do a video covering zero drop and how it affects your body? I wore Altra zero drop for 8 years and just recently experienced knee pain. I switched to the Altra shoe with a 4mm drop and the pain went away. Not sure why this had a positive affect. Just happy knee pain is almost gone.
You just walked or run in zero drop for 8 years? No traditional shoes for thaf time?
I love my zero drop escalantes but i don't need the very wide toe box, so a rivera is definitely built for me.
The Rivera is a nice more streamlined version of the Escalante. It also has a pinch more cushion. If you don't need that extra width, then the Rivera is a perfect fit. Let us know what you think about them!
Perhaps there's a misunderstanding by most people: If your foot is not slim, then the Rivera is not for you. Therefor the fact that it is ''slim'' is not an issue! Try other models :-)
I wear Paradigms for the extra support, but I have to tie them so tight the fabric bunches a little. My feet are low volume, and I’d try the Rivera if they weren’t a neutral shoe.
I have narrow low volume feet in a size 12.5. Joy me, but not really. I discovered the Rivera 3 and wear a size 12. I wish the foam was just a tad less soft, but I’ve ran a half marathon and finished with zero foot fatigue. So, it’s real ward to complain.
To all the people that complain about the Rivera being narrow or slim thank you Altra for making shoes I can wear. I own four pairs of Rivera 3’s. I bought the Escalanta 4’s and I’m most happy with them too.
Steve - I am enjoying the Rivera 4 that bought online from your store.
I can't believe it took me this long to figure out that Altra offers a narrower shoe like the Rivera. Maybe I missed it, but Altra needs to do better job of explaining their lineup. Too many models.
I had been using Altra for years, but had given up on the brand because their shoes seemed to grow wider (especially the Escalante 3 which was like a clown shoe on me). This video explaining the narrow Rivera showed me the way! Are there other narrow fitting Altras that I should be considering? Maybe the Tempo?
Most of the speed shoes from Altra would be in the same slim fit category the Rivera is in. The Vanish Tempo is a great option that fits narrower and adds a bit of fun to your lineup. If you want a race day shoe, check out the Vanish Carbon.
Is the new upper on the V4 like the Torin 6/7 ?
upper update, what's actually changed in method and what is the thinking behind it
How would you compare this to the Torin 4.5 Plush? Other than the slim fit, it sounds similar…
Compared to the Torin 4.5 Plush it is much more lighter than that model. Much lighter overall than any of the Torin models. The Rivera is not as "plush" as the max cushion options from Altra either.
Escalante = Footshape (Largest, the original) ; Torin = Standard (Narrower but close to Footshape) ; Rivera = Slim (Really different from the 2 others but still larger than most of the competition)
The Escalante don't make much sense now, as the Torin do better in almost every aspect. I would be interested to try the Rivera though, as they seem to be lighter.
The slim shape doesn't bother me at all in my Superior even during 20km+ trails.
Interesting you found the listed weight way too high; I just picked up a pair of Torin 6s cheap online, for walking mostly to replace my Provisions. They felt really light to me so I weighed them and they were also 9.0oz each (M10.5). Couldn't find a listed online weight anywhere close to that.
In my experience, the “slim” foot shape has served my feet quite well. I have pretty wide, low feet and have loved the Rivera since the first generation. The right shoe ks totally a personal thing, but it just works so well for me. Then trying the Torin 5, I’m just confused - on paper it’s a much “better” shoe. It’s apparently very wide, but it hit my feet in totally the wrong place and felt very narrow and constrictive. It’s also supposed to be among the most cushiony, but feels like a hard rock and the arch support digs into my foot. Then there’s also the known issues with the tongue of the 5. Does anyone have thoughts or had a similar experience?
The Orange mens version, is the midsole, white, grey or light blue? Looks different on different photos.
True to size? I've had to go up 1/2 size in the Rivera 2 and 3.
I’ve been through 8 pair of Rivera. Love the fit but the quality on the 3’s were awful. The upper blew out on my first run. This review makes me want to reluctantly try the 4’s since they’ve beefed up the upper.
Thanks for watching! Sorry to hear the 3s didn't work out for you. The 4 does have a better upper in my opinion. If you try out the 4s let us know your thoughts.
The Rivera series make good slower pace shoes. The cushion is just a wee bit too firm and stacked for an everyday zero drop shoe imo.
Would you recommend these for Strength and Conditioning Coaches who are on their feet all day? If not what shoe would you recommend?
These would be fine as a strength and conditioning shoe. There is a shoe from Altra that would be slightly better for what you're looking for. The Provision 7 has the same amount of cushioning as the Rivera, only it has extra support on the medial and lateral sides.
@@RunMoore Perfect. Yeah I work at a gym and I have vivo's but I need some cushion. So Provision 7 would be perfect? Thank you so much for responding.
Could I also use it for slow long distance as a beginner? (20km+)
Yes. The Rivera 4 is in the midweight cushion category. We like to say it is good for anything from a mile to a marathon.
I have 4 pairs from Rivera 3, really nice shoe, after they ruined the escalante.
which colors
As I hear slin fit, its over
Less breathable than the previous versions.