If you’re in the market for a new pair of trail running shoes this spring, and you’re looking for something lightweight and very comfortable, I have a suggestion for you. The new King MT from Altra pairs the company’s trademark natural fit with a flashy new design and a grippy sole, to deliver an excellent new option for runners. Provided you don’t mind a minimalistic approach to cushioning.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Altra’s products. In the past, I’ve tested the company’s Superior 2.0, Lone Peak 3.0, and the innovative StashJack jacket, which has become a mainstay on spring runs. In each case, I came away impressed with the durability, quality, and design of each of those items, and in the case of the footwear, the fit and comfort level as well. Altra uses a more natural foot shape when developing their shoes, and as a result they feel much better on my feet. This translates to enjoying my workouts a lot more, as I stay much more comfortable over extended distances.
I am happy to say that the King MT holds true to form and feels fantastic on my feet too. The wider toe box on the front of shoe provides my toes with the space they need to splay out and move naturally while running. This helps maintain better footing when moving across uneven terrain and allows me to move more agilely as well. This leads to a great sense of confidence on the trail, allowing me to move faster too.
The King MT comes with a Vibram MegaGrip outsole that holds its traction nicely on a wide variety of surfaces. Add some 6mm lugs mix as well and you really have a shoe that was made for running in what would otherwise be awful conditions. I’ve taken these shoes on snow, mud, and silt and have been impressed with how secure I feel on all of those surfaces. The last thing you need out of a trail running shoe is a sole that won’t grip the ground properly. You have nothing to worry about in that regard with the King MT.
Other nice features of these shoes include a wrap around rock plate and a synthetic upper, which protect the feet while out on the trail. The Altra EGO midsole helps to maintain that protection, while also keeping the shoe light and responsive too. The lacing system also includes a Velcro strap that helps to dial in a nice fit, and comes in handy for keeping the laces tied, especially when things get wet and sloppy. That has always been a pet-peeve of mine, but Altra solves it nicely with this shoe.
In terms of weight, the Altra King MT tips the scales at 10.2 ounces (28g), which makes them fairly light, but they don’t quite fall into the minimalist category. Personally, I love that these shoes are comfortable without being bulky, although I wouldn’t have minded a bit more cushioning for my longer runs. Altra rates these as a lightly cushioned shoe, and there were times where that was evident. As a larger runner, my legs sometimes take a pounding when I’m stretching the distances out, although on shorter runs (read: 6-8 miles) it wasn’t as much of a concern. Still, this would be an almost perfect running shoe for me if it just had a bit more shock absorption.
As it stands, these are still an amazing pair of running shoes, and if you’re not quite as bulky as I am (6’3″/200lbs), you’ll probably find the level of cushioning is more to your liking. In terms of comfort, fit, traction, and design, the King MT delivers on all levels. And priced at $140, they’re quite a bargain compared to some other trail running shoes on the market. If you need a lightweight option for your spring running, this is a shoe to have on your radar for sure.
Find out more at altrarunning.com.
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Thanks for the recommendation! I am in the market for a pair of trail running shoes and think I may give these a shot. I run a ton but it is almost always comprises of road running. I hit a hard trail last weekend and wiped out running in Nike Frees. Rookie move. It was still a great run though. – Chris (DC)