I was a newbie to Altra until I started training for a fall trail race and, in search of a sturdy-looking trail shoe, the whacky-looking Altra Timp 5 BOA came onto my radar. By whacky, I mean the very wide toe box, which is a signature Altra feature letting your toes splay naturally, and the laceless design, a newer experiment from the brand that is likely to divide opinion.
The Timp 5 BOA is a very strong contender in my books when it comes to grip, and for all its a sturdy, safe shoe for trails, it has some flex too. It is cushioned, absorbs impact well, and features a zero-drop platform. If you are going to trust any brand with this feature, trust Altra, which pioneered this feature in running shoes.
