Altra Olympus 6 Review | Cushion with Grip

The Altra Olympus 6 might just be the trail shoe that you didn’t realize you were missing. Not only does it have magnificent grip, but enough cushion for super long runs or trail hiking days.

As a running coach and gear tester, I’ve made it my mission to explore the latest offerings and put them through their paces, ensuring that you make an informed decision when it comes to enhancing your running experience.

This time around fellow coach and long time Altra enthusiast Laura Swenson put the Olympus to the test over roughly 40 miles of dirt roads, muddy conditions, slick granite, and plenty of rocks.

Can a shoe somehow be maximal and minimal at the same time? That’s what it feels like when you’re rocking a big stack of cushion with a zero drop shoe!

As always, note that we are super honest in our running shoe reviews about what works, doesn’t work and of course we have preferences in shoes after 20+ years running and testing hundreds! So take what seems most valuable to you from here and decide if it’s a trail running shoe worth adding to your rotation.

Quick Jump

Altra Olympus 6 Details

When they say max cushion, they mean it. This is a trail running shoe that is beloved by many folks doing massive hiking trips and trail runners looking for some extra love on those ultra training days. It’s also going to be a winner for some of our heavier runners, who find that a little more cushion does indeed just feel good on the joints.

Of course the trade off with max cushion in this case is added weight. It’s not going to have the pep in your step you might notice them feeling a bit heavy if you aren’t used to taking out a max cushion shoe.

BUT part of that weight is because they didn’t sacrifice even an inch when it comes to grip. The traction is amazing on the shoe! No slipping on the wet/slick granite and great traction in the mud. The Vibram® Megagrip absolutely does its job, alongside an updated lug pattern.

We love that they have truly thought about WHO is using this shoe when deciding which features to focus on. For example, the high loop in the back is called a GaiterTrap™, designed to make it easy to strap on your gaiters for those serious trail or sand days. Coach Laura was also excited because the big strap at the heel is helpful getting the shoe on, especially if you’re fatigued in an ultra race.

The stack height stayed the same as the Olympus 5, but the weight has gone up significantly in the men’s. It doesn’t show the same increase in the women’s, so I am curious about this, but Laura also noted the shoe felt heavier than her other Altra’s.

The foam changed from just being a compressed EVA to a Plush Compressed EVA, which obviously is adding to that softness we so love from a big fat cushioned running shoe. But without moving to the lighter weight and more expensive foams we see in race shoes. You also aren’t getting the super soft feeling of say a Hoka Bondi, which is good on the trails where you want more support.

While the shoe has phenomenal grip, one thing to consider with a big stack height is ankle stability. Overall the wide platform is great when you’re running and doing general side to side movements, but if you’ll be making a lot of big jumps over river crossings, something to consider.

Laura noted that for super technical terrain, she’d be more likely to run in the Lone Peak with less cushion, providing more stability and feeling of what’s moving underfoot.

Though again, that high collar is also going to give you a bit more ankle support, so pros and cons to the cushion!

As with all Altra shoes, you’ll enjoy the FootShape toe box. Their marketing is that this allows for a more natural foot movement, which is a yes and no.

What it absolutely does is provide more room for your toes which can feel amazing AND allows for you to get more power out of that big toe by keeping it straight. Did you know your big toe provides a lot of umph in your stride?

Altra Olympus 6 Specs

If you’ve been using zero drop for awhile, I would place this squarely in the long trail runs or hikes category. For sure it’s on our list of best Altra Running shoes.

Trail running shoe
Max cushion
Heel Drop: 0mm
33 mm stack height (it’s gotten higher and hence more cushion)
Weight: 10.2 oz women’s, 13.25 oz men’s
Available in five colors
Not available in wide
Available at Altra Running and retail stores for $175

Overall you won’t find many massive changes from the Altra Olympus 5. The most notable is going to be a better breathable upper and even more traction from the lugs.

This is absolutely a trail shoe. You don’t want to wear down those amazing lugs with road running.

Altra Olympus Fit

In general, Altra’s have a more roomy fit to me. It’s really important to note that while they have the wide toe box, that doesn’t mean they are a wide shoe.

Instead, you’ll notice that footshape of wide at the toes and then coming in along the arch and back to the heel.

Some folks have found the Olympus to run a bit small in length, so if you tend to be in between sizes, absolutely go up.

On 90% of my running shoes, we use a heel lock lacing and these have enough laces to make that easily doable. It also helped with ensuring a snug fit to keep things from moving around.

Laura found the materials on the upper part of the shoe were not too stiff and seemed breathable during hot runs. She trains through the Arizona summers, so we tend to believe her when it comes to temperature!

The one thing I always note with Altra shoes is the tongue. Some are winners, but a lot really cut in to the ankles, so embrace the current high sock trend to make sure these are comfy.

Altra Olympus vs Altra Lone Peak

One of the issues we’re finding with shoes lately is that brands have multiple which seem similar from the outside and leads to confusion in picking the best option. Don’t they know that sometimes less is more?

But in this case, it’s actually pretty easy for us to help you pick because these two have some clear differences.

Lone Peak is going to have 8mm less cushion, which also means the weight is significantly less
Lone Peak is going to be plenty of cushion for the average trail runner (i.e. not doing 50 milers)
Both have fantastic traction, just slightly different outsoles
Both have a lot of loyal fans coming back for the shoe year after year
Lone Peak will also have the Stoneguard to protect you on those hard rocky trails

Similar Shoes to Olympus 6

If you aren’t sure that you want a zero drop shoe, but like the idea of some cushion here’s where we’d point you:

Hoka Challenger (more of a road to trail, but nice cushion with 4mm drop)
Topo Ultraventure (another foot shaped toebox!)
Brooks Caldera (traditional shoe fit, but has the traction)

Drawbacks of the Altra Olympus 6

As noted, every runner has a preference, so there are just a couple of things from my experience.

Time to adapt to running in zero-drop shoes
Weight: it’s not the lightest of shoes and that keeps it from being one of our favorites
Sizing is a little challenging, but if you haven’t gotten them massively dirty you can always exchange.

It’s worth noting that these potential drawbacks can vary based on individual preferences, foot biomechanics, and running style. What might be a limitation for one runner could be inconsequential or even desirable for another

What You Need to Know about Altra Running Shoes

If you are new to zero drop shoes, please, please, plan for time to adapt. Your Achilles, ankles, calves and tendons need a chance to get used to being a bit more elongated.

You can do this by wearing them for 1 short run for a few weeks and then slowly increasing the distance of that run. Eventually moving to being able to use zero drop shoes for multiple runs per week.

The brand Altra is well-known for its commitment to a zero heel-to-toe drop in all of its footwear, regardless of the amount of cushioning in the sole. And so, every shoe in Altra’s lineup is designed with a zero drop that puts the heel and forefoot at the same level.

They designed this to help with optimal alignment, cultivate better form, and encourage a low-impact landing.

Here are some of the claimed benefits of zero-drop shoes:

More natural running gait
Improved ankle mobility
Better posture
Improved balance

Why Would You Want a Foot Shaped Toebox?

Another feature shared by all Altra running shoes is that the toe box is designed with the natural shape of the foot in mind.

It may sound a little odd when you first hear that they make a foot shaped shoe, but once you see it things begin to click. I don’t know about you, but my toes aren’t shaped like the image on the left.

The most significant advantage of a foot-shaped toe box is that it allows your toes to splay, or spread out, while running.

This natural toe splay helps runners gain more stability, build stronger foot muscles, and maintain a straight great toe, which increases the power produced with each stride.

This design allows your toes to spread out, which provides you with the ability to get more power from each stride.

Hopefully this was helpful to give you an overview of the Altra Olympus 6! In the end, Coach Laura said they’ll remain in her line up for shorter run days or recovery days where she wants a little extra cushion underfoot.

Checkout all colors and prices >>

See our top picks across all Altra Running Shoes >>

Checkout our other reviews for Best Trail Running Shoes >>

Laura Swenson

RTTF Coach

Coach Laura has been part of the coaching team since 2021, an ultra runner for over 20 years and a fitness instructor for nearly as long. She’s focused on finding the gear that makes trail time even more enjoyable.

Training year round in Arizona, she gives us the scoop on hot weather, technical trails and yet doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to hitting the roads for a BQ.

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