North Face Altamesa 500 V2 Review | Like a Cushioned Road Shoe for the Trails

If you’re looking for a versatile trail shoe that works for all types of trail adventures, the North Face Altamesa 500 V2 may be the shoe for you.

North Face is well-known within the outdoor community and these shoes provide the quality I have come to expect with this brand. I was initially skeptical of the large stack height on these shoes; the foam is what I expect on a cushy road shoe rather than an everyday trail-runner.

If you’re looking to simulate the feel of a high stack height, highly cushioned road shoe, this would be a great option. These would not be my go-to shoe for technical trail runs.

But I’ll be reaching for these for long, easy trail runs or logging hiking miles.

This is a great shoe for someone who does a bit of everything on the trail, performing especially well for long hiking days. The extra cushion is going to feel really great for extended time on feet. 

North Face Altamesa 500 V2 Overview

I tend to gravitate towards lighter trail shoes with a lower stack height because they’re more nimble on technical trails and allow for picking up the pace. But it’s always fun to throw something new in the rotation because you never know when it might surprise you.

The Altamesa is a chunky ton of cushion shoe and it turns out that’s pretty nice on recovery days.

I tested these shoes on long trail runs and a weighted vest hike. With an extra 25lbs on my back, the cushioning absorbed some of the load. 

The longest run I completed in these shoes was 20 miles. This was a hot day, after multiple hours in these shoes, my feet were not overheated. Nor did I feel the impact of the mileage on my feet, thanks to the DREAM midsole foam. 

I also tested these shoes on a half-muddy / half snowy trail. The 4mm lugs provided great traction throughout the varying conditions. North Face uses the Surface CTRL SC2 outsole which had great traction across both mud and snow, I did not slip at all.

I am curious how this outsole will compare to the well-loved Vibram outsole after 100s of miles. 

Counter to the high stack height, I did not feel like I lost continuity with the ground. These shoes grip well on trails, although they wouldn’t be my first choice for a highly rocky or rooty trail.

North Face Altamesa 500 V2 Fit

If I had to choose one word to describe these shoes: Comfortable. 

The North Face Altamesa ran true-to-size. Wearing my typical size, I had the right amount of room for my toes. Plenty of room to splay with no toe bang. 

As a trail shoe that looks chunky with the thick foam, it does not feel bulky everywhere else. It fits adequately across my foot, providing just what you need, and nothing more.

I did not feel like the shoe was lacking padding with the light mesh and minimally padded heel. The heel has less padding than most of my other road or trail shoes. The heel counter is slightly higher which supports my heel comfortably, despite less padding. 

The upper is narrower and snugly holds my foot. For those with wide feet, the mesh is flexible and would accommodate some space in the upper. I think the upper may be too tight for those that typically buy shoes in Wide. 

The mesh is light and breathable, keeping my feet from overheating on a hot spring day. The play in the upper would accommodate a thicker sock, but doesn’t have the play to accommodate my warmest socks for the coldest winter days. 

My heels slipped going downhill, this may have been mitigated by heel lock lacing. 

North Face Altamesa 500 V2 Feel

The  DREAM midsole foam provides cushioning for a very comfortable ride, soft underfoot and absorbing impact of long miles.

I did not feel the ‘high rebound’ response with this foam. I didn’t feel a change in energy response through various paces, making them heavy for specific pace work. But, the chunky foam ensured my feet and legs felt strong after lengthy miles. 

The wider midsole was great for those purely dirt trails, but did not have the precision I would choose for highly technical terrain. Running across ruts and rocks, the foam is too thick to quickly respond to small changes in the terrain.

I could feel my ankles working harder to offset the slow response from the high stack height. 

The serrated laces are a small design choice that had a big impact for me. The laces did not loosen or un-tie throughout any of the miles. 

This would not be my shoe of choice for mixed road-to-trail terrain. The 4mm lugs allow you to feel every inch of asphalt or hard terrain. For those that live in snowy areas, these shoes would be great when you need a little extra traction on the road. 

Like the heel and upper, the tongue is minimally padded yet comfortable. The tongue curves perfectly across the bridge and ankle joint.

Similar Shoes to the North Face Altamesa 500 V2

Looking for another max cushioned trail shoe? Here’s our comparisons from other lines:

This is not your typical trail running shoe, prioritizing cushion over agility. 

Overall, I think this shoe is a great option for someone who:

• Is a trail runner seeking more cushion
• Wants to simulate the feel of a cushy road shoe on the trails
• Uses one trail shoe for a variety of different purposes and/or on a various terrain

Who Tried It?

I’m Jen: a former gymnast, turned runner and mountaineer. I ran my first half marathon in 2022, and haven’t looked back, now logging 40-60 MPW, while often simultaneously training for my next climb. When I’m not running, you’ll find me somewhere within the Colorado Rockies with my 2 pups, Badger (lab-mix) and Lupin (weimaraner). 

What to Read Next?

• See all of our trail running shoe reviews
• Best Road to Trail Running Shoes Right Now
• Heel Cup and Heel Counter Explained