The outsole of the Timp is the main reason why the shoe handles so well on the trail terrains. The shoe has an outsole that has various protrusions that enable the shoe to provide the wearer with a high level of grip which in turn allows the shoe to function at a very high level. The shoe’s Trail Claw design is fashioned primarily from Altra’s DuraTread rubber technology. This material allows the outsole of the shoe to retain the high level of longevity that it does as well as help with the level of grip provided by the shoe. Another side effect of the Duratread material is that boosts the shoe’s ability to handle various surface types as well.

The midsole of the Timp is rather strange, to say the least. The Timp has a Zero-drop design but still provides the wearer with a decent level of cushioning while the shoe is on foot; this is primarily because the midsole still has various levels of cushioning placed throughout but counteracts that through the rounding of the midsole section on the shoe. The material that makes up the midsole is a variation of EVA foam that works to add to the level of responsiveness felt by the shoe. The EVA foam itself is known for having a relatively high level of bounce due to its shock absorption abilities. Altra incorporated the use of their A bound technology into their sole midsole that allows the shoe to have a decent level of responsiveness during use.

The upper of the shoe, like most shoes, is designed from a mesh material. This allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a decent level of comfort and ease of movement while the shoe is on foot. Altra also made it their duty to incorporate various protective features into the design of the upper that works to improve the overall user experience of the shoe. The upper of the shoe has various overlays and reflective material displayed throughout it’s design that allows the wearer to run in dimly lit areas without causing them any worry.

Altra placed a plethora of cushioning throughout the design of the Timp; this caused the shoe to be a bit heavier than first intended. The design of the Timp in its entirety weighs an astonishing 10.7 oz. The use of Altra’s barefoot tech allows the shoe to remain relatively natural feeling and enhances the feel of the shoe overall. The feel of the shoe while on your foot is also greatly enhanced due to the extreme amount of cushioning that is placed throughout the shoe’s design. This means that the weight of the shoe shouldn’t have the heaviest weight in one’s decision-making process for buying the shoe.

The upper of the Timp is one that is designed entirely from a mesh material. This allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a high level of airflow which, in turn, ensures that the wearer receives a decent level of comfort during their time in the shoe. The upper of the shoe lacks any of the traditional coverings that make up the upper of a traditional trail shoe; this also helps to ensure that the wearer of the shoe receives a decent level of airflow while the shoe is on foot. To add to the level of airflow that is achieved while the shoe is on foot, Altra gave the shoe a few ventilation areas on either side of the shoe; this allows the shoe to provide optimal airflow for the wearer and prevents excess sweat from appearing on the shoe.

The upper of the shoe is designed from a mesh material that enables the shoe to provide the wearer with extremely high levels of airflow during their time wearing this shoe; the airflow provided while the shoe is on foot allows for an extremely high level of comfort to be achieved by the wearer of the shoe. The mesh in the upper of the shoe conforms to the shape of the wearer’s foot and allows for a decent level of comfort and transitioning while the shoe is on foot. The sole unit of the shoe also conforms to shape of the wearer’s foot and allows for a decent level of comfort to be provided during their time wearing the shoe.

The design of the Timp is a bit on the peculiar side. As is customary with Altra shoes, the Timp has a zero-drop design that conforms to the shape and size of the wearer’s foot. This allows them to experience extreme levels of comfort and gives the shoe a sort of rounded bottom; this allows the shoe to provide a high-level of comfort during their time wearing the shoe. The upper of the shoe gives the shoe a decent look due to the lack of overall coverings and the mesh material that it was designed from.

The sole unit of the Timp was designed to provide the wearer with functionality, even for those extended periods of use. The Timp features Altra’s A-Bound midsole; the material in the midsole is designed to provide a good level of cushioning and also compresses much less than the midsole on typical shoes. The midsole’s ability to compress less allows the shoe to retain its high level of responsiveness for a relatively long period of time; something that simply isn’t seen in various other shoes. The outsole on the shoe works in much the same way due to it being designed from Duratread rubber; this material allows the shoe to last for a relatively long time on various types of terrains. Finally, the upper of the shoe is designed from a mesh material that ha a few overlays placed here and there throughout; the TPU overlays allow the shoe to provide the wearer with a decent level of protection for the mesh material itself and prevents damage from coming to the material.

The upper on the Timp is designed from a mesh material coupled with a few overlays that work to provide the wearer of the shoe with a decent level of protection during use. The upper’s use of these things prevents damage from coming upon the wearer’s foot while the shoe is worn; the overlays allow for a decent level of stopping power to be present in the shoe’s design. The upper of the shoe also has a reflective material placed throughout it’s design that allows the shoe to provide the wearer with a bit of visibility while the shoe is worn in dark areas. The sole unit of the shoe works to provide the wearer with a sense of protection due to the overall thickness and rigidity of the entire system.

The sole unit of the shoe works to provide natural transitions and a high level of responsiveness while the shoe is on foot. The A bound midsole unit is extremely impact resistant but still does it's job to conform to the shape and curves of the wearer’s foot; the impact resistance allows the shoe to provide a good level of energy return. The transitions provided by the shoe are improved by the shoe’s ability to conform to the curves of the wearer’s foot and the zero-drop that the shoe has.

The Timp was designed for use on various terrains but, functions best when used on the traditional trail. The shoe is designed for use on trails and has all the features that would allow it to function when used on one; the shoe has the trail claw outsole material and the zero drop overall sole. These qualities of the shoe improve transitions when the shoe is used on trails due to the level of flexibility and grip that it provides. The outsole on the shoe wouldn’t handle very well if used on roads due to the degradation that it’s lugs would go through.

The shoe falls in the intermediate price range; this is more than justified by the functionality that is present in the shoe and the technologies that are present. The upper of the shoe allows for a decent level of airflow and provides a comfortable feel for the wearer while the shoe is on foot. The sole unit of the shoe works to give the wearer a decent level of comfort and allows the wearer to experience rather smooth transitions while in the shoe. The longevity provided by the shoe also does much more than justify the price that it is offered for.

The outsole on the Timp provides the wearer with a pretty good level of grip when used on it’s intended surface. The Trail Claw patterning that the shoe was given allows it to dig into the surface that it is used on. The mesh make of the upper on the shoe allows the shoe to flex relatively easily which in turn allows the wearer of the shoe to really dig into the trails, further improving the level of grip that is achieved. The rubber on the outsole is also rather durable and can withstand the extensive digging that comes with the use of this material on the outsole of the shoe.

The mesh make of the upper of the shoe enables the shoe to bend rather easily and enables the shoe to retain good range of motion that is then provided to the wearer. The overlays on the upper somewhat take away from the shoe’s ability to provide for the wearer in this way but, the shoe still provides a decent range of motion to the wearer of the shoe.

The Timp features various overlays that allow the wearer to have a bit of protection and surety in their movements. The sole unit of the shoe is rather dense and prevents rollover while the shoe is on foot. The overlays on the upper of the shoe prevent excessive movement while the shoe is on foot and enables the wearer to have a relatively bit of stability while the shoe is on foot.

As is usual on Altra’s shoe’s, the Timp’s design features a zero-drop sole unit. The lack of drop on the shoe allows it to retain its natural feel while on foot and allows for decent transitions while the shoe is on-foot.

• A-Bound midsole
• Zero-Drop
• Gaiter trap
• 360-degree reflective material
• Trail Claw outsole pattern

As is the norm with Altra shoes, the Timp provides its wearers with an amazing overall ride. The materials used throughout the shoe’s design are durable and allow for a long wear time while the shoe is on foot. The mesh upper on the shoe allows for good range of motion coupled with a stable feel. Overall, the design of the shoe is one that works very well on trail terrains and should be considered if one is looking for a durable shoe to wear on trail terrains.