Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Review

Carbon everything has been cool for a long time. Sometimes it’s gimmicky and other times it’s worthy of a double-tap or two. The Altra Mont Blanc Carbon trail running shoes are built around a Carbitex™ MonoFlex rock plate at their core and, let me tell you, it’s amazing stuff. The entire package has been incredible from day one. Now, after hundreds of miles under their belt, are they worth it?

Altra Mont Blanc Carbon Features:

• Altra’s speediest trail runner to date
• Lightweight, breathable mesh uppers
• Altra EGO™ MAX (rim) & Altra EGO™ PRO (core) midsoles
• Carbitex MonoFlex rock plate for protection and propulsion
• Vibram® Megagrip outsoles with Litebase
• 29mm stack height
• Weight: 10.5 oz. (each, 11.5 actual)
• MSRP: $260

Carbon + Altra + Trails = Speed

I’m no stranger to Altra’s Zero Drop and Roomy Toe Box shoe design. I’ve had a front-row seat in their meteoric rise and continue growth in the competitive running shoe space. Since they were founded in my backyard, I also have a sense of pride in all the success. No high-end running shoes are cheap, and you have to pay for all that innovation at some point. But, these are pushing the limits of mass adoption at $260. If these are on your list, you’re going to want to know that it’s worth that kind of coin and I’ll do my best to outlay everything as I’ve experienced them.

Throughout my test period, I’ve primarily used these for trail running and added some fast hiking into the mix. Most of the miles have also been in my backyard here in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, but I did spend a week in the Seattle area where I was able to test them on loamy, fast and smooth dirt. (If that’s your typical terrain, I’m only a little jealous.)

The Mont Blanc Carbon’s were sent to me from the Carbitex team and they included the actual plate to play around with and see how it works. I don’t often get the guts of a shoe as a separate test piece, but having it in-hand tells the whole story. This plate only flexes one direction, so that faces upward, cradling your feet. It simply doesn’t flex the other way, so that provides the protection underfoot from intruding rocks and trail scree. The directional fibers are the star of the show and it’s really quite remarkable in-hand. And, on the trail, it’s even more remarkable. Check out the video above.

Carbon bits in trail shoes are usually meant for speed and responsiveness, while also (potentially) dropping a few grams. The outcome with Carbitex achieves all of the above and, in my experience, translates into a sublime ride on the trails.

Fast, Light and Responsive

With all the registered trademarks making up the guts of the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon, there’s no doubt that it’s made up of the best of the best in everything. But, none of that matters until you lace them up and hit the trails. It was then that I realized these shoes were different. The Carbitex plate is a thing of wonder as it magically propels me forward with each stride while providing incredible protection without losing trail feel. No doubt, the wizardry involved is something of wonder. It’s simply mind-blowing.

Each step is met with excellent traction and forward motion. Compared to the Altra Timp 5 BOA, these are clearly made for speed. Everything about the Mont Blanc Carbon is made to take you from start to finish as efficiently and swiftly as possible. I’m not getting any younger and my pace isn’t as swift as it once was, but with these shoes, I’ve actually hit some PR’s. I’m in great shape, but it is incredible just how light, fast and responsive these feel.

The combination of Altra EGO midsole materials is superb. Each step is cushioned and then met with forward propulsion. With a 29mm stack height, these are plenty comfortable on hardpack, technical rocks and tacky loam. I appreciate the smooth and consistent feel from heel-to-toe and can attest to the overall smoothness these provide. I’d be hard-pressed for find another shoe that feels as natural and smooth as the Mont Blanc Carbon — it’s that good. Oh yeah, and that wide toe box is without question, part of this as my toes can splay out for the most powerful toe-off available.

Breathability has been outstanding. These mesh uppers allow airflow and moisture to escape. No doubt, the Mont Blanc Carbon is the first shoe I’d grab for a long summer training run.

The Vibram Megagrip outsoles do provide excellent traction across. all terrain. They can get a little overwhelmed in loose, dry rocks, but that’s to be expected. Lateral stability is great when traversing off-camber terrain. I will say that the soft rubber does have a downside though and its durability when used on road approaches. I do wish the rubber was more durable, but the soft nature of it is part of the magic sauce.

My biggest (and really only real gripe) frustration with these is the thin tongue that tends to get pulled sideways. If you look closely on each photo, the tongue is off-canter. When it does this, the uppermost lacing will dig into the top of my foot. I’ve learned to not cinch these down much and also wear a touch thicker sock (like the Jogology Medium Cushion). I do prefer thinner socks (like the Voltage KOM Mid), but found that if I didn’t lace them up properly, they would dig into the top of my feet. If Altra could add a little more padding or solve the tongue creep, I’d be happier. And, with a little extra room, they still remained responsive and capable uphill, downhill and on tricky terrain.

Outside of that, I love the laces. They are built with micro-ribs that act as teeth with each knot to secure it in place. Whoever sourced these laces deserves a high-five. While I’m talking about the uppers, the cuff and tongue do also allow a little more scree entry than I’d like. Luckily, Altra does make a trail gaiter for these shoes.

Something else worth noting… running in zero-drop shoes does often take a little getting used to. The first run or two, your body may gripe a little, but just keep pushing through. By the 2nd or 3rd run, it’s usually all good. Give it some time and your results may vary. In the end, I really dig zero drop shoes and wearing traditional drop shoes now often feel like wearing high heels.

Fit: I have low arches and a regular-width forefoot and have been perfectly-happy in the size 11.5’s (my normal Altra size). 

Buy Now: Visit AltraRunning.com