text: Altra shoes basically healed me. Seriously! I had suspected PF for almost a year. We went head to head on the best shoe for me, he wanted support and I do best with zero drop minimalist however I'm not your typical light weight good form minimalist runner. I tried everything, however, including the hated &#34;support&#34; shoes. As we kept trying to treat whatever was going on and not getting better, he theorized it might be nerve entrapment. Sure enough, that is what it was! It wasn't a common one. PT suggested Altra, I had never heard of the brand.<br /><br />From the minute I put them on, it did not hurt to run. It didn't hurt to walk, my form improved, and it was absolute perfection. I started in the Torin and have gone through different models, the latest being the Provision.<br /><br />The Provision (not Provisioness, as someone else mentioned) is billed as a support shoe but I see it as more of a suggestion to your foot instead of wearing concrete blocks. It was comfortable from the onset. I got less miles on them than in the Torin but maybe it was the support component that started to go.<br /><br />Size up. I can't emphasize that enough. I wear size 11 in Brooks, I wear size 12 in Altra. The shoes are wide, at first they might seem too wide. That is intended. There are alternative lacing options on their website, it's a good thing to look at. They're more for running than walking but if you want to walk in them and they work for you, that great!<br /><br />A few words of caution. If you haven't ever been fit in them before or worn them, get fitted or try on a pair before ordering online. These shoes are different and it'll take you a bit to get used to them. It helps to have someone good verify your size that way you're not second guessing when you get them and end up sending them back. That's not fair to Amazon and you're spending too much time on trial and error. Best thing? Maybe purchase a pair &#34;in person&#34; somewhere and once you learn what you like, THEN order online that way you're not taking up a salespersons time then not giving them a sale. I purchased my Torins at a store -- I order online now mainly because I know the shoe better and I am womens size 12, it is rare to find a store that carries both the brand and the exact shoe I want in the size I need.<br /><br />Break into them slowly if you aren't used to zero drop. Go easy on the hills until your calves are used to it.<br /><br />Give them time. They feel SO wide at first. After a while your foot and toes will spread out and it'll seem normal.<br /><br />Lastly, realize as awesome as the shoes are, they aren't all magical and stuff. So many shoes promise so much -- these won't make you faster or stronger or less tired at the end of a run, etc. They WILL allow you to do it yourself :) There will be times I'm out there thinking &#34;why don't the shoes feel cushiony-er or why don't I feel like I'm floating on air&#34; and I realize what I need to do is turn over my stride a bit more and improve my form. These shoes make it super easy to help you help yourself.<br /><br />Once I started with this brand I have not looked back nor have I been tempted to. When I went to Altra, I was a brand ambassador for another brand. By going to Altra, I actually had to start buying all my own shoes and not getting some of the perks I did before. I have no regrets on my decision. (The other brand is incredible and work for other people -- just not me.)