PMNW Gear Review

Altra Olympus 4

You know that feeling of surprise when you realize something is completely different than you thought it would be? Your expectations are one thing, and reality is another. That was my feeling about the new Altra Olympus 4. As a perennial user of the Altra Lone Peak, I had never felt the need to branch out to a max cushion Altra model. Why mess with success?

The Olympus 4 turned my resistance to a max cushion shoe upside down. For starters, it doesn’t look bulky, it is sleek, low profile, and looks fast. Despite the 33mm of cushion under foot, the wide base and stabilizing heel, creates a platform that doesn’t allow your foot to wobble around or feel insecure. I’m a big fan of Vibram, and with the Vibram MegaGrip, you get unparalleled grip on varied terrain. From muddy trails, to slick granite, and wet sidewalks, I feel extremely secure in these shoes. One of my first outings in these shoes was a 20 miler in the desert of Saguaro National Park. Essentially using them out of the box, I felt like I had extra spring in my step, and they helped my feet stay strong during the 4000 feet of elevation gain and loss on this trail. No break in required.

In addition to the classic, well known, Footshape toe box, this version has ample padding in the heel, a premium tongue that gives a lock-in feel and increased breathability throughout the upper.

Moreover, what changed my perception of a max cushion shoe by-means-of the Olympus 4, is that it doesn’t feel squishy. When I think of max cushion, I was expecting marshmallowy, soft and wobbly. What the Olympus 4 has instead is that ohhhhh feeling that a highly cushioned shoe typically has, but it feels firm, solid, and steady.

With four well thought out color options for men and women, ranging from flashy to conservative, are there any downsides to this shoe? I’ll let you be the judge of that!