Altra Superior 6 Review

Upper

Brent: "The fit of the upper felt great! By utilizing the rear eyelets, the upper held my foot in place even while running down steep technical downhills. I experienced some irritation caused by the seam of the overlay nearest to the outside of the bottom eyelet; however, the discomfort faded after a few runs. This was my first experience with the burrito wrap tongue, and I was pleasantly surprised with the fit. The upper was also effective at keeping debris out of the shoes."

Risa: "Overall, the upper was not my favorite part of the Atra Superior 6, but it did its job. It was secure and protective with excellent breathability, but I found the Superior lace design to be a bit finicky, and I wish the upper afforded me a bit more plush comfort overall. The overlays through the midfoot were slightly restrictive so those with a high instep may experience some issues with the midfoot volume of the shoe."

Midsole

Brent: "The Superior’s Natural Ride System midsole technology with Natural Footshape design ensures a comfortable on-foot feel with natural heel-to-toe transitions. It also affords plenty of room in the forefoot for those needing a little room in the toe box. The support of the Quantic Foam provided sufficient underfoot protection and stability on gravel roads and buffed-out trails, but it left me craving more support on more challenging terrain."

Risa: "I tend to gravitate toward more nimble trail shoes, and I enjoyed the lightweight and nimble ride of the Superior. You feel connected to the trail in this shoe, which allowed me to be agile while running.

I have tested zero-drop shoes before but have had mixed results with the Superior, and I would personally opt for a shoe that affords me a bit more protection underfoot, given my specific needs and preferences. That said, I did not experience foot pain or anything of that nature throughout the testing period, and I know those who gravitate towards zero-drop shoes will love the underfoot feel and natural transitions of the Altra Superior 6."

Outsole

Brent: "The updated lug placement and sticky traction established confidence from the beginning, and I was pleasantly surprised how well they performed since they are lower profile than I’m used to in my trail shoes. However, the lack of a rock plate and low stack just didn’t provide enough protection for the technical trail I tend to gravitate towards."

Risa: "The outsole was my favorite part of the Superior. It was very sticky – you could hear it when I was walking around indoors getting ready to head to the trail. I felt comfortable going uphill and downhill and over loose terrain. I did not have to hesitate like I sometimes do in other trail running shoes."

Comparable Models

Brent: "When looking for a connected-to-the-ground trail experience, I typically wear the Brooks Cascadia, HOKA Torrent, or the Superior’s big brother, the Altra Lone Peak. While the Lone Peak offers a rock plate and a little more cushioning over the Superior, it is also heavier and not as dynamic on the trails.

Meanwhile, the Superior offers a roomier and more comfortable on-foot experience compared to the Cascadia and Torrent due to the natural, zero-drop experience Altra is known for and the excellent toe splay that the design afforded me. The Superior fills a niche in my shoe rotation and will be my go-to shoe for shorter and faster trail runs on less technical trails, especially when my feet crave extra room to splay out."

Risa: "I would compare the Altra Superior to shoes like the Saucony Peregrine and Nike Terra Kiger, two of my favorite trail offerings. All have similar weights and are nimble running trail shoes that all excel in different ways. The Peregrine and Superior have fantastic outsoles with incredibly reliable traction, and I could run confidently in both shoes while navigating through the trails. The Terra Kiger is soft and bouncy and has one of my favorite midsole compounds for trail running.

I prefer the upper fit of the Peregrine and Terra Kiger, as both are a little more comfortable on my foot, but what works best for other runners will depend on their personal preferences. Regardless, all three shoes are versatile and could be used for everything from easy runs, speed work, and even race day, in my opinion."