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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Olympus Review}}
The [http://www.zappos.com/altra-olympus Olympus] has rapidly become one of my favorite running shoes. It has the soft cushioning that is like the best of the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]], combined with zero drop and a nice wide toe box. It's remarkably flexible given its cushioning, with an outsole that works well on the road. Like the Hokas, the cushioning means the shoe works well on rocky trails as well. Like other Altra shoes, the tongue area is wider than most shoes, reducing the pressure on the top of your foot. The weight is similar to a Hoka, but somehow feels lighter than a Hoka when I'm running. Like the Hokas, the midsole thins at the front and back to create a rocker effect, and this is a little more noticeable than the Hokas. I felt this worked well, though I've talked to runners who have found the rocker a little disconcerting. You can see the difference in the slice through the two shoes, with the Hoka tapering in front of the ball of the foot and the Olympus starting to taper much further back.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Altra-Olympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus top]]
|[[File:Altra-Olympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus bottom]]
|[[File:Altra-Olympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus inside]]
|[[File:Altra-Olympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* '''Why you'd buy it'''{{H:WhyBuy}}. You're after a [[Minimax]] shoe that fits your foot. You might be better with the lighter weight [[Hoka Clifton]] however. * '''Cushioning'''{{H:cushioning}}. The midsole of the Olympus is not quite as soft as the typical Hoka foam, but it's softer than the earlier Altra shoes like the Torin were. * '''Drop'''{{H:drop}}. Altra is known for their zero drop and the Olympus is no exception. However, while the thickness under the ball and heel is approximately the same but there some rise under the arch. This gives some medial support to the ball of the foot, but it does not push up on the arch in a way that causes problems. The Olympus tapers gently and evenly from the ball of the foot to the front, which is quite different to the Hoka which has an abrupt taper at the front of the shoe. Like many [[Minimax]] shoes, the rear of the midsole is cut away to create a bit of a rocker. However, rather unusually the outsole extends back, which may be an attempt to absorb heel strike. The midsole wraps around the lower part of the foot improve stability, reducing the stilt like instability you can get with a thick sole.* '''Structure'''{{H:structure}}. This shoe uses single density of foam, though the wrapper that extends above the level of the liner painted a different color to make the shoe look a little less bulky. * '''Flexibility'''{{H:flexibility}}. The Olympus is fairly flexible for shoe of this thickness and this flexibility tends to increase over the first few miles as the foam breaks down and softens.* '''Outsole'''{{H:outsole}}. The Olympus has harder rubber over most (but not all) of the surface of the sole. However, unlike many shoes that put the harder rubber on the contact points the Olympus has a cutout in the harder rubber that makes the outline of a foot. This is superficially attractive, but not particularly practical. * '''Shape'''{{H:shape}}. The shoe is the classic Altra shape, which follows the outline of the human foot much better than other makes. This gives it a broader toe box, but I find there is not enough height for my toes and [[Shoe Modifications| I still have to cut the toe box open]].* '''Upper'''{{H:upper}}. The upper is a thicker material than most road shoes, but is reasonably breathable. The weave of the material makes it quite tough and abrasion resistant. There is good padding around the ankle opening.* '''Tongue'''{{H:tongue}}. The Olympus has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue is partially attached on the inside edge to keep it positioned (see below for an image). The tongue has minimal but adequate padding.* '''Lacing'''{{H:lacing}}. The flat laces work well and remained tied. Like many Altra shoes, I find the position of the uppermost eyeholes a little old, with the top hole too high and the next hole a little too low. The shoes come from the manufacturer laced in a way that indicates they think you should do a [[Lacing#The Heel Lock| "heel lock" style of lacing]], which I hate. I find that approach is very hard to get the tension right.* '''Heel counter'''{{H:heelcounter}}. The Olympus has a surprisingly firm heel counter which is reinforced by the midsole foam rising up around the lower part of the heel. However, there are no strongly defined edges, so it should not cause a problem. The heel counter comes as far up the back of the heel as is normal for running shoe.==Olympus and ParadigmHoka Clifton==The Comparing the Olympus and Paradigm the [[Hoka Clifton]]:* Similarities** {{H:price}}. Both are remarkably similar shoesexpensive, but tend to have a good lifespan.** {{H:trails}}. Both will handle rocky trails quite well, but not mud or slick rocks.* Advantage Altra Olympus** {{H:shape}}. The Altra Olympus has a better toe box.** {{H:drop}}. The Altra Olympus is zero drop. ** {{H:longevity}}. The Altra Olympus has more outsole, so it's easiest to talk about will resist abrasion better though the differencesClifton has tougher exposed midsole than most. * Advantage Hoka Clifton** {{H:weight}}. The Hoka Clifton is a lot lighter, which is a critical advantage. ** {{H:cushioning}}. In many ways Both are thickly, softly cushioned, but the Clifton achieves the cushioning with less thickness.{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Altra-Olympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus top]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus bottom]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus inside]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus outside]] |- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]] |[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]|}==Olympus and Altra Paradigm could be thought of as ==Comparing the Olympus and the road version of [[Altra Paradigm]]:* Similarities** {{H:shape}}. Both have better toe boxes than the more usual shaped shoes.** {{H:drop}}. Both are zero drop. ** {{H:price}}.Both are expensive, but tend to have a good lifespan.** {{H:grip}}. Neither has great traction on wet, slick surfaces or mud.* Advantage Altra Olympus.* * {{H:longevity}}. The Paradigm is road onlyOlympus has more outsole, where so it will resist abrasion better than the Paradigm. ** {{H:trails}}.The Olympus will handle both road and mild trailsa little better.* * {{H:cushioning}}. The Olympus is slightly thicker and slightly heavier, but the difference is fairly marginal when you're wearing themsofter cushioned.* The outsole on the Olympus is quite hard, and can lack traction on a treadmill at steep incline.Advantage Altra Paradigm* * {{H:weight}}. The Altra Paradigm is slightly more cut away at the base of the heel to produce more of a rocker effectlighter. [[File:OlympusParadigmRun.JPG|none|thumb|x300pxx150px| I actually ran with an Olympus on one foot and a Paradigm on the other. It's a great way of comparing two shoes, but don't try this at home as it's also a great way of getting injured.]]==Olympus and Hoka Bondi==Comparing the Olympus and the [[Hoka Bondi]]:* Similarities** {{H:price}}.Both are expensive, but tend to have a good lifespan.** {{H:trails}}.Both will handle rocky trails quite well, but not mud or slick rocks.** {{H:cushioning}}. Both are thickly, softly cushioned. * Advantage Altra Olympus** {{H:shape}}. The Altra Olympus has a better toe box.** {{H:drop}}. The Altra Olympus is zero drop. ** {{H:longevity}}. The Altra Olympus has more outsole, so it will resist abrasion better and wear more evenly. ** {{H:weight}}. The Altra Olympus is lighter. * Advantage Hoka Bondi** Nothing.{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Altra-Olympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus top]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus bottom]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus inside]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus outside]] |- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-B-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B top]] |[[File:Hoka-Bondi-B-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B bottom]] |[[File:Hoka-Bondi-B-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B inside]] |[[File:Hoka-Bondi-B-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B outside]]|}
=Gallery=
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:OlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|Altra Olympus [[Shoe Dissection| dissected]].]]|[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas. Notice the difference in the way the sole tapers towards the front of the shoe.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:OlympusParadigmSide.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px| Here is an external comparison of the Altra Olympus and the [[Altra Paradigm]].]]|[[File:OlympusParadigmSole.JPG|none|thumb|300px| The Paradigm (top) has less grip and more flexibility than the Olympus. ]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:OlympusParadigmSole.JPG|none|thumb|x150px| The Paradigm (top) has less grip and more flexibility than the Olympus. ]]|[[File:POCMSB_Top.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|[[Altra Paradigm]], [[Altra Olympus]], Hoka Conquest, [[Hoka Mafate]], [[Hoka Stinson]], [[Hoka Bondi]] (From left to right).]]|[[File:POCMSB_Inside.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|[[Hoka Stinson]], [[Hoka Bondi]], Hoka Conquest, [[Hoka Mafate]], [[Altra Paradigm]], [[Altra Olympus]] (From top left to bottom right by row).]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:POCMSB_Outside.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|[[Hoka Stinson]], [[Hoka Bondi]], Hoka Conquest, [[Hoka Mafate]], [[Altra Paradigm]], [[Altra Olympus]] (From top left to bottom right by row).]]|[[File:POCMSB_RearOlympusTongue.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|[[Hoka Stinson]], [[Hoka Bondi]], Hoka Conquest, [[Hoka Mafate]], [[Altra Paradigm]]A close up of the tongue, [[Altra Olympus]] (From top left to bottom right by row)showing how it's sown in on each side.]]
|- valign="top"
|colspan="3"|[[File:OlympusTonguePOCMSB_Rear.JPG|none|thumb|300pxx150px|A close up of the tongue[[Hoka Stinson]], [[Hoka Bondi]], Hoka Conquest, showing how it's sown in on each side[[Hoka Mafate]], [[Altra Paradigm]], [[Altra Olympus]] (From top left to bottom right by row).]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
[[Category:Review]]