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Altra Olympus 5 is a well-cushioned, protective trail runner with a zero-drop platform and wide-toe box. It is suitable for long-distance running and hiking on various terrain. The wide Vibram Megagrip sole provides a good grip on wet and dry surfaces.
Altra says:
Hit the trails running with the Olympus 5, our plushest trail runner, ready to tackle all terrain. Altra EGO™ MAX midsole foam offers underfoot protection and comfort while our Original FootShape™ Fit gives your feet the space they need to sit naturally. With a breathable engineered mesh upper and a grippy outsole, you can keep enjoying the view all day.
Our Verdict
Altra’s most cushioned, most protective trail runner. These are not GORE-TEX lined, though a Low GTX version is available. Marketed as a trail runner, the Altra Olympus 5 also a perfect hiking shoe. These give fantastic “long mile protection” over various terrain, on and off road.
A few points are worth noting if you have never seen Altra as a brand. All of their shoes are “zero-drop”, which means the heel and the toe are level, as opposed to other shoes, which typically will have the heel raised by a few millimetres. The zero-drop shoe provides a more natural step, which improves balance and increases your foot's strength. This increased strength can improve alignment, stability, and stamina and help ward off injuries. Altra’s also have a much larger toe box, which allows toes to spread out more naturally.
These are well-stacked trail runners. They have a more cushioned, adaptive and responsive midsole over Altras flagship shoe, the Lone Peak, which makes them more appealing for runners on uncertain terrain and to “thru-hikers”. The Olympus 5’s utilise a wide Vibram Megagrip sole, a tough, sticky rubber that ensures unparalleled grip on wet and dry surfaces.
The wide sole helps to spread your weight and dampen impact well, offering good stability.
This has a nice deep in-step, so if you are looking for a trail runner that can accommodate insoles like Superfeet, these are a fantastic choice.
- Reviewed by Basecamp Gear
Features
- Altra EGO™ MAX midsole
- Original FootShape™ Fit
Specifications
- UK 8 weighs (per shoe): 318g
- Stack Height: 33 mm
Material & Construction
- Midsole: Altra EGO™ MAX
- Outsole: Vibram® Megagrip
- Cushion: Max
- Upper: Durable, engineered mesh
