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
Stability
Stack Height
Men's Trail Running Shoes
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Daily Trainer TrailDaily Trainer Trail
Daily Trainer Trail running shoes are reliable and versatile. They're great for a broad range of surfaces and are used by beginner and advanced trail runners alike. They're approachable and durable, so you can confidently start or continue your trail running journey here.
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Max Cushion TrailMax Cushion Trail
Max Cushion Trail shoes deliver ultimate underfoot protection and comfort. They most often have thicker or plusher cushioning, making them great for training and running longer distances with improved protection for your soles and joints.
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Performance Trail | Sub-UltraPerformance Trail | Sub-Ultra
Performance Trail running shoes are nimble, agile, and fast. Typically lightweight and lower to the ground, they're the choice for many who run sub-ultra (less than 50K) trail races. They're also great if you want a fast and free experience, letting you feel more connected on technical terrain.
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Super Trail | Race UltraSuper Trail | Race Ultra
Super Trail shoes are built for optimized performance over the longest distances. Often seen on the feet of the best trail racers in the world, you don't have to be elite to benefit from the pinnacle technology in these shoes. Whether racing an ultra or just looking for an energy assist, Super Trail shoes deliver the most trail performance.
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.
Stack Height
Stack height refers to how much shoe is between your foot and the ground. For this category, we reference the amount of material 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 falls near the middle of the spectrum. The shoes in this category are versatile 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-TSU
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 It FitsLearn More
Heel Width
Midfoot Fit
Toe Box Fit
Performance MetricsPerformance Metrics Learn More
Heel Impact Absorption
Ball of Foot Impact Absorption
Energy Return
Cushioning
Forefoot Rocker
Rocker Start Point
Performance Metrics
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Heel Impact Absorption
The shoe's ability to absorb impact under your heel, reducing shock to your foot and ankle. A higher score means greater absorption. Range of 0-100, lab measured on an impact testing device.
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Ball of Foot Impact Absorption
The shoe's ability to absorb impact under your forefoot, reducing shock to your foot and ankle. A higher score means greater absorption. Range of 0-100, lab measured on an impact testing device.
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Energy Return
Lab device measured percentage (0-100) of energy returned, to rebound after hitting the cushioning underfoot. Generally, higher numbers can make it feel easier to run faster, but this is just one of many factors in overall shoe performance.
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Cushioning
How plush or steady the midsole feels underfoot, with Softest meaning your foot squishes into the foam the most. Lab measured on an impact testing device.
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Forefoot Rocker
How flat or curved the shoe's rocker profile is under your forefoot. Generally, aggressive rockers are often seen in faster racing shoes. They can promote easy, quick-rolling toe-offs, but can also feel less steady and predictable.
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Rocker Start Point
Where the rocker curve starts under your forefoot. Early means before the ball of your foot (toward your arch) and Late is after the ball of your foot (toward your toes).
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
Weight is measured per single shoe, including laces. Men's and unisex styles are based on a men's size 9, and women's styles are based on a women's size 8.
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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.
Stack Height
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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 falls near the middle of the spectrum. The shoes in this category are versatile 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.
