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Most brand collaborations follow a simple formula of Brand-X apply their brand colors to cross-category Brand-Y’s existing product. When we got the call that cool kid GORP footwear brand ROA has collaborated with trail running shoe maker Altra on a rare dual-footwear-brand collab, we knew we had to dig deeper. Unveiling this week on the runway at Paris Fashion Week, the ROA x Altra Timp 5 combines trail-worthy features with a moody color palette coming to both brand sites and select retailers this upcoming fall-winter season.
Beginning with the Altra Timp 5 trail running sneaker as its canvas, Italy-based ROA worked their aesthetic magic to treat the midsole unit in solid black that mimics footwear in its own catalog, like the popular Katharina shoe.
Underfoot, the Vibram Megagrip sole loses the signature “claw” coloration on usual Altra shoes in favor of a more muted all-black to keep things minimal. Uppers receive a moody shade of brown, set off by a contrasting light sage green on the tongue and interior lining.
Functionally, the collaborative edition of the runner receives all the technical features of the inline offering that make the Timp 5 one of the best trail runner shoes: Altra’s roomy FootShape toe box design, proprietary supportive construction, and a Gore-Tex upper liner that marks ROA’s surprising first use of the material. For serious mountain pacers, hook and loop tabs allow for the integration of protective gaiters without bulky fasteners.
Keep an eye for the ROA X Altra Timp 5 trotting across the runway at Paris Fashion Week and afterwards on streets and singletrack following their fall release.
Published 06-20-2024
