Altra Olympus 275 review

We believe the Altra Olympus 275 is a great match for:

• Runners who found the standard Olympus too heavy and want a lighter version that keeps the same midsole and outsole setup.
• Trail runners committed to zero-drop shoes who want a highly stable, tank-like option for long and easy trail runs.
• Wide-footed runners looking for a premium trail shoe with a very roomy toebox and a stable platform.

We believe the Olympus 275 is not the best choice if you want a natural feel. We found in the lab that the towering stack puts you very high above the trail. If that bothers you, the Altra Lone Peak 9 makes more sense, and it's cheaper too.

We also think runners who do not seek an ultra-roomy fit should skip it. In our experience, the massive toebox can feel loose and confidence-reducing for those with narrow feet. Check the HOKA Mafate 5 or the Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 instead.

The zero-drop geometry of the Altra Olympus 275 has a clear impact on its shock absorption. We measured 115 SA in the heel and a higher-than-average 110 SA in the forefoot, confirming that a flat midsole favors midfoot and forefoot strikers more than heel landings.

While the weight reduction of the Olympus 275 is very impressive compared to the regular version, we feel Altra missed a chance to make it even lighter by switching to a supercritical EVA foam.

Instead, they kept the same compression-molded EVA, which is heavy and also lacks bounce, with just 52.7% in our energy return test.

Altra lists a 33 mm heel stack height for this shoe, but we measured a slightly lower 30.8 mm. The difference is small and it still holds its place as Altra’s highest-stacked trail shoe, but it’s always useful to know the real number.

The forefoot measures 30.5 mm, which is much higher than the average trail shoe due to the flat midsole design of the Olympus 275. As a result, there is plenty of cushioning underfoot, which is clearly noticeable on forefoot landings.

Anyone buying the Olympus 275 expects a true zero-drop setup, and with a measured drop of just 0.3 mm, this shoe clearly delivers. It may not read exactly 0.0 mm, but minor differences are expected due to manufacturing tolerances and midsole shaping, and the O275 fully delivers that flat underfoot feel.

While running in the Olympus 275, we noticed a firm feel underfoot, which we later confirmed in the lab with a 25.5 HA reading.

This is not a negative if you prefer a firm and stable feel on trails, but keep in mind that the plush sensation common in many modern running shoes is not present here.

The high stack height of the Olympus 275 and its zero-drop geometry clearly shape the rocker design.

Altra added extra curvature to the forefoot to offset the added foam underfoot, and also introduced a mild heel curve to smooth transitions for heel landings, even though it's worth noting that heel striking is not ideal in a zero-drop shoe.

When we unboxed the Altra Olympus 275, the first thing we wanted to check was whether the new MATRYX upper made the shoe feel narrower than before.

Instead, we found the opposite. There is more room than ever, as we measured a generous 100.1 mm right away.

We also confirmed with our gel mold of the interior that there is a generous amount of straight-line space for the big toe, which feels natural and relaxed. 

And since this shoe uses Altra’s Original FootShape Fit (the widest last they offer) there is plenty of room for toe splay at 81.0 mm.

Vertical space is not an issue at all, and it is even more generous than in the regular Olympus.

We measured 29.9 mm here, which clearly shows that this shoe offers excellent room for toe movement in every direction.

Vibram Megagrip continues to perform reliably in our lab, and the Olympus 275 is another solid example. A 0.63 score may not look state-of-the-art at first, but with limited rubber coverage and plenty of exposed foam, it’s a strong result in our view.

The Altra Olympus 275 remains a top choice for easy terrain thanks to its high forefoot stack height and shallow 3.5 mm lugs, which suit smooth trails and long efforts well but limit its performance on more technical ground.

This photo does a great job highlighting the Olympus 275 outsole, especially thanks to Altra’s clear color separation between foam and rubber, which makes the layout easy to read.

The design follows Altra’s familiar formula, with Vibram Megagrip placed in the heel and forefoot and lighter coverage through the midfoot. Deep flex grooves run across the outsole to promote natural movement, while the large central cutout through the heel and midfoot improves torsional adaptability and helps the shoe flex more freely despite its high stack.

It’s impressive that Altra managed to keep this shoe at 13.9N in our bend test, which is lower than average for trail shoes. The flex grooves in both the outsole and midsole clearly play a key role here, helping preserve a natural feel underfoot despite the tall stack.

The main reason to choose the Olympus 275 over the standard version is the huge weight reduction it brings. The new MATRYX upper and a few smart tweaks drop the weight to 10.7 oz (303g) from 12.6 oz (357g) on the Olympus 6.

In our view, this is the weight the Olympus 6 should have reached earlier. Still, it’s great to finally get a version that feels right—despite still being heavier than the average trail shoe, it's a good result considering the massive size of the shoe.

One of the main reasons to move from the standard model to the 275 version is the new MATRYX upper. It is clearly lighter than before while still maintaining solid ventilation.

We rated it 4 out of 5 in our breathability test, which makes it a strong option for trail running across different seasons.

Shining a light through the upper showed that airflow is not limited to the toebox but also extends through the midfoot. This is especially helpful for runners who tend to generate more heat in their feet.

Under the microscope, the MATRYX textile once again shows its high-quality construction. We saw the familiar mix of yarns and enough open space to allow air to move through the upper.

Comfort may be the only area where some runners notice a trade-off, as padding is kept to a minimum. This was expected, since weight reduction was a clear priority, and it comes as part of that design choice.

One of the main selling points of the Olympus 275 is its extremely strong stability. This might seem surprising given that it is Altra’s highest-stacked trail shoe, but the wide footprint, tall midsole sidewalls, and firm foam work together very effectively, especially on flat or easy terrain.

Another result of combining firm foam with a high stack height is low torsional flexibility. In other words, the shoe feels quite rigid when twisted, earning a 4/5 score in our test.

The heel design of the Olympus 275 is very different from a traditional running shoe, sitting much closer to a racing-style setup with a soft, sock-like fit and a low 1/5 stiffness score.

Because zero-drop shoes are rarely used by heel strikers, this less supportive heel can actually be a benefit, especially for runners who often feel Achilles discomfort when using rigid heel counters.

We already mentioned the wide footprint of the Olympus 275, and now it’s time to put numbers to it. Our measurement showed 118.1 mm in the forefoot, which is clearly wider than the average trail shoe.

The forefoot flows into the heel through an extremely wide midfoot, which makes the Olympus 275 a solid option for runners with moderate support needs. Then, at the rear, we measured a massive 100.8 mm width, reinforcing its reputation as a true tank built for trail running.

One of the standout traits of the MATRYX upper is how it usually balances comfort, ventilation, and durability. In this case, we confirmed its toughness with an excellent 4/5 score in our test.

On top of that, the upper is heavily reinforced with a rugged toe bumper, so we fully expect this shoe to hold up well over time.

The heel padding is less impressive with a 3/5 score, but it is still sufficient to meet basic comfort expectations.

The story with Vibram Megagrip mirrors what we see with the MATRYX upper. There’s a reason major brands rely on external companies and pay royalties, as they deliver a level of quality that's hard to match. In our durability test, Vibram once again proved its strength, showing just 0.5 mm of wear.

The outsole measures 1.7 mm in thickness. Combined with the thick midsole, it offers enough protection to shield the foot from common trail hazards.

The insole is fairly standard when it comes to thickness at 4.5 mm, but it's made from TPEE instead of EVA, which is a nice plus.

Taking out the insole caused us no trouble at all, but swapping it for a third-party option can be challenging because of the massive size of the forefoot.

The EVA foam became 22% firmer after 20 minutes in our freezer, which is a decent result, although not what we would have liked to see in a shoe that already feels quite firm underfoot.

Altra included reflective laces on the Olympus 275, which is a nice touch, although we think the shoe would benefit from adding a few reflective details around the heel as well.

Altra kept the lacing system simple and familiar, using reinforced punched eyelets, trail-style flat laces, and a tongue loop to keep everything centered. There are no unusual elements or experimental designs here.

If you remember, during our breathability test we noticed that the tongue is quite thin to save weight, and our caliper measurement confirmed it with just 2.6 mm of padding.

The secure fit we found around the instep is partly due to the semi-gusseted tongue design. We usually prefer trail shoes with a fully gusseted tongue, but in this case, saving weight was clearly a priority, and we think this solution works well too.

Altra is asking for $10 more than the Olympus 6 with the 275, and we think it’s an easy call. The MATRYX upper and the noticeable weight savings more than justify the minor price increase.

The heel includes a finger-loop pull tab marked with the 275° detail, a nod to the temperature (Fahrenheit, of course) Altra’s founders used when they cranked up their home oven to create their first shoe prototypes.