Nico's blog

Last run with running shoes: Altra Olympus 5

History

I bought those shoes 2 years ago, and wrote a review back then.

Feedback

Why do I retire them?

Strava tells me I've used them for 876 kms.
For pure running, it's slightly less, as I "retired" them 1 month ago and used them to play football in my backyard with my sons. So probably 860 kms or so.

While playing football, they simply decided to "die", see by yourself:

What I liked

• the cushioning: it is still great after 800+ kms
• comfort: they still feel very comfortable
• grip: the Vibram outsole has a very good grip and is durable

What I didn't like

• lacing system: it is very tight and every time I put these shoes on, it's a bit of a struggle. When comparing with e.g. the Timp 5 which I recently bought, it's like day and night.

Wrap Up

2 years as a lifespan is not too bad. Now the usual question: would I buy a new pair of Olympus? (I saw on Altra's website that they have released the Olympus 6)
Not so sure - the lacing system is a big "no no" for me, and I literraly felt in love with the Timp 5's excellent lacing, especially at the foot's instep.

Tags: Running