I was excited to try the Altra Vanish Tempo 2. The original version was *fine*. Neither my favorite nor my least favorite shoe…It was light, zero drop, unplated, and built for runners who wanted something fast without moving into a traditional carbon racer.
The Altra Vanish Tempo 2 changes that formula almost completely. Altra moved the shoe to a 4 mm drop, added a split PEBAX plate, introduced its FAST TRN dual-supercritical midsole, and raised the stack to 34 mm in the heel and 30 mm in the forefoot. It is still designed for tempo runs and racing, but version two has much more structure underfoot than the original. So to answer the question did Altra change a lot in the Altra Vanish Tempo 2? Yes…
But let’s get into an honest Altra Vanish Tempo 2 shoe review.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Quick Facts
- Price: $190
- Men’s weight: 8.5 oz / 243 g
- Women’s weight: 7.05 oz / 200 g
- Stack height: 34 mm heel / 30 mm forefoot
- Drop: 4 mm
- Fit: Racing FootShape
- Best for: Tempo runs and racing
Altra lists the current specifications on the Altra Vanish Tempo 2 product page.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Upper and Fit
The Vanish Tempo 2 uses Altra’s Racing FootShape, which is the closest-fitting option in the brand’s current range. There is still more room through the front than runners may expect from a performance shoe, while the heel and midfoot are shaped more closely than Altra’s Standard and Original FootShape models.
It’s one of the better fitting “fast running shoes,” mainly because Altra uses a foot shape for their last. Altra explains the differences among those shapes within its FootShape fit information. Racing FootShape keeps room around the toes while narrowing the rest of the shoe for a closer performance fit.
The upper is a breathable engineered mesh with a padded heel and a soft, lightweight tongue. Altra also added an independent bottom eyelet, which lets runners adjust the lower section of the lacing without tightening the upper portion as much. A roomy toe box does not help much if the rest of the foot slides around, and the Vanish Tempo 2 is designed to keep the midfoot closer while leaving more space up front.
Runners coming from the Escalante or another roomier Altra should expect the Vanish Tempo 2 to fit closer through the middle of the shoe. My Altra Escalante 3 review covers a very different Altra fit and ride if you are comparing the brand’s lower and more flexible options.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Midsole and Ride
The midsole is where the magic happens and boy is the Altra Vanish Tempo 2 different. Altra replaced the original Vanish Tempo’s EGO PRO setup with FAST TRN, a dual-supercritical foam package created for faster training and longer performance sessions. The shoe also gains a split PEBAX plate, which gives the forefoot more structure while keeping the design different from the carbon plate in the Vanish Carbon 3.
The 34/30 mm platform also moves the Tempo 2 into a different category from the first version. There is enough cushioning here for longer workouts, but it stays below the 40/36 mm stack of the Vanish Carbon 3. I’ve been kind of digging these new higher stack height Altra running shoes.
I also like that separation because the two shoes do not need to duplicate each other…and why even buy the Vanish Carbon 3 if the Tempo 2 feels the same and is cheaper…The Tempo 2 can cover threshold sessions, longer intervals, marathon-pace work, progression runs, and faster long runs without becoming a second version of Altra’s race shoe.
The 4 mm drop is another major departure. Runners already training in low-drop shoes may find the 4 mm geometry easier to slot into a mixed rotation than a completely level platform…but if you only use zero drop, this might be a rude awakening for you.
If you want to see how far Altra’s performance line has changed, compare it with my original Altra Vanish Carbon review. That shoe had a zero-drop platform and a very different plate setup. Altra’s current speed shoes are moving toward more stack, more rocker, and a 4 mm option in both the Tempo 2 and Carbon 3. I don’t have any inside details if that is the way the brand is going…LOL I wish I did.
Is the Altra Vanish Tempo 2 a Racing Shoe?
Yes, although the better role is as a performance trainer. Altra lists the Vanish Tempo 2 for tempo runs and racing. The combination of its low weight, plated forefoot, rocker, and supercritical foam gives it enough performance technology for a starting line, while the rubber outsole and training-oriented FAST TRN midsole make it easier to justify for regular workouts.
For runners who dislike tall carbon racers, the Vanish Tempo 2 is also a different kind of race option. At 34/30 mm, it sits much lower than the Vanish Carbon 3 and keeps less foam underfoot.
I would look at it most closely for 5K through half marathon racing, plus marathon racing for runners who already know they prefer a lower platform. For a marathoner who wants Altra’s highest-stack race setup, the Carbon 3 is the more obvious choice.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Outsole
Altra uses a rubber outsole, which is what I want to see on a shoe expected to cover training and racing. In. my experience, most Altra running shoes last longer than usual and I foresee the Vanish Tempo 2 being the same way. Rubber coverage gives the Tempo 2 a better foundation for repeated road sessions, paved paths, tracks, and faster long runs.
I’ve taken it out in inclement weather with no major issues but I would still keep it primarily on roads and other smooth surfaces…this is not a trail shoe and should not be treated as such. The geometry and plate are aimed at forward road running rather than technical trails, loose terrain, or routes where footing changes constantly.
Where Does the Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Fit in a Rotation?
The Vanish Tempo 2 is a good workout and long run shoe.
I would pair it with something like the Altra Experience Flow 3 for regular road mileage, then save the Tempo 2 for those faster sessions.c Within Altra’s speed lineup, the Vanish Pulse is the lower, zero-drop speed shoe at 22 mm, while the Tempo 2 adds considerably more cushioning and a plate. The Vanish Carbon 3 moves up to 40/36 mm, FAST RCE full PEBA foam, and a split-toe carbon plate.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 vs. Vanish Carbon 3
The closest comparison is the Vanish Carbon 3 because both are 4 mm performance shoes with Racing FootShape and a plated design. The Vanish Tempo 2 has a 34/30 mm stack, FAST TRN foam, a split PEBAX plate, and an 8.5-ounce men’s weight. Altra currently lists it at $190.
The Vanish Carbon 3 has a 40/36 mm stack, FAST RCE full PEBA foam, a split-toe carbon plate, and a 7.7-ounce men’s weight. It costs $240. My Altra Vanish Carbon 3 review goes deeper into that shoe, but I would choose the Tempo 2 for weekly workouts and the Carbon 3 when racing is the main priority.
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 vs. Topo Specter Elite
Runners looking at lower-drop performance shoes with more space through the toe box may also end up comparing Altra with Topo.
The Topo Specter Elite is a dedicated carbon-plated racer with a 5 mm drop and a much taller platform. The Vanish Tempo 2 is more training-oriented, costs less, and uses a PEBAX plate instead of carbon.
I would choose the Tempo 2 if I wanted a faster training shoe that could race without being reserved for race day. I would look at the Specter Elite or Vanish Carbon 3 if the primary goal were a dedicated carbon-plated racing shoe.
Who Should Buy the Altra Vanish Tempo 2?
- Those looking for a lower drop workout shoe
- You want one shoe for tempo runs, threshold work, faster long runs
- Runners who liked Altra’s performance geometry but wanted more structure than a flexible zero-drop trainer
Who Should Skip the Altra Vanish Tempo 2?
- You want a zero drop shoe
- You want an aggressive carbon plated model
Altra Vanish Tempo 2 Conclusion
The Vanish Tempo 2 is a big update. Altra changed the drop, foam, plate, and stack, which moves the shoe away from the original Vanish Tempo and closer to the current generation of plated performance trainers.
The biggest reason I like the update is that Altra did not simply build a cheaper Vanish Carbon 3. The Tempo 2 keeps its own role with a lower stack, training-oriented FAST TRN foam, a PEBAX plate, and a price that sits below the brand’s carbon racer.
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Questions for you:
Have you tried the brand Altra before?
What is your favorite workout shoe?