Altra Timp 5 BOA trail running shoes review: a cushioned, zero-drop shoe for all kinds of trail runs

Founded in 2009, Altra is an American brand that has long been championing zero- or low-drop trail running shoes. These kinds of shoes place the foot in a more natural position, leading to a more natural gait on the trails. On its website, it wryly asks: “Why run in heels?”

The brand has grown into a giant in the trail running world and is today owned by VF Corporation, the same umbrella that counts The North Face, Napapjiri, Icebreaker, Vans and Timberland among its subsidiaries.

The brand has also been an advocate of a roomy toe box, allowing toes to splay upon impact. These ideals were devised by founder Golden Harper and they still form part of Altra’s Natural Fit ethos today. Both the wide toe box and a zero-drop are present in the Timp 5 BOA.

We reviewed the standard Timp 5 back in spring 2024 and there was a lot we liked, though reviewer Julia Clarke pointed to the lacing potentially causing some discomfort. So, we were intrigued to get our hands on the BOA version and give them a run out to see if BOA’s innovative system would elevate the overall running experience.

First impressions

When I look at the Altra logo, I’m somehow put in mind of the advent of computer gaming and the early motorsport games. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll know the ones I mean, when the car was fixed at the bottom of the screen as the road and the scenery moved towards you. It might be that the logo bears a bit of a resemblance to Atari’s Fuji logo, or it might be that it has a whiff of Formula One about it. The Ferrari red swish disappearing into the distance like a bend in the track at Monza.

Well, the Timp 5 BOA looks like what would happen if you took the 1995 McLaren F1 car and melted it down to create a running shoe. And why not? La Sportiva and Scarpa have been designing trail running shoes that have a definite racing car vibe for years. If you’re gonna be entering trail races, you might as well wear something that looks race worthy. I was testing the White/Coral colorway, but the Timp 5 BOA is also available in an understated yet cool Black/Black version. Though, why Altra felt the need to name Black twice, I don’t know. It’s just Black.

Anyway, that’s enough about how they look. How do they feel to wear? The design of the BOA fit system means the upper is virtually all one piece, a bit like a sock liner, with an elasticated top, over which the lacing system sits. This means they're comfortable for casual wear, but you can dial in the fit around the midfoot as tight as you like when it comes to tackling the trails. To begin with, I noticed a little discomfort around the ankle at the padded part, where the BOA dial sits. However, once I’d worn the shoes in a little, this disappeared. As you’d expect from Altra, there was plenty of wiggle room for the toes.

The BOA system

The obvious feature that sets the Timp 5 BOA apart from the standard Timp 5 is the BOA fit system, in this case the PerformFit Wrap Configuration system, which wraps over and conforms to the shape of the midfoot. For the uninitiated, the BOA system replaces traditional lacing with a system of thin but durable cords. These cords are threaded through the upper and are tightened using a dial.

This has a few advantages. First, it makes putting on and taking off your shoes really quick and easy. To loosen the cords, all you have to do is pull the dial outwards. This is particularly handy for winter pursuits when you may be wearing gloves. I very much appreciated the ability to tighten and loosen the BOA fit on the La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX and the Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G without exposing my digits to the chill.

Secondly, the system allows for a fine-tuned fit that can be further tightened very quickly while you're running. Plus, unlike standard laces, there’s next to no chance of the system coming undone. The downside is that it doesn’t provide the opportunity to tighten a specific region, as with standard laces. And, just as shoes with a Gore-Tex membrane are more expensive than those without, a shoe with a BOA fit system tends to be more pricey than the same shoe without it. The list price of the standard Timp 5 at time of writing is $155 (£135), as opposed to $175 (£155) with the BOA fit. I'd assert it's worth the markup though.

Other features

The mesh upper provides a little protection while delivering excellent breathability. Unlike with the standard Timp 5, there’s no Gore-Tex option with the BOA fit system. Instead, you get a super quick drying synthetic upper that won’t keep your socks dry if you gambol through puddles but will ensure there’s airflow to your feet. There are reinforced rands at the toes and the heel for additional protection against rock abrasion.

Much of the Timp 5 BOA’s 29mm stack height is to do with its EGO MAX midsole, which provides high levels of cushioning for a ride experience that Altra file under the Float category. If you’re after tonnes of trail feel, forget about it. If you want a propulsive, maximalist ride, you’ve come to the right place. This soft and stable platform provides comfort for those running long – think trail marathons and ultras.

Vibram provides the rubber for the outsole with its Megagrip, a compound found in many running shoes, hiking shoes, such as Aku’s Trekker Lite III and Danner’s Trail 2650 Campo GTX, and approach shoes, like Scarpa’s Crux. As well as being durable, Megagrip provides solid traction on both wet and dry rock, which is why it’s such a popular choice when footwear brands are designing shoes that can deal with the occasional bit of scrambling terrain.

Altra has opted for many little P-shaped lugs of 4mm depth, rather than big chunky ones. Fairly standard for summer trail running shoes, 4mm provides enough bite for the majority of trail conditions, though I’d need more aggressive, longer lugs for the soft ground of winter (in the UK at least). The lugs point backwards at the front of the shoe and forwards at the back of the shoe, providing decent braking power when lolloping downhill. Like the Salomon Speedcross, the lugs also curl up to the toe cap, like front points on crampons, providing additional traction when ascending steep ground.

At the heel there’s both a fabric loop and a Velcro tab. The fabric loop enables the wearer to clip the shoes into a carabiner or hang them up. The Velcro tab, Altra’s Gaiter Trap, makes the shoes compatible with Altra’s strapless Trail Gaiter – a nice touch. There are several reasons why you might want a gaiter for running, including keeping snow out or protection against the abrasive qualities of scrubland environments.

In the outdoor lab

I tested the Timp 5 BOAs on runs around my usual stomping ground, Bristol’s Henbury Gorge, as well as in Wales’ Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Runs in the gorge allowed me to compare them directly to my usual summer choice, Inov8’s TrailFly G 275 V2, as well as many other pairs I’ve tested here. The gorge’s blend of ups, downs, soft ground, rooty forest paths, rocky limestone sections and hard-packed trails are a great laboratory for putting trail shoes through their paces.

What was immediately obvious was the lack of trail feel you get with a 29mm stack height. It’s not non-existent, but it’s not ideal if you’re the barefoot runner sort. I personally enjoy the running experience with a bit more trail feel, though I’m aware that not everyone loves this, so I’ll try not to hold it against the shoes.

However, with plusher cushioning comes greater bounce. I was able to coax some decent speed out of the Timp 5 BOAs, notably clocking my fastest ever time on a particular mile-long Strava segment. Not only was it my own PB for this stretch, but I also even scraped into the top 10 of all time. Whether this was down to the shoes or other factors – I have cut out ultra-processed food, you know! – is hard to tell. However, it’s clear that the Timp 5 BOAs can go fast.

Having tested plenty of footwear featuring Vibram Megagrip soles, both on running shoes and approach shoes, it came as no surprise to find the Timp 5 BOAs coped well on both wet and dry rock.

As for fit and comfort, I can’t fault them. The BOA system enabled me to achieve a desired fit and my heel always felt locked in. I suffered from none of the claustrophobia around the toe region that I’ve experienced in some shoes and nor were my toes banging against the front of the shoe during long, sustained descents.

The levels of protection are moderate, which is to be expected for a running shoe with a mesh upper. However, I did value the additional shielding provided by the subtle rands at both the toes and the heel.

All said, the Timp 5 BOA trail running shoe is a versatile and comfortable operator. If you like a plush level of cushioning and aren’t too bothered about feeling the trail beneath your feet, they’ll see plenty of use. They’re grippy, fast and a pleasure to wear, while the BOA system is easy to use and provides a great fit.

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