Simple: it’s gotten better. Altra appears to have listened to runners' feedback in taking features of its popular carbon-plated trail racing shoe, the Mont Blanc, and combined them with the Timp 4.

In September, Virginia-based Dower hiked and ran the iconic Appalachian Trail in her Altra Mont Blanc BOA running shoes in just 40 days, 18 hours and five minutes, shaving 13.5 hours off Karel ...