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Since releasing their first shoe in 2012, Altras popularity has soared - much like the millions of customers who choose to use their products. Nowadays it’s rare for a seemingly unknown brand to enter the somewhat saturated footwear market and make a success of it. But just what were Altra doing that no-one else was? Quite simply, they were offering zero drop running shoes, with a foot-shaped toe box. Seems obvious ? - more on that later.

Zero Drop refers to the zero (mm) difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe-box (from the ground), essentially meaning they are level. This caters for a running gait which resembles the natural movements of the human body, which can improve balance and increase foot strength as it doesn’t rely on the artificial support of some of the modern shoes which we have become accustomed to.

Perhaps like me, you have made the mistake of associating “zero drop” with flat, bare-foot like footwear which offer little in terms of cushioning and comfort? A quick flick through Altra’s small but ever-expanding archive of product will quickly extinguish this perception, let alone when you eventually get to try a pair.

Sharing similarities with the much-loved Olympus 4 trail runner, Altra’s fifth iteration of the Olympus has been given the HIKE treatment, lined with GORE-TEX and wrapped with an almost armour-like upper, making it Altra’s most cushioned and protective shoe yet.

Not too familiar with Altra as a brand, this was a classic case of judging a book by its cover, or in this case, judging a pair of shoes by their almost bulbous toe-box. I was hoping to wear the Olympus 5 on a four-day trip I had planned in the Scottish Cairngorms, but a tight shipping schedule meant I received the shoes just a few days prior to my departure. On first fitting, the heel felt secure and the cushioning was generous, but that famous foot-shaped toe-box felt (and looked) alien to anything I’d ever experienced before. I went with my normal UK shoe size, by the way, and the toe-box felt somewhat large. As they felt so different to anything I’d ever stepped foot in and the fact that I didn’t have chance to “break them in”, I (later) regrettably decided to leave them behind.

My trip to the Cairngorms was great although I did have a couple of niggles with my feet. I am slightly broad footed and I’ve always blindly accepted some discomfort because that’s how most shoes are made.

On this trip in-particular I suffered badly with blisters on the tip of my little toes and pain on the lateral side of my feet which caused me to stop and re-adjust my laces more times than I can remember. It was on the final day of the 65km trek where I thought to myself: I wonder if those Altras I left back at home, with the bulbous, roomy toe-box might just be the answer to my woes? I couldn’t wait to get those shoes off my feet, and thanks to the Olympus 5’s, I’ve not worn them since.

Over the next few weeks, I made it my mission to become accustomed to that new oh-so-practical foot shape, wearing the Olympus 5 at every walking opportunity- and it didn’t take long. Despite how different (odd?) they felt at first, they were comfortable straight out of the box - I found the foot-bed moulded to the shape of my feet very quickly indeed, and that alien looking toe-box? It’s incredible - you can spread your toes at your leisure which is a real treat on longer hikes. Admittedly I’ve not yet wore these on a multi-day through hike but I already feel as though they are an aid to my walking, more of an extension of the foot than a hinderance.

Despite the 33mm stack height, Altra’s balanced cushioning design ensures the shoe is both soft and rigid in all the right places. Within the cushioning, the INNERFLEX grid-like grooves in the midsole allow for a responsive feel to the ground beneath you. Partner this with the famous Altra TrailClaw outsole and VIBRAM’s MEGAGRIP compound, the Olympus 5 ensures a confident grip on even the wettest of rock.

If I’m being incredibly picky, I would like to have seen the inclusion of the genius Velcro GaiterTrap as seen on the  Lone Peak 6 which quickly locks the Altra Trail Gaiters into place. The Olympus 5 does have a Gaiter loop to the heel but this may be a little fiddly when caught in a heavy downpour. I’d say gaiters would be a necessity in heavier rain as the collar sits quite low making it an ideal place for water to penetrate.

In conclusion, don’t make the same mistake I did and write this shoe off because it doesn’t look like what you’re accustomed to. There’s a reason why  Altra have the highest retention of customers across shoe brands in the same category.

Mathew Garbutt
Mathew is an avid sports fan who plays football semi-professionally for a local team. As a child, Mathew and his family would Car Camp in the Lake District regularly, which is a tradition he has passed-on to his own young family. He is a strong advocate for the outdoors and the importance of his children being outside and exploring the many wonderful places on offer around the North-East and beyond. It was through working at Ultralight where Mathews love for the outdoors and particularly wild camping flourished, taking up many of the opportunities presented to him through his work. Trips to Scotland are a regular occurrence, from taking-in Munros to the snow-capped mountains of the Cairngorms for winter-skills training. More recently, Mathew has re-found his love for running and particularly enjoys meeting with a group of friends on a Sunday morning trail run. Mathew joined UOG in 2017 and is a Purchasing Assistant in our Buying Team. Read more from Mathew Garbutt