Comfort en avontuur gaan samen. Beschermend en weerbestendig, lichtgewicht en snel of veelzijdig: vind de juiste wandelschoen voor jou. Hoka’s versatile trail shoe can be used for big mile cruising or more technical terrain. Its midsole material is similar to the Olympus 5, with a more robust outsole, and a much more dialed in fit, especially in the toebox. Personally I like the wide toebox of the Olympus, and my style of running tends to favor the less technical terrain, but I can definitely see why the Speedgoat is a trail favorite. With the all-new Olympus 5, Altra faces the paradox any successful footwear maker is eventually faced with: always and forever compelled to produce the “new,” how does a brand update / reinvent a winning model — in this case the Olympus 4 — to a degree that doesn’t completely ruin its design but does enough to warrant its update in the first place? The ideal answer: with tact.

The shoe's forefoot width (110.8 mm) is average compared to other running shoes (111.7 mm). But what makes it impressive is the heel width (100.2 mm) which is 11.5(!)mm wider than the average. If you're unaware, here's what toe-off means: Pushing the ground farther from yourself not only using your entire forefoot but also your toe strength. Yes, this results in minuscule differences, but it adds up when you're competing with milliseconds (hint: Shorter distances). The Upper Mesh is so and so…its a bit more airy but got less structural support than the 4.0 Upper so offcamber situations ontrail feel more vague. Inov8’s massive trail shoe has some sizing issues, but the Graphene infused outsole brings something special to the trail. While its toebox isn’t quite as massively wide as the Olympus, there’s still lots of room for toe splay, and the midsole has a much more dynamic ride than the Olympus.The tongue is on the thinner side, but you would really have to crank down the laces to get any direct lace feel. Number two: Overall, the fit is a little like eating a platter of fully loaded nachos without a napkin or utensils… a bit sloppy. That cheese is movin’. I kind of expect it from a max cushion shoe, but I was really hoping for a supremely secure fit like that found in the Altra Timp 2. Absolutely, and I'm right there with you. The Olympus 4 midsole is the same material as the Timp 1.5 midsole, and while they have a similar bounce to them, but I definitely think the Evo Mafate 2 has a little more responsive, and faster midsole than the Oly 4. It isn't a massive swing for me, and I think the Oly 4 is the most fun of the Olympus line up, but the EM2 is a really fast shoe. Or at least it can be on someone else's feet :) Durability is an area where I expected the Olympus 4.0 to excel, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. At around 75 miles in the shoe, the outsole is showing almost no signs of wear (as I’d expect at this mileage) and the midsole feels pretty much just as lively as it did on the first couple of runs — which hasn’t always been the case in other Altra shoes. The upper also isn’t showing any signs of wear so far. All that ‘white’ is just foam, not rubber. It doesn’t grip at all when wet, which takes some getting used to. But hey, look at the rubber after 700 miles. Pretty good shape.

Offering maximum cushioning, maximum comfort, and maximum performance the Altra Olympus 4 in Blue lets you hit the trails in total confidence thanks to its Vibram Megagrip outsole. The plush cushion of the sole makes the Olympus 4.0 less responsive than one would hope. Some of the energy return is eaten up in the sponginess, but of course, this isn't really a shoe for taking to the races. Comfort for days! Some may chalk up the Olympus 5’s updates as purely cosmetic, like an underhanded attempt to lure customers into upgrading their shoes for the sake of staying up to date with the newest-looking model. I’m sure many shoe companies are guilty of this ploy, it’s not exactly an original grift after all, but I think Altra is innocent in this case. The Olympus 5’s restructured upper, specifically its sturdier heel collar, gusseted tongue, and gentle engineered mesh, demonstrate the brand’s willingness to smooth out the remaining wrinkles left in the highly-regarded Olympus 4. You're very welcome Alberto. And yes, the Stinson has very good midfoot hold. Even though it is a big shoe, I wouldn't term it "ponderous" - a great description Sam has used before. It holds your foot very well.You won’t confuse it with the Brooks Catamount (or even the Nike Pegasus Trail 2) for really fast stuff, but don’t expect a lumbering, stiff ride. I was able to keep up with RTR contributor Don Reichelt for 4 miles in them (full disclosure, it was his easy easy day, and I was gasping for air nearly the whole time) so they can’t be *that* slow.

Which one do you think has more cushion, and is softer at forefoot, Altra Olympus 4 or Hoka's Speedgoat 4 or Mafate? Like the Lone Peak, the Olympus is designed with Altra’s “Original” fit, which happens to be their roomiest. Of course, everybody’s feet are different, so calling this a good thing would be absolutely ridiculous. However, generally, I think that more space is conducive to foot wellbeing over long distances as they swell and spread throughout the day, weeks, and months. If you like the fit of Lone Peak’s, then the Olympus will probably work for you too. Comfort The shoe also drained well, which is always an important thing to consider when water crossings are part of the equation.Mine fell apart in less than 50 miles altra refused to honor the warranty after more than a dozen pairs of altras I am moving to another brand permanently.

Footshape: Making shoes that actually fit the anatomical shape of a human foot is what Altra is all about. This is most obviously noticed with the wide toe box, which allows the toes to spread and behave naturally. The grooves also help drop weight on the Olympus (.3 oz from the previous model). My men’s 10.5 weighs in at 12.2 ounces, which, for the amount of trail protection you are getting, is pretty reasonable. There really isn’t a limit on how far you can go with these as long as you’re on appropriate terrain. I hope that helps, and if you have any further questions, let me know, I'll respond much faster next time. Coming in at 11.6oz (328g) the Altra Olympus 4.0 is not much heavier than other maximalist shoes like the Hoka Speedgoat 4 (10.8oz/306g). I run in both and can barely feel the difference. The Olympus 4.0 feels light on the foot, and never once did it feel clunky, even though it would fall into the plush or maximal category of shoes. Tongue stays in place and keeps your shoe debris-free Thankfully, the shoe isn’t terribly heavy, which was a pleasant surprise to me given the amount of cushion and the sturdy heel cup/toe cap that the Olympus 4.0 brings to the table.Helping to keep the shoe as light as it is (11.6 oz) is the mesh upper present in the mid foot area that helps the Olympus 4.0 to breath quite well. Altra believe in three over riding principles that guide each shoe they make including the Olympus 4. Excellent - thanks Jeff. I will soon need a replacement for my Go Trail Ultra 3s, which are very soft and bouncy, having remained so for almost 500 miles.