My name is Jaspar and I love all things training. I am currently training for obstacle and ultra racing. I am a personal trainer by trade and wish to share my knowledge/journey with the world in the hopes of inspiring and educating people who are chasing a healthier, more fulfilling life
Exactly what you say. I wear my vibrams daily. Not running fast at all. Then when i start introducing a bit of midsole cushion im a machine. Still slow. But my legs are stronger and my technique is bang on
Hey mate just replied on the tempo video. Currently have the same size but am planning on going up half a size on all new shoes from now on. Went up from 9.5 to 10 US on recent purchase of the Timp 5s and prefer that fit. I think with the original fit shoes however most people would be safe being half a size less than slim or standard fit shoes
The feet become stronger and more resilient, I've found performance benefits from this. It is also a very calming practice having the feet connected to the earth
@@jasparvowden Oh yes I forgot! I heard this many years ago that gravity is a brilliant force that allows us to live day-to-day without the care of drifting from our attachment to the earth. When our feet connect to the earth they become powerful conduits for energy-such as wisdom and guidance. Animals know this well. I believe feet are designed as a microcosm (mini-map) of the body because of their relationship with gravity.
There are too many variables to put back pain exercises into a one size fits all solution because the cause of people's back pain is varied. However, try to find strength exercises that improve the strength and stability of your back that don't aggravate the area. Or try to find a good physio who can diagnose the problem and give you specific exercises. Also, sometimes pain can be emotional, or from diet or other lifestyle habits. But don't give up on yourself, keep trying to find a solution and keep your body moving!
@@jasparvowden Yes, traumatic experience can cause pain and illness. Sometimes you are in so much pain that you can't even go to the doctor. That's why I was wondering if there are light exercises that can relieve the pain? Have you had back pain yourself?
That sounds fair. With the Olympus 5 anyway as I don’t have a Lone Peak. One thing I don’t like about O5 is the fact the sole is not a continuous sheet of vibram but rather a series of glued on cleat like nubs and sometimes a small amount of water can get into the spaces causing an incessant squeak.
Yes you're right, it's a real shame. I didn't realise they had glued the outsole on in pieces until a piece of mine broke loose. I've heard that they fixed that problem with the Olympus 6 but haven't tried that shoe yet
Cheers mate! Nice one 😁 they made some good choices for the colourway on the Timp 5s! I like them all. Was originally going to go for the lime green ones but the blue and orange is sick, love them
Great video. Did you find initially that it felt like the shoe came up too high on the ankle so it rubbed on your ankle knob/bone? That's what it feels like right now and I want to run in them but hoping this rubbing on my ankle bone feeling goes away with a little break in. TIA.
Thanks mate! It doesn't feel too high for me it just feels like it's not completely contoured to the ankle so there's a bit of slipping. For example I've run in asics which are moulded a little tighter in the ankle and don't slip around as much so I hope Altra take some notes from other brands like that but apart from that it didn't actually cause any rubbing or discomfort on my ankle. Maybe you have a more pronounced ankle bone than I do? Hopefully once the shoe breaks in it won't rub as much for you
Excellent review. I have used the LP 5 and now the Olympus 5, both for long-distance walking with a 10 - 13kg backpack. I prefer the Olympus 5 for their increased cushioning on longer hikes. I very much agree with you, they are more forgiving on the downhills and suit a greater variety of terrain which you are bound to encounter over the course of several 100 km. What the Olympus 5 are terrible for is wet grass / bog / moorland. They have absolutely no grip on that terrain. I may as well be walking on an ice rink. I normally walk with poles which mitigate this issue but it is something to keep in mind depending on the terrain you plan to use them on.
I encountered that exact situation yesterday after some heavy rain this week and very wet conditions on the trails and the Olympus were not performing well. I have ordered a pair of the Timp 5s which are on their way and have very high hopes for! I think they will replace the Olympus in my shoe rotation
No he tenido unas Altra anteriormente pero me gusta el concepto de barefoot, estaba mirando las Olympus 5 y leo muchas reseñas sobre la mala calidad y los problemas que está tenido la gente con el desgaste. ¿Habéis notado lo mismo? Gracias y saludos.
Hi mate, yes I have had the same problems. They have attached the vibram mega grip as individual strips and a couple of those strips started to tear away from the shoe which was really annoying. It's a shame because apart from that it's a great shoe and it's been very durable otherwise
@@jasparvowden Muchas gracias por tu amable comentario y por tu aporte de experiencia, se agradece mucho. He visto que además de la suela la gente se queja de la parte de la malla donde flexa el pie y de rotura en la zona del talón, así que no voy a comprar las Olympus a pesar de que me gustaban mucho. ¿Se te ocurre alguna alternativa a este calzado?
I bought the via olympus, and I didn't like them. Do you think I am safe to assume i wouldn't like the olympus trail shoe ? Or is it a different thing?
I would assume they have a similar feel, but I haven't run in the via olympus so I couldn't say. The via olympus has the ego max midsole and the Olympus 5 has compression moulded eva so there will be some difference in feel
@@DiegoSagastume97 Personally, the longer I've run in both shoes I prefer the lone peak but that's just my individual preference because I like to have good ground feel. If you need extra support then the Olympus has that, but the lone peak is certainly a more nimble shoe and still has enough cushioning to take you over long distances if you need it
My Olympus 5 and Lone Peak 7s insoles both measure exactly the same length and they both feel the same length when I run in them so yes I would order the same size
@@jasparvowden I was excited to try a more cushioned Altra as my mileage has gone way up now training for my 1st ultra. But I must admit I was disappointed with the Olympus model. Unfortunately they did feel shorter than my Lone Peaks, possibly due to stiffer/thicker material around the toe. It felt like the heel padding was too low so even though I tightened using the last eyelet my heel didn't feel like it had a good lock down. Also I was shocked at how stiff the sole was!! They were returned ):
That's a shame, personal preference for footwear is so varied it's never a guarantee whether it will suit someone or not until you try them on. Hopefully you find a shoe that suits you better!
I agree, the Vibram outsole is unparalleled. My brother recently bought a pair of Timp 5s which have the Vibram mega grip and he loves them, they will probably be my next pair of Altras
And Altra incorporates some elements to their shoes that are closer to a minimalist shoe compared to traditional running shoes such as wide toe box and zero drop, hence the video comparison
@@jasparvowden that’s true but the stack height difference is massive, opposite ends of the spectrum. The only commonality is they’re both zero drop. A bit like comparing a surgical glove with an insulated mitten, each have their purpose.
Jasper Vowden, in your video you should mention what it is that you do with shoes to justify your review. Do you compete in cross country events, marathons, casual terrain running 'and or' hiking etc.
Hey mate, I'm a personal trainer and I mainly compete in obstacle course races and ultra marathons. I previously trained in bodybuilding, powerlifting, and calisthenics but more so focus on endurance training nowadays
@@jasparvowden Good stuff! The reason I am looking for a pair of these or more for rehabilitation for my feet, particularly my instep. I have gone 1000s of miles (in the military) up against some really nasty terrain wearing Uncle Sam's lowest bidder U.S military specials. I tried a pair of the runners but found myself getting some hotspots on the heals, especially on my right side. That was me wearing them without socks though. Do you wear any casually that you like and what would you recommend for someone with 11.5 sized length with real wide feet for trail runners?
Nice one, for comfort I would say my favourite Vibram is the V-Run because it has a very breathable upper mesh and a little bit more cushion underfoot which I've spent a lot of time in the gym and also running in. If you need better grip though, you can't beat the V-Trail however you may need to go up half a size as there's more structure in the toe box and I've heard from other people that they've also had to go up half a size because of this
I would also suggest if you are new to minimalist footwear to slowly adjust to these shoes and maybe spend a bit of time using a release ball on the bottom of your foot to mobilise the tissue. Hope this helps!
@@jasparvowden Good input on the shoes. As far as the release ball, I will have to look in the pet department at the dollar store. They always have some sort of spikey looking dog toys. Hopefully I can find one that doesn't squeak 😁
Both of these shoes are the 'original fit' which is Altras widest fit. I think both of these shoes would be a good fit for a 4E foot. I have a pair of Asics Gel-Nimbus 24 shoes in a 4E sizing and I still prefer these two Altra shoes in terms of sizing, especially the width of the shoe
Good timing because I'm just about to head out for a run 😀 so I've just measured the insoles at the widest part (I'm a size 9.5 US) and they are as follows: Olympus 5: 10.5cm / 4.13 inches Lone Peak 7: 10cm / 3.93 inches Asics Gel-Nimbus 24: 10.5cm / 4.3 inches I measured the Asics shoes as well just for a comparison because they are a 4E size shoe however the toe box on those shoes is much more narrow which is why I prefer the Altra fit
Nice one mate, I hope they work well for you! How do you find the fit and feel of the Torins? I remember hearing somewhere that they're a stability shoe, do you think they have some form of anti pronation in them or are they non intrusive in that respect?
I loved the olympus 5 from the first km. Just bought a second pair after 450 km on the first one. I have finished a couple of 40km trail races on them, soon on a 75. Still no cushion issues
@@jasparvowden everything went well with the race. Only problem was the olympus 5. Now they have 398 km and during the race a part of the sole separated. I had to cut this part because it was annoying to run with it. I was excited about how it feels running with them but now I dont know👎
That's a pain mate! It's a shame that it had to happen during your race too. The same thing ended up happening with mine on the right foot but the left side is still holding up well. I've heard they've fixed those issues with the durability in the Olympus 6 but will have to wait and see.
Yeah it's pretty versatile, it would be great for backpacking. The only problem is that the outsole isn't as durable as it should be. The vibram grip is amazing, but they seem to have glued it onto the shoe in individual strips and some of those strips become loose well before the grip itself wears out which is a shame. That's my only real concern with this shoe other than that it's great
Personally I would go for a Vibram V-Trail but that is super minimalist. Otherwise the Lone Peaks are a great option they have great traction on them and a good ground feel while also having enough protection
Great review. Thanks for all the info. Question: how is the sizing between the two? In other words, if I have a size 13 in the LP 7, will a 13 in the Olympus 5 be the same for my foot? I just bought the LP 7. I know, the 8 is out now. My wife got those. But the 7 was on sale for me. Now I want to pick up the Olympus 5. I will be using these for my hiking shoe. I'm planning on buying them online, so that's why I want to know if I can get away with buying the same size as I bought with the 7's. Thanks
Yeah good call on getting the 7s, they're so much cheaper on the sale and probably very similar to the 8s anyway. I've found the lone peaks and Olympus fit very similarly except the midfoot is built up a little bit more in the Olympus for a bit of added stability but it doesn't affect the sizing choice at all
Do you mean running on a flat surface? Out of all the vibram shoes I've run in I've found the V run to be the best on road or concrete and also love it for weight training
Wow, awesome trail around QT! I was hesitant about the Lone Peaks as there were other models / brands with Vibram soles which I prefer to anything..but I tried them on in a shop and I just loved the fit / feel.. The 25mm stack seems to be a good balance between too much cushion and not enough. Love running in minimalist footwear but sometimes they're just too thin. Thanks for the review..
Yeah it was a beautiful view at the top! I live in the north island and we don't get views like that so it was incredible to be down there and experience that trail. Yes you're right it definitely finds a nice middle ground where it still has a minimalist feel to it while having a decent amount of midsole cushioning. Cheers mate, glad the review helped!
Great review, thanks! I have both, I wondered why my feet hurt with the Olympus and not the Lone Peak. I'll only be using the Olympus for less technical flat trails from now on, thanks for the insight.
Great review! I especially enjoyed listening to your accent, where are you from? I say this with the upmost sincerity, i enjoy hearing people with different accents than my own.
hello Jaspar, thank you so much for your video :) please, the best Altra model for Camino de Santiago? 900km pilgrims way (hiking), daily 25-40 km. please your advice. Thank you so much!
Oh wow that's quite the hike!! In terms of these two shoes, it depends if you want more cushioning or more durability. I've found in the Olympus it has more cushioning but the vibram grip has begun ripping away from the outsole so it is not the most durable shoe. The lone peak is a little more durable and nimble but it has a little less cushioning. Altra also have hiking shoes but I have not tried them personally. Good luck on your adventures!!
I just feel like ive got so many issues with myself and i cant possibly get to all of them. i need a cleanup mentally but it can be difficult to even clean my own room. Im just so confused what to do ive been in this rut for years and i just cant get out of it. And also super sorry for this is so late to say this but, Happy New Years Jasper. Feels like the year has alreayd caught up to me but hopefully i can make a change hahaha
It's completely normal to feel like that bro! You've got a whole lifetime to figure this stuff out so I find it's easier just working on cleaning up one thing at a time and over the years you start to gain more and more momentum but it just takes time and patience. And even the people we look up to the most have to go through those feelings and have their own ups and downs, it's part of life which I think is comforting in a way. Some days we have clarity, some days we feel lost, it's all part of riding the wave. So try to enjoy it, and do the best you can, it's all you can do man Happy New Year to you too bro! Never too late to start 😁👍
If 'you' are building a relationship with 'yourself ', it would seem there are at least two distinct entities that need to relate. Who is observing the internal dialogue? I sometimes think that individual humans are a conglomerate of different physical beings - billions of different bacteria etc (with their own hoals), and perhaps one of more 'spiritual ' beings. That could be why we have to talk to ourselves and steer ourselves and discipline ourselves. But who is doing what to who when?
Brilliant mate, I absolutely love that observation and couldn't agree more! Thank you for expanding upon the message. That's a difficult question to answer. I suppose we just have to continue to have those conversations with our thoughts and we may not always know what entity is providing those thoughts but do the best we can with them. Cheers mate 👍
I've heard they use too much stability tech which I'm not a fan of as it generally flares up my feet so sticking with Altra for now but that's the great thing about shoes nowadays there's something for everyone 😁
