The North Face Altamesa 500 v2
Making your longest runs and high-mileage weeks easier than ever, The North Face Altamesa 500 v2 trail running shoe brings enhanced foam and grip to its highly cushioned ride.
Best Use
Surface
Cushioning
All Men's Road Shoes
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Daily TrainersDaily Trainers
As the broad base of the running shoe pyramid, daily trainers are the definition of a go-to running shoe. They prioritize dependable comfort, support, durability, and routine versatility. They're a staple in every runner's closet. If you're newer to running shoes, you can confidently start your journey here.
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Performance TrainersPerformance Trainers
Performance trainers (or "super trainers") blend elements of daily trainers and super shoes, often giving you the benefits of advanced foams and plates while being adapted for daily training. They make fast runs faster and long runs easier. Their high versatility also makes them great choices as accessible racing shoes.
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Men's Super ShoesMen's Super Shoes
The pinnacle of the pyramid, super shoes are the fastest running shoes you can buy. They're designed to race your absolute best and are the apex of running-shoe technology and innovation. Often built with carbon-fiber plates and cutting-edge superfoams for the highest energy return, they're made for ultimate racing speed.
Men's Running Shoes by Surface
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Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
Road running shoes feature smooth outsoles that are designed for running on paved surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and bike paths.
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Smooth Trails & FireroadsSmooth Trails & Fireroads
Designed to handle most trail runs, these shoes prioritize comfort and a smooth ride. These shoes are great for anything from smooth singletrack, park trails, and fireroads making them ideal for those who run from their doorstep on streets before hitting the trail.
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Rocky & Technical TrailsRocky & Technical Trails
These shoes are best used for hard, rugged trails such as shale, granite or sandstone where grip on smooth surfaces and underfoot protection are important.
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Soft & Muddy TrailsSoft & Muddy Trails
Designed for use in muddy, soggy conditions, these shoes feature very aggressive outsoles that dig deep into soft ground for exceptional traction.
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Snowy & Icy TrailsSnowy & Icy Trails
These shoes feature technical outsoles designed to grip snowy and icy trails making them ideal for winter trail running.
Cushioning Level
Cushioning level, or stack height, refers to how much shoe is between your foot and the ground. For this category, we reference the amount of cushioning below the forefoot as the heel height will be equal to or greater than the forefoot height.
Learn more about stack heights and how we measure them.-
Minimal
14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
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Low
19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
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Medium
24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
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High
29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
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Maximal
35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.
Stability Level
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Neutral Running Shoes
Neutral shoes support the foot through a normal range of arch collapse and generally do not have built-in technology to correct movement.
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Stability Running Shoes
Stability shoes are a great option for those who overpronate or need added support. These shoes help to limit the inward rolling motion of the ankle while running or walking and assist in guiding the foot straight through the gait cycle.
At A Glance:
- Stickier rubber and broader lugs for improved grip
- Significantly lighter than v1, with upgraded plush and bouncy foam
- Inherently stable platform with a secure fit and roomy toebox
Product Highlights:
Explore the valleys, the mesas, and so much more in The North Face Altamesa 500 v2. Made for all types of runners, this highly cushioned trail running shoe pillows your feet and joints, making it a go-to daily trainer for long distance runs and chill recovery miles.
Its thick stack of nitrogen-infused DREAM foam has been upgraded to supercritical TPU cushioning, as found in the North Face's performance VECTIV line. Now set up for even better longevity, it retains that soft and fun rebound you want when deep into long runs or back-to-back training days.
Equally noteworthy, the 500 v2's outsole levels up with SURFACE CTRL SC2 rubber for greatly improved performance on wet surfaces. While still comfortably at home on tamer trails and gravel, the broader chevron lugs enable a greater range and confidence of landings across soft ground and trickier terrain than before. Plus, its broad base geometry steadies your steps as it adapts to uneven landscapes.
Just like its lower-stacked Altamesa 300 v2 sibling, the engineered mesh upper includes a midfoot wrap, a stay-put winged tongue design, and serrated laces for a secure lockdown. Knowing that you're likely to be in it for longer hours and ultras, the Altamesa 500 v2 offers the roomiest toe box in The North Face lineup.
Whether you're stacking up the miles for high-volume weeks or treating yourself to relaxed recovery paces, The North Face Altamesa 500 v2 is ready for limitless exploration.
Model Number: NF0A8DAJ-KT3
Specs & FitLearn More
Shoe Specs
- Weight: 9.8 oz | 278 g
- Heel Stack: 44 mm
- Forefoot Stack: 38 mm
- Heel-Toe Offset: 6 mm
How We Measure Our Shoe Specs
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We measure every shoe in-house to provide accurate and consistent details.
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Weight
The weight is based on a Men's size 9 for Men's and Unisex shoes or Women's size 8 for Women's shoes. The weight listed is for a single shoe, including the laces.
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Heel Stack
The heel stack refers to how high your heel sits above the ground when wearing shoes. Based on Men's size 9 as the standard.
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Forefoot Stack
Forefoot stack refers to how high the ball of the foot sits above the ground when wearing shoes. Based on Men's size 9 as the standard.
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Heel-toe Offset
Heel-toe offset (drop) is the difference in height between the heel stack and the forefoot stack. We use the number given to us by the brand.
How We Measure Shoe Fit
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All measurements are based on Medium width. Note: fit is relative to the "average" running shoe.
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We partner with SmartLast, a program by Heeluxe, to use advanced shoe-measuring technology, to provide objective measurements for toe box, midfoot, and heel widths as well as overall length.
Cushioning Level
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MinimalMinimal
14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
-
LowLow
19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
-
MediumMedium
24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
-
HighHigh
29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
-
MaximalMaximal
35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.
Technologies
MIDSOLE
- Supercritical DREAM foam is nitrogen-infused TPU, tuned for a plush, responsive, long-lasting experience.
- Smooth rocker geometry creates an easy-rolling efficiency boost.
- Broad base design enhances inherent stability for confidence on uneven terrain.
OUTSOLE
- SURFACE CTRL SC2 rubber is 3x more durable and significantly stickier than before for greater traction across wet surfaces.
- 4 mm lugs are now chevron-shaped for improved performance and versatility on mixed terrain.
UPPER
- Seamless engineered mesh includes an interior liner to keep out dust and a padded ankle collar for long-lasting comfort.
- Winged tongue design creates a lightly-padded and secure lockdown.
