Mont Blanc Carbon

Various Altra models. Lone peak series are pretty decent. However, for comfort for 50ks and longer, I have been using the Altra Mont Blanc Carbons. More response and better all day comfort. The Exoerience series are pretty decent, my boys run trails races those and love them.

I've run a 100 in LPs before but I switched to Timps for longer stuff and haven't looked back. They're awesome shoes and I think they're a happy balance between the ground feel of the LPs and not being too mushy. At the time I switched, I was also grateful for Vibram soles (before the 9+ came out). I've also raced in the Mont Blanc Carbons but I found the upper was uncomfortable and had a lot of give. On the downhills my feet were definitely shifting forward despite using a runners knot. I don't have this problem with Timps and I also really like the Timp BOAs. They are super comfy and it's so nice to not have to worry about shoes coming untied and being able to easily tighten or loosen them. My only fear in a 100 is that something breaks and I'm not able to tighten a shoe and it's a long ways to a drop back with another pair.

I like the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon, which is a custom (more flexible) carbon plate and offers some protection, underrated benefit! The MB Carbons are fantastic for 50k to 100M.

Sleeper shoe that is super versatile is the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon … can do it all and it’s a much snugger fit then most altras and durable … I run east coast terrain and 100k ultras in them. They have a new Mont Blanc Speed without carbon that’s a bit softer but not as propulsive…

The new on cloud ultra for training and then the pro for races … that’s probably going to be real nice… Personally I train a lot on paved paths so I wear Puma MagMax these days to protect my legs … and for trails I love love the Altra Mont Blanc Carbon because they are agile and drain well. I have done many ultras in the Mont Blanc Carbon and never any issues , I think zero drop on trail shoes is not as of a big deal…

Ive been running Altra Lone Peaks for years. I bought Altra Olympus 275 and Altra Carbon Mont Bloc. Those two shoes are game changers. The 275s are awesome. The Mont Blocs are noticeably lighter than the 275. But the 275 just feel perfect

I love my Altra Olympus 275 and the Altra Mont Blancs. The Olympus’s are heavier but great. The Mont Blanc are awesome.

The Mont Blanc’s are the “Standard” width while Lone Peak’s are “Original”. So slightly narrower but still wider than most.

Similar story having out used many pairs of the OG Xudos. I have been wearing Altra Mont Blanc Carbons but they really didn't cut it on my last mountain ultra and whilst I can tolerate zero drop I would prefer a drop. I have tried so many. I am currently waiting for the Altra Olympus with a matrix upper that come out next month and the new Xudos with vibram but I don't hold out much hope they will be any wider. Inov8 in wide is the widest shoe I have found but the foam just felt weird to me.

You’d be hard pressed to find another shoe that is faster and as wide. Best suggestion would be to get the FKT insoles from Topo for a bit more energy return and get faster ™️ Or potentially the Altra Mont Blanc speed/carbon. They’re pricy though and potentially not enough volume. They do run faster than anything Topo has atm

Sadly the Timp is too narrow for me. The Topo Pursuit 2 is on the list and I will try it as soon as I get my hands on a pair. I tried several Altras (Timp 6, Olympus 6, Mont Blanc, Olympus 275), but none was a match.

Terrain is what determines shoe.  What course?  Also this is a WILD time to consider fresh shoes. When is the race? For Rocky and technical (courses like Broken Arrow 46k in Tahoe or most of trail stuff you see in places like PA): I wear things like LaSportiva Mutants or Lycans (RIP).  Its a trade off with the slimmer last they are built on for the control in heavily rocky terrain, definitely keeping it under 50 miles for my feet in those models. For buffed out west coast trails: something like the altra mount blanc  Road component?: anything over 5 miles on road and I am going for a mixed terrain shoe or the Mount to Coast H1. Logging roads (gravel): mount to coast H1 or altra olympus with gaiters. Road: altra via olympus 2 Winter/cold water?: LaSportiva Cyclin GTx

Never understood what you people do to your shoes to make them break so fast. My 300 km Mont blancs look brand new except the rubber ligs, and the latest three pairs of Altra that I retired all have more than 1000 km on them and none of them have torn uppers. For reference my only shoes that have tore in the upper are the Torin 6 after 600 km and the Topo Cyclone after 700 km, and some Mizuno and Hoka shoes I don't remember the names of.