Olympus 6 vs Mafate 5

The Altra Olympus 6 is a maximum cushioned trail running shoe built for going long and staying comfortable when the miles pile up. It pairs a deep, plush platform with Altra's signature zero drop geometry, so your heel and forefoot sit at the same height and your foot spreads naturally over rough ground. At 345g it is a substantial shoe, and you notice the weight on faster efforts, but that heft buys you real protection underfoot on rocky, root strewn trails. This is an ultra shoe first and foremost. It is happiest on all day adventures, long training loops and technical terrain where a wide, grippy outsole and a stack of soft foam keep your legs fresher for longer. If you want a lighter, nimbler trail tool the Altra Lone Peak 9 or the Hoka Speedgoat 7 make more sense. For runners who prize comfort and a natural foot position over speed, we rate the Olympus 6 highly.

The Hoka Mafate 5 is a max-cushion trail running shoe built for the long haul: big vertical days, rough ground, and ultra distances where your legs need a buffer between them and the mountain. With a 45mm heel stack and an 8mm drop, it sits at the plush, protective end of Hoka's trail range, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole means it can actually cash the cheques that cushion writes on technical terrain. It is not light. At 332g it asks you to trade nimbleness for comfort, and for the runner it suits, that is exactly the right deal. Think of it as the burly ultra companion to the more agile Speedgoat 7. If your idea of a good day out is six hours on wet, rocky, root-strewn trails and arriving home with your feet still speaking to you, this is the shoe we would point you to. Racers and short-loop speed hounds should look elsewhere.