Altra Timp 5 GTX review

The Altra Timp 5 GTX could be an ideal match for trail runners and hikers who:

• look for a zero-drop trail shoe that accommodates a forefoot striking pattern and engages foot muscles, calves, and Achilles
• prefer exceptionally wide and rounded toebox shapes that accommodate all five toes comfortably
• need a warm shoe with solid waterproofing and a gaiter attachment for fall and winter runs

If you have never worn a zero-drop shoe before, we highly recommend transitioning into this shoe category gradually and starting with a low-drop shoe (4-5 mm) first. The HOKA Speedgoat 6 GTX has similar features and cushioning as the Altra Timp but offers them in a 5-mm drop.

And if you do want a zero-drop shoe but prefer a low-stack, grounded, (even minimalist-ish) silhouette, try the Altra Lone Peak 9. It is also available in a waterproof version.

The Altra Timp 5 GTX sits between the brand's max-cushioned Olympus and the low-profile Lone Peak, offering a good amount of impact protection for long runs and hikes.

Measuring its shock absorption in the heel, we got a moderate reading of 111 SA. However, its forefoot cushioning proved to be more abundant than average due to a zero-drop setup, which implies that the forefoot stack is just as tall as the heel.

The Timp 5 GTX receives no upgrades to its cushioning formula, featuring the familiar EGO MAX midsole (a blend of EVA and TPU).

As Altra's moderately energetic foam, it doesn't have a tonne of rebound. We recorded the shoe's energy return at only 49.5% in the heel and 53.4% in the forefoot. Both measurements proved to be below the trail shoe average, indicating a flatter yet more stable and grounded ride.

Altra lists 29 mm of stack height in both the heel and forefoot of the Timp 5 GTX, and our calliper measurements confirmed it.

A forefoot stack of 28.6 mm is notably taller than what you typically get in trail running shoes. This translates into a more generous buffer for the ball of the foot and the toe joints, but also backfires in a somewhat disconnected underfoot experience.

Our measurements revealed a tiny discrepancy of 0.3 mm from the shoe's expected zero drop. However, the difference is so small that it falls within the margin of error.

We can confirm that the Altra Timp 5 GTX is a true zero-drop trail shoe

The EGO MAX is a fairly soft compound, but it's not too plush to cause instability on hilly and rocky terrain.

Using a durometer to record its softness, we got a middle-ground reading of 19.5 HA. That puts it on the edge between soft and balanced categories of trail shoe cushioning.

Examining the Timp 5 GTX's sole geometry in front of the rulers, we can see a moderate toe rocker and a slightly curved heel bevel.

It's not as flat as the Altra Lone Peak, making the Timp's ride smoother on hard-packed trails and more even terrain.

The Timp 5 GTX is built on Altra's signature FootShape last, which implies a generously roomy forefoot fit with a rounded toebox.

A custom gel substance helped us create a one-to-one gel mould of the shoe's interiors to see how it measures against the other foot-shaped designs.

With an above-average calliper reading of 98.3 mm in the ball of the foot area, the Timp 5 GTX indeed falls into the wide range!

As you can see from the mould itself, there is hardly any tapering to Timp 5 GTX's toebox. With an impressive width of 80.9 mm in the big toe area, it proudly joins the ranks of trail shoes with the widest toeboxes.

But this is only Altra's Standard FootShape, so you can find even toebox space in the Altra shoes built on the Original FootShape, such as the Lone Peak 9 (85.3 mm).

And as for the shoe's vertical toebox space, it's not as insanely roomy as its horizontal dimensions.

A calliper measurement of 26.0 mm confirmed that it's just a standard height.

The Altra Timp 5 GTX features a moderate lug depth of 3.5 mm in its Vibram Megagrip outsole.

This makes the shoe a perfect option for mixed terrain with a little bit of everything, from harder rocky patches to softer muddy or grassy ones.

These lugs are not too deep to press into the foot on roads and hard-packed trails either.

Altra went for a segmented outsole design in the Timp 5 GTX, featuring deep horizontal and vertical flex grooves that mimic the anatomy and natural movement of the foot.

We found that this approach makes the shoe more adaptable to the terrain changes while shaving some grammes off the shoe.

But deep flex grooves can only add this much flexibility to the Timp 5 GTX, given the shoe's towering forefoot stack.

This Altra shoe requires more force to bend by 30 degrees (17.5N) than the average trail shoe. We found it just as stiff as the Altra Olympus 6 in that regard.

However, the added stiffness actually works to the runner's (or hiker's) advantage on hilly and loose terrain, as it adds stability to the mix.

Even though Altra Timp's 5th iteration saw a major reduction in weight compared to its predecessor, the Gore-Tex waterproofing keeps the shoe's weight above the average at 11 oz (312g).

It is slightly heavier than comparable options from HOKA, Brooks, and Merrell, which fall into the 10.0-10.5 oz range.

P.S. For the record, the non-GTX Altra Timp 5 weighs 9.5 oz (269g), which is 1.5 oz (43g) less.

Altra's product description promises a 'waterproof, windproof, yet breathable' experience in the Timp 5 GTX. And while we can subscribe to the first two characteristics, the third one is questionable.

Even the shoe's non-waterproof version turned out to be only moderately ventilated with its tightly woven upper textile. And the Gore-Tex membrane only brought it down to the minimum in the Timp 5 GTX.

Even if the shoe's upper material has tiny ventilation pores, they are so minusclue that they barely make any difference.

So, like most waterproof trail shoes in our lab, the Altra Timp 5 GTX gets the lowest breathability score of 1/5.

Even though it doesn't feature any dedicated stability elements or arch support, the Timp 5 GTX's sturdy design itself offers some inherent stability that feels supportive on long runs and hikes, without compromising the shoe's neutral build.

Its zero-drop offset, moderate midsole softness with a raised topline, and secure midfoot lockdown optimise the shoe's lateral stability for planted and surefooted steps.

We were surprised at how torsionally rigid this Altra trail shoe is in the absence of any shanks or rock plates. Thus, we readily gave its stiffness a maximum stiffness score of 5/5.

Sturdy at the base, the shoe's heel cup gets significantly more pliable in the upper part and the collar. It offers a touch of unintrusive support while keeping the rearfoot comfortably flexible. 

On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a low rating of 2.

Checking the shoe's midsole dimensions with a digital calliper, we got an above-average reading of 114.6 mm in the widest part of the forefoot.

This broader base matches the shoe's roomy foot-shaped upper and also creates a steady landing area for forefoot strikers.

The heel, on the other hand, is on the slimmer, more nimble side of things with a below-average width of 84.6 mm.

It's not too narrow to cause instability, but it can feel lacking for people used to chunkier heel designs. Like those of HOKA shoes or Altra's own Olympus 6, with a whopping heel width of 101.4 mm.

The Timp 5 GTX promises decent upper durability, although its toe bumper is quite narrow compared to most other recent trail shoes we've tested. That makes it less than ideal for those prone to stubbing their toes against roots and rocks on the trail.

Luckily, the perimeter of this Altra shoe is lined with a thick synthetic overlay that guards the most high-wear areas of the toebox.

And as for the exposed textile on top of the toebox, it also showed decent wear resistance in our Dremel test, earning a fair durability score of 3/5.

However, the shoe's inner lining caused some serious long-term durability concerns for the Altra Timp 5 GTX.

The Dremel tip burned through the fabric in a matter of seconds, lowering our heel padding durability score to only 2/5. This is not great news for a GTX shoe because you don't want the inner lining to wear out too quickly, as it means a higher risk of wear for the waterproofing membrane as well.

On a positive note, the shoe's Vibram Megagrip outsole proved to be exceptionally durable compared to other trail shoes!

After 18 seconds of drilling one of the lugs at 10K RPM speed, we found the damage laughingly small at 0.3 mm!

In addition to its 3.5 mm lugs, the Timp 5 GTX also packs a 2.0 mm layer of rubber for underfoot durability.

Not to mention that it also helps guard the foot from sharp rocks and debris in the absence of a rock plate.

A well-padded foam insole takes care of the shoe's underfoot padding. Our calliper measured its thickness at a standard 4.4 mm in the heel area.

The shoe's insole is also easily removable. However, if you're planning to wear a custom orthotic, take note of its unconventional width and shape.

Given its winter-ready nature, you might as well want to know how the Altra Timp 5 GTX's midsole behaves in low temperatures.

Our durometer measurements before and after a 20-minute freezer test showed a significant increase in the shoe's cushioning firmness. The reading went from 19.5 HA to 26.9 HA, indicating a 38% change!

So do expect the shoe's midsole to get firmer on long runs and hikes in chilly weather.

Reflective threads on its thick webbed eyelets are the shoe's only reflective elements. However, they are not visible from the back, making this Altra shoe less than ideal for running in the dark.

The Timp 5 GTX's interior padding is not excessive, packing just the right amount of foam in the collar and the tongue.

The tongue in particular showed a standard thickness of 6.1 mm.

We found it thick enough to guard the top of the foot from lace pressure. But frankly, we couldn't be happier with the quality of this Altra shoe's thick and flat laces that never bite into the instep.

A fully-gusseted tongue is an essential element of the Timp 5 GTX's waterproof construction, preventing water and debris from entering the shoe.

It also helps to reinforce the shoe's midfoot support and prevents the tongue from sliding sideways.

The Altra Time 5 GTX gets a price hike over the previous version. In our opinion, this is largely due to the introduction of the new Vibram Megagrip outsole, which took the shoe's performance to a new level.

And if you don't think you need Gore-Tex waterproofing, you can save £20 and the standard Timp 5.

A finger loop at the back of the shoe's collar makes the on-and-off action quick and easy.

You will find the shoe's Velcro GaiterTrap handy if you're planning to attach one of Altra's strapless gaiters to tackle obstacle-laden terrain.