Trail and Scramble Shoes

Altra Timp 1.5 Trail Shoes | Review

Altra offer something different to the rest of ‘em with a unique last design and style that seems to be growing in popularity very quickly

Why We Chose It: Comfortable last design, midsole cushioning, zero drop comfort.

Altra are a brand that long-distance hikers and runners seem to love at the moment. In fact, it seems just about every Instagramming PCT hiker these days is wearing them.

One of the main reasons for their popularity in this particular niche is the big toe box the brand goes for. It’s wide, you just need to look at it to be able to tell that, with the idea being that when your feet start to swell and grow after putting in the miles, the shoes aren’t going to suddenly feel really painful and constricting. Altra also say that this design also allows the big toe to sit straight, therefore meaning it can fully apply its strength when you’re taking off and balancing.

“In fact, it seems just about every Instagramming PCT hiker these days is wearing them.”

We’ve become quite familiar with Altra over the last year or so, and can confirm that none of this is bombast. This stuff actually does the stuff it’s supposed to. Good job Altra.

The 1.5 is actually a follow on from the original Timp, sitting somewhere between their ultra cushioned Olympus and the low profile Lone Peak. What they’ve done is added a bit of extra cushioning to the midsole, a bit more stickiness and traction to the outsole, and then bumped off a few grams to make it even lighter than before. And all to great success we’d say.

The traction of the new DuraTread sticky aggressive tread is excellent. Photo: Chris Johnson

The 'Gaiter Trap' is a nice touch, particularly if you frequently find yourself walking or running through mud, sand or gravel. Photo: Chris Johnson

The lacing system is comfortable, with just enough padding in the tongue. Photo: Chris Johnson

In keeping with the Altra style, it’s a zero drop sole unit meaning that both the heel and toes are the same distance from the ground. This makes their shoes suited to those who prefer a more natural feel when running. Some benefits to a zero drop when compared against ramped shoes, are reduced impact on the knees and less strain on the lower back. It’s a case of each to their own with this kind of thing, but still, if you struggle with injury in those areas and haven’t tried zero drop shoes yet, particularly those by Altra, they’re worth considering.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, Outdoors Magic Editor

“I came across Altra through the long-distance hiking community – it definitely seems to be the footwear of choice for thru-hikers at the moment. As someone who likes to dabble with a bit of distance, I wanted to see what the fuss was about.”

Altra are known for their wide toe box, giving you all-day comfort when you’re logging the miles.

“I’ve worn the Timp 1.5 on a few hikes and runs in the Brecon Beacons and have been really impressed by both the feel and the performance. First of all, the traction of the new DuraTread sticky outsole is excellent, it’s an aggressive tread but I also found it was good at shedding mud. The midsole is pleasantly soft, responsive and slightly flexible as well, but not so much that you feel too much underfoot, like sharp rocks etc.
“The lacing feels comfortable and there’s enough padding in the tongue – thicker than what you’d find on an Inov-8 shoe but thinner than a Saucony. Reading around online it seems people had issues with the lacing coming undone on the previous Timp, but that hasn’t been a problem for me while using this new version.

A little detail I like is the little straps to clip on an ankle gaiter – a useful touch for when you want to use these for running or hiking on sand or gravel.”