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Altra trail lineup

Altra's trail range splits by cushioning and grip, not by speed: Lone Peak 9 for everyday zero-drop trail miles, Olympus 7 for the biggest cushioned long days, King MT 2 for muddy and technical ground, and Mont Blanc Carbon for ultra race day. Altra does not currently sell a shoe built primarily for road-to-trail commuting or a dedicated short-distance trail racer, so door-to-trail and short trail race are left open rather than filled with the nearest shoe.

MenWomen
RoadTrail
Current lineup2026 edition

The range, at a glance

Runnable terrain Mixed terrain Technical terrain
Race day ↑↓ Daily training← Shorter distanceLonger distance →

Distance and racing focus set the map position, and the colour marker shows terrain technicality — all three are editorial judgement, not performance scores or rankings.

The shoes, explained

What each shoe brings to your running.

Why it earns its role, when to choose it, and the nearby alternatives worth knowing.

The full lineup with role explanations and buying advice
Shoe & specificationsWhy this roleIs it right for you?
Door-to-trailNo Altra shoe

Altra doesn’t currently sell a shoe built mainly for this job. We leave the role open rather than name the nearest shoe.

263.65 g · 0 mm drop
24 mm heel stack

Daily trail trainer

Altra's flagship daily trail trainer: a zero-drop, wide FootShape platform at 316g and $145, the lightest and cheapest shoe in this slot. Reviewed as the shoe most identified with Altra's trail range, built for everyday trail miles. It gives up cushioning and a traditional drop for that minimalism.

Also considerExperience Wild 3Experience Wild 3
Where it overlaps with other shoes

Lone Peak 9 and Experience Wild 3 both cover daily trail miles. Lone Peak is zero-drop, lighter and cheaper; Experience Wild trades that for 7mm more stack and a 4mm drop, a plusher ride for runners who find zero-drop too minimal.

Choose if

  • You want Altra's signature zero-drop, wide-toe-box fit for everyday trail running
  • You want the lightest and cheapest shoe in this slot

Skip if

  • You want more cushion or a traditional drop underfoot — see the Experience Wild 3
  • You need extra wet-rock grip — the Lone Peak 9+ is the same shoe with a Vibram Megagrip outsole

274 g · 0 mm drop
33 mm heel stack

Cushioned long trail

Altra's max-cushion trail shoe: 33mm stack, the highest in the range, reviewed as built for long hours and miles on the trail and for logging ultra distances. It gives up agility and adds weight (325g) for that cushioning.

Also considerTimp 6Timp 6
Where it overlaps with other shoes

Olympus 7 and Timp 6 both cover long trail days. Olympus is the max-cushion option at 33mm and $195; Timp 6 sits in the middle of Altra's cushioned lineup at 30mm and $165, lighter and cheaper with a touch less protection.

Choose if

  • Your trail days run long — ultras, all-day efforts, or you just want maximum cushioning underfoot
  • You want the most protective ride in Altra's trail range

Skip if

  • You want a lighter, cheaper long-run shoe — see the Timp 6
  • You want a nimble, ground-feel ride

245.2 g · 0 mm drop
19 mm heel stack

Technical trail

The genuine technical specialist in Altra's range: deep 6mm chevron lugs on a Vibram Litebase Megagrip outsole, reviewed as built for steep climbs and descents, mud, scree and rocky scrambles. It gives up comfort on smoother trail for grip on hard terrain.

Also considerSuperior 7Superior 7
Where it overlaps with other shoes

King MT 2 and Superior 7 are both light, low-stack Altra trail shoes. King MT's deep lugs handle mud and steep technical ground the Superior's shallower 3.5mm lugs are not built for; Superior is the lighter, more minimalist choice for dry, moderate trail.

Choose if

  • Your runs cross mud, scree, steep climbs or rocky scrambles
  • You want the grippiest outsole in Altra's trail range

Skip if

  • Most of your running is on smooth or moderate trail — see the Superior 7
  • You want a cushioned ride — King MT's 19mm stack is minimal
Short trail raceNo Altra shoe

Altra doesn’t currently sell a shoe built mainly for this job. We leave the role open rather than name the nearest shoe.

249 g · 0 mm drop
29 mm heel stack

Ultra race

Altra's carbon-plated ultra-distance trail race shoe: a full-length carbon plate on a 29mm stack, reviewed as built for 50K and beyond. The only current shoe in the range built specifically for trail race day.

Choose if

  • You're racing an ultra or 50K+ trail event and want a plated, propulsive ride
  • You want Altra's fastest trail shoe

Skip if

  • You want a daily trainer — at $275 with a race-specific plate, this is a race-day shoe
  • Your race is shorter than 50K — Altra does not currently sell a dedicated short-trail racer
Waterproof / winterNo Altra shoe

Not a separate shoe. Waterproof (GORE-TEX) versions are listed as variants of the shoes above.

Specs are from manufacturers. Role explanations are editorial judgement.