Hettas Alma Cruise Review | A Plated Shoe That Keeps You Grounded Instead of Sinking You Into Foam

We love a shoe designed just for women and Hettas has been leading the charge as a Canadian-owned, Women’s specific running brand. They’ve recently released a few new models including the Hettas Alma cruise which we think is a great option for warm ups or those long road walking workouts.

Hettas focuses on creating running shoes that complement the specific attributes of a woman’s foot, and have pioneered research studies focused on female specific running mechanics. All of their models feature a narrow heel, a rounded instep, and a breathable toe upper.

They currently have three trainers in their lineup; the Alma Tempo for interval training, the Alma Speed for race day, and the Alma Cruise – your easy run every day trainer. That’s the model we’re going to chat about today.

Hettas Alma Cruise is a moderate cushioned daily trainer that’s going to work really well for those putting in a lot of walking miles or shorter runs. The plate provides a lot of support and allows you to be on your feet comfortably for a long time, but lacks the cushion for most to enjoy longer miles.

Hettas Alma Cruise Overview

This was my first time trying a Hettas shoe, and I was intrigued to see if the female focused fit would really feel any different. It did!

When I first tried them on, I immediately noticed the narrow heel lock engineered for the female foot, and breathable upper.

The Alma Cruise series is designed for runners who want a protective daily trainer that isn’t overly soft, but can keep you moving on longer easy days. The treads on these are solid and sticky, making them a great road shoe that would keep you safe in slippery conditions

I took these out on a lot of different runs, including tempo workouts, a long run and recovery efforts.

These really shine for your workhorse easy miles and recovery efforts. I did test these on a short fartlek workout, and the shoe wasn’t quite responsive enough to give me the extra boost I needed for speedwork, that said, they’re not supposed to! These are for your easy days.

Hettas Models feature a unique Velopropulsion Midsole. The layered foam is paired with a Pebax plate.This is different than the carbon plate we’ve all been obsessed with for years – according to Hettas, “Pebax allows natural forefoot flexibility while still driving a powerful toe-off—reducing jarring landings and stress on joints.”

In fact, this is more of what you might see in a super trainer. And yet this is absolutely not a super trainer, it’s really more about the support that the plate provides to your foot…though it’s not a stability shoe. Are you confused yet?

For me, it’s always a positive to see new brands enter the space with a fresh perspective, focusing on the half of the population that is under researched and under served.

It’s got a firmer feel than other shoes, which is something that sets it apart and will appeal to a specific niche of runners. Possibly those who aren’t in love with all the max cushioned shoes!

I have the black colorway, and they are so cute! I also love that the shoes come with a second set of light blue laces that complement the heel pull on the back.

For a female focused brand, they spent some time on design but didn’t make it a priority focus like say Tracksmith shoes. This is a little more stylish than some neon running shoes, but still looks like a workout shoe.

Hettas Alma Cruise Fit

Hettas advertises that their shoes usually run ½ size small, but I think they are probably consistent with your standard running shoe fit.

In most running shoes I wear a 9. I tried a 9 ½ for these given the guidance, but I think a 9 would’ve been a better fit. That being said, I also wasn’t wearing them for long hours, so if you are thinking about that and know your feet swell then definitely size up.

Besides the extra room, I had no issues with rubbing or pinching. The toe box for Hettas models is specifically engineered with a breathable upper to control for common female foot ailments, like toe splay, upwards angled toenails, and bunions.

At a 10mm drop it’s on the higher side for many running shoes now, but nothing crazy. Ideal for walkers and runners who have less ankle mobility.

It’s great to see this kind of consideration, and I do enjoy the roomy fit these offer.

Hettas models also all offer a narrowed heel fit that promises no extra pressure on the achilles. This feature worked well for me too. All in all, I enjoyed the fit of these.

Hettas Alma Cruise Feel

The Hettas Alma Cruise boasts a comfortable responsive ride, but for me, the Pebax plate was a little too firm. Again that’s not a bad thing, more of a personal preference. Those who like a firmer feel underfoot or want to feel more supported are going to enjoy this style.

For long easy days,  I tend to gravitate to a mid-to-max cushion that is very responsive. These felt a little hard on landing, and with that, the later miles in my long runs felt a bit sluggish.

I did appreciate that the shoes also came with two insole options. A cushioned, thicker set for a little extra support and a thinner, firmer pair if you prefer more ground feel. It’s clear that Hettas is attentive to the individual needs of different runners, and we love that.

We are loving that a few shoe brands are really taking into account the difference of womens feet. If you’re looking for a lower stack plated trainer for those everyday miles, I would definitely recommend checking out Hettas.

Who Tried It

Kim got into running after deciding to run her first half marathon because it landed on her birthday. Afterwards, she said those famous last words: “I’ll never run a marathon!” Since then, she’s tackled many marathons and ultramarathons up to 50 miles. She loves ultra distance trail running the best and is always on the hunt for the next challenge. Her preferred trail-fuel is potatoes and Coca-Cola, and her favorite way to recover is on the couch with her two dogs.

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