Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX Review: Trail Runner Comfort Meets Backpacking Boot Support

At a glance

Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX

Construction

This is a thoughtfully designed crossover boot. It features Altra's roomiest toe box, protective toe cap, full leather upper, and a Goretex membrane to make it waterproof. The outsole is Vibram Megagrip, which is a fairly soft and tacky compound. Many of my trail runners (see my review of the Arc'teryx Sylan) use Megagrip and I have come to love it. I'm also seeing it more on hiking and backpacking boots, though oftentimes boots use a firmer compound for durability under load. I'm happy to sacrifice some longterm durability for grip and performance.

The stack height on the Altra Olypmus 6 Hike Mid GTX is the same as the Olympus 6 running shoe, a massive 33mm. This is to maximize all day comfort (which it does in spades). 

The Gore-Tex membrane paired with a leather upper kept my feet bone dry across multiple creek crossings during testing. Breathability was equally impressive—after a 7.5-hour day, my socks were dry and my feet never overheated. The leather shows almost no wear after three days of scree-bashing; one rinse and they look nearly new.

Here is some good information from Altra on their toe box fit and zero drop philosophy.

Fit

I own two pair of Altra trail runners in U.S. size 10.5 and both fit great. Reading through Altra's website it seemed that the Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX fits true to size, or even a little small based on comments. I decided to stick with size 10.5, but actually found them to be too big. There was a huge amount of room at the front of the shoe. I love Altra's original wide toe box, but the space I had in the 10.5 was beyond that. I ended up exchanging for a 10, which fits me great. I'm not sure if the folks who found the boot to fit small had an older model, but I need to size down a half size on these. I also tried on the Altra Lone Peak 9 Mid, which fit true to my 10.5. 

The full size guide on Altra's website is super helpful.

First Impressions

On foot, my size 10 Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX feels closer to a trail runner than a clunky boot. The toe box is Altra’s Original FootShape Fit, which is their roomiest. I'm glad to see Altra still uses this fit on some models, as they've moved away from it for many. The wide toe and zero-drop are what got me into Altras in the first place and I still reach for my old Timp 2 and Torin 4.5 shoes often. These boots feel really light on my feet, so much so that I had to weigh them to double check the specs. My men's size 10 weighs just over 16 oz per shoe with laces, slightly less than the advertised weight of 18 oz. Comparing this to other boots, the Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX is 5-7 oz lighter than traditional backpacking boots, but there are a number of competitors in this weight class.

The fit isn't perfect for me, though. If you’ve read any of my other footwear reviews you know that my feet over pronate. Some shoes provide support to specifically limit pronation, while others seem to make it worse. I have noticeable ankle-drop in these boots. My first impression trying them on was that they are super comfortable, but the heel on both boots drops to the inside on each step. While I’ve learned that it not necessary to completely “correct” my pronation, I generally dislike shoes that drop to the inside and magnify over-pronation. For me, these boots are close to my limit when it comes to ankle drop. The cushion underfoot and large toe box are so great though I decided to overlook the ankle drop and thoroughly test these. Ultimately, I'm glad I did.

Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX Performance

I picked up these boots just days before a high-alpine backpacking trip, which I knew was a questionable decision. My typical protocol is to break footwear in for at least 5 hours on trail (through multiple short hikes) before using them extensively. I didn't have that luxury on this trip and it may have lead to unneeded hotspots, which I'll get to below. 

Our route was a 3-day / 2-night through-hike in the Collegiate Peak Wilderness; a high-alpine adventure never below 9500' in altitude with most of it above 11,000'. As I was leading a group of six others, I carried extra food, water, and supplies resulting a 40 lb pack. The terrain was as rocky and steep as anywhere I've been. Perfect conditions to test the stability and comfort of a trail-running inspired crossover boot like the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX.

The max cushioning and 33 mm stack height shine under load. Over three days with a 40-lb pack, my feet stayed fresh with almost no soreness—something that rarely happens for me in boots. The zero-drop platform feels stable and provides a natural stride if you’re accustomed to low-offset shoes. Stability is good for such a tall, cushioned boot—the wide base and strong midsole sidewalls counteract any stack height wobble. 

Altra’s Original FootShape Fit gives the toes unrestricted splay without creating downhill slide. Even on steep descents I didn’t jam into the front, which is rare in roomy boots. If you’ve struggled with narrow toe boxes, the Olympus 6 is a revelation.

The Vibram® Megagrip outsole is phenomenal, delivering tacky, lively grip on wet rock, loose descents, and alpine talus. On the descent of 14,199’ Mount Belford, I even ran short bursts downhill; while it’s no trail runner, it moved surprisingly fast for a boot.

My pain points

The mid-cut design is soft and flexible, great for agility, but the lace lock binding lacks padding. After multiple long days, I developed a bruised feeling just below my ankle bones on both feet. I suspect this comes from the narrow tongue (which does not wrap behind the collar) combined with firm binding where the lace passes through a webbing loop at the crux of the ankle (see image below). I prefer low-cushion socks, which possibly aggravated the issue. I have this problem every season with my ski boots even though they are fully broken in and I expect this discomfort will disappear as I continue to use the Altra Olympus 6 Hike. The pain started on the morning of day two when I put on my boots, but it didn’t actually bother me while on the trail. It seems like there should be a touch of padding behind this section of upper.

The other issue I experienced was hot spots on the inside of each heel by the end of the second day. This confirms my perception that these boots drop my heel to the inside more than I like. This is related to my over-pronation and somewhat a personal issue. Now that these boots have been beat up over 22 miles, I'll let me feet recover and continue testing to see if this issue also goes away with proper break in. I didn't develop blisters, but I think I would have had my trip been longer.

Final thoughts

The Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX represents a performance evolution in hiking boots. As a trail runner, I much prefer this style footwear to a stiff and burly traditional boot. Now if I was looking for true mountaineering performance, the Olympus 6 Hike won't cut it. That said, these are super stable and supportive under load. They're spot on for day hikes, backpacking, and through-hiking. The durable upper, waterproof performance, and high stack height ensure performance for even the longest days on trail. I'm hoping that my pain points go away once the boots break in more, because I love the trail feel and performance of these boots.

Common Questions

Is the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX good for backpacking with a heavy pack?

Yes, I carried a 40-lb backpack for 22 miles over rugged alpine terrain, and the max cushioning + Vibram Megagrip outsole made the Olympus 6 one of the most comfortable backpacking boots I’ve tested. They provide stability and protection while still feeling lighter than traditional backpacking boots.

How does the zero-drop design affect hiking performance?

The zero-drop platform promotes a natural stride and feels stable underfoot, especially for hikers already accustomed to Altra’s running shoes like the Timp or Torin. However, hikers who overpronate may notice more ankle drop to the inside, which can lead to hotspots or heel discomfort. An aftermarket insole can help.

Are the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX waterproof and breathable?

Yes. The Gore-Tex membrane and leather upper kept my feet dry through creek crossings and wet alpine conditions. Despite being waterproof, they also breathe well—I hiked 7.5 hours in them without sweaty socks or overheating.

How does the Altra Olympus 6 compare to traditional hiking boots?

The Olympus 6 feels closer to a trail runner than a clunky hiking boot. It’s lighter, more cushioned, and more flexible than traditional boots, but still tough enough for backpacking. If you’re used to stiff boots like the Salomon Quest or Scarpa Kailash, the Olympus 6 will feel much softer and more agile.

Are these hiking boots good for wide feet?

Absolutely. The Olympus 6 uses Altra’s Original FootShape Fit, their roomiest toebox. It allows for natural toe splay and prevents toe bang on descents, making it one of the best wide toe box waterproof hiking boots available.

Are the Altra Olympus 6 Hike Mid GTX good for thru-hiking?

Yes—with some caveats. The cushioning, wide toe box, and Vibram outsole make them thru-hiker friendly, especially for those carrying lighter packs or wanting comfort over stiffness. However, thru-hikers prone to overpronation should test them first, as the ankle drop may not work for everyone.