Australian Hiker

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Altra Timp 3.0 Women's Trail Running Shoe Review

I’m a big fan of Altra shoes having worn Altra Lone Peak 4.0 RSM Low Women’s Shoe and the Altra Olympus 4.0 Women’s Shoe over recent years. As I work my through the range its becoming clear all shoes aren’t the same even if they are the same brand.

The Altra Timp 3.0 Trail Shoes have all the features of Altra’s shoes for women. They are designed for women’s feet being narrower at the heel. The wide toe box allows your toes to spread into their natural form. The Timps have the same Zero Drop design as all other Altra shoes and great cushioning which provides ‘barefoot’ walking with lots of comfort.

These shoes have great super grippy soles and Altra’s distinctive claw patterning underfoot. I always feel in control with Altra’s soles no matter the trail surface.

The Timp 3.0 are however are a slightly narrower fit for the same sizing. I wear a US 9.5 in my hiking shoes and was surprised to find that for the same size as other Altra shoes, the Timps are a snugger fit width-wise. It’s not so much of an issue for short or day hikes. But if you’re planning on doing multi-day or multi-week hikes where you’re feet will expand slightly, then you may need to revise your sizing preference. Having said all that, the Timps upper are made from a lightweight, breathable fabric that will accomodate some slight stretching.

This is a much more stylish looking shoe than other Altra trail shoes. The narrower fit is noticeable and means in the bigger sizes at least, your feet don’t look oversized. This tends to be an issue with Lone Peaks – I always feel a little clown-like given my big feet!

The depth of cushioning (stack hike) on the Altra Timp 3.0 is 29 mm and sits in the middle of the Altra trail running range with the Lone Peaks being 25 mm and the Olympus 33 mm. This 29 mm of rubber sits in that ‘Golidlocks range’ providing the right amount of cushioning and the right amount of tactile feel at the same time. The soles of the Timps have also been upgraded like the rest of the range to provide grip and traction in a wide range of conditions.

These shoes have a RRP of AUD$240.90 which is becoming the normal range for trail and outdoor shoes. You can find them regularly on sale so if you’re not in a hurry, you could snap a bargain!

These shoes have the gaiter hook and gaiter trap that works really well with the lycra style of gaiter including the Altra Trail Gaiters and Dirty Girl options. While this ‘gaiter trap’ system works well with the lycra gaiters, it’s not a great choice for heavy styles of gaiters.

Colour-wise the Timp 3.0 are relatively tame with the main colour in Australia being a darker blue and the newer Coral colour although if purchasing from overseas you may pick up other options.

These are super comfy shoes which are great for urban and day hiking but won’t provide the durability or extra width needed for multi-week hikes.

We Like

• These are very comfortable hiking shoes
• Reasonably lightweight which reduces the impact on the legs after long day of hiking – this makes a big difference
• I love Zero Drop shoes but realise they don’t suit everyone. I feel ‘more upright’ when I wear any of the Altra range
• The cushioning is good and on hard surfaces they provide ample protection and support
• The traction is very good on a variety of surfaces
• They breathe well so your feet don’t overheat. They also dry reasonably quickly in warm weather if they get wet
• The toe guard provides good protection for the front of the foot
• The Gaiter Trap works well with lycra style gaiters

We Don't Like

• The sole compound which makes these shoes so comfortable loses cushioning more quickly than I would like. With hard wear the lugs on the sole break down
• The Timps are slightly narrower than other Altra shoes so double check the sizing you need

Would I Use These Shoes for Hiking?

Yes, definitely! But not for multi-week hikes

Best Use

• For hikers who want supreme comfort and cushioning on the trail
• For hikers with a wide forefoot

Buy One

You can purchase the Altra Timp 3.0 Women’s Trail Running Shoe at Amazon Australia

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

If you have used the Altra Timp 3.0 Women’s Trail Running Shoe or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below

Investment

AUD$240.00 RRP

Other Versions

• Available in both men’s and women’s sizings
• Altra also has a range of other shoes suitable for both hiking and trail running

Altra Timp 3.0 Women’s Shoe

Altra Timp 3.0 side view – inside view-top and outside view-bottom

Altra Timp 3.o front and rear view. The shoe on the left shows the velcro gaiter trap for use with lycra gaiters

Gaiter hook at front of shoe Altra Timp 3.0

Sole insert

Close up of sole at the heal with the sole split. This split is designed to channel water and keep you stable as you walk

Altra Timp 3.0 sole view with the iconic Altra foot pattern

Close up of sole lugs

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

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