Tested: The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes, Are They Up for All-Terrain Traversing?

All-terrain tires are important when a vehicle is traversing uneven, challenging ground off the beaten path. But what about your footwear? A durable, traction-grabbing set of tires is instrumental in getting an adventurous rig where it needs to go. A set of shoes should be the same for getting you to your next destination. We’ve reviewed a ton of gear over several years. From rain slickers to duffels and wool jackets to sleeping bags, our latest review sample is The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes. Are they cut out to be someone’s next set of go-tos when heading off the beaten path and back to the road? Let’s take a look.

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The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Features

First impressions: The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes were super lightweight, cushioned, and easy to handle. The Altamesa 500 V2 Shoe features The North Face’s enhanced pinnacle DREAM midsole. It has a specific type of foam designed to provide soft cushioning with a high rebound to help you tackle trail running or walking on uneven ground alike.

The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoe features SURFACE CTRL SC2 rubber outsole with 4mm lugs for increased traction, no matter the type of terrain you’re tackling.

Here are more of The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 features:

• Uppers: Seamless, engineered lightweight upper with zonal reinforcements
• Stay-in-place tongue wings integrated into the internal dust liner for long-distance comfort (trust me, they stay in place!)
• Lightweight tongue and comfortable padded collar
• Lightweight reinforced toe cap (if in white, it can get discolored quickly)
• Racing laces with serrated edges (they haven’t come undone yet)
• Dual midfoot webbing reinforcements for improved lockdown
• Full-length ultralight DREAM sole unit with nitrogen-TPU foam midsole that increases your rebound underfoot (takes some getting used to, but really helps to propel you forward)
• 36 mm heel stack height (midsole and outsole) with a 6 mm heel/toe offset (cushions well, but the heel setup takes getting used to in order not to rub against stair backs or other impediments)
• Designed with a wider underfoot platform to provide inherent stability (which was what I was looking for)

The North Face says that half a pair of the women’s Altamesa 500 V2 is 8.6 oz (or 245 g). The second I picked them up and examined them, I knew they’d be quality lightweight runners, despite their predominantly brilliant white color scheme that could get dirty quickly.

Tested and Impressions

After wearing the The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes, I’m a total believer in their grip and traction. I took my testers through pavement, gravel, uneven stairs, trails, and even rocky terrain with not even a wince.

The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes are made from quality materials, which is immediately evident. They’re easy to wear, and the laces don’t come undone no matter how long you wear them (thank you!).

I tested the White Ash and Opal Frost pair, which was essentially white and light mint green. I’d normally opt for combos other than white, like Transcendent Grey-Pear, because I’m always in the elements, but the White Ash and Opal First colorway was sent to test.

After wearing this combo on local streets, including gravel stretches, dirt trails, and an upkept set of 47 stairs I use to exercise a few times a week, my testers gained some dirt on its bright white surfaces but otherwise stayed pretty clean.

In dirt, mud, or any other kind of muck, my tester colorway would prove to be a bit difficult to keep bright white. However, there are other colorways offered with The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes to alleviate this. Choose your color combo wisely in case you’re a frequent dirt traverser like me.

Running Around

The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes clawed at any terrain I put under them. However, given my 47-stair challenge, my size 10 shoe proved to be a bit big on the back end when descending them. The rear sole lip got caught on numerous occasions on the stairs’ risers.

However, I adjusted my stride and came away with full-ahead propulsion that brought me into a next-level challenge. How can one safely pass by a random crow baby residing on said stairs? No matter what surface I traversed, The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes met its challenge. They clawed ahead with total confidence and little difficulty.

The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2s held their position securely. They had easy-to-hold rear carry loops and were comfortable to wear. The laces never came undone, and the shoe’s tongues never budged out of place. However, I found the supplied insoles thin and unsupportive, so I used my own during my testing period.

Although I haven’t experienced late spring rains typical of Oregon, where I live, I’m confident The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes would shield my feet from light rain as I conquer different types of terrain. They’re not waterproof, but if you’re looking for lightweight, durable, and stylish footwear that will help you propel you to future adventure destinations, The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 should be on your list of footwear to consider. Price: $170.00