Customer Reviews Altra Olympus 4

I got a size 10 as I do with my Paradigms and Lone Peaks but no matter how tight I lace them, once on hill slopes on dirt, my feet shift inside but I was told the size should be accurate. I have no clue since no shop near me carries this in store. Not sure if it's too late to return. They feel padded but I still wish for more padding in these and the Paradigm by a few millimeters or to add some dense padding under soft cushy padding

Hi - I am writing from the other side of the ocean - out to Hong Kong! I just bought a pair of the Olympus 4.0 - the trails out here are mainly technical terrains so would like to see how they fare compared to my old Hoka GTX SG4. Wearing the Altras now - in the office - can say that it feels more grounded compared to the SG4...the stack volume feels about right.... One major gripe comes to mind with the Olympus 4.0.....you made the sole, lugs using vibram....yet you kept the middle part non-vibram and making it in a more squishy softer rubber..WHY? This would then obviously wear and tear a lot faster...plus won't have the same grip/protection as the vibram....the price of the shoe is comparable to Hoka SG4 - so why crimp out on the middle sole section for a cheaper rubber material? I hope this will not continue into the next season....

Comfy, stable shoes but too narrow in the toebox!! I have to tape my pinkie toes when wearing these or they get squeezed and destroyed. Please go back to doing what you do best, Altra - make shoes with a wide toebox for those of us with high volume feet!

I was really looking forward to getting these shoes. I have ran with each of the 4.0's predecessors for the past 10 years. This shoe is a major step forward for trail running. It grips the ground like no other running shoe I have ever worn. It feels lighter and sportier as well. Now for the bad news. The cushioning is terrible and a major step backwards. I had been running with the 3.5's prior to this. Even with 1000+ miles on them I could run 15 miles and feel very little soreness in my heels or ankles after a run. With the 4.0's I feel significant soreness after a run that lasts a few days. I've ran with them about 6 or 7 times so far (each time about 15 miles). This is a huge disappointment because I don't feel like I can run every day in these shoes.

Size and fit is good. I had to go a half size up in these. It's the only Altra shoe I've worn so far that doesn't result in stone bruising on the bottom of my feet. Lone Peaks 4.5 failed miserably at that. Timp 2 was questionable, and I understand they went narrow in the redesign, so I avoided that model all together. So this was my only Altra option before moving onto a different brand. Middle of outsole is the soft mid-foam continued, which degrades quickly. Partial Vibram on the outsole, which is disappointing. The part of the outsole that is not Vibram is already breaking down after 30 miles. Without fooling with the size of the Olympus on the next generation, I could give this a solid yes if they decide to do Vibram on the entire outsole/bottom, as the Appalachian Trail is showing Altra just who is the boss.

Left shoe fits perfectly; however, the right shoe feels a little small. I'm hoping that as I break them in the right shoe will fit better.

I walk daily on uneven and rough paths. I previously had the Escalante Racer, which I loved because the fit was perfect. However, the soles did not last long on the aforementioned paths. The Olympus 4 have better soles to deal with the rough paths, but they don't fit well (heels slip) and HURT my big toes! Moreover, the Olympus 4 feel like I'm wearing bricks compared to the Escalante Racer. Can't you come up with something in the middle?

Looks cool, fits and feels great on non-technical trails, still like the roomy toe-box which is why a keep coming back to Altra...but I keep looking for an alternative option for a good trail runner. My issues with the Olympus are this: 1) it's waaaay too expensive, this should be a $120 trail runner. 2) The heel lock is terrible on technical trail, all over the place...rubbing/blisters will happen. 3) durability! this continues to be Altra's achilles heel.

I have bunionettes and have trouble finding shoes that fit my average width women's heel and wide forefoot. I was very excited when I first found Altra, but since have been very disappointed that wide toe-box does not also mean a wide ball-of-the-foot area. My bunionettes always hang out over the edge of the shoe's sole, and the men's Olympus is the closest I've come to a finding a sneaker with a foot bed that's actually as wide as my forefoot. So first off, thank you Altra for offering at least one model that almost worked! I really wanted to keep these shoes, but they are just so thick, heavy, and chunky. My heel slips even using heel-lock lacking, and the shoe has a taller stack height than I prefer. I could probably make due for day to day use, but I can't imagine running in a shoe that fits this poorly. I'm really tired of always having to compromise something in my shoes - squished toes, narrow forefoot, loose heel... it's always something. I'd love to see a model like the Escalante or Torin offered in a wide width! Please make shoes to fit differently shaped feet!!!! It's amazing to me that shoes come in 20 lengths but only one width. All feet do not have the same width or shape.

Second pair of Altra shoes, first pair are Superior 3 in size 9. The superiors fit fine, but I can't get a secure feeling in the heel with these Olympus in size 9. I even used the lower set of lace holes at the top of the shoe. This wouldn't stop me from trying another pair of Altras, but just not liking the Olympus.

Altra created the best shoe in the Lone Peak 4.0, then ruined it with the 4.5. I was told these had the same fit as the 4.0, which they do, but the cushion is pretty ridiculous. It might take a lot of getting used to, but it feels like I'm standing on 3" platform shoes. While the fit may be similar to the LP 4.0, these aren't appropriate replacements. I will put some more miles on these and update if I change my mind.

I'm a fan of Altra shoes and have owned at least 7 pairs. Normally a size 10.5 fits perfectly. In this case, the toe box wasn't high enough, so I had to send them back. It's the second time I've had to return a pair of Altras for the same reason. I'm waiting for Altra to credit my account before I reorder the Olympus in a size 11.

My foot is a 10 1/2 to 11 extra wide. I had to buy a 12 1/2 to get a width that felt roomy and comfortable with my orthotics inside. So, just a little sloppy in length, but perfect in width. The laces cut off a bit of circulation, but my orthotics do raise my arch way up, so the tight lacing is my doing. Plenty of cushion in the soles.

Thru hiker here. Hoping for cushioning similar to the Hoka Stinson, with a wide toe box. These were thick, but hard. They also have too much flex in the forefoot than I prefer, as opposed to a more rockered sole which I find works better for the rigors of weeks of high mile days. The upper felt confident, but stiff, sparse, and shortly thereafter, uncomfortable. They were light, nimble, and grippy though. The toe off felt abrupt as well.

I run 15-20 miles a week and have been a loyal Altra Paradigm Disciple since I was introduced to them at a half marathon expo 4 years ago. In the last few Paradigm models the toe box volume and width have been significantly reduced and fit uncomfortably tight. The same is true for this Olympus model. Great shoe for plushness and support, but I had to return them after a few weeks because they were strangling my wide foot. This is a great shoe for people with narrow feet. If you have a moderate or wide foot...forget it!

Overall review of the product is good. Nice foot fit and connection to the road. Had an eyelet rupture, second one up on the shoe.....looks like this piece was added later during development. Also, I don't know how many of your wear testers are running in larger sizes......I'm a 12 1/2, but the laces are consistently too short in the larger sizes

Switched over from hokas to altra shoes. These shoes have alot of cushion, grip and is a bit heavy. The toe box is perfect however the upper material I believe is cheaply made. I only had these shoes for a week or so and i mostly used them for walking and at work. After a week both lateral side of the shoes near the big toe, I started noticing the glue were coming off and it also started to hurt the top of my left foot where the tongue is located so I had to return them. These were my first pairs of altra shoes and I really liked them because of the cushion and toe box and was looking forward to using them for hiking which sadly didnt happen. I dont know if I recieved a defective pair but other reviewers mentioned poor quality as well. You would think they would make it with durable materials since these shoes are pretty pricey. I guess I have to look elsewhere...

I've been suffering from frustrating metatarsalgia and found that a pair of Lone Peaks were helping a lot by providing so much extra room in the toebox. They've been great for light hiking. But I work on my feet, and those shoes just don't provide enough support for a 10-hour workday on hard floors. I wanted to try something with more cushion to help absorb the stress. The Olympus seemed to fit the bill in writing, but I'm disappointed in the result. The soles feel great, honestly. I think they'd work fine for what I need. But despite being the same size as my Lone Peaks, there is zero room in the toebox. The width is fine -- exactly the same as the Lone Peak -- but it seems like all the extra cushioning was built into shoe by sacrificing interior volume. My toes feel pinned against the upper with no room to move, resulting in constant strain and worsening of my discomfort. For a company that prides itself on a roomy toebox, I'm baffled by how these fit. As a minor aside, these are also the only shoes I've bought in years where the laces are far too short.

This shoe is easy to fall in love with out of the box. It looks very cool and feels like you are floating. People will comment on how cool it is, and it is. The upper has made leaps and bounds and now fits high-volume and wide again. I picked this shoe up at a PCT stop and it only made it about 250 miles before I had to replace it. Here are the problems: -The forefoot compressed and lost more than half of its thickness while the heel did not- no more zero drop and no more ground protection. The whole front of the sole pancaked out and was notedly wider. This loss of rebound is a 'traditional' Altra problem, and I wish they would have addressed it here. -The independent toe lugs start to cave in, particularly in the middle. It is like the whole forefoot collapses around the middle toe once the foam is flat. So the rocks just dig right in - and no rock plate. -There is no grip on about half of the (effective) sole. Less rubber means lighter, but the center of the shoe is just foam with lugs that get trashed. This means that if you step on a rock with the center of the foot, you slip. Did my first ever face plant because of it. All said, it still may be the best shoe on the market for my foot and needs. I have already purchased a second pair, but I am nervous that Altra will not make the necessary improvements. I am concerned that a thru hike would take 8 or 9 pairs, especially at this price.

I've owned numerous Altra shoes through the years with no issues, and I really wanted to love these but after just an hour or two of wearing them, I have to take them off. They make my feet and calves hurt. I love the looks. Cushioning seems significantly less than "Max" as stated. Great traction. Maybe I just got a defect pair...????

Bought two pairs of the Olympus 4.0 shoe 8/14/2020, one black, one red. Didn't try both colors on in the store in Orem UT because i figured they'd both be new without defect so tried the black ones on only. Got home, two days later got them out both out the box and went for a walk in the red ones to see how they felt. Was so excited to finally get my hands on these shoes, being waiting for months like everyone else. To my disappointment i noticed the motif on the outside of the left shoe was peeling away. I called the store, no more 14's, not sure when they would get them in again, called Altra direct-same response, none there either. Since i had no idea when i would get them i ended up keeping and gluing the side of the shoe, hope it holds so i didn't waste money. Shoe looks and feels great. Just seems to always be something with this model. I always buy two at a time and Olympus is the shoe for me. The defect doesn't impact performance of the shoe right now but eventually it will.

Ever since the corporate buy out Altra has forgotten how to build in any kind of heel lock. This shoe also suffers from a tongue that is too short AND its padding stops even shorter. Out of words

I'm an Altra fan mainly because of their generous toe box. I currently own four pairs and was hoping to add the Olympus 4 to my collection. I've learned that if a shoe is not immediately comfortable when you slip it on the first time, then don't buy. I walked around the inside of the house for the better part of a day but the tightness of the instep, especially at the ball of my foot did not improve. I loved the sole, very grippy. The shoe tongue had a permanent wrinkle on the left shoe that also aggravated my foot.

I love the cushion and overall design. Unfortunately I have wide feet. Not the kind of wide feet where folks want a little more wiggle room in the toes but true wide feet from my toes to my heal. I was using Hoka Speedgoat since they have a wide but the cushion wears down fast and unevenly which causes my over pronation to be over supination and hurts my knees. The Olympus seems to have the best cushion with strong rebound. However since they do not come in a wide the back half of my foot is going over and beyond the arch support which takes up space and causes heel lift. I wore them for 2 thirty minute treadmill runs both times the friction from heal lift on my inner heal was present. I know long term they will cause blister so has to return. However. It is a fixable problem. Please please please Altra make this in a Wide!!!