Trail Running Shoes: Essential Guide to Altra
Altra Trail Running Shoes
Altra Footwear unites advanced technology, superior comfort, and spaciousness that gives you the freedom to move naturally. Crafted by elite athletes for trail runners of all kinds, Altra offers you FootShape™ for wider foot space and Balanced Cushioning™ with a Zero Drop platform for better balance whilst you tackle the trails. Find your Altra Family with our essential guide to Altra trail running shoes. Uncover the humble beginnings of Altra Footwear and how the story is continuing to unfold with our dedication to innovation in our Altra trail running shoe essential guide.
Move Naturally with Altra:
At Altra, we provide trail runners with spacious, durable, and comfortable trail running shoes. Inspired by the natural shape of your foot, every Altra shoe has wide foot-shaped toe boxes to give your foot the space to spread out naturally as you move. Our Zero Drop platform in every Altra trail running shoe keeps your heel-to-toe flat whilst you run to enable a natural running technique. Altra shoes are gender-specifically designed to craft an optimal running experience. Inspired by your natural movement, we are dedicated to placing zero limits on your trail running adventures.
Find Your Altra Family:
Altra Footwear is a family. Our trail running shoes are here to support you on your journey, offer you comfort along the distance, and encourage you to keep going until your goals are conquered. Each Altra Family is named after a peak in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain range, inspiring you to seek adventure and reach new heights of your running potential with Altra. We have crafted the essential guide to our trail running shoes so that you can find the perfect Altra Family for your feet and trail running preferences.
1) Superior Family Trail Running Shoes:
Take to the dusty trails in the speedy trail hugger Superior Family. The Superior Family is as durable as your drive to conquer whatever terrain comes your way. Find the perfect trail running shoes for your outdoor escapade in the Superior Family.
Fast, flexible, and versatile are the defining features of the Superior Family. Designed to allow you to sprint over any terrain out there, the Superior Family is made to move at high speeds for distances up to 21km. Break through your running barriers with the support of the Superior Family.
The Superior Family comes with MaxTrac™ rubber outsole for gripping onto the terrain as you move quickly over rugged terrain. The multi-directional lugs will ensure that every step you take is secure. No matter the terrain or weather conditions, the Superior Family will offer you an unbeatable grip on your trail run. 
The cushioning of the Superior Family midsole is low, but this does not mean you will not still enjoy comfort and responsiveness as you go. The 21mm stack height of the Superior Family midsole enables quick and light movement across any landscape. The low cushioning allows you to spring and sprint in the Superior Family.
The Superior Family are perfectly designed for new trail runners who are starting off their trail running journey with short distances across rocky paths. The Superior Family is also ideal for trail runners who prefer minimalist trail running shoes. You can run short-distance trails the way you want with the Superior Family.
The Altra StoneGuard™ feature of the Super Family keeps your feet protected from sharp rocks on technical terrain. The StoneGuard™ is made from a light material to keep the weight of your Super Family shoe light. The light-weight of the StoneGuard™ does not impact the durability, ensuring that you always have ultimate protection for your feet.
The removable StoneGuard™ sets the Superior Family apart. If you desire to have increased flexibility in your trail running shoes or require less weight for ultimate performance, you can easily detach the Altra StoneGuard™. Simply lift the insole, remove the StoneGuard™, and start running.
The Super Family is fitted with the Altra GaiterTrap™ feature. This innovative technology allows you to conveniently secure your Altra Gaiter to your Superior Family shoes. With the convenience of the Superior Family, all you have to do is lace up and then take off along your selected trail.
Spring and Sprint in Superior 5:
The recent model release in the Superior Family is the Superior 5. Speed, light-weight, and durability have not been compromised in this latest update to the Superior Family. The Superior 5 features an updated removable StoneGuard™ that is made from a lighter material but is still equally durable. The Superior 5 is designed with a “burrito” style wrap-around tongue to keep your foot secure and to take the pressure off of your feet whilst you move speedily through the trails. 
2) Lone Peak Family Trail Running Shoes:
Explore the hidden treasures of the world by going off the beaten track in Altra’s iconic Lone Peak Family. As our most popular trail running shoes, the Lone Peak Family has stood with many trail runners on the summit of trail running success. When there are zero limits from your Lone Peak shoes, you can ascend to new heights.
The Lone Peak family is highly versatile, which is why you will find most trail runners gravitating towards these exceptional trail running shoes. The Lone Peak Family is perfectly designed for both short and long-distance runs. From a 5km jog through the mountains to a 100km run along dirt roads, the Lone Peak Family will always be the comfortable and supportive trail running shoe choice.
What makes the Lone Peak Family so widely popular is the additional space. All Altra Footwear is designed with the foot-shaped toe box to allow your toes to comfortably splay, but the Lone Peak Family offers additional room for your toes. If you are looking for a trail running shoe that is wider than the Superior Family, then the Lone Peak Family is for you.
The Lone Peak Family comes with Altra EGO™ midsole foam. The added softness and responsiveness of the Altra EGO™ foam make the Lone Peak Family a pleasure to run for kilometres in. The 25mm stack height of the midsole offers you supreme cushioning as you bound along the paths during your trail runs.
The Lone Peak Family is optimal for any outdoor setting. The MaxTrac™ outsole with multi-directional lugs makes the Lone Peak Family grippy and highly durable against sharp rocks and coarse sand paths. The Lone Peak Family keeps your feet protected with the Altra StoneGuard™ that is sandwiched into the middle of the midsole for total stone deflection as you move. 
As with all Altra trail running shoes, the Lone Peak Family features the GaiterTrap™. You can easily attach your Altra Gaiter to your Lone Peak shoes to keep your feet free from dirt or small stones that may flick into your shoe as you move through the trails. The Lone Peak Family additionally has laser-cut drainage holes to allow for water draining if you are running in the rain or through wet paths.
Pave Your Own Path in Lone Peak 7:
The Lone Peak 7 is the latest addition to the legendary Lone Peak Family. The Lone Peak 7 has had some major updates from the Lone Peak 6. The Lone Peak 7 features Altra’s TrailClaw™ MaxTrac technology of canted lugs strategically positioned underneath the metatarsals, offering you more traction as you take each glide. In the design of the upper, you will find a more seamless style with fewer overlays and a toe-to-tongue material that goes straight up the foot for added comfort. The Lone Peak 7 continues the legend of the exemplary Lone Peak Family.
3) Timp Family Trail Running Shoes:
Step off the tar and take to the dusty hills with the road-to-trail Timp Family. Suitable for short-distance road running and long-distance trail running, the versatility of the Timp Family allows you to manoeuvre both bitumen and boulders. No terrain is too tough for the superior grip and comfort of the Timp Family.
The Timp Family is loaded with Altra features that will assist you to go the extra kilometres. The Timp Family has a MaxTrac™ rubber outsole for exceptional traction across your trail path. You can tackle any trail in the Timp Family.
For those who love the Superior Family but are looking for more cushioning, the comfort of the Timp Family running shoes is for you. The Timp Family features a 29mm stack height midsole cushioning with InnerFlex™ for additional flexibility as you move. The Timp Family medium-to-high cushioning will offer you ultimate support as you tackle long-distance trail runs.
The Timp Family is fitted with Altra GaiterTrap™ that can be fitted with Altra Gaiters to keep debris out of your shoe. All Timp Family trail running shoes are fitted with drainage holes to keep your feet dry as you run through wet trails or shallow streams. Keeping your feet protected and comfortable is the promise of the Timp Family.
Leave the Pavement Behind in Timp 4:
In the Timp Family collection is the Timp 4 loaded with all the Timp Family features. The Timp 4 is our latest addition, with a trimmed-down design and an updated fit for enhanced performance whilst you run. From roadsides to trails, the Timp 4 will be your ultimate running companion.
4) Olympus Family Trail Running Shoes:
Bound over any rocks, tree roots, and natural obstacles that may stand in your path with the maximum comfort of the Olympus Family. Designed to go the distance, you can tackle any terrain in the Olympus Family. Perfect for any season, there is nothing that will hinder your performance on your trail run with the Olympus Family.
The Olympus Family has gained a reputation for being the most comfortable trail running shoe for long-distance runs. The 33mm cushioning of the Olympus Family makes these trail running shoes your greatest companion on your trail runs. For ultra-distance trail runs, the soft and responsive cushioning of the Olympus Family will keep you going.
With the Olympus Family high cushioning, you can run the way you want to. The max cushioning adds a spring to your step as you tackle steep hills. When you descend, you can choose your path without worrying about injury from landing on sharp stones with the cushioning of the Olympus Family. The Olympus Family gives you the freedom to just go for it on your trail runs.
With the Olympus Family, you get the best of both worlds with high cushioning and maximum grip. The Olympus Family features the Vibram® MegaGrip™ outsole, an innovative Altra rubber compound. The Vibram® MegaGrip™ outsole is made for high-performance by offering you an unbeaten grip on both wet and dry trails and supreme durability against tough terrains.
Trail running throughout the wetter seasons is not a problem for the Olympus Family. If your trail running shoes do get wet, the Olympus Family's durable engineered mesh of the upper is quick-drying to allow your feet to dry out as quickly as you speed through the trails. Fitted with the Altra GaiterTrap™, you can additionally keep your Olympus Family shoes free from debris and sand with your attached Altra Gaiter.
Run for the Hills in Olympus 5:
The Olympus 5 has been largely updated for ensuring ultimate performance whilst you run. The Olympus 5 features a wide, stable midsole base for complete support of your trail running technique. The heel cup of the Olympus 5 has been upgraded to premium status with a narrow, secure heel that wraps around your foot to keep your shoes secure as you move quickly through the trails. The premium heel cup is paired with a thin, comfortable tongue that wraps around the foot for the ultimate securing of your foot. Breathability and structural updates to the quick-drying mesh upper make the Olympus 5 a pleasure to run in. 
4) Outroad Road-to-Trail Running Shoes:
Run outside the lines with the Outroad hybrid road-to-trail running shoe. The Outroad running shoe is designed to allow you to run confidently straight from the door to the trails. It's the perfect shoe for those wanting to start their trail running journey but still want to run short distances on the road too.
Featuring our grippy MaxTrac™ outsole and Altra EGO™ midsole foam, this hybrid shoe is designed especially for the road runner looking to explore the trails. This shoe comes in our Slim FootShape™ fit* for a more snug, comfortable fit wherever your run takes you.
Paving New Trails with Altra Essential Features:
Altra Footwear has widened the mould of traditional trail running shoes. In a traditional trail running shoe, you will find a narrow toe box that unnaturally squeezes your toes together. You will also find a low to high heel-to-toe drop, which can affect your running technique and neutralises your Achilles and lower calf muscles. Impacted landing and increased risk of injury whilst running are the core problems with a traditionally designed trail running shoe.
We have designed our trail running shoes with your comfort, performance, and trail running preferences in mind. The advanced technology of Altra Footwear enables you to achieve greater goals on your trail running journey. Every Altra trail running shoe has three core technologies, and these essential features are what sets us apart.
Balanced Cushioning™:
Altra Footwear keeps your feet in a natural position whilst you run with our Balanced Cushioning™ technology. The Zero Drop platform in every Altra shoe keeps your heel and toes at an equidistant level to the ground. The level platform ensures that when you run in Altra Footwear, your feet, back, and body posture remain aligned and that your impact when you land is low for reduced risk of injury during your trail running.
Altra FootShape™ Toe Box:
Altra Footwear has been expertly crafted with spacious, foot-shaped toe boxes. What this means is that running in Altra Footwear is close to running barefoot while still keeping your feet protected. Designed with your foot shape in mind, Altra FootShape™ keeps your big toe straight for additional stability and provides your other toes with space and comfort.
Altra Footwear currently comes in three FootShape™ fits; the Classic Fit, the Medium Fit, and the Form Fit. Each FootShape™ fit accommodates for differences in foot width from heel to toe. We are constantly updating our FootShape™ widths so that you can find the perfect Altra Footwear that accommodates your unique foot shape. We give you choices so that you can always find an Altra shoe for your trail running preferences.
Altra Fit4Her™:
Altra Fit4Her™ technology is crafted with the unique shape of women’s feet in mind. Female feet have significant anatomical differences from men’s feet, including a narrower heel and midfoot, a longer arch, a higher in-step, and unique metatarsal spacing. Altra Footwear for ladies is customised with these important features to offer women an unmatched trail running experience.
Dirt, Sweat, and Comfort:
When the sweat rolls down your skin and your shins are covered in dust, Altra Footwear offers you unmatched comfort to keep you going on your trail run. Altra midsoles are made from Altra EGO™ Foam, an innovative compound for supreme comfort whilst you move. Altra EGO™ Foam is soft and responsive, offering your feet comfortable support whilst you uncover your next trail running adventure.
The Souls Behind the Soles:
Altra Footwear was founded by Golden Harper and Brian Beckstead, two avidly passionate runners and lovers of outdoor adventures. Determined to improve the running experience, Golden experimented with traditional running shoes by crafting his own Zero Drop platform by heating running shoes in a toaster oven and cutting the midsoles. A successful run at the Wasatch 100 in the prototype began the legendary journey of Altra Footwear. 
2011 saw the arrival of the first Altra Footwear, designed with Altra’s three core technologies. Since its humble beginnings over a decade ago, Altra Footwear has transformed into an international brand. A team of dedicated Altra individuals embraces innovation to continue providing the perfect running partner to trail runners around the world. From a toaster oven to the trails, Altra Footwear has become the ultimate way to move naturally in trail running.
Trail Running with the Times:
Altra Footwear and technology move at the same pace. We are continuously updating our trail running shoes with your natural movement in mind so that we always provide maximum comfort, durability, and enhanced performance. At Altra, our dedication to innovation makes room for better trail running. Keep your eyes on Altra Footwear for upcoming releases of the latest addition to our Altra trail running Families.
Find your perfect Altra trail running shoe with our essential guide and unleash your trail running potential with Altra Footwear.