Mike P (9.5): Perhaps the closest comp here. Topo also features a wide toebox, but there’s not as much volume in the material, so it’s a bit tighter over the top and has a more secure fit. This works better in technical terrain, as the MTN Racer 2 is also more laterally stable. I do feel some pressure across the top of the foot with the MTN Racer 2, as it has a very thin tongue (big miss for them). There are flex grooves throughout to complement the midsole’s stiffness for a smooth ride. The zero-drop platform encourages midfoot striking – which also helps smoothen the ride out. Timp 4 upper wraps more over the sides of the foot, contributing to a slipper like feel. Also more upper material, looser in the front, MTN Racer 2 with very thin tongue does give some lace pressure across top of foot]

The Altra Timp 3 stands as a strong candidate for the casual runner with a somewhat wide foot who wants to hit the trails and prefers a low-drop shoe. How COROS Co-Founder, Lewis Wu, and World Greatest Mountain Athlete, Kilian Jornet, Began a New Chapter.The TIMP 3 would normally have been named the TIMP 2.5 but nevertheless the TIMP 3 does bring a few noteworthy improvements. The consequence of this change in the upper design is an increase in weight from 281g to 311g in the TIMP 3.

The shoe remains comfy and spacious even when the foot starts to swell after long miles of running.Its also a much better looking shoe than the TIMP 2 and for many people this is very important. I love the grey colourway above and the women's shoes are also looking really good. VF is certainly improving that aspect of ALTRA.

If you were to line up all 5 Altra trail running shoes by the amount of their cushioning, Lone Peak's would be right in the middle. Altra’s Timp 4 is Altra’s road-to-trail type trail shoe and is next up for review. It’s made on Altra’s ‘standard’ last, which like all Altra shoes has a broad rounded toe box and is Zero Drop. Other shoes made on the standard include the Superior, Mont Blanc and Provision. The standard last is a snugger fit through the midfoot, has less volume in the upper and is slightly narrower in the forefoot than Altra’s ‘original’ last which is used for shoes like the Lone Peak 6 and Olympus 4. If you haven’t worn Altra running shoes before, then the Timp is still likely to feel a roomy shoe unless you have very broad or high volume feet. The width is similar to a 2E in a lot of other brands, yet a more rounded shape. Mike P: An Altra for the people! I think this shoe will do really well for Altra. It looks great, rides great, and feels great on foot. I’m not an avid Altra user, but I am a fan of forefoot space, and these will definitely be part of my rotation going forward. I tended to think of each model of Altra trail shoes as having its own specific niche. LP for hiking, firm feel with super wide toebox. Olympus for max volume and cushioning. Superior for lightweight, more traditional natural feel.After 10 plus runs on a variety of terrain, pavement, trails, gravel, and mulch, the Timp 3 has held up well.

The Altra Timp 4 may be in Altra's standard fit, but when compared to other running shoes, it's still exceptionally roomy. The upper of the Altra Timp 4 has a solid width of 100.7 mm in the forefoot. This is roomier than the average 98.2 mm. The Altra Timp 3 fits true to size. My usual U.S. men’s 9.5 was the perfect length with a thumbnail’s width in the front and the width accommodated my regular foot, without being too loose, apart from the occasional slide when I turned tight corners. Slightly wider than average then the extra cushion in the Timp's are highly likely to make a positive difference for you - but not by a huge amount, because the Lone Peak's are also equipped with a fair amount of cushion. TractionThis is actually a nice surprise given that the lugs of the Timp 4 aren't the deepest. We measured them at 2.9 mm, while the average is 3.5 mm.