The Altra Timp 5 women's trail runner that keeps up with your wildest routes

The Altra Timp 5 women's trail running shoe delivers a winning combination of lightweight cushioning, natural foot positioning, and tenacious grip on technical terrain. Built around Altra's signature zero-drop platform and roomy FootShape toe box, it pairs a plush EGO MAX midsole with a Vibram Megagrip outsole that handles everything from wet roots to loose rock. For women who run long and run hard, this shoe delivers.

The Altra Timp 5 has earned a loyal following in the trail running community, and the fifth iteration of this shoe makes a clear statement: Altra listened. Lighter than its predecessor, grippier underfoot, and still anchored in the brand's hallmark zero-drop philosophy, the Timp 5 is built for runners who want their shoes to keep pace with ambitious days in the mountains. Whether you're stringing together long ridge runs, linking technical singletrack, or simply chasing bigger mileage weeks, this shoe brings together the right combination of protection, energy return, and natural biomechanics to get the job done.

What makes the Timp 5 stand out

Altra's approach to footwear has always centred on foot health and natural movement, and the Timp 5 carries that forward without compromise. The zero-drop platform (0mm heel-to-toe differential) promotes a midfoot or forefoot strike pattern that reduces impact forces over time, and the wide FootShape toe box gives your toes genuine room to splay and stabilize rather than being compressed into a tapered point. These aren't just feel-good features; they're design choices backed by real biomechanics, and the Timp 5 has earned the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance to prove it.

What's new in this version is the Altra EGO MAX midsole compound, a step up from the standard EGO foam used in earlier models. It runs lighter and springier than before, with a touch more energy return and improved durability for high-mileage training blocks. Combined with the 29mm stack height, you get meaningful cushioning underfoot without feeling disconnected from the trail surface.

Outsole performance: Vibram Megagrip on technical terrain

The outsole is where the Timp 5 really earns its place in rowdy terrain. Altra chose Vibram Megagrip, one of the most trusted sticky rubber compounds in the outdoor footwear industry, for its combination of wet and dry traction, durability, and ground adaptability. Multi-directional lugs bite into soft trail surfaces and provide reliable edging on rock. Runners who've been burned by slippery outsoles on wet granite or greasy roots will appreciate the confidence this setup provides.

The upper is made from a quick-dry air mesh that keeps the shoe breathable and sheds water reasonably well for a non-waterproof trail shoe. For runners who want to add a gaiter for dusty or snowy conditions, the built-in GaiterTrap hook-and-loop tab makes attachment quick and clean, no bungees or extra hardware required.

Key specs at a glance

Who this shoe is built for

The Timp 5 sits in Altra's trail lineup as a high-cushion option, making it well-suited for long-distance runners and those covering significant vert. It performs particularly well for:

• Long trail runs and ultra distances, where cushioning and energy return matter over many hours
• Technical rocky terrain, where the Vibram outsole and protective stack height shine
• Runners transitioning to zero-drop, who want the natural positioning benefit with plenty of underfoot protection
• Hikers who run, or trail runners who do both, thanks to the balanced platform and APMA seal

A few honest considerations

No shoe is perfect for every runner. The Timp 5's wide toe box, while a genuine benefit for many, may feel loose or imprecise for runners with narrower feet. The zero-drop geometry also requires an adjustment period if you're coming from a more traditional heel-elevated shoe; Altra recommends a gradual transition to allow calves and Achilles tendons to adapt. The shoe is available only in standard width, limiting options for those who need a narrow fit.

The quick-dry mesh upper, while excellent for breathability and drainage on summer trails, offers minimal protection against thorny brush or sharp debris, so runners on particularly overgrown terrain may want to pair it with gaiters.

Laced up and trail-ready

The Altra Timp 5 women's is a well-executed update to a shoe that already had a strong reputation. Lighter, grippier, and just as comfortable as the versions that came before it, it's a compelling choice for women who spend serious time on trails and want footwear that respects how the foot actually works. The Vibram Megagrip outsole handles technical terrain with confidence, the EGO MAX foam keeps legs feeling fresh deep into long efforts, and the zero-drop platform rewards good running form over time.

For runners willing to embrace the Altra fit philosophy and give the zero-drop geometry a proper break-in, the Timp 5 offers an excellent balance of trail performance, foot health, and all-day comfort that holds up across seasons and terrain types.