Altra Trail Shoes: Simplified Guide (Zero Drop) // Pros & Cons

[@nicennice]

Love Altras. My Olympus 4s are only now starting to fall apart after probably more than 1500km in them. I recently got the Timp 5s and was initially a bit shocked by how narrow/tight (I have pretty wide feet) they felt but I now have over 200km in them including 80km at the Equinox 24hr in the race in the UK in horrible weather and they were fine so they have stretched a bit. Good idea to do this video James as Altra sizing and fit is all over the place.👍

[@movemorenowjames]

@@nicennice thanks 🙏.. appreciate the lengthy feedback

[@mariaulfahofficial]

So do you guys recommend upsize maybe 0.5 - 1 size up?

[@MilesLangley]

I just picked up a pair of Lone Peak 8 this week. They are brilliant. I don’t think I’ve ever had a pair of shoes fit my wider feet as comfortably. Love them. Now I’m looking for a pair of Altra road shoes to compliment.

[@movemorenowjames]

Nice one. Glad they worked for you… great shoe

[@Alexander_Offshore]

Altra Vanish Tempo, great shoe!

[@MilesLangley]

@@Alexander_Offshore I went with the Torin 7. Just had to go up half a size to allow for the cushion. Nice and comfy. I’m not running fast race paces so it’s good for the longer runs.

[@markg99]

Great summary, James. Keeping things brief is always a challenge!

[@movemorenowjames]

Cheers Mark

[@ellomurz]

I know this is a shoe video....but dammm he looks more jacked in this video!!

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks , I will take that !

[@eagle63-94]

je confirme, je viens de recvoir mes timp 5 en taille 40. Très étroites au niveau couture orteils. Je vais essayer de retirer la semelle de propreté sinon, vais devoir (encore) faire une entaille dans le mesh pour soulager mon hallux valgus. J'espère que le restant sera ok. Commandées pour faire du mixte : route/sentier

[@movemorenowjames]

Unfortunately the timp is a little tight … good luck

[@jumpyl.h.8230]

Good job. Really helpful. Very appreciate. Thanks a lot, James. 😜

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks - there’s also the wild experience but that’s not zero drop so… just haven’t tried it yet

[@ericperramond3463]

Really useful, James, and I agree about the Timp 4&5. The 5 is.... a little under-sized compared to the 4. So whatever your standard ALTRA size is, a 1/2 size up might solve the nail banging and restrictive feel near the toes. Otherwise I love that the Timp5 has better lateral hold and I wasn't sliding on trail... fantastic grip, too, really surprised me how capable it is. Cheers!

[@movemorenowjames]

Yup, I agree. The timp 5 did have great lateral hold but personally, even if I went to 11uk the side overlays would still be rubbing. Shame, as it was nearly perfect

[@alvaropacheco5891]

Great video!!! Thank you very much!!! Very useful information 🎉😊 and I love the music of your videos too. I am a fan user from Altra, now I have the Lone Peak 8 and I love it and just order online de Mont Blanc Carbon.

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks … appreciate the kind feedback

[@BenNotley]

I wasn't aware that you're a Altra fan James 🤣🤪 Great little break down mate. Thanks for covering the pros and cons mate. 👍 I have been running in some Topos over the last few weeks. Toe boxes are very accommodating. 😎🤘

[@movemorenowjames]

Ha. Yup, I am the sad altra geek who has stuck with them through thick and thin! Which Topo? How do you find the midsoles?

[@BenNotley]

🤣👍 I have been using the ultraventure 3 mate. Soooo comfy. Very cushioned middle. 👌

[@ironspeed]

Good video James, I'we been on altra for a few years not too, started with a timp but the overlays broke on the first run, so swapped them for lonepeaks, now I am in the olympus, love them to death.

[@movemorenowjames]

Great stuff .. lone peaks and the Olympus are a perfect combo

[@keysersoze5341]

Loving the content. I wear Vivos for everything apart from running it's Altras. I do bars and rings with Kettlebells in my garden, and the main reason for the following is that I also have a little BT 😃

[@movemorenowjames]

Ah, I’m guessing BT is border terrier !

[@mille1000boy]

Great summary thanks 🙏 Was some of this filmed on Ashtead common?

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks.. well spotted .. it’s a mix of Esher common, ashted, Oxshott… plus leith hill !

[@ruscalable]

have you tried changing the insole in the Timp5 to a thinner one? i've heard that can make the upper seem bigger and more accommodating. thanks for the vids btw. i always used to run in Nikes, but found the lack of cushion around the front/mid foot frustrating. finding Altra has been rewarding.

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks for this and yes, I did switch the insole - helped a bit ..

[@ZiggyStardust005]

@@movemorenowjameswhich sole did you buy? I cant find any in the wide shape of altras…

[@-R_H]

Funny, I still have superior 4.5s too. Out of all Altras I have, I use these almost daily

[@movemorenowjames]

It’s a good one !

[@Fitness4ver]

Love the breakdown of the Altra models. Have you tried any of the newer Northface models? Like the vectiv infinite, enduris, pro? They've seemed to improve their trail shoes from the older gen models. Don't get me wrong, I love the Altras too. But I picked up a pair of Infinite 2's and went a half size up and I quite like them. Also, have you ever tried any Topo Athletic shoes? They have wide toebox, with 0 to 5 mm drop options. I've been eyeing the ultraventure 3 model. Since you love shoes and breakdowns would be curious to see how they compare to Altras. Cheers James!

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks. I have tried any of the newer NF models - did buy the first Vectic but didn’t like it .. have tried a few older models of topo and definitely keen to try newer ones as have heard many good things. Just picked up the Nike Terra kiger 9, it’s actually a really good shoe - grippy, great control, accommodating and a lovely feel with the full react plus a lower drop at 4mm

[@n0xc0mment]

You gotta Review the new Altra Experience Wild its my new favorite trail shoe!

[@movemorenowjames]

Interesting… why’s it your favourite?

[@detmerhubbeling3955]

I also ordered a pair of Altra Lone Peak 8 last week. Today did a first run on it. I'm afraid they are too wide, I have thin feet, but hopefully with thicker socks I will manage. That's the disadvantage of ordering via Internet, but in The Netherlands you hardly can't get Altra's anywhere. Last year I was in Czech Republic and met some people who love to walk/run on barefoot shoes, just as I do, but were very enthousiastic about the Lone Peaks. Do you have another tip how to fit in a shoe that's slightly too wide? Thanks for posting

[@movemorenowjames]

Hi, apologies for the delay… sorry, I can’t really help much - apart from thick socks and potentially thicker insole ?

[@Runnin2Live]

I didn’t think I would like them because of the drop but the Experience Wild have been really nice to run in.

[@movemorenowjames]

Ah, thanks.. I must try those soon.

[@jdykast]

Hey James, thanks for the videos. Your love for the OG Monte Blanc gave me confidence to get a pair myself, and I love them! Looking for a pair of Olympus 5s at some point. Do you buy the same size as your Monte Blancs?

[@movemorenowjames]

Thanks and that’s a good question but not that easy to answer. So I go for a 10 in the MB and fit brilliantly, but for the Olympus 4 (2 pairs) and the O5 a 10.5…. That said, the O5 are giving me a little bit of heel slippage at 10.5, so maybe I should have gone for a 10. The annoying thing about altra is that they do change things from model to model … so, to answer I would go for the same size as your MB (unless you wear thick socks and really want lots of space !)

[@jdykast]

@@movemorenowjames Thanks for thinking that through. I’ll keep an eye out for them in my MB size. I saw REI has a preorder for the Olympus 6. Being cheap (thrifty?), I hope this pushes the price of the O5 down a bit!

[@gabiangregoric2893]

Anyone have the olympus 6 and compared to the gtx version and can descride the differences in feel?

[@movemorenowjames]

Good question

[@ZeRo-22-]

Off topic James, but check out the new just-announced updates coming to your Apple Watch Ultra in watch OS 11. Training load I think will be very valuable, similar to how a Garmin does it, and also off-line maps!

[@movemorenowjames]

I was just watching that - looks like a great update and the offline maps … do you know when the update is happening ?

[@ZeRo-22-]

@@movemorenowjames should be the usual time, so October/September this year!

[@mariaconticchio9614]

Hello, please can you tell me what is the best altra shoe for bunion? (I need both maximum width and support for my arch). Thank you! 1) -> Escalante 4, maximum width but maybe there is not enough support 2) Torin 7 wide 3) paradigm 7 wide 4) lone peak 8 5) via olympus 2 6) olympus 6 Which one is the best for my problem?

[@movemorenowjames]

To be honest most should work for bunion but the torin might be the best … very accommodating and roomy. Regarding the arch support, they are all zero drop and fairly neutral so not much support. Topo athletic do do some great shoes that are wide and offer arch supports…

[@FDNRunningandMotivation-ws1hd]

Haven't finished watching your video yet, but I have the feeling you haven't reviewed the Wild Experience. .., I've been injured for 6 months and counting, and the Mont Blanc Carbon made me even more injured, nothing wrong with them, it's just me pushing my boundaries too far, and that energy return affected my feet and ankles, now that I had more runs in them, I.actually like them more than the original Mont Blanc, and now I.decided to give Timp 5 a try, chose them over the Wild Experience, the thing is I don't want anymore too thick outsole shoes, but not too slim either...so in my opinion, the thickness in the Timp is just about right, and the one in the Torin 5 and 6 was perfect. Carbon plate shoes is not a good idea, I just consider that a rock plate in the MB carbon. Too bad you didn't review the Superior 6 and I think Altra should bring back something like the Supalante

[@movemorenowjames]

Totally right, sorry forgot to add in “zero drop” …. Maybe one day will try the experience and yes, the superior 6. Agree with you on the timp 5 midsole - loved the feel , just not the upper. How’s the injury now?

[@movemorenowjames]

Also, I was going to add in the King MT but they don’t do it - loved that shoe

[@FDNRunningandMotivation-ws1hd]

@@movemorenowjames injury is still bad, but I can't let Goggins beat me at least at this, so I'm gonna keep carrying the boats and the logs...stay hard ! Will try a run now. ..see how it goes, about 35 degrees here, but no excuses

[@FDNRunningandMotivation-ws1hd]

@@movemorenowjames oh, forgot about that one, it was so cool

[@movemorenowjames]

@@FDNRunningandMotivation-ws1hdpretty hot 🥵!

[@danielburge2478]

The Mont Blanc Boa is my favourite. I far prefer it to the Mont Blanc.

[@movemorenowjames]

Better lockdown?

[@danielburge2478]

@@movemorenowjames game changer. I can lock that shoe around me for difficult/dangerous terrain and loosen it for the sort of trails you see on KZbin. In terms of lockdown, I put my foot firmly back into the heel cup and tighten, and this makes the heel fit the best I've ever had in a shoe.

[@markknight5836]

Hi where I. The uk could I go try the Altra shoes on thanks

[@movemorenowjames]

That’s a good question … so I know “up and running “ do them but that’s it really as i normally go to my local small supplier- “Shere trek and run” … in Shere, Surrey.

[@travistodd3216]

Altra has the standard Mont Blanc on sale. I'm really interested but have been scared off by the "heel issues". Seems like you have had no problems?

[@movemorenowjames]

I didn’t … found it ok - but did go 1/2 size down (like the lone peak) … I know people have had problems with it though…

[@CraigWrightStraygoat]

Many of the shoe names on the altar (eu/uk) site are different. Have they rebranded them? Also Hobibear have a trail shoe that looks almost identical to some altars but at a fraction of the price … has anyone here tried those?

[@movemorenowjames]

Just seen hobibear… look just like altra but 1/4 of the price ! Thanks for feedback

[@kirkshammett94]

Why is altra making their shoes worse every year. I’ve owned several pair of lone peaks and the newer ones are terrible.