Last updated at 27/04/2026 13:11:47
Altra Olympus 5 M
Delivery $82.04
Mens Altra Olympus 5, The Running Company, Navy / 8
Delivery by Thu $10
originally posted on altrarunning.com
Not happy with the changes for this version. I was a die-hard Altra fan, but like others, the changes for this version resulted in the shoe feeling to narrow/tight and a 1/2 size too small. I appreciate Altra's decision to try and improve the shoe like by adding cushioning around the heel cup, but it was too much and I felt immediate abrasion and pain around my heel just walking around the house. And to top it off, shoelaces are too short. I prefer to create the little loop to help tight the shoe and when doing that, I could barely tie the shoes. I would never be able to double knot it if I wanted too. And frustrated because I can't really go to the other styles because I like to have the extra cushion. I really hope Altra goes back to their roots for runners like ... MoreNot happy with the changes for this version. I was a die-hard Altra fan, but like others, the changes for this version resulted in the shoe feeling to narrow/tight and a 1/2 size too small. I appreciate Altra's decision to try and improve the shoe like by adding cushioning around the heel cup, but it was too much and I felt immediate abrasion and pain around my heel just walking around the house. And to top it off, shoelaces are too short. I prefer to create the little loop to help tight the shoe and when doing that, I could barely tie the shoes. I would never be able to double knot it if I wanted too. And frustrated because I can't really go to the other styles because I like to have the extra cushion. I really hope Altra goes back to their roots for runners like me that have for years enjoyed the wide toe box, roomy comfortable feel, nice cushioning and shoelaces that are useable.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
TLDR: The mid-foot is too narrow and is painful to run in, while the toe-box still feels okay. The newest generation of Altras all seem to be narrower. First off, I've been exclusively been running in Altras for years now. I have long been a fan of the roomy toe box and room for the foot to do what it was designed to do, spread out upon striking the ground. However, the Olympus 5 (and Lone Peak 7 for that matter) are now narrower and are unusable for me. I had pain that lasted several days after trying to run in the new Olympus 5. No manner of lacing techniques or varying lacing tension solved the problem. If I was too loosen the laces to accommodate my foot, then the shoe was too loose and my heel would slide up and down. I have normally been a size 9.5 in Altra ... MoreTLDR: The mid-foot is too narrow and is painful to run in, while the toe-box still feels okay. The newest generation of Altras all seem to be narrower. First off, I've been exclusively been running in Altras for years now. I have long been a fan of the roomy toe box and room for the foot to do what it was designed to do, spread out upon striking the ground. However, the Olympus 5 (and Lone Peak 7 for that matter) are now narrower and are unusable for me. I had pain that lasted several days after trying to run in the new Olympus 5. No manner of lacing techniques or varying lacing tension solved the problem. If I was too loosen the laces to accommodate my foot, then the shoe was too loose and my heel would slide up and down. I have normally been a size 9.5 in Altra Lone Peaks for many generations, so I tried 9.5 and 10 in the Olympus 5. Neither worked for me. I even gave it some time, hoping they would perhaps break-in some, but they never got any better. Altra please return to what made your shoes so good in the first place: the real "Original" fit that let feet spread out. While you're at it, produce more pleasing colorways that don't play to the "clown shoe" color palette and improve the durability of all shoe models. Otherwise you've lost yet another long-time customer.
originally posted on altrarunning.com
This shoe is alright to run in when everything is just right, but faces too many issues to be worth buying. My biggest issue was with the tread pattern; while the rubber is excellent and provides good grip in a range of conditions, the long individual strips that run under the toes peel up very quickly running on rocky terrain (< 30 miles out of the box). I've been able to continue running in these shoes by super glueing them back together, but they are not worth their more premium price with this major flaw. Hopefully they can get this right on the next generation. The overall durability aside from this issue seems fine, I've reached ~125 miles in them with no other issues arising and seemingly plenty of life left in them. As many mention the laces are too short ... MoreThis shoe is alright to run in when everything is just right, but faces too many issues to be worth buying. My biggest issue was with the tread pattern; while the rubber is excellent and provides good grip in a range of conditions, the long individual strips that run under the toes peel up very quickly running on rocky terrain (< 30 miles out of the box). I've been able to continue running in these shoes by super glueing them back together, but they are not worth their more premium price with this major flaw. Hopefully they can get this right on the next generation. The overall durability aside from this issue seems fine, I've reached ~125 miles in them with no other issues arising and seemingly plenty of life left in them. As many mention the laces are too short and it's difficult to achieve proper lockdown. The oversized heel loop is weird, and makes it more difficult to clip the shoes together with a carabiner without really making them easier to put on.
| Stack Height | 33 mm |
Altra Olympus 5 M
Delivery $82.04
Mens Altra Olympus 5, The Running Company, Navy / 8
Delivery by Thu $10
Not happy with the changes for this version. I was a die-hard Altra fan, but like others, the changes for this version resulted in the shoe feeling to narrow/tight and a 1/2 size too small. I appreciate Altra's decision to try and improve the shoe like by adding cushioning around the heel cup, but it was too much and I felt immediate abrasion and pain around my heel just walking around the house. And to top it off, shoelaces are too short. I prefer to create the little loop to help tight the shoe and when doing that, I could barely tie the shoes. I would never be able to double knot it if I wanted too. And frustrated because I can't really go to the other styles because I like to have the extra cushion. I really hope Altra goes back to their roots for runners like ... MoreNot happy with the changes for this version. I was a die-hard Altra fan, but like others, the changes for this version resulted in the shoe feeling to narrow/tight and a 1/2 size too small. I appreciate Altra's decision to try and improve the shoe like by adding cushioning around the heel cup, but it was too much and I felt immediate abrasion and pain around my heel just walking around the house. And to top it off, shoelaces are too short. I prefer to create the little loop to help tight the shoe and when doing that, I could barely tie the shoes. I would never be able to double knot it if I wanted too. And frustrated because I can't really go to the other styles because I like to have the extra cushion. I really hope Altra goes back to their roots for runners like me that have for years enjoyed the wide toe box, roomy comfortable feel, nice cushioning and shoelaces that are useable.
TLDR: The mid-foot is too narrow and is painful to run in, while the toe-box still feels okay. The newest generation of Altras all seem to be narrower. First off, I've been exclusively been running in Altras for years now. I have long been a fan of the roomy toe box and room for the foot to do what it was designed to do, spread out upon striking the ground. However, the Olympus 5 (and Lone Peak 7 for that matter) are now narrower and are unusable for me. I had pain that lasted several days after trying to run in the new Olympus 5. No manner of lacing techniques or varying lacing tension solved the problem. If I was too loosen the laces to accommodate my foot, then the shoe was too loose and my heel would slide up and down. I have normally been a size 9.5 in Altra ... MoreTLDR: The mid-foot is too narrow and is painful to run in, while the toe-box still feels okay. The newest generation of Altras all seem to be narrower. First off, I've been exclusively been running in Altras for years now. I have long been a fan of the roomy toe box and room for the foot to do what it was designed to do, spread out upon striking the ground. However, the Olympus 5 (and Lone Peak 7 for that matter) are now narrower and are unusable for me. I had pain that lasted several days after trying to run in the new Olympus 5. No manner of lacing techniques or varying lacing tension solved the problem. If I was too loosen the laces to accommodate my foot, then the shoe was too loose and my heel would slide up and down. I have normally been a size 9.5 in Altra Lone Peaks for many generations, so I tried 9.5 and 10 in the Olympus 5. Neither worked for me. I even gave it some time, hoping they would perhaps break-in some, but they never got any better. Altra please return to what made your shoes so good in the first place: the real "Original" fit that let feet spread out. While you're at it, produce more pleasing colorways that don't play to the "clown shoe" color palette and improve the durability of all shoe models. Otherwise you've lost yet another long-time customer.
This shoe is alright to run in when everything is just right, but faces too many issues to be worth buying. My biggest issue was with the tread pattern; while the rubber is excellent and provides good grip in a range of conditions, the long individual strips that run under the toes peel up very quickly running on rocky terrain (< 30 miles out of the box). I've been able to continue running in these shoes by super glueing them back together, but they are not worth their more premium price with this major flaw. Hopefully they can get this right on the next generation. The overall durability aside from this issue seems fine, I've reached ~125 miles in them with no other issues arising and seemingly plenty of life left in them. As many mention the laces are too short ... MoreThis shoe is alright to run in when everything is just right, but faces too many issues to be worth buying. My biggest issue was with the tread pattern; while the rubber is excellent and provides good grip in a range of conditions, the long individual strips that run under the toes peel up very quickly running on rocky terrain (< 30 miles out of the box). I've been able to continue running in these shoes by super glueing them back together, but they are not worth their more premium price with this major flaw. Hopefully they can get this right on the next generation. The overall durability aside from this issue seems fine, I've reached ~125 miles in them with no other issues arising and seemingly plenty of life left in them. As many mention the laces are too short and it's difficult to achieve proper lockdown. The oversized heel loop is weird, and makes it more difficult to clip the shoes together with a carabiner without really making them easier to put on.
After buying Timps and Mont Blancs for a while, I switched back to Olympuses after a pair of Timps fell apart on me with just 100 miles or so on them. In the past, the Olympus has felt like a little too much cushion, but the newest version 5, which fits a bit more snugly, feels just right--no more feeling like I'm walking on platform shoes with them on. This is my second pair of the Olympus 5s, and the first are still holding up pretty well after 400 miles or so, which is really good for Altras (sadly, Altra has yet to consistently put out a shoe with no durability concerns), I just decided that with an ultra coming up in a couple of months I should probably start breaking in a new pair of shoes. I do have two minor quibbles about the shoes. First, although the loop ... MoreAfter buying Timps and Mont Blancs for a while, I switched back to Olympuses after a pair of Timps fell apart on me with just 100 miles or so on them. In the past, the Olympus has felt like a little too much cushion, but the newest version 5, which fits a bit more snugly, feels just right--no more feeling like I'm walking on platform shoes with them on. This is my second pair of the Olympus 5s, and the first are still holding up pretty well after 400 miles or so, which is really good for Altras (sadly, Altra has yet to consistently put out a shoe with no durability concerns), I just decided that with an ultra coming up in a couple of months I should probably start breaking in a new pair of shoes. I do have two minor quibbles about the shoes. First, although the loop in the back of the shoes makes them easy to get on and off, and the loop doesn't dig into the heel (a problem with past models of Olympus), the fact that the loop "leans" away from the heel also leaves the inside of the shoe much more open to leaves, rocks and other debris, so if you are running trails of pretty much any kind you probably need to run with gaiters. The second objection is just cosmetic: the grey/orange color combo looks pretty but the grey looks a lot lighter in real life than it does on the web site, so they start looking dirty very quickly--not that I mind getting dirty, just that the light grey-green color really looks like it's meant for a road shoe rather than something that's going to be trekked through the muck. The Olympuses are, for the moment at least, sadly lacking in the "dusty olive" color option that you can frequently find in their Timps and Lone Peaks--a color that looks like it was born to be run through the mud. Quibbles aside, these get two thumbs up.
First fit test right out of the box, It feels like the Lone Peak had a huge Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and even went back for seconds. So yeah the Olympus is a plump beast of a shoe! Even with all its girth the Olympus 5 is well designed with plenty of breathable protection up top, grip on the outsole and has enough cushion for the longest of runs. Plus you gotta love that it has the original roomy foot shape.Out on the trail Its a grippy, balanced ride that starts off stiff n sluggish but after a few miles it breaks in, softens up and becomes much more comfortable underfoot. I did notice the weight of the shoe at first but faded away once the very satisfying max cushion made my later mile just cruise by. Oddly the Olympus 5 actually feels incredible ... MoreFirst fit test right out of the box, It feels like the Lone Peak had a huge Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and even went back for seconds. So yeah the Olympus is a plump beast of a shoe! Even with all its girth the Olympus 5 is well designed with plenty of breathable protection up top, grip on the outsole and has enough cushion for the longest of runs. Plus you gotta love that it has the original roomy foot shape.Out on the trail Its a grippy, balanced ride that starts off stiff n sluggish but after a few miles it breaks in, softens up and becomes much more comfortable underfoot. I did notice the weight of the shoe at first but faded away once the very satisfying max cushion made my later mile just cruise by. Oddly the Olympus 5 actually feels incredible and comes to life the longer the run. I can see this being a great option for a 100 miler or slower 100k.One issue I had early on was some heel lift and couldn't get a snug fit with the pillowly heel collar. Once broken in you will get a locked in feel.
I wore these hiking and some city walking and trail running. Pros: Roomy toe box, Beautiful greyish green color , (no longer offered), Nice styling, good grip, mostly comfortable fit and cushioning. Cons: Vibram lugs peeled off very early ( a common problem it seems). The arch support is off somehow, maybe a little too hard or too pronounced, and causes my feet to hurt under the arch. The shoe is well ventilated except the tongue which causes the top of the foot to get too hot in the summer heat. Laces are too short. I ordered a 1/2 size larger than what I usually wear to get a good fit. I really liked these shoes except for the cons which are a deal breaker unless Altra fixes these issues. I don't like the current color ways as much as the dusty green.
I am writing this review because I want Altra to know that they have some huge potential here for an amazing trail shoe. I put two big 15mile + days on this scrambling and trailrunning some peaks in the PNW and was amazed by how supported and injury free my feet felt at the end of the day. That said, after those 30 some odd miles on rocky terrain the outsole of my shoes were already completely destroyed. First of all, the oddest part about the shoe is that the midsole material actually makes up most of the bottom (there is barely any true outsole)- You can see this in the photos if you look. The Vibram strips that are far more durable seem to be weakly glued on as I had a few of the strips start to rip off after only two outings. The midsole material wears away ... MoreI am writing this review because I want Altra to know that they have some huge potential here for an amazing trail shoe. I put two big 15mile + days on this scrambling and trailrunning some peaks in the PNW and was amazed by how supported and injury free my feet felt at the end of the day. That said, after those 30 some odd miles on rocky terrain the outsole of my shoes were already completely destroyed. First of all, the oddest part about the shoe is that the midsole material actually makes up most of the bottom (there is barely any true outsole)- You can see this in the photos if you look. The Vibram strips that are far more durable seem to be weakly glued on as I had a few of the strips start to rip off after only two outings. The midsole material wears away super quick and is not grippy at all. It has since turned to round nubs after only a few more outings. I am quickly noticing that amazing grip vanish. On top of that, the mesh around the sides and front of the fore foot rip and wear pretty easily when rubbed against any sort of terrain making them not the best for scrambles. I bought these giving Altra the benefit of the doubt after reading reviews. Unfortunately everyone hit the nail on the head. It is an incredibly comfortable and performance focused shoe but the durability for the price is just not there. Again, I would love to purchase a reiteration of this shoe. But I only will if they spend some money on improving the outsole - (extending durable Vibram or other material instead of trying to disguise the soft plushy midsole material as the outsole). Please take this comments into consideration. You all are on to something! In the meantime I'll probably send to warranty and trade out for something different.
If you liked the Olympus 4, you'll like the 5...I think the 5 upper is a bit nicer and it maybe even looks a bit better as well, and the attempt at mid and heel lock down is appreciated, even though the weight gain wasn't. AND I am in the camp of hating that minimal tongue or whatever you want to call it...in a beefy shoe like that, what is this vain attempt at thinning in the tongue? It's a wide shoe and needs a bit more tongue padding to make it more versatile for different fits and lace tightness for people. Seriously, that tongue is ridiculous on the Olympus. But nonetheless I warmed eventually to the 4 and have found my lacing happy place, and even got multiple pairs, and the 5 is a solid next step if just a partial and heavier one while keeping tongue ... MoreIf you liked the Olympus 4, you'll like the 5...I think the 5 upper is a bit nicer and it maybe even looks a bit better as well, and the attempt at mid and heel lock down is appreciated, even though the weight gain wasn't. AND I am in the camp of hating that minimal tongue or whatever you want to call it...in a beefy shoe like that, what is this vain attempt at thinning in the tongue? It's a wide shoe and needs a bit more tongue padding to make it more versatile for different fits and lace tightness for people. Seriously, that tongue is ridiculous on the Olympus. But nonetheless I warmed eventually to the 4 and have found my lacing happy place, and even got multiple pairs, and the 5 is a solid next step if just a partial and heavier one while keeping tongue weirdness. I know people have mentioned the laces, and they are shortish...I swap out all my shoes with elastic lock laces, so it doesn't really matter to me, but yes the 5s laces are on the short side...so were the mid boots laces (which I also replaced with boot length lock laces). All told, the Olympus 4 and 5 versions got me back to multiple pairs of Olympus in my closet...the last time that was true was with the 2.0...yes that long ago! I think these new ones fit more 'neutral' compared to some of the Olympus versions, which is important to this supinator, plus they are built better and look better. I am fairly sensitive to pronation control shoes and these Olympus are ok in that regard...looking at the backs of them and that classic Olympus build up of midsole stuff on the medial heel freaks me out, but wearing them doesn't feel that drastic thankfully. But if you're a supinator you will want to test drive that for yourself as that can be a wonky feeling, in a trail shoe especially. Happy trails everyone..
I've done about 17km in these shoes so far and I;m really enjoying them. I have wide feet and have been wearing vivo's for casual shoes. I needed new runners and couldn't justify squeezing into conventional shoes any longer. I came across Altra and they were just what I was looking for in a trail runner, good protection and cushion along with a ton of room for my forefoot.Sizing is a bit hard, I ended up going a little bit shorter in length than I would have liked because the width started to get too wide. I didn't order a size up to try because I just needed new runners asap and had already sized up once. It's about 4 business days shipping to the UK and I felt impatient having already waited 10 days to get the second pair. I suggest starting the process of ... MoreI've done about 17km in these shoes so far and I;m really enjoying them. I have wide feet and have been wearing vivo's for casual shoes. I needed new runners and couldn't justify squeezing into conventional shoes any longer. I came across Altra and they were just what I was looking for in a trail runner, good protection and cushion along with a ton of room for my forefoot.Sizing is a bit hard, I ended up going a little bit shorter in length than I would have liked because the width started to get too wide. I didn't order a size up to try because I just needed new runners asap and had already sized up once. It's about 4 business days shipping to the UK and I felt impatient having already waited 10 days to get the second pair. I suggest starting the process of getting new runners before your current ones are completely shot (mine were delaminating).Anyways, great shoe, lots of room, slightly less cushioning then Hokas for reference but still heaps for soft feels. Will buy again.
I’ve been a loyal fan of the Olympus for years. I’ve always worn a size 13. But the last three pairs of the Altra Olympus 5 in size 13 were noticeably tighter on my feet and there was definitely less space in the toe box. The first time it happened about 6 months ago I thought it was just a fluke, so I returned them. But the second time it happened when I bought a pair from a different retailer, the size 13s were just as tight as the last pair. Then I waited a few weeks and ordered a pair directly from the Altra website and it happened again. The fit is “off.” So then I decided to order a size 14 to see if they would fit my feet better, but hardly any stores carry a men’s size 14 for the Altra Olympus. After a few months, I finally found a pair of the Altra Olympus ... MoreI’ve been a loyal fan of the Olympus for years. I’ve always worn a size 13. But the last three pairs of the Altra Olympus 5 in size 13 were noticeably tighter on my feet and there was definitely less space in the toe box. The first time it happened about 6 months ago I thought it was just a fluke, so I returned them. But the second time it happened when I bought a pair from a different retailer, the size 13s were just as tight as the last pair. Then I waited a few weeks and ordered a pair directly from the Altra website and it happened again. The fit is “off.” So then I decided to order a size 14 to see if they would fit my feet better, but hardly any stores carry a men’s size 14 for the Altra Olympus. After a few months, I finally found a pair of the Altra Olympus 5 in a size 14 on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website. The size 14s fit much better. They still feel a bit… “off” compared to the earlier version of the Altra Olympus 5 when they were first released over a year ago. So, if you order these shoes, just know that they run small. I sure hope that when Altra releases the next version of the Altra Olympus (the Olympus 6) they fix the sizing issue.
| Stack Height | 33 mm |
Go for an all-day adventure in the plush Altra Olympus 5. Altrarsquos Compression Molded EVA midsole foam gives you light and luxurious performance with a little extra bounce and durability. The Olympus is built with Altrarsquos Original FootShapetrade Fit, which is the most voluminous of Altrarsquos shoes. It also has their signature wide toe box so your toes can splay naturally. Like all Altra shoes, the Olympus has a Balanced Cushionedtrade platform that positions your heel and forefoot at equal distances from the ground (or zero heel-to-toe drop), which encourages better alignment and form. Altra redesigned the outsole to make it even easier to run on uneven terrain. The Olympus 5 has the grip and traction to take on any terrain thanks to its Vibramreg Megagriptrade, which is a durable and sticky high-performance rubber that works great on both wet and dry surfaces. A breathable engineered mesh upper is comfortable to wear all day long and Altra refined the sidewalls to increase stability while you are on uneven terrain. The premium collar has been redesigned for added comfort and keeps your heel locked in and secure. Whether you are hiking or running an ultra-marathon, do it in comfort with the Altra Olympus 5.
Go for an all-day adventure in the plush Altra Olympus 5. Altrarsquos Compression Molded EVA midsole foam gives you light and luxurious performance with a little extra bounce and durability. The Olympus is built with Altrarsquos Original FootShapetrade Fit, which is the most voluminous of Altrarsquos shoes. It also has their signature wide toe box so your toes can splay naturally. Like all Altra shoes, the Olympus has a Balanced Cushionedtrade platform that positions your heel and forefoot at equal distances from the ground (or zero heel-to-toe drop), which encourages better alignment and form. Altra redesigned the outsole to make it even easier to run on uneven terrain. The Olympus 5 has the grip and traction to take on any terrain thanks to its Vibramreg Megagriptrade, which is a durable and sticky high-performance rubber that works great on both wet and dry surfaces. A breathable engineered mesh upper is comfortable to wear all day long and Altra refined the sidewalls to increase stability while you are on uneven terrain. The premium collar has been redesigned for added comfort and keeps your heel locked in and secure. Whether you are hiking or running an ultra-marathon, do it in comfort with the Altra Olympus 5.
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Go for an all-day adventure in the plush Altra Olympus 5. Altrarsquos Compression Molded EVA midsole foam gives you light and luxurious performance with a little extra bounce and durability. The Olympus is built with Altrarsquos Original FootShapetrade Fit, which is the most voluminous of Altrarsquos shoes. It also has their signature wide toe box so your toes can splay naturally. Like all Altra shoes, the Olympus has a Balanced Cushionedtrade platform that positions your heel and forefoot at equal distances from the ground (or zero heel-to-toe drop), which encourages better alignment and form. Altra redesigned the outsole to make it even easier to run on uneven terrain. The Olympus 5 has the grip and traction to take on any terrain thanks to its Vibramreg Megagriptrade, which is a durable and sticky high-performance rubber that works great on both wet and dry surfaces. A breathable engineered mesh upper is comfortable to wear all day long and Altra refined the sidewalls to increase stability while you are on uneven terrain. The premium collar has been redesigned for added comfort and keeps your heel locked in and secure. Whether you are hiking or running an ultra-marathon, do it in comfort with the Altra Olympus 5.
Go for an all-day adventure in the plush Altra Olympus 5. Altrarsquos Compression Molded EVA midsole foam gives you light and luxurious performance with a little extra bounce and durability. The Olympus is built with Altrarsquos Original FootShapetrade Fit, which is the most voluminous of Altrarsquos shoes. It also has their signature wide toe box so your toes can splay naturally. Like all Altra shoes, the Olympus has a Balanced Cushionedtrade platform that positions your heel and forefoot at equal distances from the ground (or zero heel-to-toe drop), which encourages better alignment and form. Altra redesigned the outsole to make it even easier to run on uneven terrain. The Olympus 5 has the grip and traction to take on any terrain thanks to its Vibramreg Megagriptrade, which is a durable and sticky high-performance rubber that works great on both wet and dry surfaces. A breathable engineered mesh upper is comfortable to wear all day long and Altra refined the sidewalls to increase stability while you are on uneven terrain. The premium collar has been redesigned for added comfort and keeps your heel locked in and secure. Whether you are hiking or running an ultra-marathon, do it in comfort with the Altra Olympus 5.
