I’ve got a 22 mile mountain race in July (Snowdonia, Wales), and don’t know whether to use them. Hoping to push them in the hills to see how they grip. Great review mate…keep them coming. 👏👏
I´ve done about 200 miles in My Olympus 4, and just love the way they feel - I usually say it´s like crawling into a nice warm bed, to wear them 😁 In the beginning I experienced the same pain on top of My foot, but also found out they can be laced very loose as long as they are laced with the heel lock - they stay on the foot in all conditions.
Yeah I have to mess with how I lace up. I been using some extra sticker padding that really helps! I love the ride so much I'm willing to mod them a bit lol!
Good job with the review Wayne & liking the changing coloured sign in the background. I must admit I do prefer a bit more padding in the tongue as well on shoes 🏃👍
Hello from a Greek slow fundraising trail runner. Congrats on your videos! Just a wee question: I've been using the Salomon Speedcross 5 for my trail races (maximum half marathon) and I'm really satisfied. The Olympus 4 look great but I'm worried about the zero drop. Will I get used to that drop or is that gonna cause issues to my knees, ankles etc. I'm 45, 6,1 tall and pretty overweight (100 kilos). Best wishes!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, there is a transition period into zero drop. I went nice and slow when I was in the military slowly reducing the drop over a course of a year and a half. People do it quicker, but I went slow to avoid injuries due to my position. It's different for everyone, so make sure you do your research and listen to your body as you switch.
I went into a local store and tried on both the Altra Olympus 4 and Mont Blanc, and even wearing both at the same time, and here’s my two cents (P.S. I’m much less experienced than you, Wayne): Similar stack height, both felt stable enough; definitely more toe protection on the Olympus, which partly explains why it’s a bit heavier; MB has a stronger rocker which screams speed, and it’s inner stole also goes up on the sides of my feet, while the Olympus has a more "slipper" feel; the MB heel cup seemed low, and it almost felt as if my heel might pop out (I’d be careful on muddy trails). In the end I went with the Olympus as they’re cheaper and look like a more comfy ride, (I’m not much of a racer) though I don’t think the MB comfort would be a huge issue for most.
I just got a pair of the Mont Blancs and am super excited to see how they perform! From the short time I've been in them, I absolutely love them besides that heel slip you were talking about. With that super-thin tongue, it's hard to get a hard lock without the laces cutting into the top of the foot...that's the same problem I had with the 4s. I hope they break in a bit more and that helps the slipping....I always have the 4s as backups! Thanks for watching!
@@WayneCapacillo What laces would you recommend as replacement? It became a definite issue in regards to lockdown pretty early in a 46k race over the weekend.
I haven't played with the laces yet but I have been playing with the sticker tongue pads you can get on Amazon. They seem to help a little... maybe the mix the new laces and padding will make them unbeatable...
New sub! Its a great shoe for sure Wayne. I look forward to running my first 100k in them this year. Varied terrain. Perhaps the Superior would have been better but I have my eye on the Mont Blancs or the Escalante 3's as my next shoe! :)
Oh! I want to check out the escalate 3s! I blew out my pair of 2.5s....they don't get good grip on the trails so if your 100k is mostly trails would go with a trail specific shoe.
@@WayneCapacillo No for sure. I only wear the Escalante's is for interval training or low hr training on the roads. I like having different shoes for different types of running :)
Hi thx for your review. But do you have an opinion on the Mont Blanc. Why I ask is I’m currently on Paradigm so it’s the same 31mm stack hight and unlike the Olympus the hole sole is covered with rubber. Yes it might be Vibram light but that has to be more durable than that foam section on the middle of the Olympus. And they are light and on sale. I’m also just a casual runner/hiker. I also find the loans peak stack not enough and the Timp 4 to wide. I might also do some asphalt or maybe I should wait for the Outroad. What do you recommend thx.
My feet got ate up with the Mont Blancs...I want to love them because they feel so fast, awesome response that makes you feel like you are flying down the trail. However, my heel was floating around and I got a mean blister/hole in my midfoot that I had to suffer through 25 out of 31 miles during a 50k. They dont work for my weird ass feet but if you can get them to work they might be the perfect fast trail shoe.
@@WayneCapacillo hi Wayne thx for your reply a bit late but it’s ok as I’ve put my running on hold as my Morten’s Neuroma is just getting worse and have opt for hiking instead and have bought the Olympus boots and are actually going on a hike with them today.
Wayne, I found a new discounted pair of Olympus 4 shoes. But, they are telling me its a 'D' width in the heel. are all of them standard widths or do you think I'm getting hosed on some odd size (the reason they're discounted? Thx
Interesting...I'm not 100% sure.. I think the only actual "wide" options are in the torin and lone peak. However, altras do use 3 diffent lasses for their shoe: original (widest), standard, and slim. The Olympus is built on their widest lass the original. Best bet is to try them on and hope they have a good return policy if possible lol
No. They are actually D size but the TOEBOX is wide. Which means if, like me, you have a wide mid foot the Olympus may be too tight and hurt. As Wayne says some of the Altras have a wide fitting like the Torin (which I have and they are great) or LP. Good luck
Luv'em... Just completed my 105km in them, with similar tongue issues. Now part of my left foot is a little numb (tide them too tight but too lazy to adjust).
@@WayneCapacillo Good to know I'm not alone hehe... I'm 700km into them and surprisingly they're in pretty good shape especially gone through all that tech terrain. Btw, started following you on Strava ; )
I'm planning on ordering the Olympus 4 online (really hard to find Altra in Croatia), I have a pair of Altra Superior 4 which fit great, should I order the same size Olympus as the Superiors?
Im training for the army which means a lot of beach running dunes running and going in the water. I had the superior and they didn’t last long, do you think this will be good?
Hmmm the Olympus 4s are more suited for trails and more technical surfaces I feel. I always loved running on the beach with minimalist shoes (Merrell Trail Glove) since you have the soft surface from the sand. You have to transition slowly into them but they'll help build foot strength as well.
That's funny. The top lace eyelets on my 4's tore out in the first 40 miles. The upper tore on the outside edges of both shoes with the greatest of ease in the first 40 miles as well. The ride and performance of the Mega Grip sole are awesome, but the shoe is not designed with enough durability for real world trail travel. Disappointed.
That's my next purchase! I'm hitting the Vermont 100 and Yeti 100 which I won't be using trail shoes for but I think I can test out the 5s while I'm recovering from the Vermont 100.
Dude ,moleskin,every shoe has issues after certain length of time,there is no perfect shoe for everyone, but there are perfect remedies for little quirky issues.
![What you should Know about the Altra Olympus 4 [100km Endurance Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sSBohLoZHrU/mqdefault.jpg)
![What you should Know about the Altra Olympus 4 [100km Endurance Review]](/img/tr.png)
Thank you for your work.
It is important to hear a review after an ultra.
I’ve got a 22 mile mountain race in July (Snowdonia, Wales), and don’t know whether to use them. Hoping to push them in the hills to see how they grip.
Great review mate…keep them coming. 👏👏
They are my go to for trails!
I´ve done about 200 miles in My Olympus 4, and just love the way they feel - I usually say it´s like crawling into a nice warm bed, to wear them 😁
In the beginning I experienced the same pain on top of My foot, but also found out they can be laced very loose as long as they are laced with the heel lock - they stay on the foot in all conditions.
Yeah I have to mess with how I lace up. I been using some extra sticker padding that really helps! I love the ride so much I'm willing to mod them a bit lol!
Good job with the review Wayne & liking the changing coloured sign in the background. I must admit I do prefer a bit more padding in the tongue as well on shoes 🏃👍
$15 target special!
I got some shoe tongue padding for them so we'll see how it helps. I think I might swap out the laces as well.
Hello from a Greek slow fundraising trail runner. Congrats on your videos! Just a wee question: I've been using the Salomon Speedcross 5 for my trail races (maximum half marathon) and I'm really satisfied. The Olympus 4 look great but I'm worried about the zero drop. Will I get used to that drop or is that gonna cause issues to my knees, ankles etc. I'm 45, 6,1 tall and pretty overweight (100 kilos). Best wishes!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, there is a transition period into zero drop. I went nice and slow when I was in the military slowly reducing the drop over a course of a year and a half. People do it quicker, but I went slow to avoid injuries due to my position. It's different for everyone, so make sure you do your research and listen to your body as you switch.
@@WayneCapacillo Cheers for the super quick reply and the advice Wayne! Keep inspiring.
I went into a local store and tried on both the Altra Olympus 4 and Mont Blanc, and even wearing both at the same time, and here’s my two cents (P.S. I’m much less experienced than you, Wayne):
Similar stack height, both felt stable enough; definitely more toe protection on the Olympus, which partly explains why it’s a bit heavier; MB has a stronger rocker which screams speed, and it’s inner stole also goes up on the sides of my feet, while the Olympus has a more "slipper" feel; the MB heel cup seemed low, and it almost felt as if my heel might pop out (I’d be careful on muddy trails).
In the end I went with the Olympus as they’re cheaper and look like a more comfy ride, (I’m not much of a racer) though I don’t think the MB comfort would be a huge issue for most.
I just got a pair of the Mont Blancs and am super excited to see how they perform! From the short time I've been in them, I absolutely love them besides that heel slip you were talking about. With that super-thin tongue, it's hard to get a hard lock without the laces cutting into the top of the foot...that's the same problem I had with the 4s. I hope they break in a bit more and that helps the slipping....I always have the 4s as backups!
Thanks for watching!
@@WayneCapacillo What laces would you recommend as replacement? It became a definite issue in regards to lockdown pretty early in a 46k race over the weekend.
I haven't played with the laces yet but I have been playing with the sticker tongue pads you can get on Amazon. They seem to help a little... maybe the mix the new laces and padding will make them unbeatable...
New sub! Its a great shoe for sure Wayne. I look forward to running my first 100k in them this year. Varied terrain. Perhaps the Superior would have been better but I have my eye on the Mont Blancs or the Escalante 3's as my next shoe! :)
Oh! I want to check out the escalate 3s! I blew out my pair of 2.5s....they don't get good grip on the trails so if your 100k is mostly trails would go with a trail specific shoe.
@@WayneCapacillo No for sure. I only wear the Escalante's is for interval training or low hr training on the roads. I like having different shoes for different types of running :)
Thanks for the review
Hi thx for your review. But do you have an opinion on the Mont Blanc. Why I ask is I’m currently on Paradigm so it’s the same 31mm stack hight and unlike the Olympus the hole sole is covered with rubber. Yes it might be Vibram light but that has to be more durable than that foam section on the middle of the Olympus. And they are light and on sale. I’m also just a casual runner/hiker. I also find the loans peak stack not enough and the Timp 4 to wide. I might also do some asphalt or maybe I should wait for the Outroad. What do you recommend thx.
My feet got ate up with the Mont Blancs...I want to love them because they feel so fast, awesome response that makes you feel like you are flying down the trail. However, my heel was floating around and I got a mean blister/hole in my midfoot that I had to suffer through 25 out of 31 miles during a 50k. They dont work for my weird ass feet but if you can get them to work they might be the perfect fast trail shoe.
@@WayneCapacillo hi Wayne thx for your reply a bit late but it’s ok as I’ve put my running on hold as my Morten’s Neuroma is just getting worse and have opt for hiking instead and have bought the Olympus boots and are actually going on a hike with them today.
Wayne, I found a new discounted pair of Olympus 4 shoes. But, they are telling me its a 'D' width in the heel. are all of them standard widths or do you think I'm getting hosed on some odd size (the reason they're discounted? Thx
Interesting...I'm not 100% sure.. I think the only actual "wide" options are in the torin and lone peak. However, altras do use 3 diffent lasses for their shoe: original (widest), standard, and slim. The Olympus is built on their widest lass the original. Best bet is to try them on and hope they have a good return policy if possible lol
No.
They are actually D size but the TOEBOX is wide.
Which means if, like me, you have a wide mid foot the Olympus may be too tight and hurt.
As Wayne says some of the Altras have a wide fitting like the Torin (which I have and they are great) or LP.
Good luck
Luv'em... Just completed my 105km in them, with similar tongue issues. Now part of my left foot is a little numb (tide them too tight but too lazy to adjust).
Ha! I can relate to the too lazy to adjust....I'm testing out the sticker tongue pad inserts right now and it seems to help
@@WayneCapacillo Good to know I'm not alone hehe... I'm 700km into them and surprisingly they're in pretty good shape especially gone through all that tech terrain. Btw, started following you on Strava ; )
I use a ‘window’ lacing technique on my Lone Peaks and feel so much better
Just switched over to these from speedgoats, so far so good. Hope this pair lasts up till the Aggie 50k in York Me next may 💪
I tried the speedgoats but they cramped up my toes too much, I wanted to get some of the Karl Meltzer power!
@@WayneCapacillo man if we could get that altra toebox on some speedgoats that would be a sellout combo imo
Facts!
@@billycarroll4230 You could try the wide edition of the Speedgoat ?
@@mtimbroims Not wide enough for a lot of wide footed people unfortunately
Answer please, If I have Altra Escalante 2.0, size 48 eu, what size for Olympus 4 do you recommend?
I went with the same size for the Escalante 2 and the Olympus 4 and worked fine for me.
I'm planning on ordering the Olympus 4 online (really hard to find Altra in Croatia), I have a pair of Altra Superior 4 which fit great, should I order the same size Olympus as the Superiors?
Mine fit the same! 10.5 in both. The only Altra I had to size up for were the Rivera.
@@WayneCapacillo Great! Thanks!
First day on my olympus 5 and i noticed the heel slip. I dont like to tie my shoes tight. Hoping they break in
Im training for the army which means a lot of beach running dunes running and going in the water. I had the superior and they didn’t last long, do you think this will be good?
Hmmm the Olympus 4s are more suited for trails and more technical surfaces I feel. I always loved running on the beach with minimalist shoes (Merrell Trail Glove) since you have the soft surface from the sand. You have to transition slowly into them but they'll help build foot strength as well.
That's funny. The top lace eyelets on my 4's tore out in the first 40 miles. The upper tore on the outside edges of both shoes with the greatest of ease in the first 40 miles as well. The ride and performance of the Mega Grip sole are awesome, but the shoe is not designed with enough durability for real world trail travel. Disappointed.
Can you review the Olympus 5
That's my next purchase! I'm hitting the Vermont 100 and Yeti 100 which I won't be using trail shoes for but I think I can test out the 5s while I'm recovering from the Vermont 100.
@@WayneCapacillo You're using road shoes for a 100 miler?
Dude ,moleskin,every shoe has issues after certain length of time,there is no perfect shoe for everyone, but there are perfect remedies for little quirky issues.
Every shoe has issues after so many miles, moleskin and change your laces.
Moleskin takes me back to my rucking days lol!