Altra Olympus 6 Review- Zero Drop But Cushioned to the Max

Fit

The fit of the Altra Olympus 6 is true to size in both length and width and compares very well to other shoes in the brand’s range both past and present.

The shoe features the brand’s foot-shaped last and so has a broader forefoot and toe box area. Whilst this measures similar to wide-fitting shoes (maybe similar to 2E width models from other brands) the shoe doesn’t feel too wide even on my relatively slim feet. Altra manages to create this forefoot room but retains a secure midfoot fit making the shoe roomy in the forefoot only.

The ankle collar of the Olympus 6 sits pretty low under the heel bone. I didn’t have an issue with this but some running do prefer shoes to be a little higher in this area, particularly trail shoes where they may provide more support.

Tech

Altra Original Footshape Upper - As mentioned, this creates a broader or roomier space in the forefoot. This allows the foot and toes to splay naturally. The foot spreading like this creates natural stability to balance itself and, on the trails, helps to create a good connection with the uneven terrain.

Gaiter Trap - A hook and loop tab allows a gaiter attachment to be easily fitted to the shoe. This is particularly useful on those trails with lots of loose debris and prevents it from entering the shoe. It’s a feature that most runners will never use, but lots of trail shoes include it, so, if you want to use a gaiter, you can!

Zero-drop Balanced Ride -  Altra prefers to refer to the zero-drop midsole as a ‘balanced ride’, but essentially, they are one and the same.

A zero-drop refers to the height of the cushioning stack of a shoe being the same under the heel as it is under the ball of the foot. Here, the Olympus 6 features a 33mm stack of cushioning in a zero-drop midsole. (33mm in the heel, 33mm in the forefoot)

Vibram Metagrip - This tried and tested rubber compound is the number one choice for the majority of trail running brands and offers a great ‘sticky rubber’ feel on both wet and dry surfaces.

The studs on the Olympus 6 are quite aggressive and together with the pattern, which follows the metatarsals of the foot, they work exceptionally well and give you confidence in staying upright on even the gnarliest terrain.

Performance

The first thing I noticed about the Altra Olympus 6 as soon as I pulled it was the fit around my ankle. The height of the upper at both the lateral and medial side of the foot under the ankle bone is very low. Initially, I felt this would be too low and feel loose when running.

Although it didn’t, I can see how some runners may have an issue with this. I often get comments from runners about shoes that are very low here when fitting them in shoes in my store; this shoe would create a possible problem.

The Good Points

This said, the shoe did feel secure when running and the padding inside the shoe is nothing short of luxurious with neat section of padding around the whole of the rear of the foot.

The foot-shaped toe box provides a refreshing feel, again, especially when coming from a more traditionally fitting shoe. The freedom it allows the toes is almost invigorating!

The upper of the shoe is very well made. The mesh sections are breathable and the key areas of friction from the trails are reinforced for protection and durability.

Traction is fantastic. Never once did I put a foot wrong in the shoes. The shoe flexes well and adapts to the terrain and contours very well. On wet rock and dry paths, the Vibram rubber excels and gave me enough confidence to attack steep, wet descents at speed.

What's Bad

Whilst a zero-drop shoe, the deep stack of cushioning does go a little way to making the shoe like a more traditional model with an elevated heel. But, as Altra’s most cushioned trail shoe, it is still using what must now be considered a rather primitive midsole foam with CM-EVA. When wearing other shoes with super-critical foams, be it nitrogen-infused or PEBA-based midsoles, the difference in underfoot feel is enormous!

I’ll come on to competitor models to the Olympus 6 shortly, but being brutally honest, Altra needs to do better at this price point and simply to keep in touch with the competition from other brands. The shoe feels Okay, but it could feel so much better with a better midsole.

Another tiny issue is the laces provided. They are thick, primitive-feeling affairs with an almost industrial texture to them. They may prove to be very durable, but they are thick and heavy and not really in keeping with such a plush upper.

Comparisons

Hoka Challenger

The HOKA Challenger is a go-anywhere trail option that offers a low-drop, high-stack cushioned ride. The HOKA will probably be the main competitor to the Altra Olympus 6. Where I feel the HOKA wins is in several key areas. It’s a little lighter, softer and more flexible in its cushioning and a little cheaper.

These are all important factors when choosing a shoe and I think the HOKA wins in all these areas. The Altra perhaps only performs better for those who must have a zero-drop shoe and require more aggressive traction.

Saucony Xodus Ultra 3

This is a brand-new model that I’ve worn for the first time today. It’s similarly priced to the Altra and while it also has a deep stack of cushioning, the Saucony uses a 6mm drop as well as the same PWRRUN PB foam from their road racing models.

The feel of the PWRRUN PB is already well known and in a trail shoe, it felt great. The shoe is more responsive and smoother riding as well as being just a little bit less expensive.

My Verdict

I’ve grown fonder of Altra shoes over recent years and in particular trail models. I haven’t been a regular zero-drop shoe fan but found that trail shoes offered the easiest way into this style of shoe.

Running on the trails naturally requires a little more plantarflexion of the foot so the strike is a little more considered and as a result more onto the midfoot therefore negating a lot of the feel of the zero-drop.

The Olympus 6 is a very well-made shoe and the fit is great, once you get used to the lower ankle collar. The way the foot is allowed to spread naturally is a great experience and leaves the feet feeling like they’ve had a mini-workout of their own after each run. The manner in which the shoes allow this freedom while still providing a great fit around the midfoot is testimony to a very well-constructed upper.

This upper is durable and protective too, so when on the trails your feet feel secure and in a great place.

For me, the only downside is the less responsive feel of the midsole. This is something that Altra can easily fix, so maybe we’ll see an improved version in the Olympus 7. If they do add a ‘super-foam’ to this shoe, it’s a sure-fire all-around, multi-terrain winner!