What is lost in responsiveness is easily made up for in comfort. The sidewalls are constructed with just enough padding, in just the right spots, and the tongue's low profile all add up to an amazing feel. That combined with the plush cushion of the sole makes for a shoe you just don't want to take off. Despite the brand's statement that all of its shoes have a 0-mm drop, the Olympus 5 comes with a 2-mm heel-to-toe differential, based on our measurements: 33 mm (heel) - 31 mm (forefoot) = 2 mm. Shoes which start falling apart as early as a month or two of very light use. No running, just going to the office and using them as everyday shoes. Holes in the fabric, sole flattening out and more. ABSOLUTE JUNK !

Another key feature of Altra shoes is the wide toe box, known as the “Footshape”. By allowing your toes to relax and spread out naturally, it lets your big toe find the optimum position for stability and power. As an aside, when I reported the early failures to Altra ( I asked for nothing, just wanted to report the problems) “customer service” showed no interest or concern. Jeff is the token slow runner of the RTR lineup as such his viewpoints on shoe and gear can differ from those who routinely finish marathons in three hours or less. Jeff runs 40 miles per week, both roads and desert trails in Phoenix, Arizona. He has a PR's of 4:07 marathon and 5K at 23:39. In December he raced his first 50 mile trail ultra . The upper is engineered mesh with a few strategically placed overlays for reinforcement, with minimal foothold reinforcement. The heel and toebox are where you’ll find most of the reinforcement, with the heel massively built up over last year. Which one do you think has more cushion, and is softer at forefoot, Altra Olympus 4 or Hoka's Speedgoat 4 or Mafate?Based on appearance alone I like the Olympus 4 better. It doesn't get the ugly creases in it like many other shoes so. I've had more compliments on these shoes than I ever had on ANY shoes I've ever owned. The gusseted tongue isn’t going anywhere, and is adequately cushioned without going full-fledged plush. However, the big issue with the shoe is adjacent to the tongue - the laces are among the worst ever used in a running shoe. They are much too short to be useful in standard lacing, and they also have very little friction and come untied constantly. I'd even go that far and recommend you to downright IGNORE EVERYTHING else such as traction, fit, breathability, durability etc... We have thoroughly enjoyed the stable and planted steps ensured by the shoe. Its base is very wide, so you don't have to worry about missteps. The shoe also drained well, which is always an important thing to consider when water crossings are part of the equation.

Based on our durometer measurements, the foam on the Altra Olympus 5 is moderately soft. It is 20% softer than the average of trail running shoes, to be specific. The Altra Olympus 4.0 fits true to size. I wear a medium size 9.5 (US Men´s). Roomy toebox and foot-shaped design As fate would have it, I tried the Timp 2 today against my Olympus 4. I'd say the Olympus upper fit is a little higher volume, not massively, but just a bit more.

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The Altra Olympus 4.0 is a shoe you can definitely push the pace in, but it’s probably not the best shoe for really fast trail racing. Like every Altra shoe, the Olympus 4.0 features a foot shaped toe box, which may feel loose in the forefoot to those more used to a narrower shoe. The ergonomic foot-shaped design is a trademark of Altra. Employing the natural contours of the human foot, Altra achieves a style that is both comfortable and functional. The toes have ample room to splay. The wide platform makes for a stable running platform on sometimes unstable ground. Secondly Fit4Her technology has a completely different fit for men and women’s shoes designed around the key physical characteristics of the foot.