UPDATE: I was able to get some miles on a technical section of trail and I'll say that the Mont Blancs felt decent, and I'd trust them in a race with technical terrain. The Lone Peaks still feel a bit more stable, but unless the entire race is on questionable terrain you should be good with the Mont Blancs.
Thank you! I'm happy it didn't sound like I was bragging, I know David can easily come back and re-take the course record if he wanted to (I kind of hope he does!). It was just Matt and I's weekend and we brought our best selves for the race.
Where have you been all my life looking for shoe reviews that don't just spout the same bull all the time? This was excellent, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Haha no problem, I have a lot of fun making my videos! I'll try and keep them coming, I have my eye on some Altra Outroads and maybe some New Balance models. I may also make a "Mont Blanc vs Lone Peak" video. I know they're so completely different but having run ultras in each I think it would make a fun comparison.
Brilliant review, just what I was looking for! I’ve got a redemption full road marathon in 5 weeks, and am tossing up between buying the Vanish Carbon’s, which would be the perfect fit for the job, or the Boa’s, which would be a ‘one size fits all’ solution. I do a fair amount of gravel and off-road running and have loved my Lone Peak 6’s for that (950km later…) Do you think the Boa’s would put me at a disadvantage? For context it’s the Hobart Marathon, which includes 400m of climbing, and I’m aiming for a modest 3:30. I did it in September in the Escalante 3’s, and the shoes weren’t the reason I only did it in 4:00:15. 😬😔 Great video and incredible result in the race! Congratulations on beating the man himself 🤘💪
That's tough, I haven't tried the Vanish but those would most likely be my pick race day, even with as bit of gravel and climbing. At the end of the day the BOAs are trail shoes, and though they feel great on road I think I'd take my chances in the Vanish and push through the rougher sections. For an everyday trainer, I'd definitely go with the BOAs or just keep using the Lone Peaks. I've currently fallen back in love with my Lone Peaks and can't get enough of them lol. Thanks for the comment, and I actually was beaten by another runner 30 days after we set the record! I think I have a lot of room for improvement, so I'll be running the race again this year or the next and trying to reclaim the record.
Thanks for getting back to me mate, I appreciate the candidness of the response. It turns out the choice has already been made for me, on ‘happy wife, happy life’ financial terms, so I’m going to reprise a fresh version of the shoe I did the OG Mara in - the Escalante’s. They were my first Altra’s and loved them, once my calves adjusted to the zero drop/wide toebox philosophy. I still wear them as my everyday walking shoes, 850+ km in, holes in the soles and all 👌🤣 I’ll definitely still buy the BOA’s and the Carbons, just not right now 👍🏻 That’s hard about getting knocked off the record already lol. Next year for sure! 💪 All the best, and happy trails 😁 Cheers, Johnny 😁
I haven't run in the boas yet, but I did a 24 hour race in the standard Mont Blancs and loved them... until around 100k, when I started to feel more pressure on the top of my foot (I'm thinking the boa would alleviate that issue), and was also getting debris in the ankles fairly frequently. Did you have any issues like that? Also, for long trails, I'm a huge fan of the Olympus 4's, with even more cushion, but I still feel that security you mention typical with lower stack heights. Any experience with those, and how do you find they compare?
1) I felt some pressure on the top of my foot from the BOAs, but it was on my pinky toe where the lower BOA sat. This didn't cause any blisters, but I did have some swelling on the spot. The rest of the upper felt amazing and the BOAs had a nice secure fit. 2) I was constantly getting debris in them, but that's just the reality of every shoe when not wearing gaiters. The secure fit of the BOA prevented a lot of the debris from getting too far into the shoe, but it was still there. I did like the BOAs because I could just take off the shoe, empty out sand/dirt, and put it back on very quickly. I usually double knot my laces for trails when wearing Lone Peaks and this process takes a lot longer with laces. 3) I plan on trying out the newest Olympus and Superiors this year (both ends of the cushioning/stack height spectrum), and it's good to know you find the Olympus has more security, I'll definitely keep that in mind. There's just so many shoes to try out!
Are you strictly a zero drop runner? I typically do not run in zero drops but curious about these for trails just to stimulate shorter cadence and induced forefoot lands.
While the boa system is surely awesome, with this high price tag, I am not sure if I'd like to see it more often. Eventually every shoe needs to be replaced after around 700-800 km. Depending on your training volume and any participated events you would end up spending another 230€ every couple of months. Then I'd rather prefer the boa system with my drastically longer lasting cycling shoes.
Oh yea I definitely didn't mean seeing it replace other shoes, but thinking about it more you're probably correct in that the money companies invested into the BOA system might prevent them from updating or continuing other lines of shoes. And I'm with you, I may buy one of these pairs a year due to the price, I can't afford $200+ for a single pair constantly. 95% of my racing and trail running is spent using previous years shoes marked down to $80 and below.
UPDATE: I was able to get some miles on a technical section of trail and I'll say that the Mont Blancs felt decent, and I'd trust them in a race with technical terrain. The Lone Peaks still feel a bit more stable, but unless the entire race is on questionable terrain you should be good with the Mont Blancs.
Thank you! Wasn't sure about them, now I am. So glade to see Altra making beautiful products! GJ for your PR.
I use Lone Peaks and dread any run that traverses pavement. Good to know this one can transition. Thanks for the review!
Great job ,you had beat goggins before your first mile, much love and respect from NC,your a gentleman in your vids and don’t shame anyone.
Thank you! I'm happy it didn't sound like I was bragging, I know David can easily come back and re-take the course record if he wanted to (I kind of hope he does!). It was just Matt and I's weekend and we brought our best selves for the race.
Just what I needed to hear. Thank you 👏
Great endeing to the video too 😅
My favourite shoe
Where have you been all my life looking for shoe reviews that don't just spout the same bull all the time? This was excellent, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Haha no problem, I have a lot of fun making my videos! I'll try and keep them coming, I have my eye on some Altra Outroads and maybe some New Balance models. I may also make a "Mont Blanc vs Lone Peak" video. I know they're so completely different but having run ultras in each I think it would make a fun comparison.
agree!
Very good 👍 congratulations 🎈
Brilliant review, just what I was looking for!
I’ve got a redemption full road marathon in 5 weeks, and am tossing up between buying the Vanish Carbon’s, which would be the perfect fit for the job, or the Boa’s, which would be a ‘one size fits all’ solution. I do a fair amount of gravel and off-road running and have loved my Lone Peak 6’s for that (950km later…)
Do you think the Boa’s would put me at a disadvantage?
For context it’s the Hobart Marathon, which includes 400m of climbing, and I’m aiming for a modest 3:30. I did it in September in the Escalante 3’s, and the shoes weren’t the reason I only did it in 4:00:15. 😬😔
Great video and incredible result in the race! Congratulations on beating the man himself 🤘💪
That's tough, I haven't tried the Vanish but those would most likely be my pick race day, even with as bit of gravel and climbing. At the end of the day the BOAs are trail shoes, and though they feel great on road I think I'd take my chances in the Vanish and push through the rougher sections. For an everyday trainer, I'd definitely go with the BOAs or just keep using the Lone Peaks. I've currently fallen back in love with my Lone Peaks and can't get enough of them lol.
Thanks for the comment, and I actually was beaten by another runner 30 days after we set the record! I think I have a lot of room for improvement, so I'll be running the race again this year or the next and trying to reclaim the record.
Thanks for getting back to me mate, I appreciate the candidness of the response.
It turns out the choice has already been made for me, on ‘happy wife, happy life’ financial terms, so I’m going to reprise a fresh version of the shoe I did the OG Mara in - the Escalante’s. They were my first Altra’s and loved them, once my calves adjusted to the zero drop/wide toebox philosophy. I still wear them as my everyday walking shoes, 850+ km in, holes in the soles and all 👌🤣
I’ll definitely still buy the BOA’s and the Carbons, just not right now 👍🏻
That’s hard about getting knocked off the record already lol. Next year for sure! 💪
All the best, and happy trails 😁
Cheers,
Johnny 😁
I haven't run in the boas yet, but I did a 24 hour race in the standard Mont Blancs and loved them... until around 100k, when I started to feel more pressure on the top of my foot (I'm thinking the boa would alleviate that issue), and was also getting debris in the ankles fairly frequently. Did you have any issues like that?
Also, for long trails, I'm a huge fan of the Olympus 4's, with even more cushion, but I still feel that security you mention typical with lower stack heights. Any experience with those, and how do you find they compare?
1) I felt some pressure on the top of my foot from the BOAs, but it was on my pinky toe where the lower BOA sat. This didn't cause any blisters, but I did have some swelling on the spot. The rest of the upper felt amazing and the BOAs had a nice secure fit.
2) I was constantly getting debris in them, but that's just the reality of every shoe when not wearing gaiters. The secure fit of the BOA prevented a lot of the debris from getting too far into the shoe, but it was still there. I did like the BOAs because I could just take off the shoe, empty out sand/dirt, and put it back on very quickly. I usually double knot my laces for trails when wearing Lone Peaks and this process takes a lot longer with laces.
3) I plan on trying out the newest Olympus and Superiors this year (both ends of the cushioning/stack height spectrum), and it's good to know you find the Olympus has more security, I'll definitely keep that in mind. There's just so many shoes to try out!
@@FeetFirstAthletics thank you!
Are you strictly a zero drop runner? I typically do not run in zero drops but curious about these for trails just to stimulate shorter cadence and induced forefoot lands.
Analogy of a correct tool using a profanity was hilarious!
While the boa system is surely awesome, with this high price tag, I am not sure if I'd like to see it more often. Eventually every shoe needs to be replaced after around 700-800 km. Depending on your training volume and any participated events you would end up spending another 230€ every couple of months. Then I'd rather prefer the boa system with my drastically longer lasting cycling shoes.
Oh yea I definitely didn't mean seeing it replace other shoes, but thinking about it more you're probably correct in that the money companies invested into the BOA system might prevent them from updating or continuing other lines of shoes. And I'm with you, I may buy one of these pairs a year due to the price, I can't afford $200+ for a single pair constantly. 95% of my racing and trail running is spent using previous years shoes marked down to $80 and below.