Altra has never made a hiking shoe—until now. The new Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX is their first shoe made for hikers, not runners. Many hikers swear by Altra's trail running shoes, especially the Altra Lone Peak. So what happens when Altra actually designs a shoe for hiking? Will fans of Altra trail runners want to switch to the Olympus 5 Hike? Is Altra's first hiking shoe more supportive and durable than its trail running shoes? Will hikers who hated the Lone Peak actually like the Olympus 5 Hike? How does the Olympus 5 Hike compare to the regular Olympus 5? My Altra Olympus 5 Hike review answers your questions and digs into Altra's first and only hiking shoe to help you figure out if it might fit your feet and match your hikes.
Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX
Altra is—and always will be—a brand devoted to runners. However, much of the brand's growth has come from hikers buying their trail running shoes. That finally led to them to develop the Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX—Altra's first hiking shoe.
Men's Olympus 5 Hike GTX
Women's Olympus 5 Hike GTX
The Altra Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX follows the brand's three-part blueprint:
Balanced Cushion
Formerly called "zero drop," Altras have the same amount of cushion beneath the heel and toes— versus traditional hiking shoes, which place more cushion under the heel for added shock absorption and support.
Gender-Specific Fit
Altra was one of the first brands to promote gender-specific fits, where the women's shoe is not derived from a men's shoe. Their Fit4Her fit is narrower in the heel and midfoot with a higher instep and longer arch.
Wide Toe Box
Altra's Footshape Toe Box is wider in the toes than other brands. That room allows the toes to relax and spread out naturally, and the big toe sets in a straight position for maximum stability and power.
However, the new Altra Olympus 5 Hike is also different from other Altras in two respects.
First, it's a max cushion shoe. It still has balanced cushion under the heel and toe. However, with a 33mm stack height, it has much thicker cushioning under the heel and toe than any other Altra shoe—and most other hiking shoes, too.
Second, it's bulked up for hiking. The Olympus 5 Hike is sturdier with less flex underfoot than Altra's running shoes. It also features soft leather uppers for added durability and foot protection as well as a waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX membrane for added weather protection. That also makes the Olympus 5 Hike heavier than Altra's trail running shoes (but still lighter than the average hiking shoe).
Altra Olympus 5.0 vs Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX
Importantly, Altra makes three different versions of the Olympus 5: the Olympus 5.0, Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX, and Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX. All three share the same max cushion midsoles, Altra's Original fit, and similar looks. However, the Olympus 5.0 is a trail running shoe—not a hiking shoe—with ventilating mesh uppers and no waterproof membrane. The Olympus 5.0 trail running shoe runs several ounces lighter than the low-cut Olympus 5 Hike GTX and features much more flex in the forefoot than its stiffer, heavier "Hike" siblings.
The Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX is available as both a low- and mid-cut hiking shoe (see it here). Both hikers feature soft leather uppers, waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX membranes, and stiffer, more supportive soles than their run-specific sibling.
You can hike in any of the Olympus family. This review focuses on the Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX hiking shoe:
Men's Olympus 5 Hike GTX- Low
Do you want to be one of the first guys to hike in the new Olympus 5 Hike? Click below to see available sizes and colors for men:
Women's Olympus 5 Hike GTX- Low
Do you want to be one of the first women to hike in the new Olympus 5 Hike? Click below to see available sizes and colors for wo men:
Altra Olympus 5 Hike Review
My Altra Olympus 5 Hike review covers the Olympus 5 Hike Low GTX, based on several moderate to difficult day hikes in Pennsylvania mountains. Here's what hikers might expect from Altra's first true hiking shoe:
SUPPORT
GOOD
Most Altras are light on support since the brand believes that runners should rely on their bodies—not their shoes—for stability and support. However, the Olympus 5 Hike has significant support, even though it's a lightweight hiking shoe. That thick, midsole cushion has little flex, making the shoe moderately stiff from heel to toe. It also has good torsional rigidity for some lateral support that potentially could prevent some ankle injuries. There's no arch support. Overall, however, this is a sturdy hiking shoe that doesn't feel flimsy in the rock gardens, scree, and rocky ridgelines that I hike.
WEIGHT
LIGHTWEIGHT
Even so, the Altra Olympus 5 Hike qualifies as a lightweight hiking shoe in my book. My pair weighs a whisker more than two pounds—slightly lighter than my pair of the Salomon X Ultra 4 and a whole half-pound lighter than my Oboz Sawtooths. It's significantly heavier than a trail running shoe, but relatively light for a hiking shoe. If you're looking for a mix of support and weight savings, the Altra Olympus 5 HIke Low GTX is a good option for you.
Altra's wide, Footshape toe box
FIT
WIDE FIT
The Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX runs true to size with a wide toe box and lower volume fit. It's built on Altra's Original last, the widest of their three fits (other than their wide size). If you have high volume feet, you may feel the tongue and top of the toe box more than you'd like (and may not have room for orthotics or a custom insole). If you're looking for a roomy toe box, however, this may be a really good fit for you. It's wider than most hiking shoes.
For me, the Olympus also has a more secure fit than the Altra Lone Peak. My feet don't slip around as much due to the sturdier soles and leather uppers.
Max cushion with 33mm stack height
COMFORT
GOOD
Comfort has a lot to do with fit, personal preferences, and shoes that match your body type and the type of terrain you hike. That being said, plenty of people will find this a comfortable hiking shoe, thanks to the wide toe box and max cushion.
Overall, there's a ton of cushion, but it's relatively firm cushion—not as plush as Hokas. It absorbs plenty of shock, but doesn't feel like mini-mattresses underfoot like some max cushion shoes. The Footshape toe box is Altra's original fit, their widest toe box (other than their wide size). For me, that added room in the toes is really comfortable. There's no arch support, and the "zero drop" (or balanced cushion) requires a gradual break in period to allow your joints, tendons, and ligaments to adjust.
Those details should help you figure out if this is the feel and fit that you want—or not. It's not a strong choice if you want a narrow fit or arch support or super-cushy shoes or a lot of trail feel. It may be a great choice if you want a zero drop shoe with a roomy toe box and plenty of responsive cushioning.
WEATHER PROTECTION
GORE-TEX
The Altra Olympus 5 Hike has several layers of weather protection: a durable water repellent to shed light moisture, water-resistant leather uppers, and a GORE-TEX membrane inside for waterproof and breathable protection. Low-cut shoes don't have much snow or water clearance. However, that's a strong combination to keep out water and mud or to hike in winter with some snow protection.
If you prefer a non-waterproof trail shoe for better ventilation, you should buy the (regular) Altra Olympus 5.0 trail running shoe, which costs $20 less and uses ventilating mesh instead of leather.
TRACTION
PLUS
Altra upgraded the traction on the Olympus 5 Hike to Vibram outsoles. Vibram rubber is known for great traction on both dry and wet surfaces. The lugs are widely spaced in back to shed snow and mud and more tightly spaced up front for more contact area for rock traction and more aggressive climbing lugs for steeper trails. I've been happy so far on a mixture of rocky ridgelines (e.g. Pennsylvania's Mid-State Trail) and steep descents on small rocks and fall leaf litter, which can be quite slick. My pair also passed the test on some rock scrambling, too.
DURABILITY
TOO EARLY TO TELL
I have just a few hikes under the belt in my pair, and the shoe's only been out a few months. It's too early to tell how durable (or not durable) this shoe will be. On the optimistic side, those leather uppers should be super durable, and Vibram outsoles should be, too. On the pessimistic side, Altra's trail runners don't have the best track record for durability, and some early reviews complain about those Vibram outsoles. I'll update durability as my miles pile up to share any positive or negative trends in the Olympus 5 Hike's durability.
PRICE
HIGH
The Altra Olympus 5 Hike is one of the most expensive hiking shoes on the market with a MSRP of $200. That's steep and due in part to the 3rd party upgrades with GORE-TEX waterproofing and Vibram outsoles. At least hikers score unique features for that money, including the wide toe boxes and maximum cushion. Both are rare in hiking shoes. If the durability turns out to be better than Altra's trail runners, that price may be palatable.
See available sizes and colors:
Altra Olympus 5 Hike Review: Pros vs Cons
Altra's first—and only—hiking shoe has exceeded my expectations. My first experience with the brand wasn't positive, but so far, the pros outweigh the cons with the new Altra Olympus 5 Hike. I'll continue to update this post as the miles stack up, but here's my early assessment of this shoe's pros vs. cons:
Overall Recommendation: Olympus 5 Hike GTX
There's a lot to like about the new Altra Olympus 5 Hike—except the price. The Altra Lone Peak trail running shoe did not work for my body or the rocky trails I hike. However, the Olympus 5 Hike has been easier on my feet, thanks to its added cushioning and support. It feels like it will be more durable, too. Overall, Altra's first real hiking shoe should be a draw to men and women who want a lightweight hiking shoe, who like max cushion, and who want or need a wide toe box.
In my opinion, these are the best fits and best matches for the new Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX:
Best Fit
True to size with a wide, footshape toe box, the Altra Olympus 5 favors hikers with standard to wide feet. It also features a women-specific fit for females.
Best Match
day hiking and ultra-light backpacking
The Olympus 5 Hike is a versatile hiking shoe that can handle harder trails and backpacking with a light pack.
How to buy the Altra Olympus 5 Hike GTX
Altra's first—and only—hiking shoe has exceeded my expectations after several early test hikes. I'll continue to update my Altra Olympus 5 Hike review as I log more miles and learn more about the shoe's strengths and limitations. In particular, I look forward to evaluating its durability (to the point that I'm now logging every hike to see how many miles it lasts). I've been an Altra skeptic, but I really like the new Olympus 5 Hike and hope it's as durable as it looks!
Are you feeling the Olympus 5 Hike? Are you interested in being some of the first men and women to wear Altra's first hiking shoe? If so, please consider purchasing your pair through the affiliate links in this post. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer if you click one of these links and make a qualifying purchase. That does not cost you anything, but it does send a few bucks my way. Those commissions aren't much, but they keep this site running and compensate me for the shoes I buy and review and for the hundreds of hours I've spend writing free content to help men and women buy the right hiking footwear for their feet and their hikes. If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too!
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