Have you met Altra yet?  Once worn by runners in the know, Altra has grown legs and become the go-to brand for everyone from joggers and wellness walkers to marathoners and trail runners. It’s not hard to see why this running brand spilt over into the lifestyle realm – there’s just no denying that comfort is key.

The History of Altra

It all started one fateful day in 1998 when co-founders Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper met, it was the first day of cross-country training in sophomore year at Orem High School, Utah. Making firm friends on the track and the outside world, they later both took on part-time jobs at a running store, where they became self-confessed sneaker nerds – one we can certainly relate to.

Wanting to (quite literally) break the mould of the running shoes that were available at the time, Golden took matters into his own hands. Using a toaster oven, he cooked his shoes just long enough to melt the sole unit to pull it apart and deconstruct it. After removing the heel segment and the balance, he put it back together again and upon testing the mod, Golden claimed the niggling feeling of obstruction had also been removed. They were on to something.

Skipping forward to 2009, the duo officially founded Altra on the building blocks of innovation and disruptive thinking. It wasn’t until the next year, 2010, that the realisation they could actually succeed set in. Brian wore the prototype to the Wasatch 100 (don’t worry we looked it up for you – the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run, held annually across the eponymous mountain range of Utah), and by the time he cruised into mile 94 with no blisters and a record time under his belt, the tears came as he knew Altra was going to work out.

Altra’s shoes hit the market in 2011 with its unique blend of 3 core technologies: FootShapeTM, Zero DropTM, and Fit4HerTM. It didn’t take long before the awards came rolling in, and they haven’t stopped since.

Altra Olympus 6

Back to today, we wanted to shine a spotlight on one of Altra’s latest designs, the Olympus 6. Arriving at size? in 3 main colourways – black, olive and vibrant green – this silhouette is a firm favourite for everyday adventures.

The engineered mesh upper has been designed specifically for enhanced breathability, while underfoot, plush cushioning comes from the compression-moulded EVA foam midsole. To make things even comfier, a premium Achilles pillow has been added to the mix to create an easy step-in feeling. Utilising the Original FootShape Fit, the roomy toebox provides plenty of space for your toes to move freely.

Like what you see? Then head over to size? to check out more from Altra’s range.