Altra Vanish Carbon 3 Review

• Full-length supercritical PEBA foam, Altra’s most responsive yet
• New 4 mm drop and enhanced toe rocker for propulsion
• Racing FootShape Fit for improved lockdown with natural toe alignment

The Vanish Carbon 3 has all of the elements in place for a good race day shoe. Supercritical PEBA foam and a full-length, split carbon fiber plate are right in line with what the rest of the field is doing. There’s a noticeable toe rocker, and the 4 mm drop from heel to toe helps us to get forward in our strides a touch better than Altra’s traditional 0 drop platform. 

This shoe offers an enjoyable ride and can hit fast paces. We can see this shoe working splendidly for the right runner for longer-distance racing. However, because of its weight, its racing capabilities are limited. It’s heavy for a race shoe, and the weight distribution leans towards bottom-heavy, which makes it difficult for it to compete against the current pinnacle super shoe category.

To be clear, this is a highly enjoyable shoe to run in, and it feels fast enough for racing. The PEBA superfoam feels energetic, fast, and fun, without a doubt. We can feel its bounce helping us up hills and its energy helping us to hit and hold paces. The carbon plate has so much spring; it feels effortless over longer distances (15 mile – 25+ mile runs), and the amount of cushioning underfoot helped us avoid post-run fatigue after harder workouts.

We were still able to hit the paces we wanted to hit, but the extra weight made it harder to get there than it would have been in some other racing shoes. We wish the shoe felt lighter and more agile, which would also make it more versatile for different racing events.

Lastly, on a positive note, the full-coverage rubber outsole gave us big confidence across variable road conditions, which some other racing shoes lack. It gave an extended amount of durability and traction that we enjoyed for long workouts and marathon training.

The underfoot comfort is absolutely top-tier, and arguably the standout characteristic of the Vanish Carbon 3. It’s a THICK stack of strong cushioning that we’re confident will pamper the feet and joints for a full marathon. It feels balanced (not too soft or too firm), falling slightly on the softer side. It feels stable and reassuring, like a level planted platform from the heel to under your metatarsal heads, before the tipping point of the nice rocker shape kicks in.

The tongue is thin and flexible, with a bare minimum of strategic padding. The ankle collar padding is also flexible and fairly thin, so the upper isn’t as extravagant as what we find underfoot, but overall it’s quite comfortable for a racing shoe. The mesh upper material was light and breathable without being too flimsy. Especially after longer endurance efforts, the breathability of the shoe was appreciated.

Overall, the volume of this upper will be nicely adaptable for a variety of foot types. We found the Vanish Carbon 3 to fit true to size, and while the toe box isn’t as roomy as a standard Altra foot shape, there is a generous amount of room for a race-day shoe that was an overall net positive for our testers.

Considering Altra modified the shape of the toe box for a race-like fit compared to their more-known wider toe box design, we still had plenty of room for our toes without feeling cramped. All in all, it's a roomier experience when put toe-to-toe with other super racing shoes. However, if you're an Altra loyalist and are accustomed to their more anatomical foot shapes, keep in mind that the Racing FootShape Fit will offer a slimmer experience.

A standout aspect for fit is that it’s easy to create a highly secure lockdown through the midfoot, especially at the top of the lacing area near your ankle. The heel cup is deep enough that our feet sat well within the shoes, contributing even more to a locked-in heel. The thin tongue of the shoe adds more security, without any uncomfortable stuffiness or rubbing on the top of the foot.

"Topo vs Altra is a matchup that’s simply meant to be. They have a very similar price and stack, but the Specter Elite is way lighter. The Specter Elite’s foam and rocker feel more aggressive, and my immediate first impression was that it would race circles around the Vanish Carbon 3. The Topo feels jigglier (constantly vibrating or alive!) even standing still, so some runners will still prefer the planted, steady, predictable ride of the Altra." -Loucas