The Olympus 5 trail shoe grabs the eye with its quirky its design and shape and the chunky look feels at odds with the light weight of the shoes, both in the hand and once on your feet. The shape is very sculpted with a neatly fitting heel cup which widens out to a very broad forefoot where your toes can spread right out.
This might not suit every foot shape, especially narrower feet but for me it gives welcome extra room for my toes as they warm and swell over the miles. It also allows a very natural feel while walking or running, I find my toes sense the ground very well and the forefoot feels very stable on rough ground. This is despite the thickness of the midsole and also helped by a very soft flex forward of the ball of my foot.
Peter Macfarlane Recommends
The Olympus grabs the eye with its quirky its design and shape and the chunky look feels at odds with the light weight of the shoes, both in the hand and once on your feet.- Long term comfort
- Fit
- Roomy toe box
- Laces are too short
- Specific fit
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £155 Weight: 664g pair, UK9 Materials & features: stack height: 33mm, Vibram Megagrip outsole, EVA midsole, engineered mesh upper, Original FootShape Fit Heel-to-toe drop: 0mm Lug depth: 4mm Sizes: UK 6 to 14 (half sizes 6. To 11.5) Womens version: Yes URL: https://www.altrarunning.eu/uk/ |
The very thick midsole cushions very but does not separate me from the terrain, I can still feel rocks and roots so after a few initial miles I grew more confident in the shoes. The heels’ contact area is very large which adds grip and feeling of security but also feeds back any movement on uneven terrain straight to your ankle.
If these were your first pair of trail shoes a little acclimatising and strengthening time for your ankles on easier ground would be recommended. The outsole is excellent and grippy across most terrain and conditions, there are deep grooves in the tread pattern which add flex and the sole sheds mud quite well.
The whole sole has flex but the thickness adds back enough rigidity for it to feel balanced and it’s especially comfortable on long days on rough terrain. The upper dries quickly when wet and the mesh fabric has plastic reinforcing at high wear points. The heel has a large pull tab and has a padded inner collar that is both comfortable and secure.
The laces run smooth but are too short, neat laces are a must for runners but these are too short to do a proper knot. There are handy gaiter attachment points and reflective detailing.
Reviewed and tested by Peter MacFarlane
Peter is long time user of trail running shoes in the outdoors for activities ranging from long distance paths to walking the Munros. He has also been a sporadic trail runner over the years and used these test models to retune his running feet around his local trails in the Kilpatrick Hills.
Peter has a narrow heel and wide forefoot and the weights are taken from his own digital scales.
