• Weight per Pair - Size 15 US 799 grams
  • Sizes available (US) 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 14, 15
  • Colours Mineral Blue, Orange
  •  
  • Cost $289.90

Altra Timp 4.0 Men’s Trail Running Shoe

Footwear

Rating

Rating: 8.8 / 10
Comfort 1.9 / 2
Durability 1.7 / 2
Support Stability 1.7 / 2
Weight 1.8 / 2
Value for Money 1.7 / 2

Altra Timp 4.0 Men's Trail Running Shoe Review

This is the third version of the Altra Timps that I have tested over the past few years and each version that I have worn has progressively gotten better. While I don’t consider these shoes to be perfect by any means I’ll say up front that I liked them so much that they have now become my hiking footwear of choice for 2022, in particular for long distance hikes.

First up these shoes like the rest of the Altra range are a zero drop which means that from the front to the back of the shoe the footbed is even not sloping towards the toes like most running style shoes. If you’ve never worn zero drop shoes before then this will be one of the biggest things you notice when you try them on as it pushes you more upright in your stance which I love as you don’t feel like you are falling forward and feel like you are standing more upright.

Altra’s philosophy is to provide footwear that mirrors your own feet and this shoe definitely does that. The width at least from my perspective is perfect; medium width at the rear and mid foot and opening out wider at the front to allow your toes room to spread. as someone who’s feet resemble flippers I really appreciate the extra space particularly on longer hikes when your feet swell and increase in size.

The depth of cushioning (stack hike) on the Altra Timps is 29 mm and sits in the middle of the Altra trail running range with the better known Lone Peaks being 25 mm and the Olympus’s 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.

This latest version of the Timp’s sports a different cosmetic look rather than being very similar to the other trail runners within the Altra Range. It appears that Altra is trying to differentiate their different shoes and when looking across the range you now don’t need to look closely to work out which model is which as they all have a more unique appearance than previous models did. In fact this current version of the Timp integrates the sole with the shoe upper which is more of a cosmetic change but one that I don’t mind the look of. Something not so obvious is the change in the shoe material and construction including the tongue. The material is very durable but also lightweight, in fact so much so that on a bright day you can see light coming through the material (see image below). The tongue itself is better attached to the shoe than in previous models and doesn’t move around and in addition the padding has been trimmed. This reduction in padding isn’t noticeable as it is concentrated where it’s needed and feels just as good at the solid style tongue on the previous model.

While I usually struggle a size 15 pair US pair in this case I was paying close attention and snapped up a pair as soon as they hit the market and they proceeded to sit in my testing pile for about 3 months while I worked my way through the other brands/models that I was trying out.

The small gaiter hook at the front of the shoe has been retained on this model as has the velcro patch at the rear which caters for the Altra lycra trail gaiters or the more colourful Dirty Girls. These gaiters are purely meant to keep rubbish out of your gaiters and they certainly do that job well. While this ‘gaiter trap’ system works well with the lycra gaiters, it’s not a great choice for heavy styles of gaiters so if you want snake protection the you probably should be looking at a different footwear option.

Colour wise the Timp’s also sport a new colour range which I love but I know many people won’t. The pair that I purchased in my size is the mineral blue which is a light blue upper with a darker blue sole and protection padding. They also come in a nice bright orange colour which I would snap up if I could find them. It’s good to see Altra making such a statement with the appearance of this shoe but it is a polarising decision.

The toe guards and heel guards on these shoes aren’t as thick and obvious from a physical perspective being much lower profile that the Altra Timp 3.0 but it performs the job well and even when I kicked the occasional rock or root on trail at no stage did I feel unprotected.

Now on to the negatives. Altra like every other shoe manufacturer in the world ‘tinkers’ with each iteration of their shoes. Sometimes they get it right and sometimes they don’t. In the case of the Altra Timp 3.0 the grip and comfort on that version off the shoe was excellent. In fact at the time of testing that version I made the statement that they were the most comfortable trail runner that I had ever worn, a statement that I still stand by. Their big drawback was that in creating this supreme comfort they sacrificed durability, getting at best 700km of life which in my case means that I would have gone though around 6 pairs in a year. I actually am willing to make that sacrifice but for my long distance hikes they just don’t suit.

In the case of the Altra Timp 4.0 the comfort, and for that matter the grip isn’t as good as its predecessor but its pretty good overall and where they have made the biggest change is the durability. With the earlier model I could feel the shoes loosing support in the mid foot region after about 300km but this latest version is holding up well even past this point as as such I would expect them to have a much longer life span.

As the Altra range of trail runners go the Timp is probably the least well known but in this case they have put together a great set of features. In fact this is the third pair of Altra trail runners that I have tested this year and the Altra Lone Peak 6 Trail runners almost became my go to shoe for 2022, in fact had I have released my annual gear list at the same time that I usually do they would have been. The delay in my release of this list has meant the Altra Timp 4.o have pipped them at the post and are now my shoe of choice fit hiking. Price wise this shoes have a RRP of AUD $260 which these days is typical for a trail running shoe but they are usually sold at a cheaper price.

While not perfect they tick all the boxes where it matters and really are a great shoe, good enough tp be my shoe of choice!

We Like

  • These are very comfortable shoes
  • Reasonably lightweight which reduces the impact on the legs after long days 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 and dont feel like I’m tipping forward
  • I like having a wide toe box, and in fact the front end of these shoes is brilliant
  • The cushioning is good and on hard surfaces and they provide ample protection and support
  • The traction is good on a variety of surfaces but not great
  • They breathe well so your feet don’t overheat. They dry reasonably quickly in warm weather when they get wet
  • The toe guard provides good protection for the front of the foot
  • The Gaiter Trap works well with lycra style gaiters
  • This version off the Timp has much greater durability than its predecessor

We Don't Like

Would I Use These Shoes for Hiking?

Yes, definitely! In fact its my 2022 hiking footwear of choice

Best Use

  • For hikers who want excellent comfort and cushioning on the trail
  • For hikers with a wider forefoot

Buy One

You can purchase the Altra Time 4.0 Men’s Trail Running Shoe at Wildfire Sports

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 Time 4.0 Men’s Trail Running Shoe or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below

Investment

AUD $289.90 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 4.0 Men’s Shoe Mineral Blue

Altra Timp 4 Orange and Black

Altra Timp 4.0 side view – inside view-top and outside view-bottom

Altra Timp 4.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 Time 4.0

Altra Timp 4 Mens Shoe showing insert and inside of shoe

Altra Timp 4 Mens Shoe close up of drain holes at the front of the shoe. This image also show how the sole integrates with the shoe upper

Altra Timp 4.0 sole view. With this shoe Altra has moved away from it’s iconic Altra foot pattern

Altra Timp 4 Mens Shoe showing light coming through the shoe wall. The shoe upper is robust but lightweight and does actually let light through

Disclaimer

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

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