[Pearls for pigs! I thought it was carbon but...] I tried out Zero Drop's ALTRA "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes"
Written by Saito Titoce
I've become a habit to run every day, but my time is at jogging level. However, I'm not the only one who would like to try shoes with built-in carbon plates. I had the opportunity to try out Altra's "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes," so I'll share the results.
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What are "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes" in "ALTRA"
Altra's "MONT BLANC CARBON." It is a zero-drop, bare-footed carbon plate-equipped shoe. High expectations.
Altra's carbon plate built-in shoes with zero drop to prevent toes from tightening
There may not be a need to introduce Altra to OUTDOOR GEARZINE readers again. The author has already tested articles such as " [Where are you using to run?] I was able to self-recognize things that can be different even in short, long distances, and walking with Zero Drop Altra's "TIMP 5" and "ALTRAFWD EXPERIENCE. "" and is my favorite brand.
The basic concept of Altra is the ultimate shoe that allows for a "natural way of running". This is why Altra shoes are characterized by their heel-free zero-drop, which does not create an excessive forward leaning posture, the toe area designed to provide room to make the toes in a natural state, and the sole that flexes flexibly according to the movement of the foot while ensuring firm cushioning.
I have a habit of running from forefoot to midfoot, and running with these Altra shoes makes it easier than ever before, so I'm sure I'm a fan of Altra shoes, but this time I tried out the "MONT BLANC CARBON," which is a high-end model for trail running and has a high-end, ultra-rebound midsole and full-length carbon fiber plate.
The MONT BLANC CARBON, which has an ultra-high rebound, comfort and durability, has a highly grippy outsole, and the MONT BLANC CARBON adds a full-length Carbitex™ Monoflex carbon plate to provide proper propulsion, protection of the soles of the feet, and stability over all terrain.
"Correct Toes" that returns the toes to anatomically normal, natural position
"Correct Toes" is said to help you return your toes to anatomically normal position. I was very curious about this author, who has a tendency to sleep and bunions.
Actually, I've been looking at Altra's website and have been interested in it for a long time. Designed by Dr. Ray McClanahan, Correct Toes is made from soft, flexible silicone that helps you return your toes to anatomically normal, or natural position.
I have a tendency to sleep and bunion toes, such as the little toes facing slightly sideways and close to the ring finger, which is a bit of a concern. Therefore, I was curious about "Correct Toes," which is said to help put your toes back into their natural position.
It is said that using "Correct Toes" can bring your feet and toes into a healthy posture by putting your feet on the body and restoring their natural position and function. It can also be worn barefoot or with socks, even among Altra shoes with foot-shaped toe boxes, and can be used when running, walking, commuting, working, or sleeping, making it the shortcut to return to the toes. I also tried out this "Correct Toes."
Recommended points
- Just a shoe with built-in carbon plate makes you feel excited (MONT BLANC CARBON)
- It has a strong rebound when landing, so you can run like a bouncing (MONT BLANC CARBON)
- I get the impression that my time will actually be faster (MONT BLANC CARBON)
- The space between my toes is wide and feels pretty good (Correct Toes)
Points that interest me
- Care must be taken as the calves are slightly strong (MONT BLANC CARBON)
- It can hurt a little if you wear it for a long time (Correct Toes)
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | ALTRA MONT BLANC CARBON |
|---|---|
| Weight (one foot) | 309g (MENS US10.5 / 28.5cm) |
| Midsole | Altra EGO™ PRO (core) & Altra EGO™ MAX (rim) |
| Outsole | Vibram® Megagrip with Litebase |
| Stack height | 29 mm |
| upper | Ultra-lightweight, breathable |
| Reference price | 34,980 yen (tax included) |
| Outdoor Gearzine Rating | |
| Personal favourite level | ★★★★★ |
| Whenever tension rises | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Cushioning | ★★★★☆ |
| Repulsion | ★★★★★ |
| grip | ★★★★★ |
| Cost Performance | ★★★☆☆ |
I thought it had nothing to do with me, a beginner...
I thought that if you're running in the forefoot, you should be a beginner too.
"MONT BLANC CARBON" seems to make you run fast. I chose WHITE/CORAL, but the lineup also includes a different colored GRAY/LIME.
Many people are already familiar with shoes with built-in carbon plates.
ALTRA's core is equipped with the ultra-high rebound material "Altra EGO™ PRO," which provides strong rebound force, while the carbon fiber plate guides the force in the right direction, allowing more efficient propulsion (the "Altra EGO™ MAX" installed on the rim improves comfort and durability, providing a soft and comfortable fit).
In any case, shoes that seem to allow you to run faster just by wearing them are truly dream-like shoes. In marathons and relay races, many top athletes have made great records by wearing shoes with built-in carbon plates from various companies. Even though I'm a hobbyist, I only run a little, and when I hear that just wearing it makes me faster, I'm curious.
I wondered what shoes with built-in carbon plates actually looked up, so I looked up the internet and found that some of the most popular items were "not recommended for beginners" and "Many people need to review their running form." Many shoes with built-in carbon plates have a built-in spoon or scoop-shaped carbon plate in the midsole, and this carbon plate bends when it lands, creating rebound force.
Therefore, in order to run efficiently with shoes with built-in carbon plates, it is generally said that it is necessary to run in a forefoot, which rarely uses heels, just like in sprinting. Currently, most of the top long-distance athletes, including Africans, run in this forefoot and wear shoes with built-in carbon plates.
However, it is said that beginners and jogging-level runners generally run using heel strike running methods that land from the heel. Heel strike running methods also have advantages and disadvantages, and although the forefoot running methods are not generally better, it does not seem to be suitable for running faster with shoes with built-in carbon plates.
As a result, it seems that shoes with built-in carbon plates are not suitable for beginner runners who use the general running style (heel strike running method). However, as a fan of Altra, which is based on the concept of reducing the burden on the knees, minimizing heel strikes, and achieving a natural running style, I am actually unable to use heel strikes.
They run from forefoot to midfoot, whether it's short or long. Heel strikes only when walking. This means that even a beginner author can experience the effects of shoes with built-in carbon plates.
His legs are moved forward, bouncing in surprise!
I thought the sole would be quite stiff because it had a built-in carbon plate. In reality, it is flexible enough to be bent in half with one hand.
In fact, the "MONT BLANC CARBON" arrived at my hands, and the first thing I did was to fold the sole as hard as I could. It has a built-in carbon plate, so it's hard and hard to bend, isn't it? That's what I thought.
However, "MONT BLANC CARBON" bends quite flexibly. The bends with the impression that it is almost halfway through, but the way it rebounds from there is a very different way to return from the rebound from the other models that do not have a built-in carbon plate. It returns to normal with a strong rebound. This is the power of the "super rebound material + carbon plate."
This will give you plenty of rebound without hindering your foot movement. The comfort of the shoes is slightly tighter than the same Altra TIMP 5. I'm sure I've also made my shoelaces a little tighter, trying to prevent the rebound from the carbon plate from escaping.
The "MONT BLANC CARBON" is 28.5cm and 309g, while the "TIMP 5" is the same size, 277g, so the "MONT BLANC CARBON" is actually a little heavier. However, for me, I find the "MONT BLANC CARBON" lighter in my experience when I actually run.
First, I tried driving about 10km as usual, but just having shoes with built-in carbon plates made me feel quite excited. Also, even if you run for about 7 minutes, you can get the impression that you can run in the middle of the 6 minutes.
When you land, it certainly has a greater rebound than the usual "TIMP 5" and it gives the impression that the next leg will use the rebound force to leave. To put it in extreme terms, it's like the next step is coming out as if to bounce. Even if you drive with the same amount of force, it feels like it's 20 to 30 seconds faster than the TIMP 5, which does not have a built-in carbon plate.
Recently, I have been running at a rate of 6-7 minutes per km, but when I go to 10km jogging at MONT BLANC CARBON, I sometimes find that the last 1km is in the mid-5 minutes. It's true that I can run faster with little effort. amazing.
There are lots of good things, but you need to be careful too
Perhaps because it uses the Vibram® Megagrip with Litebase, you can grip comfortably with shoes with built-in carbon plates without losing your balance when driving.
The "MONT BLANC CARBON" is imagined to be able to run with the same effort by rebounding with the "ultra-high rebound midsole + carbon plate". We also saw that the thyme actually stretched out compared to shoes without carbon plates. The carbon plate is amazing.
However, there are some things to note. I don't move my hips very much and run long distances with a forefoot, but even though I usually use this form, I feel more stressed on my calf muscles after running with the MONT BLANC CARBON, which has a built-in carbon plate than when I ran with the TIMP 5, which does not have carbon plates.
Of course, if you step on the MONT BLANC CARBON, you will get a stronger rebound. And that impact must be absorbed by each muscle.
The rebound of the "ultra-high rebound midsole + carbon plate" makes it easy to ride, so this is probably quite dangerous. What's more, the faster you run, the stronger the rebound you feel, which is fun. It's tempting to step harder. And if you get on that temptation, you can drive faster. And it will become impossible to absorb the rebound and impact, and will cause a breakdown.
People who usually use heel strike running methods and use shoes with carbon plates should pay particular attention to forefoot running methods. I broke down in May and couldn't run for about two months, so I'm quite scared of the pleasure of "MONT BLANC CARBON." We recommend that you get used to it before moving forward.
In addition, I have alternated between the "MONT BLANC CARBON" with built-in carbon plates and other shoes without carbon plates. Running with the "MONT BLANC CARBON" is super fun, but I feel a little stress on my calves, so I try not to run with shoes with built-in carbon plates.
"Correct Toes" is a pleasant feeling with a widening range of toes
"Correct Toes" made from soft silicon. It can be used to fit the toes and spread the spaces between the toes. I feel pretty comfortable, so I put it on at work.
This time I tried "Correct Toes" with "MONT BLANC CARBON". As I started wearing Altra's heelless zero-drop shoes, I became conscious of how I was running. In fact, I hadn't even been aware that I was running long distances in the forefoot until then.
Since I started wearing zero-drop shoes, I have become aware that I am running in the forefoot, and I have noticed that Altra's zero-drop shoes feel good when I run in the forefoot.
Another thing I've started to notice is how my toes spread. When I wore Altra shoes with wide toe boxes and a shaped toe, designed to have a relaxed, natural position, and I began to wonder if my toes were standing in a solid, natural shape.
However, although it seems unlikely that my toes are bunion valgus, the little toes are tightly snug and almost have no gaps, stuck to the ring toes, and are even facing a little sideways. Looking into it, it seems that they tend to have a belly finger and bunion toes.
I'm sorry that my legs aren't very beautiful, but I actually put them on. You can continue wearing socks like this and wear ALTRA shoes with plenty of toes while still wearing them.
In reality, it is not painful, but it is said to have the disadvantages of making it easier to lose balance. Also, as I am interested in how wearing Altra's Zero Drop shoes makes me feel very comfortable running, and how pleasant it feels to be in a state where Altra calls it anatomically natural position, in which the feet and toes are put into a healthy position, and the feet and toes can be restored to their original position and function.
That's why I'm trying out "Correct Toes" and it feels pretty good. The gap between my toes seems to be much smaller than what is said to be in their natural state, and when I wear the silicone "Correct Toes," the space between my toes becomes wider. The feeling of the spreading between the fingers is surprisingly good.
In particular, in my case, the gap between the index and middle finger of my feet and the ring and pinky toes is narrow and almost intimate, so when it is spread out, it feels a little open, as if the product has improved ventilation. Therefore, it is not uncommon to live with "Correct Toes" on when working from home.
I tried it out because it would be more effective to wear "Correct Toes" for longer and then walk or run while wearing shoes or socks, but as expected, my feet hurt a little if I walk out for a day while wearing them, I don't use them much when going out.
Of course, using it for about a month or two at a time possible will not have a noticeable effect of changing the shape of your toes, but it feels a little nice when worn, and I'm starting to be conscious of how to use my toes, so I'd like to continue using them in the future.
Summary: Beginners should try out shoes with built-in carbon plates
It's recommended because it makes running more fun when you focus on your feet.
Just because it's a shoe with a built-in carbon plate makes me excited, so I really like the "MONT BLANC CARBON."
As a beginner running player who runs at jogging speed, I thought that shoes with built-in carbon plates would be a pig and pearl, but when I actually wear them, it's really fun. In my case, I guess it was originally a forefoot running technique, but at low speeds I was able to run with a sense of rebound feeling at slow speeds.
Although it is originally a forefoot running style, it seems that there is a trick to running efficiently with the "MONT BLANC CARBON", and it runs in a slightly different way than Altra shoes without a carbon plate. I think I'm more conscious about running without using heels than usual, and I think I can run comfortably with the "MONT BLANC CARBON" in a way that makes my heels stand out a little.
This could be said to be the effect of "Correct Toes" that I became aware of the movement of my toes inside my shoes. Running with the intention of taking steps at the same time, such as kicking the ground firmly with your toes, turning the midsole into the midsole, and using the recoil to convert it into force to move forward is more fun than running casually, and it's also nice that you won't get bored of running even if you run the same course every time.
The "MONT BLANC CARBON" equipped with an ultra-high-rebound midsole + carbon plate is intended for advanced players who can run faster with forefoot, but even those who usually use heel strike running methods may want to try running in a relaxed forefoot running method, while paying attention to the rebound of the carbon plate. Since you use muscles that you don't normally use, you need to be very careful about breakdowns...
In any case, "MONT BLANC CARBON" makes daily jogging very enjoyable. The problem is that it's a bit expensive, but it's an attractive item that really inspires everyday jogging. I don't think even a beginner like me would turn into a pig into a pearl. If you're interested, please give it a try. It's highly recommended.
Details and purchase of ALTRA's "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes"
For more information about the product, please visit the official ALTRA website
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Saito Titoce
Former monthly camera magazine editor. While pursuing the spectacular views of Hokkaido and the wildlife, I was completely hooked on the outdoor life of camper vans and sleeping in my car. While traveling the entire country with his 2-year-old son and wife, he is a photographer writer who photographs and writes everything he has experienced, not only cameras and lenses, but also outdoor camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and dieting. OUTDOOR GEARZINE plans to write a variety of articles, focusing on the QOCL (Quality of Camping Life) Improvement Committee, which will improve the quality of life in camping and camper vans.
