June 2023 – Ultralight and Comfortable

I would guess that over 95% of all online equipment reviews come from men. At Backpackinglight, we will be providing more opportunities for women to test and contribute here throughout the year. We would love to have more female reviews on items you have purchased from us. Please feel free to email us at info@backpackinglight.se or use #backpackinglightse and let’s help each other find the right gear. Here is the outdoor enthusiast Linn review of the Altra Olympus Hike Mid GTX:

About a month ago, @backpackinglight.se posted a message seeking a female test pilot to evaluate Altras @altrarunning new Olympus Hike Mid GTX for women.

I usually never express interest through similar posts because I always approach them with the wonderfully positive attitude that “they will choose someone else anyway” or “I never win anything anyway.” But then a DM from @backpackinglight.se arrived, and my initial feeling was overwhelming joy. Then, it turned into “damn it, they will never work for my knee” (for those who don’t know, I have dislocated my right knee numerous times and had even more surgeries). I had convinced myself that the only thing that works for my knee, when it comes to hiking with a backpack, is heavy boots like my Meindl Island.

But I was wrong. Altras Olympus Hike Mid GTX is simply incredibly comfortable, whether I hike without a backpack or with one (a ten-mile hike with a 20 kg backpack was no problem). They are really stable with excellent grip despite their low weight, and it feels like walking in a pair of sneakers with cloud-like cushioning rather than boots. This is probably due to the Vibram sole design and the comfortably wide toe box.

Altras Olympus Hike Mid GTX is simply incredibly comfortable, whether I hike without a backpack or with one (a ten-mile hike with a 20 kg backpack was no problem). They are really stable with excellent grip despite their low weight, and it feels like walking in a pair of sneakers with cloud-like cushioning rather than boots. This is probably due to the Vibram sole design and the comfortably wide toe box.

I have hiked over 50 km in my Olympus since I received them, and they have performed exceptionally well on any surface. During my trip to the Ovik Mountains with my sister, we walked through soaking wet bogs, and I can confirm that the boots are waterproof since my feet (unlike my sister’s 🥲😂) remained dry throughout the hike.

They don’t replace my Meindls because I prefer higher shafts for extremely wet hikes like the one in the Ovik Mountains (as I mentioned, they kept me dry, but I wouldn’t have needed to worry about where I stepped if I had worn my Meindls), and I still find a sense of (probably unfounded) security in the stiffness of my Meindls. However, my Olympus will be my go-to footwear for the majority of my trips; I love them. And I wear them casually too—fashion is not my thing.