Altra Timp 5 Trail Running Shoes In-depth Review
An in-depth review for trail running, hiking, and backpacking
March 25th, 2024
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OUR VERDICT
The Altra Timp 5 is one of our favorite zero-drop trail running shoes and the best version of the Timps we’ve ever tried. Some previous iterations of the Timp weren’t great, but Timp 5 improves on most of the shortcomings of previous versions to make a stellar zero-drop trail runner that is well-suited for long days on the trail spent hiking, backpacking, and running.
And while we don’t take Born To Run as gospel, we think moving naturally is important.
The Timp 5 has a tacky Vibram Megagrip outsole, which grips rocks and dirt in wet or dry conditions. This is new to the Timp line and a welcome addition for river crossings, scrambling up a mountain over slick rock, and moving confidently over varied terrain. They also have a new Altra EGO™ MAX midsole, which gives great cushion yet doesn’t feel too soft when you push off the ground.
The Timp 5 comes in men’s and women’s versions, as well as a high-top hiker version. For this review, we tested the men’s and women’s running shoe versions. We used our Timps while trail running across the Colorado Front Range in wintertime, then took them south to Arizona for some spring adventures on the trails. We used our former favorite Timp model, the Timp 2, for thru-hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail as well. The Timp 5 takes everything good about the Timp 2 and makes it better. This is an all-around great shoe for long-time zero-drop enthusiasts and newbies alike.
ALTRA TIMP 5
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
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SPECS
Cushion: Maximum
Stability: Neutral
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm): 0 mm
Stack Height: 29 mm
Lugs: 3.5 mm
Upper: Engineered mesh
Midsole: Altra EGO MAX foam
Outsole: Vibram Megagrip rubber
Weight (pair): 1 lb. 3.6 oz (men’s), 1 lb 0.40 oz (women’s)
COMPARISON TABLE OF SIMILAR MODELS
| TRAIL RUNNING SHOE | WEIGHT MEN'S | WEIGHT WOMEN'S | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altra Timp 5 Men's Women's |
1 lb. 3.6 oz | 1 lb 0.40 oz | Maximum | 0 mm | 29 mm |
| Altra Lone Peak 8 Men's Women's |
1 lb. 5.4 oz | 1 lb. 2.3 oz | moderate | 0 mm | 25 mm |
| Altra Olympus 5 Men's Women's |
1 lb. 8.6 oz | 1 lb. 4.8 oz | Maximum | 0 mm | 33 mm |
| Altra Superior 6 Men's Women's |
1 lb. 4.2 oz | 1 lb. 0.4 oz | minimal | 0 mm | 21 mm |
| Hoka Speedgoat 5 Men's Women's |
1 lb. 4.6 oz | 1 lb. 1 oz | moderate | 4 mm | 33-29 mm |
WHAT WE LIKED
The author at the top of a peak in Arizona wearing the Altra Timp 5.
The Altra Timp 5 is the newest and best-ever version of the popular Timp trail shoe line. This 2024 update saw improvements throughout the shoe. We most liked the updated outsole—the Timp 5 now features a Vibram Megagrip rubber compound, which creates a massive grip improvement from previous Altra outsole compounds.
As with previous models, the Timp has plenty of cushion, yet not too much that it feels like you’re walking on pillows. With 29 mm of stack height, these shoes sit squarely between low-cushion models, such as the Altra Lone Peak (25 mm stack) or La Sportiva Bushido (19-13 mm stack), and the max-cushion shoes such as the Hoka Speedgoat (38-34mm stack) or Altra Olympus (33 mm stack).
The Timp allows you to feel the ground as you run or hike but not feel it so much that your feet get beat up after a long day. They also feature a new Altra EGO™ MAX midsole that feels springy and responsive when you push off the ground.
As with most Altras, the Timp 5 has zero drop between the heel and forefoot. This creates a natural-feeling shoe that allows your foot to contact the ground as it would when barefoot. Most trail running shoes put more cushion under the heel, which is nice for going uphill and taking long strides where your heel contacts the ground first. However, in many cases, the zero-drop design on Altras feels more stable on rough terrain than those trail shoes.
The Timp 5 also has a roomier toe box than most trail running shoes. Though the Timp 5s seem to have a smaller toe box than some other Altras, it still has plenty of room for your toes to spread out as they would when barefoot. Allowing your toes to spread also helps with traction, and we think the Timp 5 strikes a balance between the roomiest toe box, which can feel sloppy on uneven terrain, and a narrower toe box that can cause your toes to rub and lead to blisters.
If you don’t need the absolute widest shoes and have written off Altras as too wide for your feet, you should try the Timps.
Details
Fit
The Timp 5 fits like other Altras, though a little narrower. If you’ve worn other Timp models, you’ll find the newest model fits similarly. Generally speaking, Altra runs wider than other shoes, though.
We find the fit of the Timp 5 to be narrower than the Lone Peaks. If you don’t need the absolute widest shoes and have written off Altras as too wide for your feet, you should try the Timps.
If you’re a fan of super-wide shoes, however, your Timp 5s may still be too narrow for your feet, or you might need to get a half-size bigger. The Timp 5 is not available in wide sizing, either, unlike the Lone Peak.
Fit in Toe Box
The toe box is roomier than most trail running shoes, but not quite as roomy as the cavernous toe box on the Altra Lone Peaks. Some Altra fans think the toe box on the Timp 5 isn’t wide enough, but we think if it fits your foot, then you don’t need the widest toe box on the planet.
Fit in Heel Cup
The heel cup wraps around the back of your foot securely. It has a moderate amount of cushion around the top of the shoe, near your ankle, and less at the heel. This creates a cup for your heel and a solid locked-in-place feeling. We often feel the need to use the extra heel-lock lacing eyelets on trail runners but haven’t felt the need to use them with the Timp 5.
The Timp 5 has 29 mm of stack and a plush, yet springy midsole for a comfortable ride on long days and rocky trails.
Midsole and Cushioning
The Timp 5 has 29 mm of stack and a plush, yet springy midsole for a comfortable ride on long days and rocky trails.
Level of cushioning compared to other trail shoes/road shoes
Compared to other trail and road running shoes, the Timp 5 has slightly more cushion than average. They’re not quite as cushioned as 30+ millimeter high-stack shoes, such as the Hoka Speedgoat, Altra Olympus, or La Sportiva Prodigio.
But the Timp 5 has more cushion than low-stack trail shoes, such as the Altra Lone Peak, Merrell Long Sky 2, Brooks Cascadia, or the La Sportiva Bushido.
Read more in our trail running shoe stories (men’s and women’s)
The Timp 5 features Altra’s EGO™ MAX midsole technology, which absorbs impact very well but feels snappy on the return.
Impact absorption and energy return
The Timp 5 features Altra’s EGO™ MAX midsole technology, which absorbs impact very well but feels snappy on the return. These shoes feel faster than we would have expected from a shoe with this much cushion. The improved midsole materials are the reason.
Comfort
They are extremely comfortable to wear all day. We’ve put in countless 8+ hour days in these shoes, running, hiking, and scrambling. They’ve remained comfortable throughout those long days, with no hotspots or uncomfortable rubbing.
Adjustment to Zero Drop
If you’ve never worn zero-drop shoes before, you’ll probably need an adjustment period to the Timp, or any other zero-drop shoe. This will give your Achilles tendon, which runs along the back of your ankle, time to stretch out since it’s likely tight from years of wearing shoes that position your heel higher than your forefoot.
Altra Timp 5 feels surprisingly stable, including on gnarly runs filled with boulders.
Stability
These shoes feel surprisingly stable. We’ve taken them on some gnarly runs in unrunnable conditions—scrambling up gulleys full of loose rock, sand, and scree—and they feel stable even when the ground beneath you isn’t.
Despite the cushioning, the Altra Timp 5 doesn’t feel mushy when you step, yet it still gives ample cushion underfoot when you land.
Support
The Timp 5 is a neutral support shoe. That is, it isn’t the most supportive shoe, but that’s not what it sets out to do. This isn’t to say these shoes aren’t durable. They aren’t motion-controlled shoes, though. So they allow your foot to move more naturally than many shoes.
Arch Support
The zero-drop, natural foot shape design of these shoes provides almost no extra arch support. There is a slight upward curve in the arch, but it’s not nearly as extreme as that of most running shoes. If you’re looking for arch support, we recommend Superfeet insoles for running or hiking. You can read more in our guide Should I use insoles in my hiking shoes?
Lateral Support
The Timp 5 has good lateral support. The mesh upper and heel cup keep your foot firmly in position as you push off to either side. Some shoes feel ready to tip over when making sharp lateral movements, but the Timp 5s don’t feel like ankle rollers in this way.
Ride
These trail shoes have a soft and stable ride, overall. They don’t stand out as too cushiony or too supportive. This makes them feel barely noticeable in the best way as you move down the trail.
The Altra Timp 5 is massively better with grip and traction than previous versions of the Timp with a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole.
Outsole, Grip, and Traction
The Timp 5 is massively better with grip and traction than previous versions of the Timp. It now has a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole, which grips rock, dirt, and varied terrain in wet or dry conditions.
The Altra Timp 5 do well in easy scrambling, and grip onto rock faces better than any Altra models we’ve worn.
Performance on various terrains
The Timp 5 has 3.5-millimeter lugs, which are deep enough to bite in hardpacked dirt, moderate amounts of mud, slick rock, and other adventures on varied terrain. They do well in easy scrambling, and grip onto rock faces better than any Altra models we’ve worn. Though the Altra Olympus 5 also has a Vibram Megagrip outsole, the extra stack height of these shoes makes them worse for smearing on slab than the Timp.
If the lugs were deeper, they’d perform better in mud and loose dirt on steep terrain. These lugs don’t grip dirt as well on extremely steep descents, where you’re almost using your hands and feet. But in those scenarios, you shouldn’t expect anything to grip that well.
The new Vibram Megagrip on the Altra Timp 5 are better in unstable and wet conditions.
Wet and dry conditions
The Megagrip rubber outsole grips well in wet conditions. They’re stable and grippy during stream crossings and while on the trail in rainy conditions.
One of our biggest gripes with the previous outsole on the Timps was that they didn’t perform as well in wet conditions. The addition of the Megagrip outsole solves this problem and is the main reason why we love these shoes.
The Altra Timp 5 is a versatile trail shoe for running, hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking.
Versatility
The Timp 5 is a very versatile trail shoe. We’ve hiked, run, and backpacked in Timps, and they’ve performed very well in all of these applications. They have short enough lugs that you can run out your front door on pavement and then take them all the way to the top of a mountain trail.
There is also a Timp 5 Hiker high-top model, which provides more ankle support and has thicker TPU overlays on the toe for added durability. We’ve hiked a lot in the Timp 5, but if you will primarily be hiking in them and want the added ankle support of the high top, then the Timp 5 hikers are a great option.
The Altra Timp 5 are zero drop shoes with a natural foot shape design that allow your foot to move more naturally than many shoes.
Responsiveness
The Altra EGO MAX compound in the midsole feels bouncy and responsive when pushing off the ground. This shoe doesn’t feel mushy when you step, yet it still gives ample cushion underfoot when you land.
Warmth
The Timp 5 features a very breathable mesh upper that isn’t very warm. If you’re looking to use these shoes in cold conditions, there is a waterproof version of the Timp 5 hiker. These will be significantly warmer than the mesh version.
Break-In Time
We pulled these shoes out of the box, put them on to check the fit, and then immediately went on a 6-mile trail run. They are very comfortable right out of the box and we had no issues on that first fun, or any subsequent runs, hikes, and scrambles.
As we mentioned above, if you’ve never worn zero-drop shoes before you’ll likely need to break-in your body to zero drop. The mechanics of zero-drop shoes are different than most footwear, and many people experience some amount of pain when they start wearing zero-drop models.
Upper and Breathability
The upper is mesh and breathes very well. It has TPU rubber overlays near the toes and ripstop fabric around the heel for durability, but the upper is otherwise entirely mesh. They breathe very well in hot conditions. We’ve never felt like our feet were overheating in these shoes, even during midday runs in the hot Arizona spring conditions.
Durability and Longevity
So far, we’ve put over 100 miles on our pair of Timp 5s. They are holding up about as well as other trail running shoes. We expect to get at least 400 miles out of these shoes, which is about average.
They have a TPU rubber-reinforced toe and don’t have very much midsole foam exposed on the tread. The outsole doesn’t seem to be wearing faster than average, and the toe cap area still looks good, even though we’ve unintentionally kicked our fair share of rocks!
Midsole Durability
The midsole feels just as cushioned and springy as it did when new. Some midsole materials compress rather quickly, but these shoes don’t seem to be one of those. There are small patches of exposed midsole material on the tread, but none of these sections are big enough to be worrisome.
For a less cushioned but similar weight shoe, you can consider the Salomon Speedcross 6. Read our in-depth review of the Speedcross 6.
Wear and tear in upper materials
After countless runs on rough terrain, the upper materials still look great.
Outsole longevity
The Vibram Megagrip outsole is a relatively soft rubber, so it will wear out faster than some outsole materials. However, this is a common tradeoff with trail shoes: the longer lasting the outsole, the less grippy it will be. That being said, the outsole on our Timp 5s is holding up well. After countless trail runs in rocky conditions, there’s still plenty of tread left.
Price and Value
At $155 for a pair, the Timp 5 is about average in terms of price and value. There are definitely less expensive trail running shoes available, but for a Vibram Megagrip-equipped shoe, you’re not going to find many options that cost less.
For reference, the Hoka Speedgoat 5, which has a Vibram Megagrip outsole, also costs $155. And the Vibram Megagrip-equipped Merrell Long Sky 2 costs slightly less, at $140 per pair. The Merrell Long Sky 2 is a lower stack height shoe, and runs slightly narrower than the Timp.
Sustainability and Ethical Company
Altra has many diversity partner organizations. They are a member of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, which works to increase diversity in the all-too-white running industry (you can read more about this in our article on BIPOC Runners finding community in running article).
They work with &Mother, an organization started by Altra athlete Alysia Montaño to break barriers that prevent women from thriving in their careers and in motherhood. Altra also partnered with the Trail Sisters for over 2,000 hours of trail cleanup in 2023. And, they partner with Still I Run, which advocates for mental health awareness through running.
The Timp 5 is a slightly higher-than-average volume shoe.
Features
Volume
The Timp 5 is a slightly higher-than-average volume shoe. If you have a particularly wide foot or are used to the sizing of other Altras, you may need to get a half-size larger. But compared to many narrower trail shoes, the Timp 5 are a higher volume option.
Weight
The Timp 5 weighs 9.8 ounces per shoe in size 9 men’s, and 8.6 ounces in size 7 women’s.
Stack Height
The Timp 5 has a 29-mm stack height in the heel and forefoot.
Zero Drop
Yes, that's right; the Timp 5 has zero drop between the heel and forefoot. This is unique in the running shoe world to Altra. Most running shoes have between 4 and 10 millimeters of drop from the heel to the forefoot.
Midsole Technology
The Timp 5 has Altra EGO™ MAX midsole technology. This well-cushioned yet responsive midsole bounces back after absorbing impact from your footfall.
The outsole on the Altra Timp 5 features a multidirectional lug pattern pointed forward in the forefoot to grip on the uphill and backward for downhill braking.
Outsole and Lug Pattern
The outsole features a multidirectional lug pattern pointed forward in the forefoot to grip on the uphill and backward for downhill braking. The lugs are 3.5 millimeters deep, and there are many of them, which is best for hardpacked dirt and rocky surfaces.
The Altra Timp 5 has a reflective stitching in the pair of webbing loops you run the laces through near the top of the shoe.
Reflective Material
There is a small amount of reflective stitching in the pair of webbing loops you run the laces through near the top of the shoe. But there is no other reflexive material on these shoes. If you're running in the dark, we recommend adding a few reflective items to your running kit. See our Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark gear list for options we like.
Style and design
The Timp 5 comes in a variety of colors, from muted earth tones to loud and bright neons. Overall, we think they look pretty good. They don’t look like clown shoes nearly as much as some Altras we’ve worn in the past.
Timp 5 vs. Timp 4
The Timp 5 is a huge improvement over the Timp 4. The 5 has a grippier outsole, a better lacing system, and a much-improved midsole compared to the 4.
The author thru-hiked the PCT in the Altra Timp 2. Here he is on top of Mt. Baden Powell.
Timp 5 vs. Timp 2
If you gave up on the Timp line after the Timp 2, we think you should try the Timp 5. The Timp 5 feels like a return to the Timp 2, which hardcore Altra fans are still scouring eBay for.
But the Timp 5 is even better than the 2. It has a grippier outsole, better midsole, and an improved lacing system than the Timp 2.
Who should buy the Timp 5?
The author backpacking in Arizona with the Altra Timp 5.
The Timp 5 is a great trail shoe overall. If you’re looking for a trail shoe for hiking, backpacking, and trail running that’s zero drop and has great stability and traction, this shoe is worth considering. It’s comfortable all day, and grips well in all conditions.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
The Timp 5 isn’t the fastest shoe out there. It’s designed for long and slower days, which is what we like. Nonetheless, this shoe could be faster. Then again, maybe it’s us that could be faster.
There is also some inconsistency across Altra sizing. Generally, it seems like many who wear Altras buy Timps a half-size bigger than they would wear in the Lone Peaks. This is likely due to the fact that the Timps are slightly narrower than the Lone Peaks.
If you’re trying the Timp 5 for the first time, you might have to play around with sizing. Our main tester, Sam, has an average-width foot, and he found the size he usually wears in Altras fit his foot with the Timps. Some of our other testers with wider feet had to get a half size larger in the Timps to fit their feet, though.
The author ran, hiked, scrambled, and explored in Colorado and Arizona wearing the Timp 5 in varied terrain.
HOW WE TESTED
We tested the Timp 5 while trail running, hiking, and scrambling in Colorado and Arizona during winter and early spring. We ran on Front Range Colorado trails and in the Rocky Mountain Foothills in Boulder, Golden, and Morrison, Colorado. We also wore them while trail running in Sedona, Arizona, along the Arizona Trail, and while peaking bagging in Southern Arizona. We first wore the Altra Timp while thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019—the year of the well-loved Timp 2.
SIMILAR MODELS / OTHER SHOES YOU MAY PREFER
Altra Lone Peak 8
Sizes available: 7-16 (men’s), 5.5 - 12 (women’s)
Widths available: regular, wide
Heel Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 25 mm
Weight: 1 lb. 5.4 oz (men’s), 1 lb. 2.3 oz (women’s)
Cushioning: moderate
The Lone Peak 8 has less cushion than the Timp 5. However, the Lone Peak also comes in wide. So if you have particularly wide feet, or want a more minimal-feeling shoe for better ground feel, then the Lone Peak 8 is worth checking out.
ALTRA LONE PEAK 8
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Related: Read our full review of the Altra Lone Peak 8 now.
Altra Olympus 5
Sizes available: 7-15 (men’s), 5.5 - 12 (women’s)
Widths available: regular
Heel Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 33 mm
Weight: 1 lb. 8.6 oz (men’s), 1 lb. 4.8 oz (women’s)
Cushioning: maximum
The Altra Olympus 5 has more cushion than the Timp 5. If you want a more comfortable ride, albeit with less trail feel and more weight, then you might want to try the Olympus 5.
ALTRA OLYMPUS 5
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Altra Superior 6
Sizes available: 7-15 (men’s), 5.5 - 12 (women’s)
Widths available: regular
Heel Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 21 mm
Weight: 1 lb. 4.2 oz (men’s), 1 lb. 0.4 oz (women’s)
Cushioning: minimal
The Altra Superior 6 has less cushion than the Altra Timp and the Altra Lone Peaks, with the same zero-drop natural foot platform. If you want the most lightweight zero-drop shoe possible and tons of trail feel, try the Superior 6.
ALTRA SUPERIOR 6
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Hoka Speedgoat 5
Sizes available: 7-15 (men’s), 5-12 (women’s
Widths available: regular, wide
Heel Drop: 4 mm
Stack height: 33 mm (heel) / 29 mm (toe)
Weight: 1 lb. 4.6 oz (men’s), 1 lb. 1 oz (women’s)
Cushioning: moderate
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 is another very popular shoe for trail runners and thru-hikers. It has 4 mm of heel-to-toe drop, which is less than many trail running shoes, but not a zero-drop design like the Altra models listed here. The Speedgoat 5 has more cushion than the Timps, and weighs a similar amount. It also comes in wide sizing, unlike the Timp 5 (but like the Altra Lone Peak 8). For more info, read my in-depth long term review on the Speedgoat.
Bonus: read our most up-to-date review of the latest model, the Hoka Speedgoat 6.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US / ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author thru-hiked the PCT wearing the Altra Timp trail running shoes.
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, trail runner, cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado. He’s been a runner since he was a child, when he ran five days a week as cardiovascular training for soccer. As he grew older, he stopped playing team sports and focused on running and cycling.
After moving to Colorado a decade ago, he started trail running on the local trails. Since then, he has completed countless ultra-distance self-supported trail runs on trails throughout Colorado and the American Southwest.
He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (in the Altra Timp 2), Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, the Colorado Trail twice, and the Arizona Trail, always in trail runners.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or website.
