ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX Review: The hiking shoes combine overwhelming shock absorption and high degree of trajectory comfort, making them feel comfortable in the mountains and in the city [Practical Review]

ALTRA, popular among trail runners and hikers, has updated the classic hiking shoe "OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX" with an updated autumn.

With the thickest and toughest body of Altra's hiking lineup, this model is the perfect model for me, who tends to go on long, rough terrain routes, and is a model I've always wanted to try. I was gratefully able to try this extraordinary timing.

So this fall, I tested the shoes on several dozen kilometres of hiking and everyday use, from Tanzawa to Okuchichibu to Yatsugatake ridges several times, so I'll be bringing you impressions of the good things and things that caught my eye. In addition to the familiar charms of Altra, these hiking shoes are packed with a variety of surprises unique to these shoes, so whether you've been paying attention to them or not, please take a look.

Main features of the ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX

The updated ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX is a hiking and trekking adventure shoe that combines durability and comfort. The upper is made of a durable leather upper. It also features a GORE-TEX Invisible Fit lining, providing a high fit that is unprecedented for waterproof shoes. The midsole, which has a high stack height of 33 mm, combines cushioning and rebound properties, allows for easy movements even on long hikes. The outsole, which is equipped with the highly reliable Vibram Megagrip, also has a wide contact area, providing outstanding grip and traction on both wet and dry surfaces. The spacious toes allow you to move freely, and the zero-drop walking sensation that is close to the natural walking of a human, will help you relieve your foot fatigue 24/7, from tough hiking routes to long daily standing work.

Incidentally, in terms of spec comparison with Altra's other adventure shoe lineups (LONE PEAK ALL-WTHR and TIMP GTX series), although it is the heaviest in terms of weight, the most durable upper, the highest stack height, and the widest (original foot shape).

Recommended points

• Vibram Megagrip and large contact area make it extremely good grip and traction even in rough terrain.
• GORE-TEX Invisible Fit The lining fit and the loose last design make it irresistible to wear
• Highly luxurious cushioning, comfortable and easy to wear even on long trips
• Leather and thick rubber reinforcement for a robust upper against strong impacts and friction
• Stable waterproof and breathable permeability due to GORE-TEX

Points that interest me

• The shoelaces are short and round and thick so they can easily unravel
• I'm concerned about the weak hold around the heel, so I recommend tying a "heel lock" shoelaces (this is why the shoelaces seem short).

Main Specifications and ratings

I walked along low mountain trails and rock ridges with ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX

Comfort and easy to walk in

Those familiar with Altra shoes may not be surprised, but as soon as you put your feet in, you will be surprised at how natural and comfortable they are. It can be said to be the shape of your feet itself, and the loose, unwanted foot shape naturally fits within your shoes, providing a comfortable walking experience without hindering the movement of your fingers when you step on it. First-time users will surely fall in love with the natural, easy-to-wear feel.

the OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX uses the widest and more spacious "original foot shape" of the few subtly different foot shapes available by Altra. This is the same shape as the company's LONE PEAK and can be said to be the origin of Altra shoes. It is also wide enough to accommodate wide feet, and is comfortable and comfortable to wear without the troublesome rubbing or pressure that can cause foot problems.

GORE-TEX Invisible Fit for even better fit

The size (including Altra) is 27.0cm (US9 size), which I usually wear with other shoes (including Altra), so this time it was fine. I will admit that this seemingly quirky form has some likes and dislikes and pros and cons, but as expected, it fits well with my slightly wider foot, and when I tightened the shoelaces, the plump cushioned tongue gently snuggles the entire instep, giving me a very high fit.

Furthermore, this update uses "GORE-TEX Invisible Fit" technology in the waterproof and breathable membrane located inside the upper from this version. This allows the upper fabric to be tightly attached to the membrane, which helps to improve the fit and prevents factors that can cause injury or discomfort, such as the fabric slipping while wearing it. When you actually wear it, it is layered with waterproof and breathable fabrics like GORE-TEX, and it gives it a smooth, natural fit, just like a single piece of fabric, making it very comfortable.

A 33mm thick sole and zero drop for a comfortable ride without fatigue

The sole is 33mm thick, with zero drops from the heel to the toes, boasting the thickest stack height in the Altra Trail category, providing outstanding cushioning as you would imagine. Moreover, if it's just thick, it tends to give you a fluffy and unstable feeling, but the compression molded EVA foam used in this shoe retains a minimum hardness, leaving moderate rigidity, and as long as you walk, it doesn't give you a "thick sole" feeling in that bad way.

Furthermore, when I looked at the three-dimensional structure of the sole, it has a trapezoidal shape that widens as you go along with the sole, making it difficult for force to escape sideways when landing (= less likely to cause landing to shake) (photo below).

The soles of the shoes form a subtle curve from the toes to the heels, and combined with the cushioning, it gives you the feeling that your feet naturally move forward when walking, supporting light steps (photo below).

The 5 has a "GAITER TRAP" that was not installed on the front and rear of the upper, allowing you to attach a gaiter to your gaiter smartly, allowing you to attach it to a compatible gaiter.

Protection and durability

One of the even bigger attractions of the OLYMPUS HIKE series is its overwhelming protection, resistant to tough terrain.

The upper is made of thick enough leather on the front and sides, and reinforced with generous elastic caps on the toes, providing outstanding protection compared to the running model OLYMPUS and other lineups (photo below).

This more than adequately robust upper showed great ability when walking through rocky ridges and bushes. I realized that I didn't need to worry at all, whether I let my guard down and smashed against the rock, rubbed, the roots of the tree or the tip of the pole pierced, my shoes or feet wouldn't hurt. Its strength is higher than most lightweight hiking shoes I've worn so far, and it's something I can recommend to anyone as an off-road shoe.

However, although there is no doubt that the body is strong enough, I would like to point out that in terms of durability, the EVA foam on the side that forms the sole is easily scratched, and the slightly exposed inner side of the toe was slightly worn out. I don't think the damage will spread significantly from this part, but you need to be careful as it is too overconfident.

Traction and grip

I had expected a certain degree of comfort with the high cushioning and protection with the leather upper, but what was completely unexpectedly impressed me this time was the high traction and grip of the shoe. It may be the most difficult to slip hiking shoes in the past.

The rubber used in the outsole is a stable Vibram Megagrip outsole that is recognized by everyone, from wet rocks and roads to muddy. That said, it is a hybrid with a soft foam placed on the midfoot, not the Megagrip. I was a bit worried about this before I put it on, but in conclusion I didn't need to worry at all.

When I put them on, they showed amazing grip everywhere, not only on dry soil and gravel trails, but also rocks and scuffs, and tree roots, muddy mud, wet rocks, and snow and frost. It appears that the deep groove lug patterns like off-road tires and ground contact surfaces, which are shaped considerably wider than the size of the foot, further boosting the strength of the Megagrip.

During the test, I was hit with the slopes quite close, but I was surprised to see that the soles of my feet were hooked firmly on the terrain that would have been thought to be "I wonder if it would slip?" Its high level of trajectory is overwhelming, allowing you to step in with peace of mind, even in any terrain.

Stability and support

With Altra's widest "original foot-shape" platform, a moderately hard, high stack-height midsole, and a zero-drop design that brings you closer to natural walking, the OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX fits against a wide range of foot shapes, and allows for comfortable walking without worrying about gradual low mountain hikes. Even though I tend to twist my ankles easily, I don't have to worry.

However, its moderate roominess and flexible fit made me feel a little worried about strong loads such as steep slopes, too fast speeds, and too heavy loads. If you try to hold your heart out against the strong gravity, you will be concerned that your feet are easy to move inside your shoes (to a point that doesn't really matter). The heel cup in particular felt shallow, and I was concerned that when I tightened my shoelaces in the same way as usual, my heels were floating.

So I'm trying to tighten the shoelaces as tightly as possible, but what caught my eye was the round shoelaces. Unlike other Altra shoes, they use more durable round, thick shoelaces, which are difficult to tighten and easily loosen.

If you are concerned about the heel hold like you do with these shoes, we recommend tying them in a way that makes it easier to secure the heel than a "heel lock" (photo below). However, this shoelaces were not long enough, which made me struggle once again. You might want to change the shoelaces to a sufficient length.

*When you google how to tie with a heel lock, you will find various explanations .

When I tied the shoelaces firmly with a heel lock, they were quite fixed, making it difficult for my feet to move even under heavy loads. If you find someone who feels the same way or has a little more room for the fit, why not give it a try? The anxiety I felt at first almost disappeared, and the stability when landing is completely different.

Summary: The three key points of comfort, durability, and non-slip feel are as if you're wearing a tank on your feet.

●Campaign eligible products Men's Olympus 6 Hike Low Gore-Tex OLYMPUS HIKE LOW GTX M [ALTRA] Waterproof Hiking Mountaineering Shoes Thick Sole *Size exchange free one-way

created by Rinker

¥36,300 (as of 16 April 2025, 19:28:02, Rakuten Market research - Details)

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When it comes to durable and robust shoes, shoes tend to be hard and heavy...but the OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX has completely overturned that common sense. It has a comfortable fit and natural walking experience, is soft, yet strong, non-slip and not heavy. In a sense, it was quite good in that while taking advantage of the good points of lightweight hiking shoes and mountaineering boots, they were finished in a balanced way without any quirks and could be taken over any route. If you wear it on hiking at normal walking speeds, long trails with light luggage, or through hiking, it will reduce foot problems and fatigue to the fullest. The side benefit of this is easy to wear as everyday wear, and I would definitely recommend it to people who work long hours of walking or standing.

Regarding the points that the feet are difficult to settle against strong loads, which we mentioned in the main text, can be a little unpleasant if you develop the way you tie your laces and get used to walking with zero drops, so this point doesn't seem to be a major issue (depending on the shape of each foot). By the way, I have replaced my shoelaces with longer, less slippery items, and this is because these shoes have the overall appeal of being a shoe that makes you want to wear them that much.

In addition, for those who want to improve stability and protection rather than lightness, a "mid-cut model" is available. If you choose that, you'll be fine.

Please try rediscovering the joy of walking with the ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX, which offers excellent protection, traction, and a gentle ride that you wouldn't imagine from its toughness

Details and purchase of "ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE LOW GTX"

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