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10.5 oz. (298 g) for a US M9, 8.8 oz. (249 g) for a US W7.5
33mm in heel, 33mm in forefoot (0mm drop)
Moderate to technical terrain
Ego Max midsole, Vibram Megagrip Outsole, Matryx upper with integrated booty
Available now for $200
MARIA: I may owe zero-drop an apology. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that zero-drop shoes would automatically feel a little slow and sluggish. Then I took the Altra Olympus 275 HiLo out for my first run and got a very different introduction: bounce, bounce, bounce.
The HiLo felt surprisingly soft underfoot, but not in the snappy, “let’s go run intervals” kind of way. Think more along the lines of a bouncy pillow. It immediately felt like a shoe made for settling into a long run and staying there for a while. Even with a 33mm stack height from heel to toe, it felt lighter on foot than expected and never gave me the slow, clunky sensation I had mentally assigned to zero drop before even giving it a fair chance.
Instead of building a brand-new package, the Olympus 275 HiLo is an updated version of the prior Olympus 275. Altra kept its original fit, Matryx upper, bootie-style heel collar, and zero-drop geometry, with the most meaningful changes happening underfoot. The prior version used a Compression-Molded EVA midsole, while the HiLo uses an Altra Ego Max foam that Altra says is 15% lighter and 10% softer.
On paper, those upgrades sound like exactly what you’d want from a long-distance trail shoe. My first run certainly agreed. The bigger question was whether that initial bounce would stick around.
TAYLOR: Thanks for the piggyback ride, Maria. Everything she said is pretty much spot on for me too. I do find value in keeping a zero-drop shoe in my rotation, but an “exciting” performance-oriented option has been quite hard to come by. Taking it further, Altra has had a lackluster suite of trail shoes over the last half-decade anyway.
While I really try my best to have a clean conscience for every shoe I review, I didn’t expect too much out of the Altra Olympus 275 Hilo. It has the same bottom unit as the Olympus 7 with a performance-tuned upper. After an initial run on a cold October day, my spirits were completely flipped. Notes of some of my favorite Altras came through, and I felt quite compelled to return to it.
Things just got interesting…
MARIA: Let’s start with the fit because that is where the HiLo really works for me. The Matryx upper feels soft and accommodating while still holding the foot securely in place. Tighten the laces, and the shoe wraps around the foot like a well-tucked burrito. The lockdown is surprisingly good considering how much room there is up front.
And yes, this is very much an Altra toe box. My toes have enough space to go to town and bring a plus one, all without feeling squeezed. I especially appreciate that as the miles add up and my feet start swelling. The trade-off is that the wide forefoot doesn’t give the shoe quite the same sleek, sporty look as some more traditionally shaped trail shoes, but my toes aren’t complaining.
Around the heel, the HiLo uses a bootie-like sleeve that works almost like a mini built-in gaiter. It does a good job of keeping little rocks and debris from sneaking inside while also preventing the back of the shoe from digging into the foot. Paired with the secure Matryx upper, the fit feels dialed in without becoming overly structured. The upper also breathes well, which is always a huge bonus and pretty much a must for me since I end up running in the heat so often. Fall has finally decided to visit Texas, but the afternoon runs can still get pretty toasty.
Altra also reinforced the front of the shoe with a substantial rubber toe bumper, which adds plenty of protection on rocky terrain. Underfoot, the 33mm stack provides plenty of protection as well. I don’t feel sharp rocks poking through the bottom of the shoe, and the softer Altra Ego Max foam makes the HiLo feel noticeably cushioned without becoming unstable or overly mushy.
That combination is exactly why my first thought was “long-run champ” rather than “trail racer”. For long days out on technical trails, these features are definitely working in my favor. It can only go one way: me 1, rocks 0.
The Vibram Megagrip outsole with TractionLug has also been dependable. Grip has been strong across dirt, rocks, and loose trail surfaces I’ve been on, and the wider platform gives the shoe a stable feel despite the higher stack. The prior Olympus 275 already had a very capable Vibram Megagrip outsole, so this isn’t Altra fixing something that was broken.
Between the Ego Max foam and Vibram Megagrip outsole, this one screams all-day comfort rather than racing.
Another thing that stood out was how light the shoe felt while running. You know what they say: never judge a book by its cover. The HiLo may look substantial, but it certainly doesn’t run like it.
The Altra Olympus 275 HiLo has honestly thrown me a bit of a curveball and has been a hard shoe to figure out what bucket to place it in. The more I run in the shoe, the more thoughts and surprises pop up. But the biggest surprise overall was how soft, light, and effortless that first run felt. Consider my preconceived notions about zero-drop shoes officially challenged.
TAYLOR: I’ve already hopped onto Maria’s wagon, so I’m going to stay there for a bit because we apparently shared a similar experience with the Altra Olympus 275 Hilo.
Fit was freakin’ fantastic. While I’ve enjoyed an anatomically shaped toe box, I haven’t always gotten along with the very voluminous design of the Lone Peak or Olympus. Because the Matryx upper was so nicely mapped, the knit tongue lay so nicely, and the midfoot/heel hugged appropriately.
There wasn’t any significant sliding around, nor did I have to wrench down on the laces to stay put. This is one of the most comfortable and spacious fits I’ve ever had. The fact that it was secure and comfortable for a variety of terrain gave it a boatload of points in my book.
While I have my reservations about the Ego Max midsole foam (see more below), I can’t argue with the fact that it was consistent. After my initial runs, it settled into a denser medium sensation that allowed for a productive sense of ground feel while offering protection. The subtle far forward-forefoot rocker offered a nice toe-off without feeling extreme. Balanced is a good word for what the 33mm of stack offered.
Vibram Megagrip is pretty much all we need to say about the outsole. This version has 4mm lugs with the little Traction Lug nubs. Those dug into the earth really nicely. The rubber was tacky, and the platform was wide, so sticking to granite, dirt, wet surfaces, etc. was impressive too. Zero issues in this department.
Durability hasn’t been a marker of Altra for a long time, but I’m willing to say that the Olympus 275 Hilo is an exception. Part of that is because of a well-constructed Matryx upper; another part is the quality of Vibram Megagrip and the denser midsole. After a couple of runs, you’ll know the ride you’re in for over the long haul. Expect the Altra Olympus to last 400-plus rugged miles if you’re okay with a very neutral underfoot sensation.
MARIA: Unfortunately, some of that first-run magic faded faster than I would have liked.
On my first run, the HiLo had a noticeable bounce that made the shoe feel light and lively. Going into run number two, I expected more of the same, so I was a little taken aback by how much that sensation had already settled down. The shoe doesn’t necessarily feel slow now, but it also doesn’t make me want to pick up the pace. The ride feels noticeably flatter and less energetic than it did straight out of the box.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, especially for a shoe I see primarily as a long-run cruiser. Not every shoe needs to make me feel like I should start hammering the next segment. But the trail shoe market is packed with options that combine long-distance comfort with a little more fun factor, and when I have that many shoes sitting by the door, I’m naturally going to reach for the one that gives me a little more back.
I also noticed a small durability concern fairly early. At roughly 35 miles, the material along the inside of my shoe started separating slightly from the bottom. It’s minor at this point, and it could absolutely be specific to my sample, but seeing adhesive start to loosen that early leaves durability as a question mark. I want to be fair here because I’ve owned several Altra shoes in the past that held up very well, so this isn’t something I’d automatically assume will happen across every pair of the HiLo. Still, at $200, it’s worth mentioning and something I’ll continue watching as the mileage climbs.
The same wide toe box that feels so good on foot also changes the overall aesthetic. Functionally, I’m a fan. Visually, the HiLo doesn’t have quite the sleek, put-together silhouette of some other shoes on the market. That’s obviously subjective, and I’ll happily choose happy toes over looking fast. Feel good, run good!
TAYLOR: Both fortunately and unfortunately, I continue to agree with Maria. She mentioned that the midsole magic faded quickly. I had the same experience.
My first run was 7ish miles in the mountains, and GOSH it was good. I was shocked at the, again, balanced sensation that included some nice cushion and character I hadn’t experienced before in an Altra shoe besides the Altra Mont Blanc Speed. Now, having a secure fit, I was pumped about what I experienced.
Run two was a quick reality check. Run three, shoot... Run four, dang. The midsole went from surprisingly solid in a positive sense to surprisingly solid in the brick sense. The midsole took on a very zombie-like character - not completely dead but not at all living either.
If Altra can figure out how to hold onto that initial run feel for the better part of 300 miles (perhaps 275 of them?), this shoe would likely find true fandom again… It also makes the rest of the shoe feel like a waste, as the Matryx upper and Vibram outsole really carry the weight of this experience.
MARIA: The Olympus 275 HiLo feels most at home when the goal is to settle in and go long. The roomy fit, protective platform, secure upper, and grippy outsole all make it an easy shoe to trust when I know I’ll be spending hours on the trail.
It also opened my mind a bit about zero drop. The HiLo never felt as slow or cumbersome as I expected, and those first few runs were genuinely soft and bouncy. I only wish more of that initial energy had stuck around as the miles accumulated.
For runners who prioritize space in the toe box, protection, grip, and long-distance comfort over a particularly snappy ride, there’s a lot to like here. I also wouldn't hesitate to take the HiLo out hiking.
For me, the HiLo is a very capable long-distance trail shoe with an excellent fit. It may not have kept all of the bounce that won me over on day one, but it certainly made me rethink what I expected from a zero-drop trail shoe.
TAYLOR: Altra is two-thirds of the way to a phenomenal trail shoe with the Altra Olympus 275 Hilo. You can feel and appreciate the fit, grip, stability, and durability. The lighter build improves the package, too.
There’s no getting around the sudden change of the Ego Max midsole, though. What started as a balanced, cushioned, and mildly entertaining ride sank into a dense fog really quickly. It could still operate as a protective and stable trail shoe for a variety of trails (even technical), but it was SO much better on initial runs. I’ve never actually experienced such a dramatic change in a midsole.
Also, just to scratch an itch here, I really think the Altra Olympus 275 HiLo is what the Timp series should have turned into: a moderately stacked trail shoe ready for anything.
You can pick up the Altra Olympus 275 HiLo now for $200 at Altra by using the shop link below.
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Taylor Bodin is a trail and ultra runner living in Estes Park, Colo., with his wife and daughters. As the head of the Dirt Division at Believe in the Run, trail running is pretty much the only hobby he can manage right now and loves it. Every so often, he will pop off a race or FKT attempt because competition is pure and the original motivator for him getting into running anyway.
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