RANGE EXPLAINED: Altra Olympus.

What makes Altra Altra?

In a world of shoe manufacturers fighting for attention through minor developments and slight points of difference, Altra offers a truly unique proposition for runners across road and trail.

Adopting a unique design philosophy, Altra incorporates a roomy toe box and zero-to-low drop across all of their whole footwear offering.

But what does this really mean for the runner?

FootShape™ Toe Box

Altra don’t refer to their shoes as wide fit, so seeing ‘FootShape™’ on an Altra shoe doesn’t necessarily mean the entire shoe is wide. Rather, it means it features a roomier toe box where the foot needs it, allowing the shoe to retain security through the midfoot whilst letting toes splay naturally.

Instead of squeezing your toes into a narrow, tapered space, Altra’s signature roomy toe box allows your toes to relax and spread out, improving stability and encouraging natural running form.

Zero-to-Low Drop

Zero-to-low drop means that the height difference between the heel and forefoot ranges between 0mm and 4mm (depending on the shoe). This means there is no or very little built-in slope from the rear to the front of the shoe.

Every shoe in the Olympus range has a 0mm drop, meaning the midsole stack height is the exact same from heel to toe. This keeps your body in a more natural position, offering a confident and stable foundation to run on.

But just because the drop is 0mm doesn't mean there is a lack of cushioning. The Olympus is Altra’s maximum cushioned, zero-drop trail shoe offering, still offering runners a plush 33mm of foam stack to absorb tough trail surfaces.

The combination of these two key design principles puts your body in the most natural foot position possible, something that competitors on the market rarely or simply achieve.

Altra's Olympus Running Range - The Similarities

Before we go into what makes each entry of the shoes in the Olympus Range unique, it's worth starting off with what they have in common. The Olympus 7 and 275 HiLo trail shoe both sare the same Midsole and Outsole feature as their Olympus hiking counterpart.

Midsole

Each shoe in the feature brand new Altra EGO™ MAX foam, which is lighter & softer for a cushioned ride on the trails, especially when comparing to other trail options from Altra like the Lone Peak 9+.

While people often assume 0mm drop shoes offer minimum cushioning, the Olympus is a maximum cushioned range, provide as much comfort as possible on longer distances trail running and hiking, while still retaining that natural foot positioning which is so curial to the Altra philospohy

Outsole:

On each model you will find a Vibram® MegaGrip and TractionLug, a durable outsole paring that offers reliable tractions.

They all feature a 3.5mm lug depth, which allows them to excel across a broad range of off-road surfaces including hard-packed trail, mixed trail and rocky/technical trail. 

But the grip that the Olympus offers isn’t just down to lug depth. Their shape and patented Vibram® TractionLug design means they shed debris easily, while the Megagrip compound mean these shoes won't struggle on wet or slipy surfaces.

The Olympus Family - The Differences

The key technical differences among the Olympus line up comes through variations in the uppers.

Olympus 275 HiLo

Best for: Technical race-days and ultra-distances

The 275 HiLo uses a high-tenacity Matryx® upper reinforced with Kevlar threads. This material offers maximum tear resistance, minimal stretch strain and exceptional drainage at a lower weight than previous iteration, the Olympus 275.

It features an integrated gaiter-like collar which Altra refers to as the scree sleeve, designed to block debris on loose mountain terrain from entering the shoe.

It is these features that make the Olympus 275 HiLo perfect for technical, ultra-distance trail running, while giving that competitive edge for race day.

Olympus 7

Best for: Long-distance trail running & dry hiking

The 7 uses a classic engineered mesh upper, which prioritise step-in comfort, breathability and flex. 

Deep padding around the tongue and heel counter keeps feet comfortable over 100-mile ultra distances, though it offers less lateral lockdown on inclines and slopes compared to the 275 HiLo. 

Overall, the Olympus 7 is more suited for max comfort on long, steady trails and regular daily wear.

Olympus 7 Mid-GTX Hiking Boot

Best For: Wet weather and all-day hiking

The Olympus 7 Mid-GTX combines is a boot construction with a padded collar and a waterproof GORE-TEX Invisible Fit membrane.

Invisible fit, means that the GORE-TEX membrane is bonded directly to the boots upper, offering a more flexible, lightweight and less bulky fit. While the integrated construction provide a smoothers and more consistent fit that can contribute to reducing hot spots and fictions points which you may have experienced in traditional walking boots.

The Olympus 7 Mid-GTX is a perfect for cold, wet, or rocky hiking conditions.

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