Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

This product is not available.
When it comes to the trail, these Altra Olympus 5 trail-running shoes are ready for rugged terrain so you can feel confident in your footing and enjoy the scenery—you've earned that view.
Shop similar productsImported.
View all Altra Men's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running |
---|---|
Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Maximum Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 0 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 33 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 33 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Engineered mesh |
Lining | Nylon |
Midsole | EVA foam |
Outsole | Vibram Megagrip rubber |
Rock Plate | No |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 8.6 oz. |
Gender | Men's |
7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
UK | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
EU | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51.5 |
Foot Length (in.) | 9.8 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 13 | 13.4 |
Altra’s unique FootShape™ toe box and zero to low shoes are built to place your foot in a natural position, with a stable and confident foundation to run on. When fitting, be sure to allow a full thumb’s width in front of your toes. If your feet are used to cramped toe boxes, Altra shoes may feel a little big at first. Give your toes some time to get used to the newfound wiggle room.
Altra offers a range of FootShape fits:
Original Fit: The fit that started it all, Original is the roomiest of the 3 options from Altra.
Standard Fit: The most common fit from Altra is right in the middle of Original and Slim.
Slim Fit: The slimmest-fitting Altra option still allows room for your toes to spread out naturally.
IS THIS SHOE TRUE TO SIZE? The product Features above will provide a suggestion if Altra advises you to size up or down in this particular shoe. If no such note exists, please order your regular size.
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
As a Lone Peak fan, I purchased these with longer runs and hikes in mind. Just finished a 3hr trail race putting 12mi on them as well as the previous 14mi prior while breaking them in. The max cushion certainly made a difference on the rocky/gravel sections. I did add the rock plate as I like that feature in my Lone Speaks, however I don't think it was necessary as these have a pretty good stack height. The tow box was fine although I feel it wasn't as wide as my Lone Peaks. Overall I enjoyed these shoes and will certainly dedicate them to certain runs and hikes. For now, my Lone Peaks are still my go to.
My Lone Peak 7's in 4 months got a huge hole on the big toe, Both heels completely blew out with the foam sticking out! I sent them photo's REI receipt and they DENIED a return! Never again ! I now just purchased Topo's and so far excellent. The hiking community has moved on from Altra's .. Good Night Now!! LoL..
I have 2 pairs of 4s that I'm still wearing, with 700 AT miles between them. The soles are still completely attached and they are comfortable for long days. The 5s gave me a blister under my 4th toenail on both feet which tells me it's the cut of the 5 and the vibram sole started separating from the foam on both shoes in less than 50 miles causing slippage on rocks. Skip the 5s. I did like the extra ankle padding, but the rear gaiter trap seemed too small. Thankfully REI took them back for a full refund. I might try the 6s, as it looks like they reverted the sole pattern, but will also compare with a TOPO zero drop.
The fit of this model is not made for me and I will be returning. First, I could not get my heel comfortable or stable. There is an odd seem at the back of these that feels like two humped pads meeting with a seem. Imagine biking shorts with the pads uncomfortably close together. I tried tightening the laces and using the heel lock, but I’d didn’t help. The second issue is the entire top of the shoe, including the tongue. It is a very thin material with little to no padding. It reminds me of a water shoe. The foot bed, padding, and sole of the shoe felt great and I would have love led to try these on a run. They had an incredible grip.
After three weeks of walking with a light backpack, total decomposition of the upper part.
I tried switching to Topo Pursuits after hearing all the hiking community hype. Ran a Ragnar in a brand new pair, and I really felt the trail through the shoes on the 7+ mile loop. The new Topos were no match for my old Altra Olympus in comfort when going the distance (both hiking and running). Anyone want a pair of practically new Topos? I’m sticking with Altra.
Second pair of these and they are taking a bit longer to break-in. The are solid and sure footed while in motion, but the uppers seem restrictive when sitting or driving. Hopefully in time, the will form to my foot. My first pair are still in good shape and formed to my foot almost immediately. The Vibram soles are durable and good for the loose soil/sandy paths while maintaining a sturdy stance when walking through rock gardens and boulders. I do like the wide toe box which is a requirement for me. The tightness stems from the uppers while the sole fits my EEE feet quite well.
Only shoes i can hike with. Wide toe for no blister. Cushion lik a speed goat. Velcro for gaiters. Easy to pull on and off. Easy to find just right tightness for slip on/off. Excellent traction. Have about 400 mils on mine, mostly on the AT with a 20lb backpack and have not ecperienced anything remotely close to what some other reviewers have shared regarding excessve ear and tear. Theyre light enough. 6'1", 185, size 12
These just arrived by mail. My review comments are base on the last pair of Olympus shoes that I bought while in Damascus VA heading north on the AT. I am very please with the shoe. All across the board with fit, breathability, stability, comfort and foot protection. A new feature that I like would be the "finger" loops. The shoes lasted a little over 6 weeks before falling apart. I have no complaint though as they lasted well into PA, almost 650 miles.
These are great to wear around the city, especially during winter, when you need extra traction in icy/snowy conditions but don't want to wear boots. They were also great for my trip to icy Chicago in January. They were also easy to remove at the airport. The toe box has plenty of room.