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The Altra Olympus 6 may simply be the path shoe that you just didn’t understand you had been lacking. Not solely does it have magnificent grip, however sufficient cushion for tremendous lengthy runs or path mountain climbing days.
As a working coach and kit tester, I’ve made it my mission to discover the most recent choices and put them by their paces, making certain that you just make an knowledgeable choice in the case of enhancing your working 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 grime roads, muddy situations, slick granite, and loads of rocks.
Can a shoe someway be maximal and minimal on the similar time? That’s what it looks like once you’re rocking an enormous stack of cushion with a zero drop shoe!
As at all times, observe that we’re tremendous sincere in our working shoe evaluations about what works, doesn’t work and naturally we now have preferences in footwear after 20+ years working and testing a whole lot! So take what appears most precious to you from right here and determine if it’s a path working shoe price including to your rotation.
Altra Olympus 6 Particulars
After they say max cushion, they imply it. This can be a path working shoe that’s beloved by many of us doing huge mountain climbing journeys and path runners in search of some additional love on these extremely coaching days. It’s additionally going to be a winner for a few of our heavier runners, who discover that a bit extra cushion does certainly simply really feel good on the joints.
After all the commerce off with max cushion on this case is added weight. It’s not going to have the pep in your step you may 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 the case of grip. The traction is wonderful 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 actually considered WHO is utilizing this shoe when deciding which options to concentrate on. 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 enhance within the girls’s, so I’m inquisitive about 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 working shoe. However with out transferring to the lighter weight and costlier foams we see in race footwear. You additionally aren’t getting the tremendous gentle feeling of say a Hoka Bondi, which is sweet on the paths the place you need extra help.
Whereas the shoe has phenomenal grip, one factor to think about with an enormous stack top is ankle stability. General the extensive platform is nice once you’re working and doing normal facet to facet actions, however in case you’ll be making plenty of massive jumps over river crossings, one thing to think about.
Laura famous that for tremendous technical terrain, she’d be extra more likely to run within the Lone Peak with much less cushion, offering extra stability and feeling of what’s transferring underfoot.
Although once more, that top collar can be going to provide you a bit extra ankle help, so professionals and cons to the cushion!
As with all Altra footwear, you’ll benefit from the FootShape toe field. Their advertising is that this permits for a extra pure foot motion, which is a sure and no.
What it completely does is present extra room on your toes which might really feel wonderful AND permits so that you can get extra energy out of that massive toe by preserving it straight. Do you know your massive toe supplies plenty of umph in your stride?
Altra Olympus 6 Specs
When you’ve been utilizing zero drop for awhile, I might place this squarely within the lengthy path runs or hikes class. For positive it’s on our listing of greatest Altra Trainers.
- Path working 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 obtainable in extensive
- Obtainable at Altra Operating and retail shops for $175
General you gained’t discover many huge modifications from the Altra Olympus 5. Essentially 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 need to put on down these wonderful lugs with street working.
Altra Olympus Match
Normally, Altra’s have a extra roomy match to me. It’s actually vital to notice that whereas they’ve the extensive toe field, that doesn’t imply they’re a large shoe.
As an alternative, you’ll discover that footshape of extensive on the toes after which coming in alongside the arch and again to the heel.
Some of us 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 making certain a cosy match to maintain issues from transferring 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 the Arizona summers, so we are likely to imagine her in the case of temperature!
The one factor I at all times observe with Altra footwear is the tongue. Some are winners, however rather a lot actually lower in to the ankles, so embrace the present excessive sock development to verify these are cozy.
Altra Olympus vs Altra Lone Peak
One of many points we’re discovering with footwear these days is that manufacturers have a number of which appear related from the surface 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 truly 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 typical path runner (i.e. not doing 50 milers)
- Each have improbable traction, simply barely completely different outsoles
- Each have plenty of loyal followers coming again for the shoe 12 months after 12 months
- Lone Peak may even have the Stoneguard to guard you on these laborious rocky trails
Related Sneakers to Olympus 6
When you aren’t positive 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 choice, so there are only a couple of issues from my expertise.
- Time to adapt to working in zero-drop footwear
- Weight: it’s not the lightest of footwear and that retains it from being certainly one of our favorites
- Sizing is a bit difficult, however in case you haven’t gotten them massively soiled you may at all times trade.
It’s price noting that these potential drawbacks can fluctuate primarily based on particular person preferences, foot biomechanics, and working type. What may be a limitation for one runner may very well be inconsequential and even fascinating for an additional
What You Have to Learn about Altra Operating Sneakers
If you’re new to zero drop footwear, 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 quick run for a couple of weeks after which slowly rising the space of that run. Ultimately transferring to with the ability to use zero drop footwear 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 kind, and encourage a low-impact touchdown.
Listed here are a few of the claimed advantages of zero-drop footwear:
- Extra pure working gait
- Improved ankle mobility
- Higher posture
- Improved steadiness
Why Would You Need 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 might sound a bit odd once 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.
Essentially the most vital benefit of a foot-shaped toe field is that it permits your toes to splay, or unfold out, whereas working.
This pure toe splay helps runners acquire extra stability, construct stronger foot muscle tissues, and preserve a straight nice toe, which will increase the ability produced with every stride.
This design permits your toes to unfold out, which supplies you with the means to get extra energy from every stride.
Hopefully this was useful to provide you an summary of the Altra Olympus 6! Ultimately, Coach Laura mentioned they’ll stay in her line up for shorter run days or restoration days the place she desires a bit additional cushion underfoot.
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Coach Laura has been a part of the teaching group since 2021, an extremely runner for over 20 years and a health teacher for practically as lengthy. She’s centered on discovering the gear that makes path time much more pleasant.
Coaching 12 months spherical in Arizona, she provides us the inside track on sizzling climate, technical trails and but doesn’t miss a beat in the case of hitting the roads for a BQ.
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