I love the Olympus - I have to run on "trails" here in London's Epping Forest that have 0 maintenance. Running in the Lone Peak and Riveria's I got foot injuries because of how bumpy the trail was. After rehab I put on the Olympus and they feel like an off road tank. I feel no issues on my feet even in very off road and bumpy terrain
Nice one Dave! I’ve actually been loving the Mont Blanc, and while the heel is a bit light, I don’t have any major slippage issues. It seems to settle in on the run, and I probably have a bigger / higher volume heel. I also find the tongue fits well and definitely doesn’t scrunch up on the run as yours seems to do! But like you said, we all have different feet so I guess it just doesn’t work for some. I love my Olympus 4 and still use that for long trail days, but the Olympus almost feels a little clunky compared to the Mont Blanc! That super light feeling is really nice. Hopefully they version 2.0 will suit you. Love your vids!
Good to hear! We've all got different shaped feet so I'm sure there are some out there that have had better luck. I'm glad you're enjoying them. There are certain aspects of them that I really like and I keep bringing them into the rotation. I just wish my foot wouldn't slosh around so much!
Great video. I went true to size, but actually it's best to go half a size down. Still not a perfect fit, but, much less movement in the heel, less pressure needed on the laces, so overall, much better result. One DIY suggestion for heel lock is to add some padding inside the heel collar bumpers. They came unglued (the bottom seal) pretty early on for my first pair, so I stuffed them with extra padding, and it definitely helped.
Same here because of the really stretchy upper and my feet being wide (thanks altra and topo for foot shape trail shoes🙏) I went from a size 9.0 to 8.0. I had before some altra lone peak 4.0 in size 8.5 which was a bit loose but ok. considering the fitting of the mont blanc I reorder a size 8.0 let's seen how it will go. I am planning to use it for my ultra this year 60k/80k/100k and expecting some good performance.
Best Channel !. I had a big problem with Olympus. The ankle is too narrow and hurts so bad!.. But only the left one.. even without the insole, with insole i cant run 10km.
Hi Dave. Thanks for the review. I will say that I have kind of the same experience with the Mont Blanc, I've got them over two months ago. At first I was concerned about the heel slip as well and I did the laces really tight which caused a lot of pain since the tongue is quite thin. Over the next few runs I let the laces loose and expected the heel lock to be an issue, but it wasn't. Even tough they feel pretty loose, they didn't give me any issues. I've done an 80 miles race with them and it was super comfortable, I didn't need to change the shoes at the drop bag and they didn't give me any blisters.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing. I've considered using these on an upcoming 50 miler but the slipping had me concerned about blisters. Glad to hear you've dialed in the fit!
Good review as usual Dave. As a french speaker, just a bit of info, the T and the C of Mont Blanc are silent in french... Not that it matters but I thought I would share the info :)
After doing 150 miles in mine: - Fit is amazing for my feet (wide toes, wide heel, high instep). I never had any heel slippage after putting heel locks in the laces. Never had the problem of the tongue 'getting muffled under' over time. - The sole is super grippy and makes the shoe stable despite the thin mesh. Never really had any painful encounters due the missing rock plate. - I have troubles with the laces as well, but once you dial in your tension it is ok. Often my laces come loose at the beginning of a trail, as I am a bit too scared to overtighten them... - I like the aesthetic, but my white/blue pair got really dirty immediately. Will buy a second pair.
I have issues with heel lockdown in shoes especially those who dont have a good/structured heel cup and i have noticed that adding an extra insole (the basic ones that they sell everywhere for little to no cost) helps me get a more secure fit. I have narrow feet and i rarely get a comfortable fit in a shoe because i have to tie the laces super hard so they dont feel like sliding around but i have found that using that extra insole really helps as long as it doesnt bother the rest of your foot. Also using thicker trail socks should give you a better fit. Nice video as always!
Been running in Asics Trabuco for a few years. Great!!! grip and comfy enough but super heavy. New v9 came out recently so will try it soon. I also have a unique foot shape so Asics are the only thing that feel good for me.
Super useful video and perfect timing! I currently use Lone Peak 5s and love them, however my legs get tired really quickly if I even run on short road sections with them. So I was looking at some shoes with more cushioning and have been considering the Olympus or the Mont Blanc. Your video has swayed me towards the Olympus, thanks Dave 🙂
I noticed the same issue with the heel not locking in. I don't use the top lace holes so the tongue shortness is not an issue for me. Overall really like the lightweight compared to the Olympus 4. First Altra shoes that didn't have extra long laces.
I just picked up a pair of mb two weeks ago and I really like the fit around my foot like you but I’m struggling with the lacing as well. In your latest podcast you mentioned you were able to make it work by messing with the laces. What was your trick? And is there an aftermarket lace brand you’d recommend? I have to stop and re tie like every half hour feels like they are cutting into the top of my foot. Thanks love all your hard work
Thanks for the update video. I actually owned both the Coral and Blue MB and really like the shoes and features. The cons you noted I experienced however i had to return both pairs due to internal toe box overlays that were tearing out or becoming unglued after a short break in run less than 20 miles each. I was planning to use them to race at Canyons 50k but had to change out to Olympus at the last minute due to this issue. Was super bummed about that as I think they will make nice trail racing shoes. Not sure if you experienced this as have not seen many comments about the internal toe box fabric.
I've been using the Olympus 4 for hiking/nordic walking for the past year. Love everything about it, except for the durability, especially in the upper material of the toebox. Also after a year the soles went squeaky on me, which drives me nuts. Still, i'm gonna buy a new pair, because all in all these shoes are great.
Purchased Altra MB for up coming UTMB OCC and will likely stick with my trusty if somewhat hugely conservative Topo MTN Racer 2s. Whilst I have taken out the insole of the MB to resolve 90% of the heel slippage issues I was having, that remaining 10% just does not fill you with confidence. That said I will use these running local trails that avoid any major vertical work. For that they are totally adequate. MB2 will (with a fair wind and a bit of luck) be absolute killer shoes. If Altra cannot fix the ankle lock down, short tongue, garbage laces and weak toe bumper then frankly they will have missed an open net on this one.
The MTN Racer 2's are awesome shoes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I tend to agree about the heel on the MB's hopefully they address it in the next version.
Altra Pro Tip: I actually use the removable rock plate that you get with the Superior on various shoes when I want it. Usually higher stack heights will be enough protection though. edit: I am also anatomically a clown foot 🤡
That's a great tip! And you can buy them separately which is nice. I have a friend that made their own using pieces from a milk jug which seemed to work well too!
Got a pair of Timp 4s the other day, very impressed & maybe would tick the box for someone wanted more cushion than the LP (Lone Peak are the GOAT though…)
Yes, Timp4 over MontBlanc for me - this review identified the two reasons I returned the MB almost immediately: short unpadded tongue and slipping heel for 180? Yikes no, so Timp4 it is. Comfy, more stable in the heel, great tongue comfort, no issues (not great grip tho).
@@ericperramond3463 only thing annoying about Timps in general is they wear out really damn fast. Maybe that’s just a personal issue but they seem to go quickly.
Ersten paar Kilometer, sicher.... es war schlammig und kein ziemlich geniales Laufwetter - aber eben doch die perfekten Testbedingungen für einen Trail-running-Schuh und, ich bin wegen der Blasen an den Fersen kaum noch nach Hause gekommen!!!! Also, AUFPASSEN MIT DEM SCHUH!!!!
Are you able to comment on how stuff overall the sole of the mont blanc is compared to olympus (or even lone peak)? Can't find a local stockist for mont blanc to check for myself
The MB 2 will be awesome! Weird how they put so much effort into it and they did a shit heel and a shit tounge. How do you mess that up after s making so many good shoes? Weight saving i guess but come on! I love the ride of this shoe though. I got a great result in a 75k in these, but my heels where slipping the whole time. The shoes stayed on and i did not have to relace though, but i did Switch to my torin 4.5 laces. Do you have the Paradigm 6? RUclips needs more videos on those, i think they're awesome!
Fingers crossed for the MB2! Yes, I have two pairs of Paradigm 6's currently. They both have around 200 miles on them I just haven't gotten around to making a video about them!
These have grown on me considerably (I've been talking about them a lot on my podcast). I'll have a follow up video coming soon and I also just got the BOA version to test as well which I have high hopes fore. These are excellent shoes if your foot fits them and you can lace them up without heel slip.
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
I don't run, climb or do anything remotely related to your channel, but I just love ur videos and podcast. Great work! Thank you!
Hey thanks! I appreciate that!
I love the Olympus - I have to run on "trails" here in London's Epping Forest that have 0 maintenance. Running in the Lone Peak and Riveria's I got foot injuries because of how bumpy the trail was. After rehab I put on the Olympus and they feel like an off road tank. I feel no issues on my feet even in very off road and bumpy terrain
Nice one Dave! I’ve actually been loving the Mont Blanc, and while the heel is a bit light, I don’t have any major slippage issues. It seems to settle in on the run, and I probably have a bigger / higher volume heel. I also find the tongue fits well and definitely doesn’t scrunch up on the run as yours seems to do! But like you said, we all have different feet so I guess it just doesn’t work for some.
I love my Olympus 4 and still use that for long trail days, but the Olympus almost feels a little clunky compared to the Mont Blanc! That super light feeling is really nice. Hopefully they version 2.0 will suit you. Love your vids!
Good to hear! We've all got different shaped feet so I'm sure there are some out there that have had better luck. I'm glad you're enjoying them. There are certain aspects of them that I really like and I keep bringing them into the rotation. I just wish my foot wouldn't slosh around so much!
Great video. I went true to size, but actually it's best to go half a size down. Still not a perfect fit, but, much less movement in the heel, less pressure needed on the laces, so overall, much better result. One DIY suggestion for heel lock is to add some padding inside the heel collar bumpers. They came unglued (the bottom seal) pretty early on for my first pair, so I stuffed them with extra padding, and it definitely helped.
Thanks for sharing!
Same here because of the really stretchy upper and my feet being wide (thanks altra and topo for foot shape trail shoes🙏) I went from a size 9.0 to 8.0. I had before some altra lone peak 4.0 in size 8.5 which was a bit loose but ok. considering the fitting of the mont blanc I reorder a size 8.0 let's seen how it will go. I am planning to use it for my ultra this year 60k/80k/100k and expecting some good performance.
Best Channel !. I had a big problem with Olympus. The ankle is too narrow and hurts so bad!.. But only the left one.. even without the insole, with insole i cant run 10km.
Hi Dave. Thanks for the review. I will say that I have kind of the same experience with the Mont Blanc, I've got them over two months ago. At first I was concerned about the heel slip as well and I did the laces really tight which caused a lot of pain since the tongue is quite thin. Over the next few runs I let the laces loose and expected the heel lock to be an issue, but it wasn't. Even tough they feel pretty loose, they didn't give me any issues. I've done an 80 miles race with them and it was super comfortable, I didn't need to change the shoes at the drop bag and they didn't give me any blisters.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing. I've considered using these on an upcoming 50 miler but the slipping had me concerned about blisters. Glad to hear you've dialed in the fit!
@@ChaseTheSummit Good luck with your race. If you have a dropbag or a crew, you could pack a backup pair of shoes.
Good review as usual Dave. As a french speaker, just a bit of info, the T and the C of Mont Blanc are silent in french... Not that it matters but I thought I would share the info :)
lol, yes I know! As an english speaking American it feels so unnatural to leave those letters out! Thanks for watching!
It's time to get new trail runners. Had great success with the previous Superior 5's. Hopeful they will release the new version soon.
After doing 150 miles in mine:
- Fit is amazing for my feet (wide toes, wide heel, high instep). I never had any heel slippage after putting heel locks in the laces. Never had the problem of the tongue 'getting muffled under' over time.
- The sole is super grippy and makes the shoe stable despite the thin mesh. Never really had any painful encounters due the missing rock plate.
- I have troubles with the laces as well, but once you dial in your tension it is ok. Often my laces come loose at the beginning of a trail, as I am a bit too scared to overtighten them...
- I like the aesthetic, but my white/blue pair got really dirty immediately.
Will buy a second pair.
Do you have a feeling it has some kind of roller? Bit weird feeling for me
Great Video Dave. Still can’t decide wether to purchase these or the Olympus🤪 might just get both and hope that the wife doesn’t notice👀
8:40
*100% me problem*
So you aren’t the only one & it’s a big reason I buy Altra’s too!
I feel like this one is just way too expensive though.
Love your videos! Although I will never buy such a shoe I watched this video! Great work Dave!
Lied to myself, bought such a shoe a few days ago! 😅 Bought the Altra Rivera 2 for longer runs above 20k. Really love them so far.
I have issues with heel lockdown in shoes especially those who dont have a good/structured heel cup and i have noticed that adding an extra insole (the basic ones that they sell everywhere for little to no cost) helps me get a more secure fit. I have narrow feet and i rarely get a comfortable fit in a shoe because i have to tie the laces super hard so they dont feel like sliding around but i have found that using that extra insole really helps as long as it doesnt bother the rest of your foot. Also using thicker trail socks should give you a better fit.
Nice video as always!
That's a good idea. Taking up some of the excess volume would probably help. Thanks for sharing!
@@ChaseTheSummit I tried it as a last resort to save my Achilles and I can say I now am blister free! Looking forward to more content like that.
Been running in Asics Trabuco for a few years. Great!!! grip and comfy enough but super heavy. New v9 came out recently so will try it soon. I also have a unique foot shape so Asics are the only thing that feel good for me.
Thanks for sharing!
Great midsole and super comfy ride. Great review
Super useful video and perfect timing! I currently use Lone Peak 5s and love them, however my legs get tired really quickly if I even run on short road sections with them. So I was looking at some shoes with more cushioning and have been considering the Olympus or the Mont Blanc.
Your video has swayed me towards the Olympus, thanks Dave 🙂
Glad you found this video helpful!
Just get fitter 😂
I noticed the same issue with the heel not locking in. I don't use the top lace holes so the tongue shortness is not an issue for me. Overall really like the lightweight compared to the Olympus 4. First Altra shoes that didn't have extra long laces.
I might try some different lacing strategies to get a better grip on that tongue! Thanks for sharing John!
I just picked up a pair of mb two weeks ago and I really like the fit around my foot like you but I’m struggling with the lacing as well. In your latest podcast you mentioned you were able to make it work by messing with the laces. What was your trick? And is there an aftermarket lace brand you’d recommend? I have to stop and re tie like every half hour feels like they are cutting into the top of my foot. Thanks love all your hard work
Thanks for the update video. I actually owned both the Coral and Blue MB and really like the shoes and features. The cons you noted I experienced however i had to return both pairs due to internal toe box overlays that were tearing out or becoming unglued after a short break in run less than 20 miles each. I was planning to use them to race at Canyons 50k but had to change out to Olympus at the last minute due to this issue. Was super bummed about that as I think they will make nice trail racing shoes. Not sure if you experienced this as have not seen many comments about the internal toe box fabric.
Oh weird! I haven't experienced that but I'll keep an eye on it!
I've been using the Olympus 4 for hiking/nordic walking for the past year. Love everything about it, except for the durability, especially in the upper material of the toebox. Also after a year the soles went squeaky on me, which drives me nuts. Still, i'm gonna buy a new pair, because all in all these shoes are great.
I have similar feelings towards Altra. They're SO comfortable for my feet but tend to die a little early... But I keep buying them lol.
Purchased Altra MB for up coming UTMB OCC and will likely stick with my trusty if somewhat hugely conservative Topo MTN Racer 2s. Whilst I have taken out the insole of the MB to resolve 90% of the heel slippage issues I was having, that remaining 10% just does not fill you with confidence. That said I will use these running local trails that avoid any major vertical work. For that they are totally adequate. MB2 will (with a fair wind and a bit of luck) be absolute killer shoes. If Altra cannot fix the ankle lock down, short tongue, garbage laces and weak toe bumper then frankly they will have missed an open net on this one.
The MTN Racer 2's are awesome shoes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I tend to agree about the heel on the MB's hopefully they address it in the next version.
Great video, thanks
Altra Pro Tip: I actually use the removable rock plate that you get with the Superior on various shoes when I want it. Usually higher stack heights will be enough protection though.
edit: I am also anatomically a clown foot 🤡
That's a great tip! And you can buy them separately which is nice. I have a friend that made their own using pieces from a milk jug which seemed to work well too!
@@ChaseTheSummit Niiiice!
So true on the tongue. It bothers me more than it should.
Got a pair of Timp 4s the other day, very impressed & maybe would tick the box for someone wanted more cushion than the LP (Lone Peak are the GOAT though…)
I love both. Haven’t tried the Timp 4’s but have tried almost every Timp and loved them.
The Timp 4's look great! I need to give them a whirl.
Yes, Timp4 over MontBlanc for me - this review identified the two reasons I returned the MB almost immediately: short unpadded tongue and slipping heel for 180? Yikes no, so Timp4 it is. Comfy, more stable in the heel, great tongue comfort, no issues (not great grip tho).
@@ericperramond3463 only thing annoying about Timps in general is they wear out really damn fast. Maybe that’s just a personal issue but they seem to go quickly.
Maybe I too will look cool if I run in these shoes! Seems like a great shoe overall!
Ersten paar Kilometer, sicher.... es war schlammig und kein ziemlich geniales Laufwetter - aber eben doch die perfekten Testbedingungen für einen Trail-running-Schuh und, ich bin wegen der Blasen an den Fersen kaum noch nach Hause gekommen!!!! Also, AUFPASSEN MIT DEM SCHUH!!!!
I'm yet to watch in full, but I'm going to say it already: Too expensive. 😁
$180 bucks... depends what you consider expensive!
Are you able to comment on how stuff overall the sole of the mont blanc is compared to olympus (or even lone peak)? Can't find a local stockist for mont blanc to check for myself
*stiff 😁
It's squishier than the Olympus or Lone Peak and a bit more flexible but still stiff enough to keep rocks from poking your foot.
The MB 2 will be awesome! Weird how they put so much effort into it and they did a shit heel and a shit tounge. How do you mess that up after s making so many good shoes? Weight saving i guess but come on! I love the ride of this shoe though. I got a great result in a 75k in these, but my heels where slipping the whole time. The shoes stayed on and i did not have to relace though, but i did Switch to my torin 4.5 laces.
Do you have the Paradigm 6? RUclips needs more videos on those, i think they're awesome!
Fingers crossed for the MB2! Yes, I have two pairs of Paradigm 6's currently. They both have around 200 miles on them I just haven't gotten around to making a video about them!
@@ChaseTheSummit same here! One 350 mile pair and one 0 miles. Seems to be a very durable Altra 👍👍
Given you have used these for a few more months would you recommend the MBs for rocky and technical trails?
These have grown on me considerably (I've been talking about them a lot on my podcast). I'll have a follow up video coming soon and I also just got the BOA version to test as well which I have high hopes fore. These are excellent shoes if your foot fits them and you can lace them up without heel slip.
Late to party, 69.99 sierra trading post👀
How did they hold up?
I love them but they’re a bit outdated now.
Is the width similar to the Timp?
Do you have an update on these? Are they good for long distance hiking?
If your feet fit them they are great… but that’s the key. I have an update video planned at some point!
@@ChaseTheSummit did you do the update video?