The Quantic midsole is as soft and bouncy as it was in the Timp 2 so the Timp 3 feels very comfortable and smooth on tarmac. Perfect for a road to trail shoe that you want to perform well on both a variety of trail and road. The Maxtrax outsole gives a good grip on most trail surfaces. As with all outsoles of this type they aren’t going to get you round your local cross country but, then your cross country shoes wouldn’t be comfortable in a 10km road race. The Timp 3 has the ability to be serviceable on a variety of surfaces. 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. I find the overall fit of the upper to be really great, almost slipper-like in comfort and feel. This may be a bit of a detriment on more technically oriented trails, but it’s great for most anything else. The sides of the upper wrap further over the top of the foot, so the gap the laces span is shorter. TAYLOR: Not all is good in the hood. I’m not sure that I have ever been audibly frustrated with a shoe before this.

Unfortunately, despite its comfort and spot-on fit, the Timp 3’s ride disappointed. With each stride, I felt like all of my energy was lost and it was hard to find a smooth transition into my next step. At times, I noticed little pebbles found their way into the shoes easier than in some of my other pairs. This did not affect my enjoyment of the shoe but was something I noticed. Timp 4 is more cushioned, noticeably at the forefoot. MTN Racer 2 wins on traction and rubber durability. I’d take the MTN Racer 2 for moderate distance mountainous runs, and the Timp 4 for everything else on the more moderate side of the terrain spectrum.

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The shoe felt a bit like running in sand. I felt like I had to adjust my stride from its norm so I could gain momentum, which was frustrating and decreased the enjoyment I got from these shoes. Due to the extra cushion, all the Timp revisions will offer greater underfoot protection than all the Lone Peak revisions. Fit More cushioning underfoot, feels more protective on rougher terrain than the previous Timp(s). Still, it doesn’t feel like “a lot of shoe,” something most Altra fans will likely be happy about Shannon Mike P (10.0): The T9 has a wide enough toebox to rival the Timp 4. I find it well suited to longer distances in terrain more technical than the Timp 4 can handle. Clear win for the T9 in the traction department - Asics Grip is great. The Timp 4 feels much more cushioned underfoot, and also feels like a more fun ride in moderate terrain.

I am not sure if it was the zero heel-to-toe offset, the type of midsole foam, or the weight of the rubber underneath, but these shoes seemed to hinder my run rather than help it. Superb traction I wore them around the house the first day. I had them on for several hours and they felt as comfortable as any pair of slippers I have tried on. On the run, they maintained a comfortable feel. After several miles on various terrain, the shoes did their job and did not distract. Debris finds its way in The laces are reflective, which makes them light up in low light conditions to give a little bit more visibility on the winter commute when it comes round again. After 10 plus runs on a variety of terrain, pavement, trails, gravel, and mulch, the Timp 3 has held up well. For Hong Kong we position this as a "All-Terrain Shoe" something that will provide great longevity (ie wear characteristics on the outer) and yet still have good trail credibility. It is ALTRAs equivalent of the HOKA ATR Challenger. A go anywhere, do anything shoe.

The Good

The consequence of this change in the upper design is an increase in weight from 281g to 311g in the TIMP 3. The structured foot-bed on top of the Quantic midsole supports the arch really well. and the 29mm of cushioning gives a great ride. TAYLOR: I would dare to say that the Timp has taken over, or equaled, the top spot for Altra’s number one preferred trail shoe. These things have gained a lot of popularity for creating a phenomenal balance in a shoe. For the foot-shaped zero-drop fanatics, it is pretty much a dream shoe that can handle the longest of races and the most technical terrain. Mike Postaski currently focuses on long mountainous ultras - anywhere from 50K up to his favorite - 100M. 5'10", 138 lbs, midfoot/forefoot striker - he typically averages 70 mpw (mostly on trails), ramping up to nearly 100 mpw during race buildups. A 2:40 road marathoner, his easy running pace ranges from 7:30 - 9:00/mi. Mike shoe preferences lean towards firmer, dense cushioning, with plenty of forefoot space, and he strongly dislikes pointy toe boxes.

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 4 may be in Altra's standard fit, but when compared to other running shoes, it's still exceptionally roomy. The Timp 3 has a gaiter trap at the heel and a loop at the base of the laces to take the Altra 2 point gaiters.

This was my main beef with the Timp 1.5's, and it certainly is improved in Timp 2.0, but Lone Peak 4.5's are still a little bit superior in this department. Thankfully, for me at least, the new Timp 4 feels completely different than its predecessors. The increased cushioning is readily apparent just standing in them, as well as much improved flexibility even with the big slab of EGO MAX midsole. My gripe about previous Timps feeling flat underfoot is completely gone with the Timp 4. The combination of likely a bit more contoured footbed + Ortholite insole + deep flexible midsole cushion really feels great underfoot. Personally I tend to prefer less cushioned, more responsive feeling shoes but the flexibility makes these shoes so easy to run in that I find I am often reaching for them for my easier and long runs! A pleasant surprise and I judged them as initially as being too soft for me!

Topo MT 3: These are 3mm from heel to forefoot and have a more responsive feel to the cushioning. The toe box is rounded like the Timp 4 designed to allow you feet he room to spread on impact. Here is our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-mt3-review/ Shannon’s Score: 9/10 Love it. My other favorites have been the Salomon Sense Ultra (the OG, not the later versions), the Hoka Torrent, the Terra Kiger, and the Asics Fuji Trail Lite. I’d throw the Timp right in there with them and maybe even give them an extra point for versatility compared to some of those previously mentioned. Still a pretty incredible trail shoe for mountain running, just maybe not as good as the last version 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.My first step-in feel was WOW. This is quite a soft shoe, with Altra’s signature ample toebox which to me has always felt great, and with enough shoe underfoot that I knew it would be do well for a variety of distances and terrain, but still light enough to appeal to those who don’t like the feel of a ton of shoe. I had high hopes for this Timp already. Topo MT-3: A similar shaped toe box to Altra. 3mm heel to forefoot drop. A much firmer more responsive ride. I am not sure how the fit compares to previous models or other Altra running shoes, but it felt a smidge wider than the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 and New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon V3. 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. Shannon: Like I’ve said before, color is never make or break for me, but oh my did they make this shoe pop. Also my immediate first impression is that this appears nothing like the Timps of old and doesn’t feel very similar either. In my opinion, not a bad thing! Although that’s certainly not to say previous versions weren’t good, this one is just different.