I’ve run many Altra over time since their origins together with the Timp which historically has been the mid distance coaching mannequin with the Mont Blanc the extremely racer and Superior the brief distances path shoe. I truly like zero drop sneakers on path greater than street as they are usually effectively planted and steady. And Atra’s are but higher but for me as hikers for a similar causes. Right here with Timp 5 BOA, we see a considerable drop of 0.5 oz / 14g in weight to about 10.25 oz in a US9 which from a race standpoint just isn’t excellent however getting aggressive. My testing was on the run on laborious pack snow with additionally some mountain climbing on pavement right here in Park Metropolis.
Professionals:
A primary for a Timp: 4mm multi directional Vibram MegaGrip outsole, grippy and effectively segmented for agility and suppleness
Trip: Enjoyable, agile and effectively (if densely) cushioned trails speedster
Midsole: EGO Max is a close to splendid path midsole foam: dense and steady but with some bounce
Weight: 14g / 0.5 oz weight drop from v4
Higher: simply adjustable by efficient BOA, straightforward on straightforward off, dense pretty stiff skinny mesh is very supportive, particles proof and fairly moisture resistant
Multi function: rather more than a trails speedster: additionally splendid journey, mild mountain climbing and strolling shoe-other colours accessible
Cons:
BOA dial is excessive on the ankle and stiff and felt on off camber terrain
Zero drop just isn’t for everybody, and if new to it, gradual adaptation is suggested
On the heavy aspect: whereas EGO Max is energetic, steady and acceptable, a supercritical foam would scale back weight and enhance vitality return.
Stats
Approx. Weight: males’s 10.25 oz / 298g (US9)
Prior Model Weight: 10.7 oz / 303g (US9),
Pattern Weight: males’s 10 oz / 283g US8.5
Stack Top: males’s 29 mm heel / 29 mm forefoot
Platform Width: mm heel / mm midfoot / mm forefoot
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First Impressions, Match and Higher
In pink and white Altra racing colours the visible design is hanging! An all black can be accessible. I do assume the large Altra branding may have been decreased on the lateral aspect given the BOA . How about “Altra” over the toes or shifting it to the clear lateral aspect.
Whereas flashy but easy and smooth in look that is one elaborate higher. I’ve examined it intently a number of occasions and preserve discovering new parts and options,
The mesh is skinny, pretty stiff, very dense in weave and never significantly pliable. It could be one of many newer thermoplastic kind supplies as seen on the Prodigio Professional and Vectiv Sky2. These supplies present loads of supportive construction and are usually not water absorbing. It’s a race kind higher designed for assist greater than for plush consolation.
The BOA Match System and midfoot development general is elaborate and extremely efficient in locking the foot to the platform with the dials allowing for various quantity toes to be accommodated.
The medial aspect has 3 “straps” that attain over to the lateral aspect The outer 2 are of the identical materials because the higher.
The center one is a leatherette strap extending to the midsole to create in a way a skinny width gusset. The medial aspect is additional strengthened with translucent overlays down low for assist and sturdiness.
The knit tongue connects to a really frivolously padded non-stretch materials to create an internal sleeve or bootie.
The lateral panel has a further internal lining of the identical materials because the collars to guard the foot from the stitching of the lateral BOA wire holders.
The BOA dial and what looks like an internal reinforcing disk sits slightly below the place laces would possibly finish making this space stiffer and extra inflexible than a common lace up space on the ankle.
Given its stiffness I felt some stress on the ankle bone when the path was off camber and this regardless of further padding inside as in comparison with the medial collar in that space. I want the dial had much less of a reinforcing piece, was a bit decrease and/or additional ahead.
As soon as previous this tough to design challenges for BOA, let’s speak concerning the match and maintain. It’s super in its effectiveness at midfoot and heel with a lot of adjustablity for various quantity toes and swelling toes. Whereas I had the dialed possibly down an excessive amount of given the supportive nature of the higher in a subsequent set of runs I’ll loosen to see if I can scale back the feeling of the dial urgent on my ankle. The heel maintain is equally efficient in a inflexible heel counter with collars now not the low and shaky conventional Altra squared off design.
The toe space form and quantity is Altra’s “common” match so not the tremendous broad of the Lone Peaks or the “slim” match of some Altra street sneakers. I actually admire the mixture of rounded entrance of the toe field shaping and clearly felt foot splay and maintain up entrance. The toe bumper may be very stout and fairly inflexible, all of it offering each safety and maintain with first rate top.
That stated, given the non-stretch nature of the higher mesh this isn’t a broad toe field per say and possibly decrease quantity than prior Timp because of this however definitely one with extra construction general.
I used to be true to measurement for my slim to medium quantity toes with the size simply in need of a full thumb width attributable to stout toe bumper. I feel greater quantity toes won’t danger a lot if any foot maintain sizing up half a measurement.
In a pleasant contact, the Timp 5 features a gaiter hook up entrance in addition to Altra’s velcro gaiter entice. The heel pull tab is sweet however not likely wanted to drag the sneakers on given the BOA laces simply slide to full opening and the knit tongue is decently stretchy.
The Timp 5 BOA has an EVA kind sockliner that’s perforated for drainage and breathability
Backside Line: An higher targeted on efficiency and maintain for technical terrain slightly than broadness and sloppy unstructured consolation. As a result of dense skinny mesh and multi layered development, I discovered them lots heat and even reasonably climate resistant in chilly on the snow making me assume they won’t be significantly breathable in warmth however with testing to come back for that. The BOA system right here is tremendous efficient however may use a much less inflexible really feel across the dial.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole is Altra’s EGO Max foam, so far as I do know it just isn’t a supercritical foam (SCF). Many 2025 path sneakers are going to lighter and extra vitality returning foams and at $175, even with BOA on board right here, Altra ought to have thought-about it.
But, aside from the load financial savings and bit extra enjoyable potential of SCF, EGO Max is a high-quality midsole foam for path functions. It absorbs shock very effectively, is steady and has some properly measured rubbery bounce. Not essentially the most thrilling, however I desire it to say the duller PWRRUN within the Saucony Peregrine for instance.
As a zero drop shoe, the heel doesn’t really feel overly low or in any method again weighted, though with 29mm of stack there it’s decrease than many present path sneakers. The image flips on the entrance the place 29mm is a really respectable stack of cushion. I haven’t been on rocky trails but given all of the snow however I anticipate, given the 29mm of stack top together with the dense midsole and Vibram outsole, rock safety ought to be simply high-quality with some path really feel and agility within the combine.
Outsole
For the primary time the Timp will get a Vibram MegaGrip outsole and one with 4mm lugs.Grip on very laborious snow was excellent. The outsole is very segmented contributing to the shoe’s agility and reasonable flexibility.
The flexibleness is enhanced with forefoot grooves. I’m pointing to the one which creates the flex level within the shoe. Altra’s “Internal Flex”, a tennis strings grooves within the prime of the midsole just isn’t referred to as out within the specs. My sense it isn’t on board as whereas comparatively versatile I feel with Internal Flex the Timp could be but extra versatile.
Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions
A high-quality however pretty conventional driving midsole is topped with a state-of-the-art efficiency higher within the Timp 5 BOA. That is the Altra shoe for pace on technical trails. It’s steady, effectively cushioned if densely so and protecting. I want it weighed much less as at 10 oz it’s on the heavy aspect for a contemporary trails pace shoe. doubtlessly through the usage of a supercritical foam for the midsole and possibly a barely lighter extra open higher mesh which may additionally assist breathability, though in winter it has been a excellent higher..
The foot maintain is excellent within the dense if skinny higher with the BOA System effectively executed however for a little bit of dial stress.
The match is for positive Foot Form however as a result of mesh not the broadest however for positive essentially the most safe in an Altra but.
The BOA dials are handy and make taking the shoe on and off and locking it onto the foot tremendous fast
However there may be extra as I’ve discovered the Timp 5 to be an impressive strolling and mountain climbing shoe. Along with fast path runs, it might shine for journey and trekking as a single shoe to take alongside.
Sam’s Rating: 8.9 /10
Deductions for weight and dense journey, a contact overbuilt higher, and extra minor BOA dial location
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