Altra Olympus 7 Review

As the interest in ultra running and trail running continues to expand, so does the evolution of the ultra trail shoe, which has got to be great news for us hardy runners. The Altra Olympus 7 takes the knowledge acquired from its predecessors and refines and retunes it to produce the new Olympus 7.

When I got my Olympus 7s, my first impression was wow (the Black Purple colourway is definitely a head-turner!), but also because they are a really substantial shoe, which is exactly what you want from a shoe that’s going to take you 50km plus.

So how do they feel on your feet?

The initial feel is extremely comfortable. The Olympus 7 is a zero-drop shoe with max cushioning. If you’re new to Altra, this means the stack height is the same at the heel and forefoot, so your foot sits level within the shoe. Unlike a shoe with a pronounced rocker, it isn’t designed to propel you through your gait cycle. This gives a more natural feel to your foot movement, which I particularly like on the trails where you encounter obstacles and debris of all shapes and sizes. Despite the high level of cushioning, I still felt stable and in control when negotiating uneven ground.

This shoe, remember, is going to be your best friend over the final miles of your ultra race, and like all good friends, you want something that is reliable, steady and ready to look after you. Zero drop isn’t always appealing to everyone, and it can take some getting used to, particularly for your calves. However, the generous cushioning of the Olympus 7 makes the ride feel comfortable and forgiving, making it a good option for runners looking to try their first zero-drop shoe.

Also crafted to enhance comfort is the Altra FootShape Fit. This is their Original FootShape last and is also their widest and roomiest toe box. Rather than forcing your forefoot into a pointy toe box where your toes feel cramped, the Altra ethos of FootShape Fit is designed to map the shape of the foot and allow your toes to sit straight (a feature so underestimated when considering the health of your feet these days). It also allows room for your toes to spread, which, if you’re going to be out all day in these shoes, you will cherish. That extra space helps your feet retain the comfort they experienced when you first put the shoes on!

If you look at the sole of the Olympus 7, it’s broad, and again, this broad base helps keep you stable when the legs start to tire at the end of a long day on the trails.

What are the best features?

For me, the shoe was surprisingly light. Yes, looks can be deceiving! The midsole is made from Altra EGO MAX foam, and the good news for fans of the Olympus 6 is that it’s 15% lighter and 10% softer than before. The feeling is super comfy, and even when wearing them all day, they never lost their softness and bounce. A real bonus!

The next thing of note is the upper: a breathable engineered mesh rather than the MATRYX one-piece woven upper found on the more nimble Olympus 275. The Olympus 7 also has moulded TPU overlays for added structure and protection, particularly around the toes, making a great bumper.

The fit is pretty glove-like considering the bulky appearance, but because the tongue is gusseted to the base of the upper, it hugs your foot in place. When running down steep descents, my foot wasn’t sliding forward, and when running over more technical tree roots and boulders, my foot stayed in position whatever the trails threw at me.

Finally, the next test was the outsole. Made from Vibram Megagrip with TractionLug for enhanced grip and durability, I was pleasantly surprised. The midsole combined with the outsole makes a sturdy rather than flexible combination, and it can feel a little hard to run in initially as your foot won’t flex as easily. However, that feeling softens a little as you get moving, and the result is great.

Where I run, the trails are quite varied: gravelly tracks, forest paths with protruding roots and boulders, grass fields and a bit of tarmac to get me there in the first place. The shoes took them all in their stride.

When you hit an incline, the broad platform of the shoe helps you toe off quite effortlessly. I really wasn’t expecting that. I did roll up the hills, contrary to what the laws of gravity would suggest!!

Also, when hitting sections of hard-packed gravel and tarmac, you could just float along. Some trail shoes squeak, resist and generally feel uncomfortable when on the road, but the Olympus 7s didn’t feel any different, and the whole run was smooth.

The substantial build does mean they aren’t quite as nimble on really rough, technical ground, where a more flexible trail shoe might allow you to react more quickly to the terrain. However, for the mixture of tracks and trails I run on, the comfort and stability more than made up for this.

If you are bothered by debris from the trails, Altra have this covered with a gaiter-compatible feature: Altra’s GaiterTrap hook-and-loop system, making it easier to attach compatible gaiters without additional straps or fasteners. And if that wasn’t enough, the handy heel pull tab means you can get in and out of the shoes without splattering yourself with mud! Perfect!

In summary

What Altra have achieved with the Olympus 7 is a great all-day shoe. Ready for the trails and tracks, but maybe not designed for really technical ground. Its comfort is superb and doesn’t waver at the end of the day. The combination of zero drop and a broad platform gives it a stable feel, and it’s built to keep going over long distances.

If you’re wanting a shoe for all-purpose days out and about, it’s an ideal choice. I’ve run in the morning, met up with the kids, hopped onto my mountain bike and trekked round the hills, all in one day and one pair of Olympus 7s. What more could you ask for!

Alternatives to Altra Olympus 7

Topo Vista
The Topo Vista is a trail running shoe designed to go the distance. It offers a high degree of comfort for runners who want to stay on their feet all day. Topo designs shoes to work with the body, allowing the feet to function naturally inside the shoes and have the anatomically foot shaped toe box similar to Altra’s Original FootShape design. The Topo Vista has a 5mm drop, so if you’re not ready for the zero drop but prefer the roomier toe box design, this will suit you well. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-vista-review/

Mount Coast M1
Mount to Coast M1 is a road to trail shoe with similar cushioning to the Olympus 7, but with a 4mm drop. Built for long days, rough terrain and ultra-distance racing. Designed to stay stable and comfortable as the miles build, it combines a resilient midsole, durable upper and full-coverage Vibram outsole to give you a smooth, dependable ride in the mountains. The stack height is higher at 38mm at the heel, compared to the 33mm Olympus 7, and the fit will suit a narrower foot as it doesn’t have the anatomical foot shape toe box. The Mount to Coast M1 is slightly lighter at 275g compared to 325g Olympus, but not really noticeable when you’re on the run

VJ Ultra 3
The VJ Ultra 3 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe designed for long-distance comfort without compromising ride quality or grip. It offers enough protection to keep your legs fresh over long efforts, yet avoids feeling overly soft or sluggish. It has an 8mm drop, so the ground feel is considerably different to the zero drop Olympus 7. The feel of the cushioning in also more springy and bouncy than the Olympus 7 and with VJ’s legendary traction, if you’re running on more technical trails, the grip will be better suited. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-ultra-3-review/

Hoka Mafate
The Hoka Mafate 5 is a highly cushioned ultra-distance trail running shoe designed to handle a variety of trail surfaces. The dual density midsole offers soft landings with a stable and propulsive toe-off. On downhills, the cushioned heel absorbs impact well. On climbs, the firmer forefoot provides a more efficient, energy-returning push-off without that ‘sinking in’ feeling softer foams can create. A narrower fit than an Altra Olympus 7 and doesn’t use the foot shaped toe box, but may still suit you as Hoka trail shoes tend to be more generous in their width fittings than their road shoes.
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mafate-5-review/

OMM Ultra
The OMM Ultra is a trail running shoe designed for use over longer distances. It is what could be described as a proper trail running shoe, not just a road shoe in disguise. It has a good level of underfoot protection but has managed to maintain a good level of ground feel, giving it the feeling of a nimble trail running shoe despite the added cushioning. It has a narrower toe box than the Altra Olympus without the anatomical foot shaped toe box, but it does come in width fittings: regular and regular +. The OMM Ultra feels very cushioned and comfortable on hard-packed surfaces but also feels good on much more technical ground so may be a better choice if that’s where your running takes you. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/omm-ultra-shoe-review/