Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. The original TNF (The North Face) Altamesa 500 was released in 2023 as the brand sought to combine the most innovative design element of its time (supercritical foam midsole compounds) with the most popular use category (hybrid road to trail). The objective was to create a one-shoe-does-it-all supershoe that could be used on all terrain while providing comfort and performance elements for long race days. For the most part, the plan was a success, with the shoe being a bit heavy for some users.
The second version of the Altamesa 500, which was released this spring, includes updates that increase its durability and breathability while maintaining the same comfortable fit. However, the most significant improvements are a reformulation of the nitrogen-infused Dream foam midsole compound, and a substantial decrease in weight. This new version of the Altamesa 500 is about 1.5 ounces lighter than the original model, while maintaining the same stack heights and midsole geometry.
A small measure of the weight loss also comes from the uppers, crafted with a thinner and more lightweight variable weave fabric that is tighter in some locations and more spacious in others. This dynamic results in an interesting visual patterning and allows for targeted ventilation in some areas and more abrasion resistance in others. We were impressed with the shoe’s ability to keep out grit and fine dirt, even after a couple of beach crossings. The tongue has wide wings that sometimes require extra tucking to lay flat against the foot, but the lacing system is premier, combining serrated laces with a pass-through notch in the tongue that keeps the foot locked down and secure. A trail Easter egg on the tongue (also on the outsole rim) of an undefined GPS coordinate reading corresponds to Half Dome in Yosemite, which inspired the TNF logo.
The last of the Altamesa 500 is fairly wide, which allows plenty of room for foot splay or swelling, but the midfoot and rearfoot have enough reinforcements and cushioning to maintain a secure fit in the back half of the shoe. We tested these shoes on outings for several hours, and didn’t have any hot spots from impingement, or friction from excessive movement. For normal to wide feet, it feels like an ideal ratio of spacing from heel to toe, but narrow feet may find it too roomy.
Beneath the uppers, the midsole and outsole foundation have a similarly wide footprint to match the last. This is ideal for stability but sacrifices a bit of agility on highly technical terrain, especially with relatively high stack heights. However, the nitrogen-infused TPU Dream midsole foam absorbs impacts and irregular terrain very effectively, creating a nice sensation of trail smoothing. The supercritical compound is very lightweight, which accounts for the significant weight loss of this updated model. Dream foam creates comfortable cushioning while effectively diminishing impact forces on the legs, particularly on long descents on hard surfaces. It feels like an ideal shoe for all-day efforts and ultra-distance races where you want to maintain a feeling of freshness as long as possible. An additional wrinkle to the midsole construction is a slightly firmer material inset in the forefoot area (identified by the color contrast), which combines with a slight rocker geometry to provide additional energy return when shifting onto your forefoot to accelerate the pace. In our testing, the Altamesa 500 offers outstanding versatility to satisfy faster tempo racers as well as midpack plodders over long distances.
On the bottom surface, an updated formulation of TNF’s proprietary Surface CTRL is reported to have stronger abrasion resistance and improved wet traction than the previous version. In our testing of just under 100 miles, its durability shows no signs of abnormal wear. Traction on wet rocks and stream crossings is solid. We would put it a notch below the Vibram Megagrip compound, but more than adequate to maintain confidence on slick surfaces. Aside from a moderate midfoot cutout and small flex channels, coverage of the rubber is nearly full, which further improves overall stability. The 4mm lug pattern has formidable traction on gravel and steep climbs or descents, but also rolls fairly smooth on asphalt, maintaining the road-to-trail capability this shoe was originally intended for.
With impressive top-to-bottom updates, the latest version of the TNF Altamesa 500 basically nails the original premise of this shoe as a highly versatile all-purpose model for high volume training and race days. Its decreased weight, increased responsiveness and modestly improved agility should expand its user profile to be a compelling choice for most of us aside from podium-chasing front runners.
The North Face Altamesa 500 is available in men’s and women’s versions at www.thenorthface.com.
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 9.8oz men’s / 8.6oz women’s
- Stack Height (heel/toe, in mm): 36/30mm
- Heel-Toe Drop (mm): 6mm
- Upper: Seamless engineered mesh with zonal reinforcements
- Midsole: Full-length DREAM nitrogen-TPU foam
- Outsole: Surface Ctrl SC2 rubber with 4mm lugs
- Five colorway options for men and women
- MSRP: $170