Altra Torin 8 vs 9: What Changed, and Which Toe Box Is Wider?
Altra kept zero drop and the FootShape toe box, and moved to a softer foam and a Vibram outsole. In the lab the Torin 9 measured wider at the ball of the foot than any of the 34 shoes we review, but narrower at the big toe than the 8, about 2 mm lower and easier to bend.
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That makes the 9 the roomier Altra across the ball of the foot and the 8 the roomier one at the big toe. If a drifted big toe or hammertoes need room, or you liked the 8’s firmer, springier ride, buy the 8 while Altra still sells it at $128.
This is a spec comparison. We have not measured, worn or scored either shoe. The brand figures below are Altra’s own; the lab figures are RunRepeat’s, from one pair of each. We keep the two apart because they are not the same tier of evidence.
What Altra says changed
Altra sells the Torin as its everyday road shoe for running and walking, and the 9 keeps what the name is bought for: zero drop and the FootShape toe box. What changed is underfoot. The 9 moves from Altra’s EGO MAX foam to a new P35X dual-density foam, adds a Vibram XS DURA rubber outsole that Altra says is 8.5% grippier than the Torin 8’s, and refines the heel and tongue. Altra lists the 9 at 28 mm and $160, against 30 mm for the 8, which it now sells at $128, down from $160.
| Specification | Torin 8 | Torin 9 |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $160, on sale at $128 | $160 |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 0 mm | 0 mm |
| Stack, heel and forefoot | 30 mm | 28 mm |
| Weight, men’s | 10.15 oz (287.7 g) | 9.8 oz (269 g) |
| Midsole | Altra EGO MAX | P35X dual-density |
| Outsole | Rubber | Vibram XS DURA |
| Toe box | FootShape, Standard fit | FootShape |
| Widths | Regular, Wide | Regular, Wide (2E) |
Source: Altra’s US product pages. Torin 8 read 28 September 2026; Torin 9 read 7 September 2026, price re-checked 28 September. Altra gives each shoe’s weight without a size, and its two figures for the 9 do not agree: 9.8 oz is 278 g.
What the lab measured
RunRepeat cut, weighed and measured one pair of each. Both are true zero drop, and both stand about 2 mm lower than Altra’s figures. The toe box moved in two directions at once.
| Measurement | Torin 8 | Torin 9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toe-box width at the big toe | 83.6 mm | 82.2 mm | 1.4 mm narrower |
| Width at the widest point | 95.3 mm | 97.7 mm | 2.4 mm wider |
| Toe-box height | 26.8 mm | 25.8 mm | 1.0 mm lower |
| Heel stack | 27.6 mm | 25.8 mm | 1.8 mm lower |
| Forefoot stack | 27.7 mm | 25.5 mm | 2.2 mm lower |
| Measured drop | −0.1 mm | 0.3 mm | Both zero drop |
| Weight | 275 g | 264 g | 11 g lighter |
| Midsole hardness (Asker C, higher is firmer) | 36.6 AC | 31.5 AC | About 14% softer |
| Energy return at the heel | 58.2% | 48.8% | Less bounce |
| Heel shock absorption | 110 SA | 108 SA | Both low |
| Force to bend the forefoot | 14.0 N | 11.6 N | About 17% less |
| Heel counter stiffness (1 to 5) | 4 | 2 | Softer |
| Insole thickness | 5.0 mm | 4.4 mm | 0.6 mm thinner |
Source: RunRepeat lab, one pair of each, read 28 September 2026; its Torin 9 review is dated 23 September 2026. Hardness is on the Asker C scale and shock absorption in RunRepeat’s SA units. Medians of the 35 shoes we review that the lab has measured (34 for the toe box): 72.8 mm at the big toe, 95.2 mm at the widest point, 27.0 mm of toe-box height, 38.7 mm of heel stack, 137 SA and 15.3 N.
What a foot and ankle surgeon takes from this
The toe box went two ways. The 9 is 2.4 mm wider at the widest point, 97.7 mm, the widest of the 34 shoes we review that the lab has measured there. That line is where the bump of a bunion or a tailor’s bunion sits, so for those the 9 is the roomier Altra. At the big toe it is 1.4 mm narrower, and its toe box is 1 mm lower, so a big toe that has drifted, or hammertoes that rub on the top of the shoe, have a little less room than in the 8. Both are still far wider at the big toe than almost anything else we review: of the 34, the 8 is the widest at 83.6 mm and the 9 third at 82.2, against a median of 72.8. Our toe box width chart has the rest, and our Altra toe box page shows where the Torin sits among the 17 current Altras the lab has measured.
Zero drop is the decision, not the model. Both have the thinnest heels of the 35 shoes we review, 25.8 and 27.6 mm against a median of 38.7, and the 9’s heel absorbed less impact than any of them except the New Balance 990v6; the 8 was fourth-lowest. For Achilles tendinopathy, a tight calf or a plantar fascia that hurts on the first steps of the morning, neither is the shoe to start in during a flare. If you are already adapted to zero drop, both are fine, and a move from a 10 mm shoe takes weeks, not days. Our heel-to-toe drop chart shows how far most shoes sit from zero.
Softer, bendier and less springy. The 9’s midsole measured about 14% softer, returned less energy (48.8% against 58.2%) and took about 17% less force to bend at the forefoot. For a stiff or arthritic big toe joint, or turf toe, that is the wrong direction: a sore big toe joint wants a shoe that resists bending. The 8 was already on the flexible side; the 9 bends more easily than all but four of the 35 shoes we review. Its heel counter also scored 2 of 5 for stiffness against the 8’s 4, which matters if you rely on the shoe to hold a heel that rolls.
Should you switch?
Stay with the Torin 8 if…
- It already works for you. At $128 it is also the cheaper shoe while Altra still has your size.
- A drifted big toe, hammertoes or a tall forefoot need room at the front: the 8 is wider at the big toe and 1 mm taller in the toe box.
- You liked its firmer, springier ride, or you want the stiffer heel counter.
- Your big toe joint is stiff or sore. The 8 bends a little less.
Buy the Torin 9 if…
- A bunion or tailor’s bunion rubs at the joint, where the 9 measured wider than any of the 34 shoes we review.
- You want a softer, lighter shoe: 11 g lighter in the lab.
- You want Altra’s grippier Vibram outsole, or a size the 8 no longer has.
- You are buying your first Torin. It is the one Altra will keep in stock.
Orthotics and inserts
The two insoles measured 5.0 and 4.4 mm, close to the 4.9 mm median here, and the 9’s toe box is 1 mm lower, so a full-length orthotic has slightly less room in the 9. A device made for a shoe with a raised heel will sit differently on a level, zero-drop platform; if you wear one, take it to the shop and try it in both. Neither Altra nor the lab publishes how much depth is left once the insole is out, and our Orthotic Volume Rating explains how to check.
Questions runners ask
Is the Altra Torin 9 better than the Torin 8?
Not for every foot. The lab found the 9 wider at the ball of the foot, lower, lighter and softer, but narrower at the big toe, with a lower toe box, less bounce and a forefoot that bends more easily. For a bunion, the 9; for a drifted big toe, hammertoes or a stiff big toe joint, the 8.
Is the Torin 9 wider than the Torin 8?
At the widest point, yes: 97.7 mm against 95.3, the widest of the 34 shoes we review that the lab has measured there. At the big toe, no: 82.2 mm against 83.6, and the toe box is 1 mm lower. Both come in Regular and Wide.
Is the Torin 9 still zero drop?
Yes. Altra states 0 mm for both, and the lab measured 0.3 mm on the 9 and −0.1 mm on the 8, both true zero drop. Altra lists 28 mm of stack for the 9 and 30 mm for the 8; the lab measured about 2 mm less on each.
Is the Altra Torin good for bunions?
For toe room, yes. Of the 34 shoes we review, both Torins are among the three widest at the big toe, and the 9 is the widest at the ball of the foot, where a bunion sits. Zero drop is the catch: if your Achilles or calf is tight, move into it slowly. Our bunions guide has more.
Is the Altra Torin 8 discontinued?
Not yet. Altra still sold the Torin 8 on its US site on 28 September 2026, at $128, down from $160, in Regular and Wide. Expect sizes to thin out now the 9 is out.
Is the Altra Torin 9 good for plantar fasciitis?
Only if you are already used to zero drop. The 9 has the thinnest heel of the 35 shoes we review and one of the lowest heel shock-absorption readings, and zero drop asks more of the calf and the plantar fascia at push-off. For heel pain, a cushioned shoe with some drop is the usual starting point; our plantar fasciitis guide covers the options.
Read the full analysis
Our spec analyses of the Altra Torin 8 and Altra Torin 9 carry each shoe’s full figures and sources, and our Altra shoes guide covers the rest of the range. For a bunion on the outside of the foot, see our tailor’s bunion guide.
Sources
- Altra, Torin 8 product page (price $128 on sale from $160, 30 mm stack, 0 mm drop, 10.15 oz / 287.7 g, Regular and Wide, EGO MAX), read 28 September 2026.
- Altra, Torin 9 product page (28 mm stack, 0 mm drop, 9.8 oz / 269 g men’s, P35X foam, Vibram XS DURA outsole and the 8.5% grip claim, Regular and Wide 2E, $160), read 7 September 2026; price re-checked 28 September 2026.
- RunRepeat, Altra Torin 8 and Altra Torin 9 lab reviews (the Torin 9 review dated 23 September 2026), read 28 September 2026.
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