Last updated at 01/15/2025 06:25:15
originally posted on REI
Overview: I usually run in stiff, relatively low-drop, low-cushion shoes on trails. My trail runs often include lots of technical scrambling in the Front Range in Colorado, near Boulder. These shoes are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They’re perfect for long hard-pack with some rocky sections.Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to submit an early review. I’ve never been given a pair of shoes before, so I took this seriously, and put them through a set of three runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways:Run 1: This was actually less of a run, and more about using the Olympus to hike on trails ... MoreOverview: I usually run in stiff, relatively low-drop, low-cushion shoes on trails. My trail runs often include lots of technical scrambling in the Front Range in Colorado, near Boulder. These shoes are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They’re perfect for long hard-pack with some rocky sections.Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to submit an early review. I’ve never been given a pair of shoes before, so I took this seriously, and put them through a set of three runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways:Run 1: This was actually less of a run, and more about using the Olympus to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes, then swapped shoes again between scrambles. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short sections to get a sense for the shoe, but mostly found that they were comfortable hiking in difficult terrain, both on and off trail. Running, I found they made me think of a full-suspension mountain bike: you can run right over small rocks and uneven terrain, and these shoes just soak it all up. They require less precision than the shoes I’m used to, which is good, because they’re too heavy and physically large for really rapid footwork.Run 2: Altra put Vibram Megagrip on the outsoles, the same rubber as my approach shoes. So I pushed them to the limit by scrambling the 2nd Flatiron, the most popular 5.0 in Boulder. I would estimate the full run is roughly 30% hard packed trail, 30% technical rocky terrain, and 40% sandstone slab. All of it is very steep: 1300ft of elevation gain over less than 3 miles. This is not the right terrain for these shoes. It’s fair to say they performed surprisingly well considering their intended use, but the massive stack height makes them too unstable to really trust them for scrambling, and they’re too heavy to move really quickly on technical downhill. They performed quite well on the hardpack, both uphill and down.Run 3: My favorite scramble-free run is a great trail in Eldorado Canyon. This was the perfect run for these shoes: sustained but not incredibly steep elevation gain, 6.5 miles, 1130ft of vert. The trail has pure gravel sections, gravel with big rock chunks, hardpacked dirt, short stretches of very rocky technical running, and a whole lot of loose shale scattered over everything. They performed very well, and I came out of the run with a couple of stretches where I felt really good about my pace. I feel like a longer run on this type of terrain is exactly what the Olympus 6 is designed for.Comfort: The Olympus 6 is a comfortable shoe. The upper is light and hugs the foot well, the heel cup works well (for my foot, at least), and the gigantic toe box lets your toes splay out while walking and running. The massive stack height feels comfortable until you’re actually running, and then I’d say it actually feels a little bit uncomfortable because of the slight wobble it introduces and the overall gigantic profile of the shoe. They’re also pretty heavy, but I would say they’re surprisingly light considering the features: a huge stack height, tons of underfoot surface area, and some stability features, along with front and back trail gaiter attachment points and an unnecessarily-large pull tab on the back of each ankle.Stride and Stability: Altras are popular partly because of the claims associated with their zero-drop platform. The idea (part of the idea, anyway) is that a zero-drop or low-drop shoe punishes us when we heel-strike, and encourages a forefoot strike instead. This type of feedback is supposed to improve a runner’s stride over time. I’ve found this to be the case when running in Altra road running shoes. However, putting a massive stack height under the foot seems like it would dull any of the sensitivity required to really communicate anything about your stride or foot strike to your brain – and this is hard to extract from my overall feeling that the Olympus 6 just doesn’t really feel like a zero-drop shoe. I’m not going to take a bandsaw and calipers to it to really find out, but from a user perspective, it feels like a high-stack, low-drop shoe to me. There’s one other interesting note here: on certain terrain, particularly when running downhill on semi-technical terrain, I’ve found that the instability of the high stack height forces me to shorten my stride, which is actually a good thing since I tend to over-stride on the downhill. Is this a good thing overall? Hard to say, since I also feel like I’ve come close to rolling my ankle in the same circumstances because of the massive, soft cushioning underfoot. This lack of stability is somewhat offset by the absolutely massive outsole. The type of instability that I experienced at times is fundamentally different from the instability I would describe when I have run in minimalist shoes on rocky terrain, but the result is the same: lots of close calls with ankle rolls, which ultimately slows me down.Grip: The Olympus outsole is not entirely Vibram Megagrip; some of the central lugs are actually a much softer foam. But the exterior, along with lines that approximate the locations of your toes, are strips of megagrip material. I’ve found the material is nice and sticky, just like it is on other shoes I’ve run in with the same rubber. The lug pattern works very well for gravel or semi-technical rocky terrain, and decently well for mid-technical rocky trails, but this is not the shoe I would choose for highly technical trail running or scrambling; the shoe simply isn’t agile enough, is too heavy, and has too much give.Aesthetics: These shoes are polarizing. They’re absolutely huge: both very tall, and very wide. But I have to say, I really like the look of my Gray/Orange shoes, especially the orange gradient coloring of the mid-sole and the “Stay Out There” text you’ll read every time you lace them up.Durability: This is a real unknown. Based on review of prior version of the shoe, it’s a real question in my mind. I’ve run about 30 miles in the Olympus 6, and it’s seen about 5000ft of vert on a variety of terrain. I haven’t seen anything start to delaminate or fail in other ways, but only time will tell whether Altra has addressed the durability issues seen in previous models.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
I usually run in stiff, low-drop, medium-cushion shoes on trails that often include lots of technical scrambling on the Front Range in Colorado. The Olympus 6s are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They're perfect for long, slower paced, hard-pack runs with some rocky sections. Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to test. So I put them through a set of runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways: "Run" 1: I used the Olympus 6 to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short ... MoreI usually run in stiff, low-drop, medium-cushion shoes on trails that often include lots of technical scrambling on the Front Range in Colorado. The Olympus 6s are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They're perfect for long, slower paced, hard-pack runs with some rocky sections. Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to test. So I put them through a set of runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways: "Run" 1: I used the Olympus 6 to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short sections to get a sense for the shoe. I found that they were comfortable hiking quickly in difficult terrain, both on and off trail. Running, I found they made me think of a full-suspension mountain bike: you can run right over small rocks and uneven terrain, and these shoes just soak it all up. Run 2: Altra put Vibram Megagrip on the outsoles, so I pushed them to the limit by scrambling the 2nd Flatiron, the most popular 5.0 in Boulder. The full run is roughly 30% hard packed trail, 30% technical rocky terrain, and 40% sandstone slab, and all of it is very steep: 1300ft of elevation gain over less than 1.5 miles, one way. This is not the right terrain for these shoes. It's fair to say they performed surprisingly well considering their intended use, but the massive stack height makes them too unstable to really trust them for scrambling, and they're too heavy to move quickly and precisely on technical downhill. They performed quite well on the hard-pack, both uphill and down. Run 3: My favorite pure trail run is in Eldorado Canyon. This was the perfect run for these shoes: sustained but not incredibly steep elevation gain, 6.5 miles, 1130ft of vert. Pure gravel sections, gravel with big rock chunks, hardpacked dirt, and short stretches of very rocky technical running. They performed very well, and I came out of the run with a couple of segments where I felt really good about my pace. I feel like a longer run on this type of terrain is exactly what the Olympus 6 is designed for. Fit and Comfort: I found the Olympus 6 to be true to size. While lacing up, it's a really comfortable shoe. The upper is breathable and stretchy and hugs the foot well, the heel cup fits well (for my foot, at least), and the gigantic toe box lets your toes splay out very nicely. When running, the massive stack height comes into play, and then I'd say it actually feels a little bit less comfortable because of the slight wobble it introduces and the overall gigantic profile of the shoe. They're also pretty heavy, but feel surprisingly light considering the features: cushioning, tons of underfoot surface area, and some stability features. Stride and Stability: Altras are popular partly because of the claims associated with their zero-drop platform. The idea (part of the idea, anyway) is that a zero-drop or low-drop shoe punishes us when we heel-strike, and encourages a forefoot strike instead. This type of feedback is supposed to improve a runner's stride over time, and I've personally experienced this in Altra road shoes. However, putting a massive stack height under the foot seems like it would dull any of the sensitivity required to really communicate anything about your stride or foot strike to your brain - and this is hard to extract from my overall feeling that the Olympus 6 just doesn't really feel like a zero-drop shoe. It feels like a high-stack, low-drop shoe to me. There's one other interesting note here: on certain terrain, particularly when running downhill on semi-technical terrain, I've found that the instability of the high stack height forces me to shorten my stride, which is actually a good thing since I tend to over-stride on the downhill. Is this a good thing overall? Hard to say, since I also feel like I've come close to rolling my ankle in the same circumstances because of the massive, soft cushioning underfoot. This lack of stability is somewhat offset by the absolutely massive outsole. Grip: The outsole is not entirely Megagrip; some of the central lugs are actually a much softer foam. The exterior, along with lines that approximate the locations of your toes, are strips of Megagrip. I've found the material is nice and sticky. The lug pattern works very well for gravel or semi-technical rocky terrain, and decently well for mid-technical rocky trails, but this is not the shoe I would choose for highly technical trail running or scrambling; the shoe simply isn't agile enough, is too heavy, and has too much wobble. I'd be interested to try one of Altra's lighter shoes with Megragrip, like the Timp, in the future. Durability: I've run 25 miles in these shoes, with about 5000ft of vert on a variety of terrain. I haven't seen anything start to delaminate or fail in other ways, but only time will tell whether Altra has addressed the durability issues of previous generations of the Olympus.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
The Altra Olympus 6 is a great hiking shoe, and is perfectly alright for running! I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a well cushioned trail shoe that can do almost anything. As a quick disclaimer, Altra gave me this product for free to try out, but all opinions are my own. My first test of the shoe was on a backpacking/climbing trip on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The approach to the campsite was a steep hike up a ridge with a pack full of camping and climbing gear, and the cushioning and wide base made it perfect for carrying a heavy load. Later that night, I ran down and back up the same ridge, and the pure bulk of the shoe felt a little clunky. Throughout the weekend, I spent hours in the shoe, belaying, rappelling, and just hanging out at camp. Over the ... MoreThe Altra Olympus 6 is a great hiking shoe, and is perfectly alright for running! I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a well cushioned trail shoe that can do almost anything. As a quick disclaimer, Altra gave me this product for free to try out, but all opinions are my own. My first test of the shoe was on a backpacking/climbing trip on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The approach to the campsite was a steep hike up a ridge with a pack full of camping and climbing gear, and the cushioning and wide base made it perfect for carrying a heavy load. Later that night, I ran down and back up the same ridge, and the pure bulk of the shoe felt a little clunky. Throughout the weekend, I spent hours in the shoe, belaying, rappelling, and just hanging out at camp. Over the next few weeks, I took the shoe out for some more runs and hikes, varying from easy 3-4 mile hikes to longer trail runs up to 15 miles. The shoe really shined on longer hikes and easy runs, but underperformed on the faster efforts, mainly due to the pure bulk of the shoe. The Vibram outsole was incredible, gripping to wet rock, muddy trails, and only slipping a little on more technical bits. The upper fit a little narrower than other Altra offerings (like the Lone Peak), while still being wider and more accommodating than most other trail shoes out there. After about 40 miles, the shoe is still in great shape! My main complaint was the color way that Altra sent to me -- the white upper stained right away in even the slightest mud. When all is said and done, I'm excited to get more miles out of this shoe, mainly as my go-to long distance hiking shoe, while occasionally pulling the shoe out for some easier running efforts on less technical terrain. I'll definitely be taking this shoe on some backpacking trips this summer! As someone who works in the outdoor retail space, I'll likely recommend this shoe to customers and friends that are looking for a solid hiker that can do it all.
| Best For | Trail running, all day trail running, hiking |
| Heel to toe Drop | 0mm |
| Stack Height | 33mm/33mm |
Overview: I usually run in stiff, relatively low-drop, low-cushion shoes on trails. My trail runs often include lots of technical scrambling in the Front Range in Colorado, near Boulder. These shoes are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They’re perfect for long hard-pack with some rocky sections.Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to submit an early review. I’ve never been given a pair of shoes before, so I took this seriously, and put them through a set of three runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways:Run 1: This was actually less of a run, and more about using the Olympus to hike on trails ... MoreOverview: I usually run in stiff, relatively low-drop, low-cushion shoes on trails. My trail runs often include lots of technical scrambling in the Front Range in Colorado, near Boulder. These shoes are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They’re perfect for long hard-pack with some rocky sections.Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to submit an early review. I’ve never been given a pair of shoes before, so I took this seriously, and put them through a set of three runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways:Run 1: This was actually less of a run, and more about using the Olympus to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes, then swapped shoes again between scrambles. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short sections to get a sense for the shoe, but mostly found that they were comfortable hiking in difficult terrain, both on and off trail. Running, I found they made me think of a full-suspension mountain bike: you can run right over small rocks and uneven terrain, and these shoes just soak it all up. They require less precision than the shoes I’m used to, which is good, because they’re too heavy and physically large for really rapid footwork.Run 2: Altra put Vibram Megagrip on the outsoles, the same rubber as my approach shoes. So I pushed them to the limit by scrambling the 2nd Flatiron, the most popular 5.0 in Boulder. I would estimate the full run is roughly 30% hard packed trail, 30% technical rocky terrain, and 40% sandstone slab. All of it is very steep: 1300ft of elevation gain over less than 3 miles. This is not the right terrain for these shoes. It’s fair to say they performed surprisingly well considering their intended use, but the massive stack height makes them too unstable to really trust them for scrambling, and they’re too heavy to move really quickly on technical downhill. They performed quite well on the hardpack, both uphill and down.Run 3: My favorite scramble-free run is a great trail in Eldorado Canyon. This was the perfect run for these shoes: sustained but not incredibly steep elevation gain, 6.5 miles, 1130ft of vert. The trail has pure gravel sections, gravel with big rock chunks, hardpacked dirt, short stretches of very rocky technical running, and a whole lot of loose shale scattered over everything. They performed very well, and I came out of the run with a couple of stretches where I felt really good about my pace. I feel like a longer run on this type of terrain is exactly what the Olympus 6 is designed for.Comfort: The Olympus 6 is a comfortable shoe. The upper is light and hugs the foot well, the heel cup works well (for my foot, at least), and the gigantic toe box lets your toes splay out while walking and running. The massive stack height feels comfortable until you’re actually running, and then I’d say it actually feels a little bit uncomfortable because of the slight wobble it introduces and the overall gigantic profile of the shoe. They’re also pretty heavy, but I would say they’re surprisingly light considering the features: a huge stack height, tons of underfoot surface area, and some stability features, along with front and back trail gaiter attachment points and an unnecessarily-large pull tab on the back of each ankle.Stride and Stability: Altras are popular partly because of the claims associated with their zero-drop platform. The idea (part of the idea, anyway) is that a zero-drop or low-drop shoe punishes us when we heel-strike, and encourages a forefoot strike instead. This type of feedback is supposed to improve a runner’s stride over time. I’ve found this to be the case when running in Altra road running shoes. However, putting a massive stack height under the foot seems like it would dull any of the sensitivity required to really communicate anything about your stride or foot strike to your brain – and this is hard to extract from my overall feeling that the Olympus 6 just doesn’t really feel like a zero-drop shoe. I’m not going to take a bandsaw and calipers to it to really find out, but from a user perspective, it feels like a high-stack, low-drop shoe to me. There’s one other interesting note here: on certain terrain, particularly when running downhill on semi-technical terrain, I’ve found that the instability of the high stack height forces me to shorten my stride, which is actually a good thing since I tend to over-stride on the downhill. Is this a good thing overall? Hard to say, since I also feel like I’ve come close to rolling my ankle in the same circumstances because of the massive, soft cushioning underfoot. This lack of stability is somewhat offset by the absolutely massive outsole. The type of instability that I experienced at times is fundamentally different from the instability I would describe when I have run in minimalist shoes on rocky terrain, but the result is the same: lots of close calls with ankle rolls, which ultimately slows me down.Grip: The Olympus outsole is not entirely Vibram Megagrip; some of the central lugs are actually a much softer foam. But the exterior, along with lines that approximate the locations of your toes, are strips of megagrip material. I’ve found the material is nice and sticky, just like it is on other shoes I’ve run in with the same rubber. The lug pattern works very well for gravel or semi-technical rocky terrain, and decently well for mid-technical rocky trails, but this is not the shoe I would choose for highly technical trail running or scrambling; the shoe simply isn’t agile enough, is too heavy, and has too much give.Aesthetics: These shoes are polarizing. They’re absolutely huge: both very tall, and very wide. But I have to say, I really like the look of my Gray/Orange shoes, especially the orange gradient coloring of the mid-sole and the “Stay Out There” text you’ll read every time you lace them up.Durability: This is a real unknown. Based on review of prior version of the shoe, it’s a real question in my mind. I’ve run about 30 miles in the Olympus 6, and it’s seen about 5000ft of vert on a variety of terrain. I haven’t seen anything start to delaminate or fail in other ways, but only time will tell whether Altra has addressed the durability issues seen in previous models.
I usually run in stiff, low-drop, medium-cushion shoes on trails that often include lots of technical scrambling on the Front Range in Colorado. The Olympus 6s are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They're perfect for long, slower paced, hard-pack runs with some rocky sections. Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to test. So I put them through a set of runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways: "Run" 1: I used the Olympus 6 to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short ... MoreI usually run in stiff, low-drop, medium-cushion shoes on trails that often include lots of technical scrambling on the Front Range in Colorado. The Olympus 6s are completely different: large, maximalist, comfortable shoes that can hang on rocky technical terrain but really shine for long runs on gravel and less technical trails. They're perfect for long, slower paced, hard-pack runs with some rocky sections. Altra provided me with this pair of Olympus 6 shoes to test. So I put them through a set of runs that I thought could test their abilities in various ways: "Run" 1: I used the Olympus 6 to hike on trails and bushwack through brush and talus between scrambles. I put them in my backpack and scrambled in approach shoes. 4 miles, 2000ft of vert. I ran short sections to get a sense for the shoe. I found that they were comfortable hiking quickly in difficult terrain, both on and off trail. Running, I found they made me think of a full-suspension mountain bike: you can run right over small rocks and uneven terrain, and these shoes just soak it all up. Run 2: Altra put Vibram Megagrip on the outsoles, so I pushed them to the limit by scrambling the 2nd Flatiron, the most popular 5.0 in Boulder. The full run is roughly 30% hard packed trail, 30% technical rocky terrain, and 40% sandstone slab, and all of it is very steep: 1300ft of elevation gain over less than 1.5 miles, one way. This is not the right terrain for these shoes. It's fair to say they performed surprisingly well considering their intended use, but the massive stack height makes them too unstable to really trust them for scrambling, and they're too heavy to move quickly and precisely on technical downhill. They performed quite well on the hard-pack, both uphill and down. Run 3: My favorite pure trail run is in Eldorado Canyon. This was the perfect run for these shoes: sustained but not incredibly steep elevation gain, 6.5 miles, 1130ft of vert. Pure gravel sections, gravel with big rock chunks, hardpacked dirt, and short stretches of very rocky technical running. They performed very well, and I came out of the run with a couple of segments where I felt really good about my pace. I feel like a longer run on this type of terrain is exactly what the Olympus 6 is designed for. Fit and Comfort: I found the Olympus 6 to be true to size. While lacing up, it's a really comfortable shoe. The upper is breathable and stretchy and hugs the foot well, the heel cup fits well (for my foot, at least), and the gigantic toe box lets your toes splay out very nicely. When running, the massive stack height comes into play, and then I'd say it actually feels a little bit less comfortable because of the slight wobble it introduces and the overall gigantic profile of the shoe. They're also pretty heavy, but feel surprisingly light considering the features: cushioning, tons of underfoot surface area, and some stability features. Stride and Stability: Altras are popular partly because of the claims associated with their zero-drop platform. The idea (part of the idea, anyway) is that a zero-drop or low-drop shoe punishes us when we heel-strike, and encourages a forefoot strike instead. This type of feedback is supposed to improve a runner's stride over time, and I've personally experienced this in Altra road shoes. However, putting a massive stack height under the foot seems like it would dull any of the sensitivity required to really communicate anything about your stride or foot strike to your brain - and this is hard to extract from my overall feeling that the Olympus 6 just doesn't really feel like a zero-drop shoe. It feels like a high-stack, low-drop shoe to me. There's one other interesting note here: on certain terrain, particularly when running downhill on semi-technical terrain, I've found that the instability of the high stack height forces me to shorten my stride, which is actually a good thing since I tend to over-stride on the downhill. Is this a good thing overall? Hard to say, since I also feel like I've come close to rolling my ankle in the same circumstances because of the massive, soft cushioning underfoot. This lack of stability is somewhat offset by the absolutely massive outsole. Grip: The outsole is not entirely Megagrip; some of the central lugs are actually a much softer foam. The exterior, along with lines that approximate the locations of your toes, are strips of Megagrip. I've found the material is nice and sticky. The lug pattern works very well for gravel or semi-technical rocky terrain, and decently well for mid-technical rocky trails, but this is not the shoe I would choose for highly technical trail running or scrambling; the shoe simply isn't agile enough, is too heavy, and has too much wobble. I'd be interested to try one of Altra's lighter shoes with Megragrip, like the Timp, in the future. Durability: I've run 25 miles in these shoes, with about 5000ft of vert on a variety of terrain. I haven't seen anything start to delaminate or fail in other ways, but only time will tell whether Altra has addressed the durability issues of previous generations of the Olympus.
The Altra Olympus 6 is a great hiking shoe, and is perfectly alright for running! I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a well cushioned trail shoe that can do almost anything. As a quick disclaimer, Altra gave me this product for free to try out, but all opinions are my own. My first test of the shoe was on a backpacking/climbing trip on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The approach to the campsite was a steep hike up a ridge with a pack full of camping and climbing gear, and the cushioning and wide base made it perfect for carrying a heavy load. Later that night, I ran down and back up the same ridge, and the pure bulk of the shoe felt a little clunky. Throughout the weekend, I spent hours in the shoe, belaying, rappelling, and just hanging out at camp. Over the ... MoreThe Altra Olympus 6 is a great hiking shoe, and is perfectly alright for running! I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a well cushioned trail shoe that can do almost anything. As a quick disclaimer, Altra gave me this product for free to try out, but all opinions are my own. My first test of the shoe was on a backpacking/climbing trip on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The approach to the campsite was a steep hike up a ridge with a pack full of camping and climbing gear, and the cushioning and wide base made it perfect for carrying a heavy load. Later that night, I ran down and back up the same ridge, and the pure bulk of the shoe felt a little clunky. Throughout the weekend, I spent hours in the shoe, belaying, rappelling, and just hanging out at camp. Over the next few weeks, I took the shoe out for some more runs and hikes, varying from easy 3-4 mile hikes to longer trail runs up to 15 miles. The shoe really shined on longer hikes and easy runs, but underperformed on the faster efforts, mainly due to the pure bulk of the shoe. The Vibram outsole was incredible, gripping to wet rock, muddy trails, and only slipping a little on more technical bits. The upper fit a little narrower than other Altra offerings (like the Lone Peak), while still being wider and more accommodating than most other trail shoes out there. After about 40 miles, the shoe is still in great shape! My main complaint was the color way that Altra sent to me -- the white upper stained right away in even the slightest mud. When all is said and done, I'm excited to get more miles out of this shoe, mainly as my go-to long distance hiking shoe, while occasionally pulling the shoe out for some easier running efforts on less technical terrain. I'll definitely be taking this shoe on some backpacking trips this summer! As someone who works in the outdoor retail space, I'll likely recommend this shoe to customers and friends that are looking for a solid hiker that can do it all.
Altra sent me these shoes to try for free, and I've since put 35-40 miles on with them. In that time, I've taken them through all sort of off road terrains: gravel, grassed trails, mulched trails, sandy beaches, and sand dunes. These shoes have conquered them all with ease. I have wide feet and these shoes feature a wider toe box that is hands down the most comfortable running experience I've had- especially without a lengthy break-in period. Usually, it takes me about 20-30 miles to break in a shoe to the point where I can run in them for more than a mile without pressure points. I never had that issues with these shoes! I thought the extended sole would change my stride, or create a different impact point on my foot, but I really haven't noticed. But, I would ... MoreAltra sent me these shoes to try for free, and I've since put 35-40 miles on with them. In that time, I've taken them through all sort of off road terrains: gravel, grassed trails, mulched trails, sandy beaches, and sand dunes. These shoes have conquered them all with ease. I have wide feet and these shoes feature a wider toe box that is hands down the most comfortable running experience I've had- especially without a lengthy break-in period. Usually, it takes me about 20-30 miles to break in a shoe to the point where I can run in them for more than a mile without pressure points. I never had that issues with these shoes! I thought the extended sole would change my stride, or create a different impact point on my foot, but I really haven't noticed. But, I would definitely say it adds additional stability to the shoe while on uneven terrain. I wouldn't say that they're a shoes I would wear going up a extremely technical course, but they can handle a heck of a lot more than a flat land run. I can't comment to much on the durability of the shoe, but I see no red flags yet. I'm looking forward to putting more miles on these beauties! Couldn't recommend them enough; especially for folks with wide feet.
This is the first zero drop trail shoe ive used. First of all, while these are sold as trail runners, Marcus at the Arcadia location advised me before trying them on that theyre really better for hiking. They feel really solid, the soles provide a lot of cushion but also amazing stability. These would be a great choice for backpacking, but theyre also just all around great and excellent on uneven terrain.I saw another reviewer say the "achilles pillow" in the heel caused him pain/blistering. I was concerned with this at first, but after actually going for a hike with them i do not notice any issue with them or the heel in general.That being said, I'm not a runner but i cant actually imagine using these for running lol. Compared to more flexible and thin soled ... MoreThis is the first zero drop trail shoe ive used. First of all, while these are sold as trail runners, Marcus at the Arcadia location advised me before trying them on that theyre really better for hiking. They feel really solid, the soles provide a lot of cushion but also amazing stability. These would be a great choice for backpacking, but theyre also just all around great and excellent on uneven terrain.I saw another reviewer say the "achilles pillow" in the heel caused him pain/blistering. I was concerned with this at first, but after actually going for a hike with them i do not notice any issue with them or the heel in general.That being said, I'm not a runner but i cant actually imagine using these for running lol. Compared to more flexible and thin soled trail runners like a Lone Peak or a topo mountain racer, it doesnt seem like the choice id make for running. Amazing for hiking though, which is what i use them for.Ive only taken them on a few hikes so far so i cant speak to their durability, i know there were some problems with outsoles on the Olympus 5 that Altra said should be resolved in the 6. The vibram megagrip outsole is excellent, as it has been on any shoe ive used with it. Anyways, big fan of these so far
Altra gave me the Olympus 6 for free to test. I put this shoe through the wringer. 28 mile hike/run on Mt Greylock in MA and a 40 mile trail race in West Virginia where I encountered wet, rain, mud, and extremely technical terrain with a lot of elevation change. The good: held up unlike previous versions. Grip is outstanding. Wide toe box is indeed foot shape unlike Altra's new direction deviating from their roots on other models. Toes can splay. Comfortable after breaking them in and utilizing ankle lock lacing techniques. The not so good: just a tad short in my opinion. I'm an 11 all day in every model. I would go up to an 11.5 in this model if I bought another pair. To reiterate, just a tad short. The 11 work, I'm talking a quarter inch at most...maybe less. The ... MoreAltra gave me the Olympus 6 for free to test. I put this shoe through the wringer. 28 mile hike/run on Mt Greylock in MA and a 40 mile trail race in West Virginia where I encountered wet, rain, mud, and extremely technical terrain with a lot of elevation change. The good: held up unlike previous versions. Grip is outstanding. Wide toe box is indeed foot shape unlike Altra's new direction deviating from their roots on other models. Toes can splay. Comfortable after breaking them in and utilizing ankle lock lacing techniques. The not so good: just a tad short in my opinion. I'm an 11 all day in every model. I would go up to an 11.5 in this model if I bought another pair. To reiterate, just a tad short. The 11 work, I'm talking a quarter inch at most...maybe less. The pair they sent me had some stitching coming apart out of the box. Didn't cause an issue, but quality control should've flagged it before sending it out. There's some new heal cushioning pad that caused me some irritation at first, but not after breaking them in and adjusting my lacing. The heel tab/loop came folded in for some reason on one shoe (packaging I assume). This also caused irritation on my heel, but shouldn't be an issue if quality control takes a peak before sending out. Overall: I love this shoe and I hope the quality and durability are better moving forward as the last few pairs I've owned(Olympus 5, Timp 4 & 5) were not. I also hope Altra stops narrowing the toe box of other models, puts Vibram mega grip on all trail models as Max Trak is just flat out sub par, and treats their customers better when the durability fails well short of what a shoe should last at their price points.
These shoes handle amazingly for anybody in need of a hiking, trail running/racing, or comfortable/durable all terrain shoe. I tested these shoes running/hiking in Hawaii and the Indo Pacific on roads, grass, clay trails, jungles, and technical rocky trail hikes. Out of the box: The shoe has an extremely lightweight upper section that is breathable yet provides enough durability and protection to prevent rocks or other debris from entering the shoe. The gaiter attachments feel very secure for when added protection is necessary. The padded ankle cup is an interesting feature I have never experienced on a shoe before but seems to add a large amount of secureness in the heel cup. The tread and sole have a similar feel and weight to the Hoka Tekton X, which is my ... MoreThese shoes handle amazingly for anybody in need of a hiking, trail running/racing, or comfortable/durable all terrain shoe. I tested these shoes running/hiking in Hawaii and the Indo Pacific on roads, grass, clay trails, jungles, and technical rocky trail hikes. Out of the box: The shoe has an extremely lightweight upper section that is breathable yet provides enough durability and protection to prevent rocks or other debris from entering the shoe. The gaiter attachments feel very secure for when added protection is necessary. The padded ankle cup is an interesting feature I have never experienced on a shoe before but seems to add a large amount of secureness in the heel cup. The tread and sole have a similar feel and weight to the Hoka Tekton X, which is my preferred trail racing shoe for 5k-24k trail races, but also has more cushion for added comfort. The protection around the toe box seems to be larger than most trail shoes I have used in the past, but does not make the shoes feel clunky in the slightest way. Running/hiking: There is a flare on the heel similar to the Tekton X or other racing shoes that helps the foot roll into the next step very smoothly. The shoes take a while to break in, especially the foam in the upper portion of the heel cup. The extra support around the ankle from the foam takes a little bit of getting used to but creates a great heel lock for technical runs. The shoe feels about 0.5 sizes smaller than what I usually wear, which I believe is a result of the ankle cushion. The technical of the ability of these shoes are unmatched from other shoes I have worn such as Hoka, Brooks, and Salewa. The rubber is incredibly resilient and seems as if its able to hold onto anything whether it be rocks or tree branches while running. I reccomend these shoes to a person looking for a technical shoes that manages to balance comfort, technical precision, and speed. *Altra gave me this free product to try.
I was initially skeptical of the shoe based on looks thinking that the fit may be narrower and not have the zero heel-to-toe drop. But it's still the classic wide toe box and zero drop ALTRA shoe. Multiple people complimented me on the color scheme of the shoe. Once I put on the shoe, I questioned the fit due to the protruding foam pads at the heal, marketed as an achilles pillow. The heel pad functions to provide a snug entrance to the foot and also seems to function to keep debris out of the shoe. I didn't even realize how well the shoe worked until I got home, removed my shoes, and rocks didn't fall out. I took the Olympus 6 on steep single tracks, dirt trails, and the road. The cushion and wide sole was comfortable and provided nice shocks while running ... MoreI was initially skeptical of the shoe based on looks thinking that the fit may be narrower and not have the zero heel-to-toe drop. But it's still the classic wide toe box and zero drop ALTRA shoe. Multiple people complimented me on the color scheme of the shoe. Once I put on the shoe, I questioned the fit due to the protruding foam pads at the heal, marketed as an achilles pillow. The heel pad functions to provide a snug entrance to the foot and also seems to function to keep debris out of the shoe. I didn't even realize how well the shoe worked until I got home, removed my shoes, and rocks didn't fall out. I took the Olympus 6 on steep single tracks, dirt trails, and the road. The cushion and wide sole was comfortable and provided nice shocks while running downhill. I'll continue to use these shoes in my trail running repertoire in addition to hiking activities. They also have a piece of velcro to add gaiters. ALTRA gave me this free product to try. What would I change? There's nothing I can think of to improve the product other than using a faster drying material.
I received these shoes for free from Altra as part of their gear test. I have live and work in an area where trail running and hiking are passions of many of my coworkers and clients. I have worn Altras in the past (Torin, Lone Peak, Superior) but never had the opportunity to try the Olympus so I'm happy to share my thoughts. First impression is they look great! Appearances matter of course. They have a ton of cushion including around the Achilles tendon which can be a hot spot for many. I tested them on flat terrain, gentle rolling dirt hills as well as steeper rocky trails. I found the landing soft with little to no feel of the rocks and sharp points underfoot. The natural foot shape allows the toes to spread and adapt to all surfaces. I felt no pain or discomfort ... MoreI received these shoes for free from Altra as part of their gear test. I have live and work in an area where trail running and hiking are passions of many of my coworkers and clients. I have worn Altras in the past (Torin, Lone Peak, Superior) but never had the opportunity to try the Olympus so I'm happy to share my thoughts. First impression is they look great! Appearances matter of course. They have a ton of cushion including around the Achilles tendon which can be a hot spot for many. I tested them on flat terrain, gentle rolling dirt hills as well as steeper rocky trails. I found the landing soft with little to no feel of the rocks and sharp points underfoot. The natural foot shape allows the toes to spread and adapt to all surfaces. I felt no pain or discomfort on level surfaces over any distance I wore them. Some drawbacks include little lateral stability which led to feeling quite a bit of rolling at times. The heel cushion could impact the fit around the back of the foot as I did notice it create some mild tension on my heel cord. Also the width of the toe box did allow the foot to slide forward when on steeper downhills. I'm sure this could be managed with socks or tying them differently. Overall this is a great shoe that I look forward to using more. Seems great for experienced trail runners and hikers but not too technical for those less experienced.
ALTRA gave me this free product to try. Last summer I sustained a major ankle injury, tearing 3 ligaments in my ankle, stopping my outdoor pursuits for months. After a long recovery process with lots of physical therapy I've recently been able to return to the outdoors! The new ALTRA Olympus 6 have been amazing on and off the trail, with their amazing traction and shock absorption helping me get back outdoors and "stay out there". Over the course of the testing, I used them for over 180 hours: 120 hours standing/walking at work, 20 hours of physical therapy, 10 hours trail running, 2 hours pavement running, 35 hours of hiking, 10 hours of climbing technical terrain, 1 hour river crossing, and ~40 hours misc. You can see the different ways I used them in the video ... MoreALTRA gave me this free product to try. Last summer I sustained a major ankle injury, tearing 3 ligaments in my ankle, stopping my outdoor pursuits for months. After a long recovery process with lots of physical therapy I've recently been able to return to the outdoors! The new ALTRA Olympus 6 have been amazing on and off the trail, with their amazing traction and shock absorption helping me get back outdoors and "stay out there". Over the course of the testing, I used them for over 180 hours: 120 hours standing/walking at work, 20 hours of physical therapy, 10 hours trail running, 2 hours pavement running, 35 hours of hiking, 10 hours of climbing technical terrain, 1 hour river crossing, and ~40 hours misc. You can see the different ways I used them in the video (Please don't judge when I stumble or land funny with my foot, still isn't 100% better. LOL) They exceled on slippery and steep terrain and felt more comfortable the rougher the trail! When I got them soaked, they were extremely quick drying, and didn't feel heavy from holding too much water. The wide toe box was amazing on my feet and let my toes rest naturally and un-crammed. I was constantly given compliments on them, with others loving the muted upper and striking lower colors. My only issue with them is they aren't the most breathable, so when it was above 80 degrees out my feet felt a little too warm. However, when using them in the 50-75 degrees range, they were perfect, so keep it in mind when planning your uses. My ankle felt incredibly stable whenever I wore these, no matter how rough the terrain, and I felt little to no pain when I jumped and landed in them. The shock absorption on these continually astonished me with its effectiveness. I would recommend these shoes to anyone with an outdoor pursuit involving some of the roughest terrain out there!
| Best For | Trail running, all day trail running, hiking |
| Heel to toe Drop | 0mm |
| Stack Height | 33mm/33mm |
Explore New Horizons with the Altra Olympus 6 The Altra Olympus 6 Running Shoes are designed to offer maximum protection and comfort on long trail runs. With a zero-drop design and thick midsole, these shoes are made for ultramarathon adventurers. Midsole and Cushioning The Olympus 6's midsole is comprised of a reliable CMEVA foam that provides predictable and comfortable cushioning, step after step, without being too soft or too bouncy. Upper Details The engineered mesh upper not only enhances breathability but also offers increased durability with a more robust toe box and generous overlays. Additionally, entry comfort is enhanced with a refined tongue and premium Achilles heel cushion. Sole The Vibram Megagrip compound outsole sets the standard for grip on a variety of trail surfaces. With slightly modified lug shapes and placements, the outsole offers enhanced durability and confidence with every step. Addition Points Attachment points at the heel and base of the tongue allow for the convenient addition of a separate gaiter if desired, offering added versatility on your trail running adventures.
Explore New Horizons with the Altra Olympus 6 The Altra Olympus 6 Running Shoes are designed to offer maximum protection and comfort on long trail runs. With a zero-drop design and thick midsole, these shoes are made for ultramarathon adventurers. Midsole and Cushioning The Olympus 6's midsole is comprised of a reliable CMEVA foam that provides predictable and comfortable cushioning, step after step, without being too soft or too bouncy. Upper Details The engineered mesh upper not only enhances breathability but also offers increased durability with a more robust toe box and generous overlays. Additionally, entry comfort is enhanced with a refined tongue and premium Achilles heel cushion. Sole The Vibram Megagrip compound outsole sets the standard for grip on a variety of trail surfaces. With slightly modified lug shapes and placements, the outsole offers enhanced durability and confidence with every step. Addition Points Attachment points at the heel and base of the tongue allow for the convenient addition of a separate gaiter if desired, offering added versatility on your trail running adventures.
Explore New Horizons with the Altra Olympus 6 The Altra Olympus 6 Running Shoes are designed to offer maximum protection and comfort on long trail runs. With a zero-drop design and thick midsole, these shoes are made for ultramarathon adventurers. Midsole and Cushioning The Olympus 6's midsole is comprised of a reliable CMEVA foam that provides predictable and comfortable cushioning, step after step, without being too soft or too bouncy. Upper Details The engineered mesh upper not only enhances breathability but also offers increased durability with a more robust toe box and generous overlays. Additionally, entry comfort is enhanced with a refined tongue and premium Achilles heel cushion. Sole The Vibram Megagrip compound outsole sets the standard for grip on a variety of trail surfaces. With slightly modified lug shapes and placements, the outsole offers enhanced durability and confidence with every step. Addition Points Attachment points at the heel and base of the tongue allow for the convenient addition of a separate gaiter if desired, offering added versatility on your trail running adventures.
Explore New Horizons with the Altra Olympus 6 The Altra Olympus 6 Running Shoes are designed to offer maximum protection and comfort on long trail runs. With a zero-drop design and thick midsole, these shoes are made for ultramarathon adventurers. Midsole and Cushioning The Olympus 6's midsole is comprised of a reliable CMEVA foam that provides predictable and comfortable cushioning, step after step, without being too soft or too bouncy. Upper Details The engineered mesh upper not only enhances breathability but also offers increased durability with a more robust toe box and generous overlays. Additionally, entry comfort is enhanced with a refined tongue and premium Achilles heel cushion. Sole The Vibram Megagrip compound outsole sets the standard for grip on a variety of trail surfaces. With slightly modified lug shapes and placements, the outsole offers enhanced durability and confidence with every step. Addition Points Attachment points at the heel and base of the tongue allow for the convenient addition of a separate gaiter if desired, offering added versatility on your trail running adventures.
