Altra King MT 2 Man - Black

(Instructions for choosing the right size and "Petri's Product Description" see below - definitely read them about this shoe! NOTE! Size and color inquiries: info@petrisbarefoot.com)

Zero drop - Wide toe space - Light - Moderately stiff and little thicker sole - VEGAN

People asked for the King so Altra brought it back! Tighten up that strap and feel the Vibram® grip and responsive underfoot as you scramble to epic views. The King MT 2 is an Altra classic so they didn’t change a thing. Equipped with Vibram® Litebase to reduce outsole weight and Vibram® Megagrip for grip on both wet and dry surfaces. 

With aggressive lugs underfoot and a tooling drainage system, this shoe was designed to let you hit loose rocky descents with confidence. A mesh upper with dynamically cut eye stays are designed for flexibility and comfort while Altra EGO™ midsole foam keeps it responsive for a grounded connection. It’s loaded with a Stoneguard™ insert designed to give you underfoot protection from rocks and other trail debris while GaiterTrap™ attachments make it easy to attach a strapless gaiter to help you stay clean out there.

With Altra’s signature FootShape fit, you get a roomy toe box with plenty of room to help your toes move more freely, and a secure midfoot. Rocky crawls, steep downhills, muddy climbs… the King is back!

FEATURES

• Best For: Trail running and hiking in demanding terrain (Note! If you are looking for a trail shoe that works better also on asphalt, see Lone Peak and Superior)
• Drop: 0 mm
• Upper: Textile mesh
• Midsole: Altra EGO™
• Outsole: Vibram® Litebase with Megagrip
• Weight: 245,2 g
• Cushioning: Low (Petri's Note! Altra's least cushioned model)
• Stack Height: 19 mm (Petris measurement 21 mm) 
• Footshape: Standard

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE

(NOTE! See women's sizes also if you have narrow foot.)

NEVER CHOOSE YOUR "OLD SIZE" if you haven't worn the exact same shoe before! Sizes vary between different models even from the same manufacturer and the size of the shoes you've worn before may have been wrong in size, etc. - there are many possibilities for error.

Also, note that manufacturers' own size charts are often far from accurate. Also, too often only one size chart is used even though the same sizes for different shoe models actually differ from each other, etc.

To find the right size, do the following -

1) First check the length of your feet according to the following instructions. Measure with an assistant if possible (Note! Read the shoe model description below to make sure that you are choosing the right shoe for yourself!):

1. Place the paper on a hard floor next to a wall and step on it BAREFOOT, making sure that your heel slightly touches the wall behind you.
2. Mark the end of your big toe or the outer part of your toes on the paper and repeat the procedure with your other foot. (Note! Make your foot as long as possible to make the measurement easier, keep all your weight on the foot being measured)
3. Finally, measure the distance from the edge of the paper to the end of the big toe or the outermost part of your foot at 90 degrees angle to the paper and write it down for yourself.

2) Add about 1-1.5 cm of room to the measurement of your longer foot you got above to get the required shoe size (inner length of the shoe).

3) Choose the right size from the table below, but also take into account the things below the table! We have checked the inner dimensions of this model at PETRI'S BAREFOOT as follows -

Altra King MT 2 Man inner lengths:

EU 41 - 26,2 cm

EU 42, 43, 44, 44,5 - (not in our stock yet) 

EU 45 - 28,6 cm

EU 46 - 29 cm

EU 46,5 - 29,5 cm

EU 47 - 29,8 cm

EU 48, 49 - (not in our stock yet) 

4) Check the length of your foot again. The longer foot is the one you are looking for! The correct size rarely matches the full EU size.

1. If you have a wide foot compared to the shoe model, always choose the larger size if you are between two sizes. This applies especially to those with a significant width and/or chest in the middle of the foot in relation to the shoe.
2. If you have a narrower foot, you can consider a smaller size as long as there is at least 0.8/1 cm of extra space.
3. If the arch of your toes differs significantly from the arch of the toe of the shoe, you should choose a larger size if you suspect that one of your toes may touch the front of the shoe at a point other than the longest point of the shoe.

5) Finally, if you can't decide, you can always order two pairs of shoes of the same model for fitting. However, remember to return the wrong size soon because someone is probably also waiting for them, thank you!

PETRI'S PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

(NOTE! The KING is narrower in design, so I don't recommend it for particularly wide feet. Width is the same as in the Superior.)

The Altra KING MT 2 is the trail shoe for you if you want good ground feel and good traction on soft, wet and rooty terrain without compromise. The internal StoneGuard™ protection provides protection from sharp rocks, while the wide toe box, zero drop and 19 mm of cushioning keep the foot in its natural position.

Altra's StoneGuard™ is a thin, flexible plastic film (usually TPU material) placed in the midsole. Its job is to distribute the pressure of sharp rocks and impacts over a wider area so that they don't feel like dots on the sole of the foot. It's not hard or metallic, but bends with the foot and maintains natural movement.

The King's outsole is stiffer, especially at the beginning, than a barefoot purist would expect from a shoe. However, the StoneGuard sole flexes considerably in use without the shoe losing its important properties in technically demanding terrain, where a very thin and flexible sole is already too merciless.

The shoe's tightening strap may seem strange, but it is a really functional way to quickly adjust the shoe in the terrain on ups and downs without having to separately untie the laces.

If you are looking for a shoe for easy terrain or on the road or even for leisure, I do not recommend the KING but rather other options from Altra's collection according to your needs.

On the scale of pure barefoot shoe - hybrid model - thick-soled barefoot shoe, I would place the KING in the "thick-soled barefoot shoe" category.

Suitability for barefoot shoe beginners

The Altra KING MT 2 is also suitable for novice barefooters, especially for what it is intended for, i.e. running or hiking in technically demanding terrain. However, in the beginning, it is advisable to choose a shoe with a much wider range of use as your first (and only) barefoot shoe, so that you get more benefits from your barefoot shoes in terms of your foot health right from the start.

Suitability for experienced barefooters

Go for it! Please note, however, that the shoe is not very flexible, especially at the beginning, so you can't expect a perfect barefoot shoe feel - but what's the point if you can go with the shoe in any terrain as fast as you like!