Our evaluate of the brand new Altra Olympus 275, after having some fairly excessive reward for the Olympus 6.
The Altra Olympux 275 arrived wanting flashy proper out of the field on this vivid coral and black combo and I couldn’t wait to place them on and take them for a run. Even with all of that cushion, they felt light-weight and really steady. The outsole is much like the Different Olympus 6 with the Vibram® Megagrip. which has such nice traction out on the paths.
The Olympus line of sneakers is understood for its further cushion and is a zero-to-low drop shoe with a roomy toe field.
I ran quite a lot of miles within the Olympus 6 mannequin. I used them for sections of extremely races and liked the roominess and cushion.
Who’s the Different Olympus 275 match for? Let’s break it down with some frequent classes:
- Broad Ft: Sure, not simply the huge toe field, however comfy all through the mid-foot.
- Technical Trails: The Vibram® MegaGrip Outsole gives superb traction throughout mountainous terrain.
- Lengthy Runs: This shoe was made for lengthy runs and hikes.
- Entrance of the Pack: These are lighter regardless of the quantity of cushioning, however a shoe with much less stack would possibly really feel sooner and provide higher really feel on the paths.
This shoe is a superb selection for lengthy runs/ultras the place a runner would love the additional cushioning. It feels actually steady below foot, doesn’t have a rock plate however gives good safety from sharp rocks, and can be a pleasant selection for hikers who need a zero drop shoe.
Altra Olympus 275 Overview
Having simply run three extremely races utilizing the Altra Olympus 6, I used to be excited to see how this up to date model would really feel on my toes. The Altra Olympus 275 is about 1.5 ounces lighter than earlier variations which, for all day efforts, makes an enormous distinction! The Matryx® higher is an excellent light-weight, one piece woven materials with Kevlar that feels supportive with out creasing or rubbing on the toes or toes.
Why are these not referred to as the Olympus 7’s you would possibly ask?
The identify is a nod to the temperature (275ºF) that Altra’s founders used to crank their toaster ovens whereas crafting the model’s first prototypes in a Utah basement. So, from the early days of basement innovation to design enter now from elite path runners Jeff Browning, Tara Dower, and Kyle Curtin… My expectations for this shoe have been excessive!
The most important distinction between the Altra Olympus 275 and former fashions is the scree sleeve to maintain out particles and a brand new lace lock system. They don’t have the standard velcro and hook constructed into the shoe to connect a gaiter to them since they’ve this delicate collar constructed proper into the shoe.
Does this inbuilt gaiter or “scree sleeve” and flashy new colorway make for a greater path shoe? It actually has some huge names backing it up and so many path runners love the cushion and help that the Olympus is understood for.
I used to be curious how the scree sleeve was going to suit on my ankles and heels since I’ve been operating in just a few different manufacturers providing these inbuilt gaiter-type collars. I like this function however can’t say I adore it. 
Altra did put some padding contained in the heel cup to assist stop slipping and sliding and a pleasant loop to assist pull the shoe on which is appreciated when the fatigue of operating lengthy distances kicks in or in case you have a crew serving to you together with your sneakers. I do assume they need to have left the velcro and hook on the shoe for a taller gaiter, however for many runs the scree sleeve is adequate.
When you loved the final model of this shoe, the Olympus 6, then the match and cushion really feel very related.
One thing I like as a runner just isn’t having a mannequin of a shoe change drastically in match and really feel. The laces are thinner on the Olympus 275 and there’s cushion across the heel under the scree sleeve.
The higher is a Kevlar strengthened Matryx® which feels light-weight, by no means creased in uncomfortable locations, and is understood for its sturdiness. The sneakers even have a pleasant toe bumper which is nice in rocky terrain, particularly for later in races or runs whenever you are inclined to not elevate your toes up as a lot as soon as the fatigue begins to set in.
I needed to maintain off earlier than any extra runs within the sneakers because of the blister, however did run one other 10 miler in them with much less vert and so they felt higher. I wore a sock with extra cushioning across the heel. I nonetheless felt a little bit stress on the highest of the foot and I believe that if the tongue had extra padding it might not be a difficulty.
The laces may use a little bit extra stretch or thickness which may presumably assist stop them from digging into the highest of the foot.
The Vibram® outsole gives nice traction and regardless of the quantity of cushion, they don’t really feel too clunky.
They’re a terrific shoe for rocky terrain and lengthy efforts out on the paths.
I like the improved toe bumper, particularly with the change with the Matryx® higher, it is a nice function to assist defend the toes. I ran just a few sections on pavement and flat dust roads and so they did really feel a bit stiff on these sections, so I’d undoubtedly keep on the paths with this shoe. The outsole and tread are very related within the 275 and 6 so no huge adjustments there.
Altra Olympus 275 Specs
- Weight: 11.9 oz Males’s, 9.6 oz Girls’s
- Stack Top: 33mm
- Drop: Zero drop (0mm heel-to-toe-drop)
- Colours: Black/Yellow or Taupe for Males’s, Black/Grey or Coral/Black in Girls’s
- Not obtainable in huge however has a roomy match and huge toe field.
Accessible at Altrarunning.com for $185.00
Fast Take
- Mild weight and steady for prime stack
- In-built gaiter, phenomenal grip
- Kevlar strengthened higher with a toe bumper for toe safety
- Little stiff on pavement – maintain to the paths
- Thinner, much less cushioned tongue than earlier variations
- Wrestle to discover a locked in match the place foot didn’t transfer
Different Olympus 275 Match
Altra is understood for its huge toe field and roomy match. The zero drop locations your foot in a pure place with a stable, steady basis. I wore my common operating shoe dimension which felt nice within the toe field however too unfastened within the heel.
My first impression is that they felt roomy across the midfoot and heel, so I tightened the laces and added a heel lock for a safer match. As I re-laced the sneakers, I seen the lace-lock system which gives one loop additional up close to the ankle and off to the facet which is a pleasant function. Some manufacturers have eliminated these further holes close to the highest of the laces after they added a inbuilt gaiter or sleeve so I’m hoping this helps the shoe keep in place. 
The padding within the heel cup was useful and utilizing a heel lock did enhance the match. The scree sleeve is a pleasant function, but when I really feel like if I want to make use of a gaiter on a run, I’d in all probability need one thing a little bit larger up on my leg for extra protection.
My second run was up a mountain with about 6,000 toes of acquire, so quite a lot of climbing. I wore a thicker pair of socks hoping that will defend my heels and tried re-lacing the sneakers to alleviate stress on the tops of my toes.
About 5 miles in, I may really feel my heels rubbing…worse on one foot so I attempted to regulate issues once more with out a lot success. By the tip of my 17 miler I had fairly the blister on my heel. It may have been the sock selection however I actually had a tough time stopping my heel from slipping round through the run.
The tongue just isn’t hooked up to the remainder of the higher and will undoubtedly use extra padding. I really feel this manner about each the Olympus 6 and 275. The Olympus 275 laces have been thinner and felt like they have been digging into the highest of my foot.
Altra Olympus 275 Really feel
I like the roominess within the toe field and these sneakers are actually comfy with the cushion and better stack peak. The midsole is a compression-molded EVA, so the texture could be very comfy. It’s a impartial shoe however with a large base that feels very steady underfoot.
The scree sleeve doesn’t make the shoe troublesome to placed on or take off because it doesn’t stand up very excessive off of the shoe.
I solely wore crew size socks with these sneakers, and the inbuilt gaiters on these fashions do make you concentrate on your sock selection. The only is stiffer than different path sneakers I’ve run in with related options and doesn’t have that bouncy, responsiveness feeling. These sneakers have been designed to go the gap and to be a sturdy selection out on the paths.
The general really feel of the shoe is steady and safe over tough terrain, in each moist and dry situations, over slick rock and unfastened scree. The cushion feels good and if it weren’t for the blister on my second run with them, I may see myself operating quite a lot of miles in them.
These sneakers can be my selection for a race distance of fifty or extra miles, an extended day within the mountains or canyon, or a day that would come with quite a lot of strolling/climbing. Possibly I may have sized down a ½ dimension, however I actually just like the match within the toe field and mid foot. The heel was just a bit unfastened even with the padding
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Comparable Sneakers to the Altra Olympus 275
All proper, let’s discuss what could be much like this max cushioned shoe.
- Hoka Tecton X 3– Greater worth level, has a carbon plate and is a lightweight and quick feeling shoe. The gaiter comes up larger and it’s not the best shoe to get on and off whereas racing. Feels bouncier and sooner.
- The sporty Prodigio Professional– Barely larger worth level however in all probability probably the most comfy and cushioned shoe with a knit collar to maintain dust and particles out. Properly padded heel cup to maintain the foot from sliding round.
- Arc’teryx Vertex Velocity– Responsive, light-weight, and related worth level because the Altra Olympus 275.
- Different Olympus 6– When you’re not into the scree sleeve, this mannequin is about $10 much less and a terrific shoe with a greater match within the heel. Plus, you will have the choice to connect the gaiter with the velcro and hook options.
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After a permanent Ultrarunning love affair with the 6, we anticipated nice issues from the Altra Olympus 275 and it delivered in efficiency, grip and general perform. However we had some main failings within the match class.
