In production · trail · Trail / Long run / Recovery · $175
Max-cushion zero-drop trail shoe with Vibram Megagrip for long rocky days.
Built for trail, long run, recovery, at a target pace of 10:00–14:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is EGO, tuned very soft (5/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 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 calm at 2/5 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 0 mm drop is close to level. That loads the calf and Achilles more than most runners are used to, so ease into it. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. 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 $0.39 per mile at $175.
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
354 g / 12.5 oz
79 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
35 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
0 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$175
15 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
5 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 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.
Altra Olympus 7
315 g / 11.1 oz · 39 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $180
Max-cushion zero-drop ultra shoe with Vibram Megagrip.
Altra Timp 5 BOA
310 g / 10.9 oz · 34 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $180
The Timp's cushioned trail platform with a dial-fit BOA closure.
Altra Olympus Hike
400 g / 14.1 oz · 33 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $230
Max-cushion hiking shoe on the Olympus platform with Vibram grip.
Altra Olympus 275
305 g / 10.8 oz · 33 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $185
Lighter, more responsive Olympus — max cushion without the bulk.