First Look: Altra Timp 1.5 Trail Running Shoes

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Features and Specs:

• Weight: 10.5oz men’s / 8.7oz women’s
• Stack heights: 29mm in heel and forefoot
• Heel-toe drop: 0mm
• Midsole: Ultralight EVA with A-Bound
• Outsole: MaxTrac Rubber with 4mm TrailClaw lugs
• Insole: 6 mm Contour Footbed
• Asymmetric lace system
• PFS performance last
• Foot Shape toe box
• Gaiter Trap hook and loop attachments
• MSRP: $130

Altra’s original Timp shoe debuted in summer 2017, providing an intermediate option between the plush cushioning of the 33mm Olympus and the moderate stack height of the 25mm Lone Peak. (As a reminder, all of Altra’s shoes are “zero drop,” with the same stack height in heel and forefoot.)  The Timp comes in at 29mm, and retains almost all the key construction features of other shoes in the company’s trail lineup.

As per Altra’s custom, “point 5” updates to existing models are relatively minor. Modifications to the Timp 1.5 include a softer and more flexible midsole EVA compound, the inclusion of 4-Point Gaiter Trap attachments, and a slightly adjusted heel fit for increased snugness. The mesh uppers have also been upgraded and are supposedly more durable than the previous edition; we’ll certainly be happy if this is the case, as we blew out the uppers in our original Timps long before the midsole or outsole wore down.

Foot shaped toe box and updated mesh

MaxTrac outsole rubber with 4mm lugs

The overall comfort of this shoe remains exceptional. Moderate cushioning around the ankle collar is just right, the roomy toe box allows plenty of space for toe splay or foot swelling during ultra-distance efforts, and the uppers have good breathability to dry easily after water immersions. Outsole traction is solid, with sticky MaxTrac rubber and aggressive lugs for strong grip in wet or dry conditions.

One interesting spec is that the Timp 1.5 is slightly (0.2oz) lighter than the original Timp, and weighs almost exactly the same as the new Lone Peak 4.0 despite having an added 4mm of cushioning. This is partially due to the absence of a Stone Guard footplate in the Timp, but in our experience the Stone Guard isn’t missed. We wore the original for two days and nights at the Hardrock 100, and underfoot protection was completely fine; we’re looking forward to similarly long outings in the 1.5.

The Altra Timp 1.5 is now available at www.altrarunning.com.