The Altra Mont Blanc Carbon. All photos: iRunFar/Molly Schmelzle
The Altra Mont Blanc Carbon ($260) is a race-ready trail shoe. Full stop. I have never written or said that about any of Altra’s trail running shoes, despite my appreciation and respect for the brand. Altra’s trail line-up has always been more of a training foundation — a shoe to flex the foot muscles and to enjoy zero-drop running with some bold responsiveness and superb underfoot adventures. The brand also made a recent venture into low-drop shoes, including the Altra Experience Wild.
I have always been a fan of the Altra Lone Peak for its flexibility, versatility, and inviting Altra EGO midsole, but it doesn’t have that savoir faire for speed and race performance. For the first time ever, I am excited to stand on a dirt starting line with a pair of Altras. I had hopes of doing that with the Altra Mont Blanc BOA, but as many readers have certainly read or experienced, the heel fit wasn’t “dialed” in for that version or for its predecessor.
With the Carbon, the Altra Mont Blanc has truly arrived, and it looks and rides fresh and fast, and it is damn good-looking. As expected, it has zero drop with a stack height measured at 29 millimeters, both heel and toe. If you are ready to race and train hard, the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon serves up great and swift experiences. It is currently available for $260 — is it worth it?
The rave review isn’t just about the carbon — a full-length Carbitex Monoflex carbon plate — but the whole composition. The carbon plate is something, but it isn’t everything herein. The key to the overall running experience is the lightness of the shoe — with a claimed weight of 10.9 ounces (309 grams) for a U.S. men’s 10.5, an upgraded midsole, and a comparatively more secure fit heel to toe. Although there is still nuanced room for improvement. It is no secret that I prefer low drop, low stack, and rigid to mid-ranged cushioned running shoes, but the slip-on comfort and cushion of the Mont Blanc Carbon is exquisite.
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Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Upper
A lateral view of the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon.
Wearing a great looking shoe is one thing but having that shoe performs well is another. You get to eat your cake too with the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon. Also, other runners will be in awe as you cruise by — it has happened. Compared to the Mont Blanc BOA — the color scheme and material design are similar — the new Carbon version rides a narrower last with a more standard fitting toebox. This is certainly relevant for the outsole and ride, but seems pertinent to the structure and fit of the upper as well. Keep in mind the shoe was built to be a racer and speedy across technical terrain.
Overall, the upper hugs the foot comfortably with a secure midfoot lockdown. The toebox is narrower, but still retains room for natural toe splay. The soft breathable material still allows for toe movement in all directions. The latest iteration includes a bigger pillow heel collar; however, the heel could be improved further with the addition of shark-skin-like material that creates friction with socks to reduce slippage and to facilitate heel security. I have tested a lot of winter and mud trail running shoes that integrate this design feature smartly. It would help the Carbon’s heel fit immensely. Even though it wasn’t a major concern on my runs, it was noticeable.
The forefoot ripstop material is pliable and fortified with a TPU toe bumper — generally, a welcomed addition. The medial and lateral sides are supported with inlays that still allow for breathability. There is a stitched and welded overlay separating the forefoot from the rearfoot, delineating not only a design feature but the addition of integrity, structure, and protection to the mid and rear foot. The back half has a stiffer translucent ripstop mesh material, also providing stability.
The tongue is semi-gusseted and stays in place. I applaud the flat lace cords and how they loop through stiff reflective material — simple, but elegant. Additional reflective material is placed on the toe bumper and on the gaiter attachment — something I never use, but it is there for those who need it. The laces are generally too long, and the heel pull tab seems pointless coming from someone who likes a solid heel tab.
Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Midsole
A medial view of the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon.
Midsole mastery. Midsole magic. A midsole movement. However it’s spun, the point is that the underfoot feel, performance, and technology is a major cause for celebration with the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon. The shoe’s designers engineered their proprietary Ego Max and Ego Pro, respectively, as a foam rim and powerful foam core integrated with a full-length Carbitex Monoflex carbon plate, to excel on the dirt, to feel good underfoot, and to inspire fast running. There is a motivating je na sais quoi feel when the feet touch down on the Altra Ego midsole, something I experience with Altra’s road shoes as well.
It sends a vibe from the feet to the brain that it is time to move — meanwhile the carbon plate is there to flex and propel subtly. Indeed, the carbon plate keeps the shoe light and fast, but it also felt like a rock plate in certain circumstances, especially on super technical terrain or when moving at slower paces. The plate is more effective at race pace or when charging hard on singletrack trails.
If a runner is interested in experimenting with carbon-plated trail running shoes, and they can safely run in zero-drop shoes, the Mont Blanc Carbons are a safe and low-risk option. The comfort and cushion are in the foam, while a minimal rocker platform and plate keep the experience to a nimble and subtle flex-forward fun.
Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Outsole
The outsole of the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon.
The Altra Mont Blanc Carbon boasts a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, although with more rubber coverage than its predecessor, the Altra Mont Blanc BOA. The base is smaller, with less overall ground contact points, but offers more rubber to trail. The midsole flex runs up the center with some lateral flex points and into the forefoot.
The lugs are shallow, numerous, and chevron-shaped for quicker turnover. It isn’t overly aggressive but can still perform. Vibram Megagrip has been tested and cheered across many brands and trail running shoes. It is a reliable and superior outsole material, and highly recommended across the spectrum of trail runners. To maintain the featherweight feel and race quality of the shoe, the Lightbase addition keeps weight low without sacrificing grip and durability.
Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Overall Impressions
A top view of the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon.
Now that the general testing is over, I will set aside the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon for specific runs and certain trail races — 50k and below. This shoe performs and rides its best when moving at or close to race speeds. I felt the carbon plate propel me forward with confidence on singletrack trail — up and down — and while running up dirt roads. I could feel the slight flex and push underfoot, although subtly. Running downhill on open dirt roads seemed to throw off my gait, which is something I need to fine tune moving forward. The Mont Blanc Carbon is more at home on dirt singletrack, while running on pavement seemed to be mechanically inefficient and sub-optimal.
I stated it above and I’ll state again it here — the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon offers more than the carbon plate. It is a complete shoe. It is a race shoe, not an off-trail jeep like the Mont Blanc BOA, but a shoe built for trail speed on moderate terrain and in moderate weather conditions. The midsole comforts, protects, absorbs, and rebounds in unison with the Vibram Megagrip outsole that keeps confidence high. At slower speeds and on more technical and varied terrain, the carbon plate feels like a flexible rock plate — keen protection when needed.
The Mont Blanc Carbon’s design and underfoot construction are impressive and important to the totality of the experience. There is a lot to weigh when it comes to investing in trail running shoes these days. Road runners commonly have their carbon-plated shoes set aside for race day. Should you too, for the trails?
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