Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX review

Don't miss out on the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX if you are after the following:

• a max-cushioned, comfort-loaded, chunky hiking shoe for long hikes and thru-hikes
• a wide-fitting shoe with a large foot-shaped toebox that welcomes wide feet
• a low-drop (almost zero-drop) setup that puts the heel and forefoot at the same level

The burly design of this Altra shoe can easily make it overkill for someone going on a shorter and lighter hike in summer. In this case, we recommend the airier and more nimble Olympus 6 trail running shoe as an alternative.

And if you like the idea of highly cushioned and comfortable hiking shoes but don't think that Altra's signature zero-drop and Original FootShape fit are right for you, have a look at the HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX or the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 Low GTX. Both are cheaper options too. 

The Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX is positioned as Altra's max-cushioned offering.

And while we could never complain about the shoe's lack of cushioning, our calliper showed that its heel stack is merely average at 31.0 mm! Not even among the thickest hiking shoes we've tested (think HOKA). It also turned out to be 2 mm less than the officially stated 33 mm.

But on the bright side, the shoe still has a good amount of shock absorption for someone who prioritises comfort in their outdoor shoes, goes on all-day adventures or even thru-hikes, and wants to feel protected from the trail debris without feeling completely disconnected.

But what is it that makes the Olympus 6 Hike so supremely cushioned even with an average heel stack? Its ultra-thick forefoot stack, of course!

Expanding our calliper by as much as 29.5 mm, the shoe's forefoot platform proved to be significantly thicker than the category average. It offers a tonne of impact protection for the toe joints and the ball of the foot reducing the load and fatigue in this area.

Our only gripe here is that our measurement doesn't align with the promised 33 mm which alters the shoe's actual heel-to-drop...

Instead of the promised zero drop (0 mm), this Altra shoe turned out to have a 1.5 mm difference between the heel and the forefoot stacks.

But the good news is that the difference is not as dramatic and if you are new to the zero-drop setup, you might not even notice it. In our experience, the shoe kept our heels and toes in a straight line at an equal distance from the ground, just like a zero-drop shoe would.

However, the more important question is whether a zero-drop shoe is right for you in the first place.

There are many good reasons why people look for this shoe design including improved posture and better spine alignment. But if you have limited Achilles and ankle mobility, Achilles pain, or any other limitations, a zero-drop shoe will only make matters worse and you should opt for hiking shoes with a more traditional drop (8-12 mm).

We found the shoe's soft midsole cushioning to be the primary source of comfort in the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX.

Pressing our Shore A durometer against its compression-moulded EVA foam returned a pretty low reading of 22.5 HA which puts this Altra shoe closer to the plush side of the spectrum. What's more, it proved to be 20% softer than the average hiking shoe midsole.

We highly appreciated the shoe's moderate squish for reducing the strain on hard-packed trails, longer hikes, and when walking around town.

However, there is one caveat that could make the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX less enjoyable in the coldest months...And it's the fact that its CMEVA foam gets notably denser in low temperatures.

Having kept this Altra shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and discovered that the material went from balanced-soft to balanced-firm at 29.0 HA. That's a 29% increase in firmness.

So it will take some warming up and breaking in before the foam gets back to its softer condition.

The underfoot comfort of this Altra shoe wouldn't be complete without a well-padded foam insole. Measuring its thickness in the heel, our caliper returned 5.2 mm which is a nice buffer to prevent premature foot fatigue.

The toe rocker of the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX has a pretty moderate angle (compared to the Adidas Free Hiker 2.0 Low GTX for example) but it adds some smoothness and forward momentum to the ride.

Altra promises its roomiest Original FootShape Fit in the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX and we've got a one-to-one gel replica of the shoe to confirm it.

Locating the widest part of the shoe's mould between the ball of the foot and the pinkie, our calliper measured it at a whopping 99.9 mm! None of the hiking shoes we've tested so far exceed the ultra-wide dimensions of the Olympus 6. Almost 6 mm wider than the average, this shoe's internal space can finally bring peace to hikers with wide feet.

Conversely, narrow footers should steer clear of this option and most other Altra shoes for that matter. The brand prides itself in making roomy footwear with foot-shaped toeboxes which is a love-it-or-hate-it situation.

But you can truly experience the shoe's Original fit in its extra large toebox which showed another record-breaking number on our calliper.

With 80.5 mm of width in the big toe area, this Altra shoe has plenty of space to fit all five toes comfortably together with your thickest socks.

There is no lack of vertical space in this shoe either. We recorded an above-average toebox height of 31.6 mm in the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX.

So there is no need to worry about developing blisters, black toenails, or other toe-related problems.

The stout platform of the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX screams stability and promises to get you through a long hike without a single ankle roll.

It's wide, rigid, and has a high midsole topline to provide a secure side-to-to-side containment for the foot. Even though Altra positions it as a neutral shoe, we found that it offers enough support for mild overpronation as well.

The shoe's strong torsional resistance was impressive, particularly in the absence of an internal shank, a rock plate, or a TPU stabiliser. Assessing its stiffness on a 1-5 scale, we didn't hesitate to give it the highest 5/5 score immediately!

This amount of support paired with the shoe's soft and thick-foamed midsole makes the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX ideal for long hours of hiking.

A stiff heel counter is yet another source of support and lockdown in this Altra shoe. It helped to minimise unnecessary wobbles in the heel and ankle and kept our steps confident during the wear test.

We assessed its stiffness as 4/5 because the heel collar has a little give to move along with the ankle during steep ascents and descents. You don't want an overly stiff collar to dig into your Achilles after all.

If you want as much contact area with the ground as humanly possible in a hiking shoe, the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX must be on your radar.

The shoe goes head-to-head with chunky HOKA models competing for the title of the widest platform in an outdoor shoe. Measuring its midsole width in the widest area of the forefoot, our calliper recorded one of the largest readings in the category - 117.2 mm.

Altra does not hesitate to take up space in the heel area either. At 101.3 mm in the widest part, it showed one of the widest calliper measurements in our lab.

This massive platform is excellent for shuttling a heavy pack over moderate terrain as it helps to prevent foot rolling and encourages better weight distribution. But on the flip side, it can be a nightmare on rock-heavy technical terrain as it will keep catching rock edges and making your steps feel clumsy.

With some of the highest forefoot stacks in the category, you can't expect much pliability from the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX. In fact, it proved to be some of the stiffest shoes in our lab needing as much as 25.4N to bend by 30 degrees.

And while it hindered our proprioception on rocky and debris-laden patches, the shoe felt like a cushioned and supportive tank on relatively even terrain.

Packing so much material in its platform, we were surprised that the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX is only an ounce heavier than average.

Tipping the scale at 14.4 oz (408g), it's comparable to most other max-cushioned hiking shoes like the HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX.

The Olympus 6 Hike is only available in a waterproof GTX version which means that breathability is practically non-existent here. The shoe's solid leather upper features no air channels to keep the ventilation going either.

That's why you can't see even a tiny billow of smoke passing through the toebox in our test below. That's a clear 1/5 for breathability.

The indentations you see throughout the shoe's upper are merely decorative - they showed no secret ventilation pores upon closer examination through a microscope.

But on the bright side, this Altra shoe doesn't let your foot suffocate thanks to a perforated insole. These holes allow for some internal airflow to keep going.

The Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane bonds directly with the shoe's upper materials which is what makes it invisible but no less effective than the standard GTX. Together with the nubuck leather upper, it shields the foot from puddles, wet grass, rain, and splashes, among other wet scenarios.

But be careful with the shoe's low collar height - it makes the flood level quite low and once the water is inside, it takes forever to dry out.

Altra was not kidding when they wrote "leather designed for durability" in the shoe's product description.

Taking the material through its paces in our highly abrasive Dremel test resulted in nothing but a minor scuff! And because of that, we confidently raised the shoe's toebox durability score to 4/5.

Reinforced with a large protective rand, the Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX is ready for bumping into roots, slashing against rocks, and scraping some sharp vegetation.

Unfortunately, the shoe's inner mesh cannot boast the same wear resistance as its exterior leather.

It took just a couple of seconds to tear up the shoe's collar fabric with a Dremel. This convinced us to lower the heel padding durability score to only 2/5.

This is especially concerning given the shoe's price point and the fact that its waterproofing membrane is blended with the fabric lining!

On the other hand, the shoe's Vibram rubber outsole keeps standing strong.

We are happy to report that even after 18 seconds of drilling it with sandpaper at a 10K RPM speed, the dent in the rubber was merely 0.5 mm deep! That's a very reassuring result compared to the category average.

The shoe didn't sustain any serious tread loss either proving that its gripping capacity is here to stay as well.

Measuring the outsole layer without lug depth returned a standard reading of 2.5 mm. This means a good amount of rubber to protect the bottom of the shoe in the long run.

The Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX features a renowned Megagrip outsole design from Vibram. It is a general-purpose hiking outsole with a moderate lug depth of 3.2 mm in this Altra shoe.

Not too toothy, we found this treading to be most effective on light and moderate terrain, both dry and wet. However, we wouldn't recommend stepping into muddy and bog-like areas with this shoe.

The Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX offers a whole package of benefits but it carries a pretty high asking price in return. Is it worth it though?

In our opinion, yes, because we found that the shoe's slightly cheaper competition turned out to fall short of at least one feature that the Olympus 6 Hike boasts. Be it weaker durability, heavier weight, tighter fit, or less stability - each cheaper alternative comes with some sort of compromise.

This Altra shoe is only meant to be seen in the light of day as there are no reflective elements in its construction.

As a comfort-first design, the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX doesn't skimp on internal padding. It showed a massive tongue thickness of 15.0 mm on our calliper and just about as much in the heel collar.

All this internal padding forms a snugger fit around the foot and ankle, minimising pressure points and hot spots and even keeping the foot slightly warmer in cold weather.

A fully gusseted tongue enhances the shoe's waterproofing features by blocking out water, slush, and snow.

The Olympus has two finger loops - one at the back and one on the tongue - to make the on-and-off action faster and easier.

The shoe's insole is removable but it could be tricky to find a good replacement given the extra wide fit of this Altra shoe. You should also be okay with losing the added airflow from its perforations.