Altra Olympus 6 Assessment | Cushion with Grip

The Altra Olympus 6 would possibly simply be the path shoe that you simply didn’t understand you have been lacking. Not solely does it have magnificent grip, however sufficient cushion for tremendous lengthy runs or path mountaineering days.

As a operating coach and equipment tester, I’ve made it my mission to discover the most recent choices and put them by means of their paces, guaranteeing that you simply make an knowledgeable determination in terms of enhancing your operating expertise.

This time round fellow coach and very long time Altra fanatic Laura Swenson put the Olympus to the take a look at over roughly 40 miles of dust roads, muddy circumstances, slick granite, and loads of rocks.

Can a shoe by some means be maximal and minimal on the similar time? That’s what it looks like whenever you’re rocking an enormous stack of cushion with a zero drop shoe!

As all the time, observe that we’re tremendous trustworthy in our operating shoe evaluations about what works, doesn’t work and naturally we now have preferences in sneakers after 20+ years operating and testing lots of! So take what appears most useful to you from right here and determine if it’s a path operating shoe value including to your rotation.

Altra Olympus 6 Particulars

Once they say max cushion, they imply it. It is a path operating shoe that’s beloved by many people doing large mountaineering journeys and path runners on the lookout for some further love on these extremely coaching days. It’s additionally going to be a winner for a few of our heavier runners, who discover that somewhat extra cushion does certainly simply really feel good on the joints.

In fact the commerce off with max cushion on this case is added weight. It’s not going to have the pep in your step you would possibly discover them feeling a bit heavy in case you aren’t used to taking out a max cushion shoe.

BUT a part of that weight is as a result of they didn’t sacrifice even an inch in terms of grip. The traction is superb on the shoe! No slipping on the moist/slick granite and nice traction within the mud.  The Vibram® Megagrip completely does its job, alongside an up to date lug sample.

We love that they’ve really considered WHO is utilizing this shoe when deciding which options to give attention to. For instance, the excessive loop within the again is known as a GaiterTrap™, designed to make it simple to strap in your gaiters for these critical path or sand days. Coach Laura was additionally excited as a result of the large strap on the heel is useful getting the shoe on, particularly in case you’re fatigued in an extremely race.

The stack top stayed the identical because the Olympus 5, however the weight has gone up considerably within the males’s. It doesn’t present the identical improve within the girls’s, so I’m interested by this, however Laura additionally famous the shoe felt heavier than her different Altra’s.

The froth modified from simply being a compressed EVA to a Plush Compressed EVA, which clearly is including to that softness we so love from an enormous fats cushioned operating shoe. However with out shifting to the lighter weight and dearer foams we see in race sneakers. You additionally aren’t getting the tremendous mushy feeling of say a Hoka Bondi, which is sweet on the paths the place you need extra assist.

Whereas the shoe has phenomenal grip, one factor to contemplate with an enormous stack top is ankle stability. Total the huge platform is nice whenever you’re operating and doing common facet to facet actions, however in case you’ll be making a variety of massive jumps over river crossings, one thing to contemplate.

Laura famous that for tremendous technical terrain, she’d be extra prone to run within the Lone Peak with much less cushion, offering extra stability and feeling of what’s shifting underfoot.

Although once more, that top collar can also be going to provide you a bit extra ankle assist, so execs and cons to the cushion!

As with all Altra sneakers, you’ll benefit from the FootShape toe field. Their advertising and marketing is that this enables for a extra pure foot motion, which is a sure and no.

What it completely does is present extra room in your toes which might really feel superb AND permits so that you can get extra energy out of that massive toe by preserving it straight. Do you know your massive toe gives a variety of umph in your stride?

Altra Olympus 6 Specs

In case you’ve been utilizing zero drop for awhile, I might place this squarely within the lengthy path runs or hikes class. For certain it’s on our record of greatest Altra Trainers.

• Path operating shoe
• Max cushion
• Heel Drop: 0mm
• 33 mm stack top (it’s gotten increased and therefore extra cushion)
• Weight: 10.2 oz girls’s, 13.25 oz males’s
• Obtainable in 5 colours
• Not out there in huge
• Obtainable at Altra Working and retail shops for $175

Total you gained’t discover many large adjustments from the Altra Olympus 5. Probably the most notable goes to be a greater breathable higher and much more traction from the lugs.

That is completely a path shoe. You don’t wish to put on down these superb lugs with street operating.

Altra Olympus Match

Generally, Altra’s have a extra roomy match to me. It’s actually vital to notice that whereas they’ve the huge toe field, that doesn’t imply they’re a large shoe.

As an alternative, you’ll discover that footshape of huge on the toes after which coming in alongside the arch and again to the heel.

Some people have discovered the Olympus to run a bit small in size, so in case you are usually in between sizes, completely go up.

On 90% of my trainers, we use a heel lock lacing and these have sufficient laces to make that simply doable. It additionally helped with guaranteeing a cosy match to maintain issues from shifting round.

Laura discovered the supplies on the higher a part of the shoe weren’t too stiff and appeared breathable throughout sizzling runs. She trains by means of the Arizona summers, so we are inclined to imagine her in terms of temperature!

The one factor I all the time observe with Altra sneakers is the tongue. Some are winners, however rather a lot actually minimize in to the ankles, so embrace the present excessive sock development to ensure these are cozy.

Altra Olympus vs Altra Lone Peak

One of many points we’re discovering with sneakers these days is that manufacturers have a number of which appear related from the skin and results in confusion in selecting the best choice. Don’t they know that typically much less is extra?

However on this case, it’s really fairly simple for us that can assist you decide as a result of these two have some clear variations.

• Lone Peak goes to have 8mm much less cushion, which additionally means the burden is considerably much less
• Lone Peak goes to be loads of cushion for the common path runner (i.e. not doing 50 milers)
• Each have incredible traction, simply barely totally different outsoles
• Each have a variety of loyal followers coming again for the shoe yr after yr
• Lone Peak may even have the Stoneguard to guard you on these laborious rocky trails

Comparable Sneakers to  Olympus 6

In case you aren’t certain that you really want a zero drop shoe, however like the thought of some cushion right here’s the place we’d level you:

Drawbacks of the Altra Olympus 6

As famous, each runner has a desire, so there are only a couple of issues from my expertise.

• Time to adapt to operating in zero-drop sneakers
• Weight: it’s not the lightest of sneakers and that retains it from being considered one of our favorites
• Sizing is somewhat difficult, however in case you haven’t gotten them massively soiled you may all the time trade.

It’s value noting that these potential drawbacks can differ primarily based on particular person preferences, foot biomechanics, and operating fashion. What may be a limitation for one runner might be inconsequential and even fascinating for one more

What You Must Learn about Altra Working Sneakers

In case you are new to zero drop sneakers, please, please, plan for time to adapt. Your Achilles, ankles, calves and tendons want an opportunity to get used to being a bit extra elongated.

You are able to do this by sporting them for 1 brief run for a number of weeks after which slowly growing the gap of that run. Finally shifting to having the ability to use zero drop sneakers for a number of runs per week.

The model Altra is well-known for its dedication to a zero heel-to-toe drop in all of its footwear, whatever the quantity of cushioning within the sole. And so, each shoe in Altra’s lineup is designed with a zero drop that places the heel and forefoot on the similar degree.

They designed this to assist with optimum alignment, domesticate higher type, and encourage a low-impact touchdown.

Listed below are among the claimed advantages of zero-drop sneakers:

• Extra pure operating gait
• Improved ankle mobility
• Higher posture
• Improved steadiness

Why Would You Desire a Foot Formed Toebox?

One other characteristic shared by all Altra trainers is that the toe field is designed with the pure form of the foot in thoughts.

It could sound somewhat odd whenever you first hear that they make a foot formed shoe, however when you see it issues start to click on. I don’t learn about you, however my toes aren’t formed just like the picture on the left.

Probably the most important benefit of a foot-shaped toe field is that it permits your toes to splay, or unfold out, whereas operating.

This pure toe splay helps runners acquire extra stability, construct stronger foot muscle tissue, and keep a straight nice toe, which will increase the facility produced with every stride.

This design permits your toes to unfold out, which gives you with the skill to get extra energy from every stride.

Hopefully this was useful to provide you an summary of the Altra Olympus 6! In the long run, Coach Laura mentioned they’ll stay in her line up for shorter run days or restoration days the place she needs somewhat further cushion underfoot.

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Coach Laura has been a part of the teaching workforce since 2021, an extremely runner for over 20 years and a health teacher for almost as lengthy. She’s centered on discovering the gear that makes path time much more satisfying.

Coaching yr spherical in Arizona, she provides us the news on sizzling climate, technical trails and but doesn’t miss a beat in terms of hitting the roads for a BQ.

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