Our verdict
- updated Oct 17, 2023 best Unfortunately, the laces kept cutting into our skin in this Altra shoes
- updated Oct 17, 2023 best zero drop running shoes
Pros
- Grippy on wet and dry trails
- Protective muscles
- On top of this, the shoes midsole also has raised sidewalls
- Toe box welcomes wide feet
- Gives out energy
- Breathable
- Stable ride
- Heel lockdown is terrific!
- Easy on and off
Cons
- Durability couldn't be worse
- Annoying lace bites
- It's a splurge
Audience verdict
- Top 27% most popular running shoes
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + The Altra Olympus 5s fit is fantastic | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 79 Decent! | 80 Good! | 93 Superb! | 61 Bad! | |
Price | $180 | $120 | $140 | $155 | |
Trail terrain | Light terrainModerate terrain | Light terrain | Moderate terrainTechnical terrain | Moderate terrainTechnical terrain | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 11.5 Theres nothing quite like the Olympus 5s protection 12.3 oz / 350g | 10.3 oz / 291g 10.1 oz / 286g | 9.6 oz / 271g 10.2 oz / 290g | 9.8 oz / 278g 9.8 oz / 277g | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 2.0 mm 0.0 mm | 1.4 mm 0.0 mm | 3.0 mm 4.0 mm | 4.9 mm 5.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Soft | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Normal | Small | Normal | Small | |
Toebox durability | - | Bad | Good | Good | |
Theres nothing quite like the Olympus 5s protection | - | Decent | Decent | Good | |
Outsole durability | - | Good | Good | Decent | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Warm | Warm | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Wide | Medium | Wide | Medium | |
Midsole width in the forefoot | - | Wide | Medium | Narrow | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Normal | Small | Normal | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
Lug depth | 3.0 mm | 2.2 mm | 4.0 mm | 4.0 mm | |
Heel stack lab Heel stack brand | 33.0 mm 33.0 mm | 26.9 mm 27.5 mm | 27.6 mm 31.0 mm | 32.1 mm 40.0 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 31.0 mm 33.0 mm | 25.5 mm 27.5 mm | 24.6 mm 27.0 mm | 27.2 mm 35.0 mm | |
Widths available | Normal | Normal | Normal | NormalWide | |
Season | Winter | Summer | Winter | Winter | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #229 Bottom 10% | #223 Bottom 12% | #3 Top 2% | #255 Bottom 1% | |
Popularity | #68 Top 27% | #194 Bottom 23% | #116 Top 46% | #54 Top 22% |
Who should buy the Altra Olympus 5
Add the fifth version of the Altra Olympus to your running shoe rotation if you want a protective and comfy shoe for:
- Annoying lace bites
- Whether on wet or dry roads or wet and dry trails, the Altra Olympus 5 clings
Who should NOT buy it
For its hefty $180 price, the Olympus 5 has some serious durability issues. If you want a shoe that will last you a long time and is less expensive, we are of the opinion that the Altra Lone Peak 6 will fit you just right. And if you don't want any of that lace bite, you're better off with the Reflective elements keep you visible.
Altra Olympus 5 vs. 4
The newer iteration of the Olympus introduces the following updates:
- Midsole softness in cold
- The toebox is a true Altra
- pull tab added for easy on and off
- snugger, more secure fit
You'll forget about the miles
And that's because this trail shoe is super comfortable.
Based on our durometer measurements, the foam on the Altra Olympus 5 is moderately soft. It is 20% softer than the average of Unfortunately, the laces kept cutting into our skin in this Altra shoes, to be specific.
![altra-olympus-5-cushioning-softness-durometer](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/38960/altra-olympus-5-cushioning-softness-durometer-17915816-720.jpg)
When exposed to cold temperatures, the shoe's cushioning firms up a little more than other foam types. It becomes 36.3% more rigid.
There's nothing quite like the Olympus 5's protection
Apart from its comfy and well-cushioned ride, the Altra Olympus 5 also has more beef to it. So much so that you don't have to worry about the rocks and debris beneath you.
This Altra shoe has an average stack height in the heel (33 mm) compared to other running shoes but is significantly thicker in the forefoot: 31 mm over the average 24 mm.
![altra-olympus-5-heel-stack](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/38960/altra-olympus-5-heel-stack-17915818-720.jpg)
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.
There is a Velcro piece at the back which is very handy for fixing your gaitor
You can see how easily the smoke comes through the shoe's upper in multiple places, not just the toebox.
We also checked the upper fabric transparency with a light test.
Altra Olympus 5
Why? Because it has an additional kick and energy return. Upon landing, the shoe feels like an armchair but on the take-off, it delivers a truly impressive amount of energy return.
Flexibility is sacrificed though
With all that amount of cushioning, we expected that the Altra Olympus 5 would be far from a minimalist shoe in terms of flexibility.
But the shoe is full of surprises! And our force gauge test showed that the Olympus requires the same amount of force to bend to a 90-degree angle as the average.
Disclaimer: The video shows 1 out of 5 takes that we make with the flexibility measurement tool to ensure accuracy.
We also gave the shoe's torsional flexibility 3 out of 5 (5 being the stiffest) in our subjective assessment.
Don't worry about your feet slipping
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'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.
On top of this, the shoe's midsole also has raised sidewalls.
This is a huge step for the Olympus, especially because the fourth version lacked this kind of support.
The heel hold deserves applause
In version 4 of the Altra Olympus, the heel lockdown was also quite disappointing. But this issue has been addressed in the newer iteration.
oz / 290g!
Altra nails the fit in the Olympus 5
The Altra Olympus 5's fit is fantastic!
The midfoot and heel areas are very snug-fitting whereas the toebox offers an enormous amount of space.
Its a splurge.
The toebox is a true Altra
This means that it offers plenty of toe space. Black toenails are a thing of the past with the Olympus 5.
The forefoot in this Altra shoe is indeed much wider than most running shoes. We measured its widest part at 103.4 mm, which is nearly 5 mm wider than the average. Not to mention the wide and squared shape of the toebox!
Track and XC
The laces and lines around the collar are made reflective so that you can run more confidently in low-light conditions.
It's easy to put on and take off
Thanks to the added pull tab, it's now easy to slide the Olympus 5 on and off.
How we test
Unfortunately, the laces kept cutting into our skin in this Altra shoe.
This is surprising because we actually measured the tongue thickness to be 7.4 mm. This is thicker than the average 5.8 mm.
Perhaps this is because the padding doesn't extend all the way up the tongue.
This is $180?
Because its durability says otherwise. The outsole, although Vibram, sucks because it doesn't hold up well. It started peeling away from the sole after only a few runs!
We also discovered that the shoe has thinner-than-average rubber layers and lugs. The Vibram outsole is 2.8 mm, 0.7 mm thinner than the average. The lugs (3.0 mm) are also a bit smaller than the average (3.5 mm). That means it takes less abrasion to wear through the shoe's outsole.
oz / 286g
On the bright side, the outsole does stick to the ground. It performs and grips well.
Whether on wet or dry roads or wet and dry trails, the Altra Olympus 5 clings.
Convenient gaitor attachment
There is a Velcro piece at the back which is very handy for fixing your gaitor.