Altra Olympus 4.0 – Lateral Side

The Altra Olympus 4.0 is the latest iteration of Altra’s maximally cushioned trail shoe.

The Olympus 4.0 will definitely keep your feet safe from rocks, roots, and any other trail debris that you’re likely to come across during a run.

And if your route includes some paved sections, the cushioning will keep your feet happy on the harder surfaces as well.

The look of the Olympus has changed quite (for the better, IMO) a bit from the 3.0 to the 4.0, but the feel and performance of the shoe is quite similar to the older model.

The Olympus 4.0 also maintains the Altra ideals of a foot shaped toe box and zero-drop platform that is standard across every shoe in they offer.

Altra Olympus 4.0 – Pair

The Altra Olympus 4.0 is quite the shoe. For some, it may be too much shoe.

But if you like a lot of cushion and a shoe that can hold up to some serious wear and tear, you should definitely consider the Olympus 4.0.

Out of the box, I was a little surprised at how much shoe was actually there thanks to a 33 mm stack height.

Thankfully, the shoe isn’t terribly heavy, which was a pleasant surprise to me given the amount of cushion and the sturdy heel cup/toe cap that the Olympus 4.0 brings to the table.

Helping to keep the shoe as light as it is (11.6 oz) is the mesh upper present in the mid foot area that helps the Olympus 4.0 to breath quite well.

After my first run in the Olympus 4.0, I was sold on the shoe as a solid option for any trail conditions.

That first run had a bit of everything: mud, rocks, pavement, gravel, roots, standing water, and hills. And through it all, my footing was never an issue.

The shoe also drained well, which is always an important thing to consider when water crossings are part of the equation.

Nothing that I experienced in any subsequent runs in the Olympus 4.0s did anything to diminish my opinions about the viability of the shoe either.

As I mentioned above, traction with the Olympus 4.0 isn’t an issue.

The outsole is made of a sticky rubber compound (Vibram Megagrip), and combined with ample lugs you can trust your footing no matter what surface you happen to be running upon.

While this is great for more technical trails, this may be a bit less desirable for more runnable trails that you may come across.

To be clear, I’m not saying you can’t run in the Olympus 4.0s, but they are definitely a lot more shoe than may be needed on some tamer trails.

Altra Olympus 4.0 – Toe

When it comes to keeping your foot safe out on the trail, there’s little doubt that the Altra Olympus 4.0 will do the job.

As has already been mentioned, the cushioning and outsole does it’s job when running on various rocks, roots, paved sections, or anything else that you’re likely to come across out on the trail.

The Altra Olympus 4.0 also features a reinforced toe cap that will keep your feet safe from thorns, briars, or whatever else if you’re running through some sections of trail that aren’t well maintained.

Altra Olympus 4.0 – Closeup

The Altra Olympus 4.0 raises no durability concerns to me at this point. The shoe has held up well to everything I’ve thrown at it thus far, and save for some stubborn mud looks no worse for the wear.

The shoe also holds up well for longer days on the trail without breaking down, and I would definitely consider the Olympus 4.0 as an option for an ultra distance event.

The Altra Olympus 4.0 is a shoe you can definitely push the pace in, but it’s probably not the best shoe for really fast trail racing.

The shoe doesn’t do anything “wrong” per se, but it’s just a maximally cushioned shoe that isn’t designed with maximal speed as the priority.

If speed is your focus, then lighter shoes with a bit less cushion would probably be a better option.

The Altra Olympus 4.0 is true to size and I had no issues with the fit at all.

Like every Altra shoe, the Olympus 4.0 features a foot shaped toe box, which may feel loose in the forefoot to those more used to a narrower shoe.

All in all, I’ve found the Olympus 4.0 to be quite comfortable to wear while running.

Altra Olympus 4.0 – Sole

The Altra Olympus 4.0 is a workhorse of a trail shoe, though I’m not ready to say it’s my new go to for my time out on the trails.

The Olympus 4.0 is as advertised: just a beast of a shoe that can hold up to some serious wear and tear. But for me and my preferences, it’s just a bit too much shoe.

I like a bit less cushion and a little more feel for the ground than what I get with the Olympus 4.0.

But if you like a shoe with a lot of cushion that can do just about anything, then the Altra Olympus 4.0 may be a good option for you!