[Pearls before swine! I thought they were giving me carbon…] Testing the zero-drop ALTRA "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes"

I've gotten into the habit of running every day, but my running time is at a jogging level. Still, I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants 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'd like to share my results

What are ALTRA's "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes"?

Altra's "MONT BLANC CARBON" is a zero-drop, barefoot shoe with a built-in carbon plate. I have high hopes for it

Altra's carbon plate-equipped shoes with zero drop for a comfortable fit

There's probably no need to introduce ALTRA to readers of OUTDOOR GEARZINE. I've already tested them in articles like " How do you run? I learned the difference between short distances, long distances, and walking with the zero-drop ALTRA TIMP 5 and ALTRA FWD EXPERIENCE, " and they're my absolute favorite brand.

The basic concept of Altra is to create the ultimate shoe that allows for a natural running style. To achieve this, Altra shoes feature a zero drop design that eliminates the need for an unnatural forward-leaning posture, a generously designed toe box that allows the toes to move naturally, and a sole that flexes flexibly to match the movement of the foot while providing firm cushioning

As someone who tends to run with a forefoot to midfoot stance, I can say that I'm a fan of Altra shoes because I find these shoes to be more comfortable than ever before.This time, I tried out the ``MONT BLANC CARBON,'' a high-end model for trail running from Altra, which features an ultra-rebound midsole and a full-length carbon fiber plate

The MONT BLANC CARBON features a midsole with ultra-high rebound, comfort, and durability, and an outsole with excellent grip. By adding a full-length Carbitex™ Monoflex carbon plate, it is said to provide optimal propulsion, protection for the soles of the feet, and stability on any terrain

"Correct Toes" - returning toes to their natural, anatomically normal position

"Correct Toes" is said to help return the toes to their normal anatomical position. As someone who tends to develop sleeping toes and hallux varus, I was very interested in this

I actually came across "Correct Toes" on Altra's website and have been interested in them ever since. Designed by Dr. Ray McClanahan, "Correct Toes" are made of soft, flexible silicone and are said to help return your toes to their anatomically normal, or natural, position

I have a tendency to have a condition called "sleeping toes" or "hall varus," where the little toe points slightly to the side and presses against the ring finger, which bothers me a little. That's why I was interested in "Correct Toes," which is said to help return the toes to their natural position when worn

It is said that by using "Correct Toes" while putting your weight on it, your feet and toes will be in a healthy position, restoring their original position and function. It can be worn barefoot, with socks, or inside Altra shoes with a foot-shaped toe box. It can be used while running, walking, commuting, working, or even sleeping, and is said to be a shortcut to restoring the position of your toes. I tried out "Correct Toes" myself

Recommended points

• Just having a shoe with a built-in carbon plate gets me excited (MONT BLANC CARBON)
• The strong rebound when landing gives the impression of bouncing while running (MONT BLANC CARBON)
• It actually seems like the time is faster (MONT BLANC CARBON)
• The space between my toes feels really spacious (Correct Toes)

Points of interest

• Be careful as the calf load is a little strong (MONT BLANC CARBON)
• Wearing it for a long time and being active can cause some pain (Correct Toes)

Main specifications and evaluation

I thought it wouldn't be relevant to me as a beginner, but..

I thought that if you run on your forefoot, it's okay for beginners too

The Mont Blanc Carbon looks like it will really help you ride fast. I chose the white/coral color, but it is also available in gray/lime

Many people are already familiar with shoes that have built-in carbon plates

ALTRA's is said to have a composite structure that uses the ultra-high-rebound material "Altra EGO™ PRO" in the core, which provides strong rebound, and a carbon fiber plate to direct that force in the right direction, allowing for more efficient use of propulsion (and the "Altra EGO™ MAX" installed in the rim improves comfort and durability, providing a soft and comfortable fit)

In any case, shoes that make you run faster just by wearing them are truly a dream shoe. Many top athletes wear shoes with built-in carbon plates from various companies in marathons and relay races, achieving amazing results. Even I, who only do a little running as a hobby, was intrigued when I heard that wearing them could make me faster

I wondered what shoes with built-in carbon plates were actually like, so I looked them up online, and found a lot of hits along the lines of, "They're not recommended for beginners," and "Many people need to rethink their running form." Most shoes with built-in carbon plates have a spoon- or rice paddle-shaped carbon plate built into the midsole, which flexes when the foot lands, generating a rebound force

Therefore, it is generally said that in order to run efficiently in shoes with built-in carbon plates, it is necessary to run with a forefoot stance, with minimal use of the heel, just like in sprinting. Currently, most top long-distance athletes, especially those from Africa, run with this forefoot stance and wear shoes with built-in carbon plates

However, it is said that beginners and jogger-level runners generally run with a heel-strike running style, where the foot strikes the ground. The heel-strike running style also has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is not necessarily superior to the forefoot running style, but it does not seem to be suitable for running fast in 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 run in a typical style (heel strike).However, as a fan of Altra, whose concept is to reduce the burden on the knees and minimize heel strike to achieve a natural running style, I actually cannot run in a heel strike style

Whether running short or long distances, I run with a forefoot to midfoot stance. I only heel strike when walking. This means that even a beginner like me can experience the benefits of shoes with built-in carbon plates

Your feet will spring forward with surprising bounce!

I thought the sole would be quite stiff because it has a built-in carbon plate, but it's actually flexible enough that you can bend it almost in half with one hand

When I received the Mont Blanc Carbon, the first thing I did was bend the sole as hard as I could. I thought that since it has a built-in carbon plate, it would be hard and almost unbendable

However, the "MONT BLANC CARBON" bends quite flexibly. It bends almost in half, but the way it bounces back from that point is very different from other models that don't have a built-in carbon plate. It bounces back with a strong bounce, snapping you right back to your original position. This is the power of the "ultra-rebound material + carbon plate" combination

This will provide sufficient bounce without restricting foot movement. The shoe feels a little tighter than the TIMP 5, also from Altra. I think this may be because I tightened the laces a little to prevent the rebound from the carbon plate from escaping

The Mont Blanc Carbon weighs 309g in a size 28.5cm, while the TIMP 5 weighs 277g in the same size, so the Mont Blanc Carbon is actually a little heavier. However, when actually riding, the Mont Blanc Carbon feels lighter to me

First, I ran about 10km as usual, and just knowing that the shoes have a built-in carbon plate really got me excited. Also, even when I aimed for a 7-minute 1km run, I got the impression that I could run in the mid-6-minute range

When I landed, the rebound was definitely greater than with the regular TIMP 5, and it felt like I was using that rebound force to put my next foot forward. To put it in extreme terms, it felt like my next foot was bouncing forward. Even when running with the same amount of force, it felt like I was 20 to 30 seconds faster per kilometer than with the TIMP 5, which does not have a built-in carbon plate

Recently, I've been running at a pace of 6 to 7 minutes per kilometer, but when I jog 10km at "MONT BLANC CARBON," the last kilometer sometimes ends up being in the mid-5 minute range. I definitely feel like I can run faster with less effort. Amazing

There are many good things about it, but you need to be careful

Perhaps because it uses "Vibram® Megagrip with Litebase," the shoes have a built-in carbon plate, allowing you to grip comfortably without losing your balance while running

The "MONT BLANC CARBON" has an "ultra-high rebound midsole + carbon plate" that gives the impression of bouncing while running with the same effort. I was able to confirm that my running times were actually better than with shoes without a carbon plate. The carbon plate is amazing

However, there is one thing I would like to point out. I don't move my hip joints much, and I run long distances with a steady forefoot strike, but even I, who normally runs with this type of form, feel more strain on my calf muscles after running with the "MONT BLANC CARBON" shoes, which have a built-in carbon plate, than when I run with the "TIMP 5" shoes, which do not have a carbon plate

It goes without saying, but the harder you push down on the "MONT BLANC CARBON," the stronger the rebound will be. And that impact needs to be absorbed by your muscles

The rebound from the "ultra-high rebound midsole + carbon plate" makes running very comfortable, so this seems quite dangerous. Moreover, the faster you run, the stronger the rebound you feel, which is fun. You'll be tempted to push harder. And if you give in to that temptation, you'll run faster. Then, the rebound and shock absorption will no longer be possible, and failure will occur

Those who normally run with a heel strike and only run with a forefoot strike when wearing shoes with built-in carbon plates will need to be especially careful. I was injured in May and couldn't run for about two months, so I was quite surprised at how comfortable the "MONT BLANC CARBON" was. I recommend getting used to it before trying to run at high speeds

I also alternate between running in the "MONT BLANC CARBON" shoes with a built-in carbon plate and other shoes without a carbon plate. Running in the "MONT BLANC CARBON" is super fun, but I feel a bit of strain on my calves, so I try not to run exclusively in shoes with built-in carbon plates

"Correct Toes" - Feel the space between your toes

"Correct Toes" are made of soft silicone. They fit around your toes and have the effect of widening the gap between them. I find them quite comfortable, so I wear them at work

This time, I tried out the "Correct Toes" along with the "MONT BLANC CARBON." Since I started wearing Altra's heelless, zero-drop shoes, I've been paying more attention to how I run. In fact, I hadn't even realized that I was running long distances with a forefoot stance

However, after I started wearing zero-drop shoes, I became more aware that I was running on my forefoot, and I realized that Altra's zero-drop shoes felt good when I was running on my forefoot

Another thing I've become more conscious of is how my toes are spread. When I wear Altra shoes, which have a wide toe box and a foot shape that allows my toes to be in a relaxed, natural position, I've started to pay attention to whether my toes are standing firmly and naturally

However, although my toes do not appear to be hallux valgus, my little toe is stuck to my ring finger with almost no gap between them, and is also pointing slightly to the side. Upon investigation, it appears that I have a tendency to have sleeping toes or hallux valgus

I'm sorry that my feet aren't very pretty, but this is what I actually put them on. You can also wear socks and ALTRA shoes with room in the toe area

In reality, it doesn't cause any pain, but it does have the disadvantage of making it easier to lose balance. Also, since I've been able to run very comfortably since wearing Altra's zero-drop shoes, I'm interested in how good it feels to be able to put the toes in an anatomically natural position, to have a healthy posture for the foot and toes, and to restore the original position and function of the foot

To that end, I've been trying out "Correct Toes," which feels quite good. The gaps between my toes seem to be much smaller than the natural position, so when I wear the silicone "Correct Toes," the gaps between my toes are widened. This feeling of having the gaps between my toes is surprisingly good

In my case, the gaps between my index and middle fingers, and between my ring and little toes are narrow and close together, so when I can spread them out, I feel like there's more air flow and I feel a bit more open. For this reason, it's not uncommon for me to wear "Correct Toes" while I'm working from home

I tried wearing "Correct Toes" for a longer period of time and walking or running with shoes or socks on, as I heard that this would be more effective, but my feet started to hurt after walking around all day with them on, so I don't use them much when I go out

Of course, just using it whenever possible for 1-2 months didn't have any noticeable effect, such as changing the shape of my toes, but it does feel a bit comfortable to wear, and it makes me more conscious of how I use my toes, so I'd like to continue using it in the future

Summary: Beginners should try shoes with built-in carbon plates

I recommend being mindful of your feet as it will make running more enjoyable

I get excited just thinking about shoes with built-in carbon plates, so I really like the "MONT BLANC CARBON."

As a beginner runner who runs at a jogging speed, I thought shoes with built-in carbon plates were a waste of money, but when I actually tried them on, I found them to be a lot of fun. Perhaps it's because I'm naturally a forefoot runner, but at low speeds I was able to feel the resistance of the shoes

Even though I'm originally a forefoot runner, there seems to be a trick to running efficiently in the "MONT BLANC CARBON," and my running style is a little different from my running style in Altra shoes without a carbon plate. I tend to run less with my heels than usual, and I find that running with my heels slightly raised makes for a more comfortable run in the "MONT BLANC CARBON."

It could be said that the effect of "Correct Toes" was that I also started to pay attention to the movement of my toes inside my shoes. Pushing firmly with my toes against the ground, flexing the midsole, and using that recoil to convert it into forward momentum - running while paying attention to each step - is more fun than just running aimlessly, and it's also nice that I don't get bored even if I run the same course every time

The "MONT BLANC CARBON" with its "ultra-high resilience midsole + carbon plate" is intended for advanced runners who can run fast on their forefoot, but even those who normally run with a heel strike might want to try running with a relaxed forefoot strike while being conscious of the rebound of the carbon plate. Since you'll be using muscles that you don't normally use, you'll need to be careful not to injure yourself, though..

In any case, the "MONT BLANC CARBON" makes daily jogging so much more enjoyable. It's a bit pricey, but it's an appealing item that adds a lot of excitement to your regular jogging. Even a beginner like me won't find it a waste of money. If you're interested, give it a try. I highly recommend it　

ALTRA MONT BLANC CARBON Men's US9.5 (27.5cm) WHITE: CORAL

created by Rinker

Altra

¥34,980 (as of 2026/02/07 10:33:09, according to Amazon - details)

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For more information and to purchase the ALTRA "MONT BLANC CARBON" and "Correct Toes"

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Chitose Saito

A former editor of a monthly camera magazine, he became immersed in the outdoor lifestyle of campervans and car camping while pursuing Hokkaido's spectacular scenery and wildlife. He is currently a photographer and writer who travels all over Hokkaido with his wife and two-year-old son, capturing and writing about everything he experiences, from cameras and lenses to outdoor activities, camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and even dieting. For OUTDOOR GEARZINE, he plans to write a variety of articles, primarily for the "QOCL (Quality of camping life) Improvement Committee," which aims to improve the quality of life while camping and in a campervan

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