Altra Rivera 4 Introduction
It has been a while since we’ve done a review of the Altra Rivera. It seems to have not changed much since it was unveiled.
It bridges the gap between the Escalante and the Torin. I would say it is the middle child of their neutral lineup. Just because it’s the middle child doesn’t mean it is overlooked.
It has moderate cushioning while the Escalante has a mid amount and the Torin has a maximum amount. The 4th edition has a few noticeable changes. It retails for 130 dollars.
It competes with the Brooks Ghost, Saucony Ride and the Hoka Clifton among others.
Altra Rivera 4 First Impressions
If you have read my reviews you know I am a fan of Altra. I was excited when these got delivered. I haven’t reviewed them before.
Upon opening them for the first time I instantly loved the look of them. The orange pops and the design is sleek. It is an eye-catching shoe which piques people’s interest.
They felt responsive and comfortable the first moment on my feet. There was also a strong bounce. They had a slimmer fit than all the other Altras I’ve reviewed, this was a welcome difference.
The maiden voyage of the Rivera 4 was a 5k. It was a comfortable ride where I found myself pushing the pace slightly. This was because of the slimmed down and lighter weight on my feet. I was looking forward to more miles in these.
Altra Rivera 4 Upper
The upper of the Rivera has received some updates. THe engineered mesh has been updated to give it a more sock-like feel. It is a dual layer mesh with a medium amount of structure. It is adaptable and breathable.
You will find a slimmed down FootShape in the Rivera. It hugs the heel and midfoot while still giving you a roomy toe box for your feet to splay out. Its tailored fit along with both the light weight and Foot Shape makes it a fast shoe.
The heel portion has been rebuilt to improve comfort and fit. The amount of cushioning along with the flared heel collar help. A little bit more cushioning would help achieve this.
Overall, the upper provides a traditional fit in a slim form.
Altra Rivera 4 Sole Unit
Let’s start from the ground up. The outsole is a standard rubber with thicker areas strategically placed in high impact areas. After 50+ miles the rubber has shown some wear. You will find guidelines on the outsole that segments the outline of your feet. This encourages natural flexibility while you run.
AltraEGO is the material used for the midsole. It leans to the responsive side but has a bounce to it.
It wouldn’t be an Altra without the natural FootShape and balanced cushioning, referring to the 0 mm heel to toe drop.
The FootShape of the Rivera is slimmer than other offerings. There is still room in the toe box. The 0 mm drop continues the trend of propelling you forward.
There is a small adjustment period to this drop. Overall, the midsole is a responsive ride with a bit of bounce.
Altra Rivera 4 Conclusions
The Rivera would be ideal for runners curious to try an Altra trainer. Just because it is a slimmed down faster trainer doesn’t mean it is only meant for race day. I could see it being one of my daily trainers. The Rivera has many strengths which would convert many runners to Altra.
The midsole achieves an ideal balance of responsiveness and bounce. The bounce along with the 0 mm drop naturally encourages you to push the pace slightly.
I was surprised to feel the slimmed down Foot Shape while maintaining its strengths. It hugs the contours of the midfoot and heel while giving you an ample toe box to splay out. The only downside would be the amount of cushioning is less than the other moderate trainers it competes with.
The upper has a new mesh which is adaptable and breathable. It gives sock like vibes. The amount of cushioning along with the flared heel collar made the upper comfortable. The heel collar bends out at the sides while wearing these, this affects the fit of the upper slightly. This would be the only drawback of the upper.
This was a different Altra I’ve never reviewed before. The Rivera continues the trend of me enjoying Altras. The Rivera is simple yet sleek in design.
Built with the foundation Altra is known for in a tailored package. It is a versatile trainer that naturally propels you forward at a slightly faster pace. It does this while being comfortable from first to last step.
