In production · trail · Trail / Long run · $185
An 8 mm drop Olympus for runners who want max cushion but not zero drop.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 9:30–13:00 /mi on trail.
Altra tuned this midsole very soft (5/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 35 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is unusually roomy — foot-shaped rather than tapered, which suits splayed or bunion-prone feet. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.41 per mile at $185.
For the foams and plates Altra uses across its line, read the Altra brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
295 g / 10.4 oz
20 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
35 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$185
25 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
5 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Altra line it is heavier than the brand's median (294 g / 10.4 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (30 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Salomon S/Lab Ultra 4
265 g / 9.3 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $200
Precision-fit ultra racer built around Kilian's mountain requirements.
Under Armour Infinite Pro
300 g / 10.6 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $135
Cushioned trail version of the Infinite platform for mixed terrain.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe v2
298 g / 10.5 oz · 38 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $120
New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe v2: 38 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 269 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4
309 g / 10.9 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Cushioned ultra-distance trail shoe with PWRRUN PB and serious grip.