Customer Reviews Altra Mont Blanc

I was really excited to try this shoe and have a little more cushioning for my longer trail runs, however after only 3 runs in them they are falling apart. The outsole on the front of the right shoe is peeling off and the tongue of the left shoe is almost completely separated. The para cord lacing also caused lots of pain on my right foot at the second to top lace hole that I couldn't really solve. It's not all bad as the fit was better than I expected with the standard fit as I really love the Original fit the Lone peaks offer. For the price point the quality and durability is really lacking.

I'm not a runner, I walk about 6 miles a day with the dog. I wear only Altras of one kind or another. I bought these to replace a worn-out pair of Olympus 4's. My standard for comparison is the Lone Peak 5's, they really fit my foot well for daily general wear, but I like the max cushioning of shoes like the Olympus. I'm a 13B shoe size with a high arch. I've had these Mont Blanc's for only a couple of days at this point. but I've already decided they weren't the right shoe for me. I picked the Mont Blanc because it doesn't have the "tail" extending off the back of the sole, it has the cushioning I like, and because the sole has more rubber on it than the Olympus 4 or 5. I was looking for a longer-lasting sole because of my wear pattern. What's not apparent in the images for the shoe is that the heel cup is much more shallow than the Olympus or Lone Peak. There are some "wings" which extend up on either side of your achilles tendon, but the actual structure of the heel cup stops closer to the back of the heel bone, according to were my blister has formed. There is some collar padding here, which may be part of the blister's cause. My Olympus shoes have never cause this. Two other, related things: The tongue is located with elastic bands on either side, instead of folds of vamp fabric, which is OK, I've had other shoes in the distant past with this. But my experience is that the elastic deteriorates soon enough and then the tongue is free to move around as it will anyway. But being a new pair of shoes, they are still functional. Pushing my foot past them while putting them on, without wrinkling them such that they cause a hot spot, requires a little push and pull of the shoe with the tongue and heel loop. The heel look is the second bit here. It's too small to get a finger through to be effective for putting the shoe on. Compared to my Lone Peaks (the perfect size) and my Olympus (just a tiny bit smaller), The loop on the Mont Blanc is more of a suggestion than an actual useful element. From manufacturing and cost perspective, Altra should have just plain left it out. Less material used, and less work to make the shoe. I find heel loops useful, so I'd prefer a functional one, not just a token effort. I will say that the standard last they use fits my B-width foot a little better than the Original last of the Olympus or Lone Peak, I don't have to suck up the room in my arches by cranking down the laces. And the cushioning is very good. It's a little firmer than the Olympus, and has good rebound. The shoe ventilates well, and is lighter in weight than my other shoes. That's probably a sign it wasn't the best shoe for me. I'm not a racer, or even a runner. I was hoping for more of an all-around shoe, with a bit more substance to it, especially with winter coming on. I could probably live with the other stuff, but the heel cup is what kills these for me. I'd probably be better off in the Olympus if it wasn't for the short sole life and the fact that, because of the roomy Original foot shape, you can't find arch supports that wont' slip around in all that room. I would have to know a lot more about a friend's foot before I'd recommend these.

Used primarily on rugged trails in New England. After approx 50 miles both toe caps were totally peeled off and flapping (this also happens with every pair of Olympus I have - NEVER happens with my lone peak, timps or superiors - c'mon Altra, why cant you get it right on all shoe models). After one run in the White Mountains in NH (admittedly very rugged trails) two sections of the megagrip were peeling off). The fit is fine, a little loose on the heel, but I didnt have any significant problems). This is a super fun shoe to run in, but it is pretty flimsy, so it takes a beating quickly and the upper tears from abrasion and sticks. There is little to no protection in the toe guard (which peels off almost immediately). I wanted to love this shoe but the quality is poor and these went back. They would probably be fine if you wore them on mellow trails. I wish the Lone Peak had megagrip.

Depending on what you want, these could be the right shoe for you 5 stars- walking around/lounging- these shoes are like walking on a cloud. EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE 4 stars- Town trails- if it ain't rocky, these shoes should be great, where you don't need a ton of grip. 3 stars- Thru-hiking on well known trails. I think they would last a while on something like the AT, PCT, Colorado Trail, etc. The tread is alright, not as good as the King MT. 2 stars- High Country/Off trail- treads didn't hold up after one high country run/scramble. 1 star- Durability. Notice how the bottom is not all one base lug, look at photos of the old King MT, or Lone Peak how the treads aren't just glued on. I assumed they tried to save weight and attach lugs to the shoe. The lugs rip off if you are doing any sort of vert in rocky terrain where you could be slipping and sliding. My shoes lasted a total of 6 runs. The first 5 were fine, but the 6th run I took them in the high country and crossed boulder fields, scree fields, and hiked up avalanche shoots. By the end my lugs had ripped off and now I have a glorified pair of road shoes.

I have over 200 miles in these shoes including a 50 mile race on jeep trails which they worked great for however when running on technical hilly trails my heals lift up. Recently the right insole is actually lifting up out of the shoe and rubbing the back of my leg. My last two runs using them I have had to stop and take the insole out and finish the run without it. I hope this is an issue that will be resolved in future updates because I do enjoy running in them. They really work well on long runs on gravel roads.

The heel will not lock in mostly cause there's no flexibility in the 4 foot. With zero drop barefoot running shoes you need some flexibility to lift your heel up off the ground but keep your 4 foot stable and this lax that which makes your heel not lock in becoming unstable and moves around. They could just add a little bit of flexibility at the toes and wide in the shoe up this shoe would be the best!

Great: Light, breathable, comfy, great outsole, aesthetically appealing, perfect midsole. Not Great: need to size down a bit, the tongue is short and flimsy, odd heel structure/fit, hard to lock down tight without bunching. Keep up the great work Altra! Love my Superior 5's!

Most of this shoe is fantastic, but the heal cup was totally lacking. I had to tie them extremely tight to keep them on my feet. I had severe bruising after only 6 miles. I hate having to return them, but for the price I cannot justify wearing them around and not for running. I'm training for 100 miler and cannot run the risk of injury due to heal slippage. GREAT COLOR!

I've had over 10 pairs of altras at this point, loved almost every pair, never a single blister. First run in these and I came home with both ankles covered in blood. The heel design is just beyond me, the anti slip bumps just tore my ankles apart. It stinks because this is the first pair I paid over 140 for and was so pumped for a trail shoe under 10oz. Wish I could return them and just wear timp 1.5's for the rest of my life. Also why are the shoes just getting more and more narrow? At least give us a wide option, this is why most of us first started buying altra's.

For starters, the heal is incredibly uncomfortable (stitching right in the sweet spot, blisters), but the worst of it is that they are incredibly delicate, especially the outsole - the tread came loose within the first couple runs and was completely destroyed during my race (not to mention the insole and toe box - see image). Altra's are known to be delicate, but these are next level - do not recommend.

I bough these Mont Blancs to replace my trusty Timp 1.5s that have over 1000miles on them. Well the MBs fell apart after 25miles in the Whites of NH. Poor fit, terrible quality. Not happy

First the positive: front of the shoe feels great, and good traction from the sole in wet trail conditions. However when wet the thin and floppy insoles shrivel up and start moving around the shoe especially when going up and down hill, with predictable blistering as a result. The heel construction is such that I can't really tighten it up even with heel lock lacing also allowing for heel movement resulting in blisters that I normally never have on my heels. As the cherry on the cake the sole is coming apart after less than 80 miles. Too bad this shoe is a total failure, because I like the extra cushion compared to the Lone Peak and the toe box space, but I guess it is back to the Speedgoats.

I really love the fit and performance of all of Altra's shoes. I have seen quality issues with some models and the Mont Blanc seems have consistent quality issues with the glue that is used for the outsole. After only 5 runs the vibram outsole is peeling off of both shoes in multiple places. It is a total "out of box" failure.

Brand new and within five miles - the heel is so loose that blisters developed on both heels. Terrible design. No way to even tighten the heel. I regret purchasing these shoes.

My first pair of Altras. Love the feel for my forefoot, my toes were very happy! My right heel? Not so much or not at all. Four mile test run and received my first heel blister, ever I think! I think I just bought a pair of walkaround shoes. I'll try again with a different shoe that has some structure/padding in the heel.

This shoe was ok for mid distance runs while training (10 - 18 miles) but when it came to race day (50+ miles) it was a disaster of a shoe. The heel is impossible to lock down. It wobbles around causing blisters and if you go to town lacing them up you'll suffer from intense rubbing around your big toe that will compromise your foot in a different way. I find that taping my heel and wearing them for training is ok, but I am only doing that because at this point I can't return them. I hear the BOA system addresses some of the heel lockdown issues and maybe I'll try that (and if it doesn't I would return them quicker). I wanted to give these shoes a chance but I should have returned them after those first few runs when they were sliding around, I thought maybe I just needed to get the lacing right or break them in (turns out that it wasn't me it was the shoe). I would absolutely not recommend this shoe, and if you do get it the thing to look for is that heel lockdown and the rubbing near your big toe when you tighten them. Alternatively...try the BOA system ones first and see if those are good.

Both pairs fit horribly. I have many other pairs of shoes, but these just sat lower on my heal and caused insane blisters after relatively short walks/runs. Thankfully I was able to return for a full refund. As

I've loved the Lone Peak 4 I had so much that I bought 2 more pairs to leave in the places we travel frequently so I can run and not have to worry about shoes. But since I can't find them anymore, I decided to try these Mont Blancs because they had such good reviews. Worst......shoe.....EVER. At least for me. Back of the shoe has NO cushion whatsoever and had blisters rubbed on both my upper heels on the back (where the top of the shoe hits your skin on the very back of your foot). Soon as I felt the blisters coming on, I turned and headed back. By the time I got back to the house they were both bleeding. I had these shoes 2 days and threw them in the trash. My old Lone Peaks, I could run in barefoot if need be and would be totally comfortable. I can't imagine anything that would make these new ones even tolerable. No cushion anywhere, just hard plastic edges that can't wait to make you suffer. I can't say enough bad about these. Apparently a lot of folks like these. Maybe they're the same ones who like whips and chains.....

Have loved my Lone Pine 7s, but after just one 6 mile hike pretty sure I will never wear these shoes again. The ridge around the back yoke has no give. First blisters in years.

Really wanted to love this shoe. after an 8mile hike, both tops of the shoes ripped off. Returned for new pair. hiked around Mont Blanc (!) in them. They made it 2 days before completely ripping.

I have only had this shoe for 2 months and the rubber on the bottoms is falling off! I emailed to get them replaced and they said it was Normal Wear and Tear? They have maybe 50-75 miles! Horrible!

Very disappointed. I bought this shoe right when it came out and was initially really impressed. If you can get past the minor heel slip, the cushioning and grip is great. However, the construction method of glueing the vibram tread to the outsole fell apart. At 150 miles I had lost multiple lugs, changing how the shoe impacted the ground and overall grip. Additionally, the upper is incredibly minimalist, and as noted in other reviews, tears. When sent pictures, I was given a "there are different wear rates for different runners but yours is normal" and offered absolutely no help for a top of the line shoe that literally came apart in 150 miles. While I have really enjoyed many Altra products, the Mont Blanc was a severe disappointment.

Out of the box these felt great. Light. Cushioned. Fast. The heel slippage is real and annoying but I was able to use a lockdown method of tying to eliminate it. It was all downhill from there though. The toe caps started peeling off after the first hike of only 8 miles. Contacted Altra and was told that's standard wear and tear and not covered by the warranty. 8 miles before they start falling apart! Hope no one tries to do 10 miles in them. I used them occasionally for the rest of the summer because I couldn't afford another pair. Fine materials find their way behind that toe cap so once it peels be prepared to constantly be removing "stuff" from the inside of your shoe. Whatever the thin material is holds scents worse than any other shoe I've ever owned. I let these air out for a couple of months and they still stunk. So I hand washed them like crazy and replaced the laces (the original laces are absolute junk, stiff and short) in them in an effort to make them not smell as bad. Put them next to a standard heat vent in my house (nothing too hot or direct) and the insoles shrunk! Now I have to find a replacement for an non-standard insole. Buy something better.

The shoes themselves felt really nice, but for a shoe designed to race far on rugged terrain, they fall horribly short. My pair ripped totally open after 235 miles, and when I contacted Altra customer service, they said they could not help because it was normal wear and tear. I really wanted to try the Boa version, but if the shoe falling apart after under 300 miles is normal wear and tear, I can't justify the price tag.

Worn 2 times a week, 12 hour shifts. I am 160lbs, 68in tall. I'll admit, I walk probably 10 miles in a shift working in a large ER. By no means is it any kind of abusive environment for shoes. I made several small repairs to the shoes within the first 2 weeks. Nothing major, just some stitches coming apart. I developed some low back discomfort related to inserts not very supportive, very cheap quality. When inserts removed I noticed more frayed stitching and layers coming apart. Inserts replaced with quality ones and I managed to keep them together for 6 months total. Now I use them to wash my car but not presentable for work anymore.