I was very excited about the Timp 3’s release. I’d heard Timps were more cushiony than Lone Peaks and still had the wide toe box that everyone loved about Altra shoes. I’d only had one pair of Altra shoes prior to this: the Lone Peak 4’s. I loved them, but durable – they were not. The mesh wore out and got holes in the toes.

I knew the Timps would have similar problems since they were made of even weaker mesh. But perhaps it could be mitigated with some Shoe Goo before they busted open.

Out of the box, the Timp 3’s were a tad on the narrow side. I had to lace my left shoe (the one with the wide deformity) differently to accommodate my foot. This was disappointing, but didn’t surprise me. Altras have slowly been moving toward the narrow side in the toe box for the last couple of years and I’m not sure why.

On the trail, the ground feel was superb! I could cover more miles in these shoes than my Lone Peaks because they had more cushion without sacrificing ground feel. I could feel the rocks beneath my feet without them poking me in the bones. At the end of the day, I’d make it to camp, ready to cover more miles. This was a feeling I hadn’t felt when wearing the Lone Peaks.

These shoes dry very quickly, as they should. I have no worries stepping in water or mud because they’ll dry 20 minutes later. A question from a reader asked, “Are the Timp 3’s waterproof?” No, they are not. Waterproof shoes, ironically, take much longer to dry if they get wet. Mesh shoes, on the other hand, will dry more quickly.

I still have a huge qualm with Altra’s Maxtrac soles. They are wonderful on dry land. But if they get wet, watch out. Slip, slip, bippity, slip. Your butt will be in that water. These soles are not good when wet. I much prefer Vibram for wet conditions. I think this might be my biggest problem with these shoes as well as my Lone Peaks. Though strange as it seems, my Lone Peaks seem to grip better in wet conditions than these Timp 3’s do. Is it possible they’d changed the formula of the Maxtrac soles? Is it my imagination? I’m going to test this at a later date because I really want to know.

Sure enough, after only one hiking trip in the Timps, I could see the mesh upper starting to shred. I had a decision to make: return them or put Shoe Goo on the mesh sides and try to make them last as long as possible. Considering how difficult it is to find hiking shoes that fit me, I decided to keep them.

The Shoe Goo repairs are holding up well. I still don’t like how these shoes handle on really wet surfaces, but that’s why I carry Vibram-soled sandals with me.

ANALYSIS

Pros

• Cushiony
• Breathable

Cons

• Toe box not as wide as expected
• Mesh rips too easily
• Maxtrac soles are slippery on wet surfaces

CONCLUSION

This will probably be the last pair of Altras I purchase. They’re moving in a direction that supports more narrow-footed people. Fragile mesh is something found on most breathable trail-runners and shoe manufacturers have not been able to solve this issue yet. I don’t trust Maxtrac soles. I’m going with Vibram from now on.

Altra was the trail-runner ruler for a short while, but there are some new stars on the horizon such as Hoka and Topo Athletic. Comparable alternatives to the Timp 3 would be the Hoka Speedgoat and the Topo Athletic Terraventure. These shoes have been receiving good reviews all over the web and I’m excited to give one of them a try.