Altra Mont Blanc Shoe Review

The Mont Blanc is my favorite Altra shoe yet! It has Altra's amazing EgoMAX cushioning, which is protective and comfortable, as well as bouncy and very responsive, especially given the shoe's 32-mm stack height. I usually don't enjoy highly cushioned trail shoes because I am in constant fear of twisting an ankle on the rocky, uneven trails where I live. That said, I never had an issue while wearing the Mont Blanc. The shoe feels surprisingly nimble given its level of cushioning, and the rockered geometry also contributed to the smooth ride, which made running feel easy.

Lastly, the upper was incredibly comfortable. It was stretchy and soft, securely holding my foot in place without any slippage. My only issue with the Mont Blanc was its loose-fitting heel, which is sadly a problem I frequently encounter with Altra shoes. I used a lace lock to keep my heel from slipping out of the shoe, but this was a small issue considering how awesome the rest of the shoe is. If you are looking for a well-cushioned trail shoe that feels nimble and fun to run in, then Altra's Mont Blanc is a great choice.

As soon as I laced up the Mont Blanc, I knew I was in for an exciting ride. The Altra EgoMAX midsole felt incredible underfoot and offered a nice, soft give that retained an energetic bounce that helped carry me through my longer testing runs. What was just as impressive was how nimble the Mont Blanc felt, even with its high stack and soft foam. I had no trouble running at a variety of paces over all different types of terrain. Furthermore, the Mont Blanc offered an exquisite level of protection, which helps distinguish it from its competition. I never experienced any discomfort while these trail pros were on foot.

Moving on, the Mont Blanc's upper was surprisingly lightweight, and though thin, it offered solid protection from trail debris. It fit well, with a unique combination of secure lockdown and spaciousness. I did have some issues with heel slippage, which I was able to fix after re-lacing the shoe.

All said and done, I thought the Mont Blanc was a fantastic trail shoe, and it's my favorite Altra I have tested so far. It was comfortable and really enjoyable to run in. I highly recommend it for anyone running or training for ultra-marathon races. Also, if you are a runner who fluctuates between different sizes based on brand or model, like myself, I'd recommend grabbing your larger size here.

There's a reason I chose to race in the Mont Blanc. Actually, there are a few! This shoe is very energetic, highly protective, and surprisingly lightweight. The midsole feels lively and is perfect when I need to pick up the pace. It also felt highly protective while I continuously bombed down steep descents for over 2 hours.

The Vibram Lite outsole is very grippy and does not add any unnecessary weight to the shoe. I experienced rainy conditions at the beginning of my race, but when I was hitting switchbacks going down the mountain, I never questioned the Mont Blanc's traction.

The only problem I experienced with the Mont Blanc was the shoe's upper design. I found it hard to achieve the right lockdown given the shoe's unique feel and unadaptable design. The race-ready design was also less roomy than the typical Altra, and runners familiar with the brand may find the Mont Blanc to be a bit narrow.

Overall, Altra has done a fantastic job creating a fast trail shoe here. I would happily race in the Mont Blanc again, given how energetic and resilient the EgoMAX foam was underfoot. I could also really depend on the shoe's traction and was impressed with how lightweight it was for a trail shoe.