A few years ago a ‘mid’ or ‘boot’ version of a trail running shoe was a niche item in our store. It was typically picked up by runners looking for extra support during tough challenges or wanting to carry on in the hills all year round. Hikers went for lighter weight hiking boots not ‘trail running mids’ but with products like the Altra Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX all that has changed.
Cutting edge, us?
We’ve been a fairly early adopter in the shift into the hiker market by some of the trail running shoe brands. Whilst we’d like to say that we’d foreseen the trend or have always been on the cutting edge of outdoor developments in fact it’s because we are a slightly rare beast in that the customers coming through our door are an equal measure of hikers and runners. The Yorkshire Dales has that kind of appeal – it’s a relatively easy landscape to move fast in. Our rule of thumb is to always listen to what people ask for, so an ultra-light low boot derived from a light and grippy trail running shoe was something a lot of our customers would get.
Prior to the past year or two the market has been more or less sewn up by Hoka – we’ve stocked the Hoka Kaha (latest version here) or previous versions for a good few years along with the inov-8 Roclite G345 (in various guises – link to current version here) and a few others besides. More recently we’ve seen the Altra Lone Peak All WHTR mid gain a lot of fans in store (the link to the current version is here) and this ultra-light mid boot category has really gained some momentum.
Olympus Hike?
So what’s so great about the Altra Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX? Well, what the Olympus adds is cushioning to the mix. The Altra Lone Peak mid offers a mid-version and waterproof boot with a wider fit (foot-shaped toe box), the Olympus has all this too and offers more cushioning. Roughly (not accounting for fit and technical nuances) the Altra Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX is most closely comparable to the Hoka Kaha 2 Mid – but with a wider fit (and Altra’s zero heel to toe drop).
Technical Stuff
In terms of the technical highlights, the Altra Olympus 5 Hike Mid GTX is a waterproof (GORETEX) mid boot with 33mm of cushioning (stack height) and zero drop between the front and rear of the boot. The sole features Vibram Mega grip (a stickier outsole compound that works well on the local wet rock) and the upper is a composite of thin leather material and fabric. The boot weighs in at around 490 grams per boot in a UK9.5.
Obviously, constructing a boot from lightweight fabric and leather will mean the boot is likely to be less durable. If your walking covers a range of terrains this will be fine but prolonged use over tough ground will minimise the life of the boot so it won’t stay waterproof or together as long. It will do fewer miles BUT it will do them in greater comfort and at speed – if that’s what you are looking for!
To take a closer look at the Men's Altra Olympus 5 hike GTX click on this link.
As always, any questions, get in touch – pick up the phone or email us – we’re here to help.
