Altra Olympus 6 Men’s Trail Running Shoe
Footwear
Rating
| Rating: | 8.6 / 10 |
| Comfort | 1.7 / 2 |
| Durability | 1.7 / 2 |
| Support Stability | 1.8 / 2 |
| Weight | 1.7 / 2 |
| Value for Money | 1.7 / 2 |
Altra Olympus 6 Men's Trail Running Shoe Review
For me this is the fourth Olympus model that I have worn and I went through a number pairs of the previous models averaging around 3,000+ km each year. The Olympus 6 probably represented the most confusing testing process I have ever done for a pair of Altra Trail Runners and here’s why.
The first time I put on a pair of Altra Olympus Trail Runners I noticed two very specific things. Firstly, I felt as if I was walking on clouds and had a spring in my step due to the sponginess of the 33 mm of cushioned rubber underfoot. The other pairs of Altra Trail Runners that I have worn felt as if I was leaning back rather than tipping forward. To a lesser extent all zero drop shoes feel like this but none more so than the Olympus models.
Cue the Altra Olympus 6 model. First up it took me a while to get hold of my size 15s because I wasn’t quick enough on the model release and there are others in Australia with size 15 feet that also like the Altra Olympus model. Now after six weeks and more than 200 km of use here’s what I found.
First up Altra have been fiddling with the shoe construction including the material of the sole and what they had created at first glance I wasn’t happy with. I found that the sole was stiffer and more supportive under the mid foot which for me was always the weak area of this brand. As a result I found that the level of cushioning I had come to love didn’t seem to be there. In addition, the increased stiffness of the sole had the impact of reducing the spread of my wide forefoot on my left foot which is my larger foot. I managed to resolve this width issue to a great extent by adjusting the lacing on the lower left shoe.
Fast forward about three weeks and I did a walk with a weighted pack and boy did that make a difference. The addition of a 1o kg pack had a massive effect on the cushioning and with the pack, I found the cushioning that I had missed previously was there when I needed it. So tick number 1 to Altra. Now that I have been wearing these shoes for around six weeks the impact of the stiffer sole on shoe width has improved and the additional width that I craved, was there.
Under new company ownership Altra releases an initial batch of colours that will typically please everyone and then about a year later a second batch of colours that is a bit out there. I managed to pick up my shoes after the second colour release which is the Black/Orange model shown in the cover shot. There are now nine colours available but you may not find all available in Australia.
The sole of the shoes can best be described as aggressive with some deep lugs. They don’t seem to be wide across the base but another improvement that makes those narrower trails easier to navigate – an issue that those with very large feet have to deal with.
One general criticism of this model is that you potentially lose the ‘feel’ for the ground you are walking on. For me this isn’t an issue and I find that while there is plenty of protection, I still have a good sense of the ground.
From my perspective the Altra Olympus 6, while not perfect, continues to improve and Altra has done an excellent job with this model. Just be aware that first impressions aren’t what you should judge this shoe by and as strange as it sounds for a trail runner, you need to ‘wear them in.’
We Like
- A great range of colours
- Improved durability with a stiffer rubber being used in the sole along with additional support
- These are very comfortable shoes provided the width suits
- I love zero drop shoes but realise they don’t suit everyone. I feel ‘more upright’ when I wear any of the Altra range
- I like having a wide toe box, and in fact the front end of these shoes are brilliant
- The cushioning is good and on hard surfaces they provide ample protection and support
- The traction is very good on a variety of surfaces, wet or dry
- They breathe well so your feet don’t overheat. They also dry reasonably quickly in warm weather when wet
- The toe guard provides good protection for the front of the foot
- The Gaiter Trap works well with the lycra style gaiters
We Don't Like
- You need to ‘wear them in’ which is a strange thing to say for a trail runner. If your feet are a bit narrower, you may not need to do this
Would I Use These Shoes for Hiking?
Yes. The Altra Olympus remains one of my main options for hiking at the time of this review and are readily available although larger sizes can be hard to source from time to time
Best Use
- For hikers who want supreme comfort and cushioning on the trail
- For hikers with a wide forefoot
Buy One
You can purchase the Altra Olympus 6 Men’s Trail Running Shoe at Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports
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Investment
AUD $299.99 RRP
Other Versions
- Available in both men’s and women’s sizings and style
Altra Olympus 6 Black/Orange colour
Altra Olympus 6 top view
Altra Olympus 6 sole view
Tim wearing his Altra Olympus 6 – note the lacing on the right side of this image to release the pressure off the front of the foot
Altra Olympus 6 top view
Altra Olympus 6 heel and toe view
Altra Olympus 6 Black colour
Altra Olympus 6 Red colour
Altra Olympus 6 Blue colour
Other Versions
The ‘Olympus’ family of footwear has plenty of choices and the Altra brand has many other models to choose from. There is something for everyone
Disclaimer
This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker
Last updated
16 February 2025