What replaced the Altra Torin 8?
Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Altra Torin 9 replaced the Torin 8 on July 1 2026, and it is the biggest change the line has had in years. P35X dual-density foam replaces the EGO MAX that had been under every Torin since the 5, a Vibram XS DURA outsole replaces Altra's own rubber, and 2 mm of stack comes back out. The ride went firmer and faster, and the list price went to $160.
- Altra Torin 8Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Altra Torin 9Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- 2 mm less heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 0 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Torin 8 vs 9.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe biggest change the Torin has had in years, and it goes firm. P35X replaces the EGO MAX that had been under every Torin since the 5, the stack comes down 2 mm, and a Vibram XS DURA outsole replaces Altra rubber. The reviewers who have run it like it: Canadian Running called it one of their picks for daily trainer of the year and RunToTheFinish scored it 84 percent. Their caveat is the same one every time, that the ride is firmer and stiffer out of the box than the shoe it replaces, and harsh past about 90 minutes. Five weeks after launch, none of the outlets that normally score this line had published a review.
Stick with the Torin 8 if
- You bought the Torin for soft EGO MAX; P35X is firmer and testers say you notice it after an hour
- You want the extra 2 mm of foam, which the 9 takes back out
Move to the Torin 9 if
- You have worn through outsoles on earlier Torins; this is the first one with a Vibram compound under it
- You want a firmer and faster ride out of a zero-drop trainer
What loyalists said about the update
Early and thin, and this copy will change. Reddit aggregates 67 percent positive across 33 reviews, under the 8's 73 percent but on a third fewer data points and only five weeks of them. What exists is professional and enthusiast coverage rather than owner reports, and it agrees on the shape of the change: firmer, faster, more durable underfoot, less forgiving after an hour and a half. Doctors of Running, RunRepeat and Barefoot Run Review had all published nothing on it as of early August 2026. Re-check in the fall.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Torin 8 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Torin 9, these come closest to what the Torin 8 did.
- 10.2 oz
- 0 mm drop
- 30 mm heel
- $165 list
The Torin platform with lugs on it. Same zero drop, same Standard FootShape toebox, the same 28 to 30 mm band of foam, and Altra builds them a version apart. If the Torin is the shoe you want and the roads near you turn to dirt, this is the in-house answer rather than a compromise. The catch is that the Timp got trail-specific at the 6, when the recut Vibram tread ended the road crossover the Timp 5 had.
Against your Altra Torin 8: 0.9 oz heavier, the same drop, $15 more at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40.5 mm heel
- $140 list
The road shoe to try if you are leaving zero drop rather than leaving Altra. The v15 runs a 6 mm drop, the lowest of any road line here, and New Balance sells it in 2E and 4E, so the two things Torin buyers actually shop for both survive the move. What does not survive is the geometry: 40.5 mm of stack against the Torin 9's 28, on a pronounced rocker. This is a much taller, softer shoe that happens to be roomy, not a flat one.
Against your Altra Torin 8: 0.8 oz heavier, 10.5 mm more heel stack, 6 mm more drop, $10 less at list.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
Close on role and about as far away on geometry as a neutral trainer gets. Both are the brand's mainstream road shoe, both are built to take daily miles without opinions, and the Ghost is one of the few remaining trainers with genuine room over the toes. Then it runs a 10 mm drop against the Torin's zero, which is the whole distance. Worth the look if you came to Altra for the toebox rather than the drop.
Against your Altra Torin 8: 0.9 oz heavier, 6 mm more heel stack, 10 mm more drop.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Altra Torin 8 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Altra Torin 8, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Torin 9 a downgrade from the Altra Torin 8?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Torin 9 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Altra Torin 8 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Altra Torin 8?
- The Altra Timp 6. The Torin platform with lugs on it. Same zero drop, same Standard FootShape toebox, the same 28 to 30 mm band of foam, and Altra builds them a version apart. If the Torin is the shoe you want and the roads near you turn to dirt, this is the in-house answer rather than a compromise. The catch is that the Timp got trail-specific at the 6, when the recut Vibram tread ended the road crossover the Timp 5 had.