Altra Lone Peak All-wthr Mid, Men's Platform

Product Information

Disclosure: Altra donated these items for review, but this article presents an honest representation of my experience using the gear. If cramped toes are a continual problem when searching for the right hiking shoe than look no further. One of Altra’s shining features is a generously-sized toe box, and the Lone Peak 3.0 Mid is no exception. Rather than tapering sharply at the front, the NeoShell Mid stays nice and wide giving ample room to stretch and wiggle your toes to your heart’s content. Mid-height collar and eVent upper do a great job sealing out the elements while still allowing the shoe to breathe better than much of the waterproof competition. I'm all about those roomy toe boxes, but not all about the zero drop. (For what it's worth, the podiatrist who trained me in hiking footwear had the same take on Altra trail running shoes.) Sadly, I quit hiking in my Lone Peaks after my second calf strain in fifty miles—after zero calf strains in my previous 10,000 miles in other brands (and none in 3000 Altra-free miles since). Some of my customers, co-workers, and friends have had more serious issues in the Altra Lone Peak, including injuries such as stress fractures, broken ankles, and ruptures Achilles tendons.

Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM Hiking Boot Review - Switchback Travel Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM Hiking Boot Review - Switchback Travel

Another very popular option for a lightweight hiking boot is the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX. Both the Altra and Salomon feature an aggressive outsole, waterproof construction, and come in low-top and mid-height options. However, the similarities end there. Whereas the Lone Peak offers a very roomy fit and large toe box (perfect for wide feet), the X Ultra runs a bit small and is better suited for narrow feet (good news is they now off a wide version). Weighing in at 1 pound 15.6 ounces, the Salomon is considerably heavier than the Altra (1 lb. 10 oz.), but this added weight undoubtably comes with an increase of support and durability—two areas where the Altra falls noticeably short. For technical trails or hiking with heavy loads, we think the Salomon is the better option. With the updated 4 RSM, Altra replaced the waterproof NeoShell upper of version 3 with eVent fabric, which has proven to be a very capable performer in the wet. Most of our time in the Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM was spent on wet trails in the Pacific Northwest, as well as one long outing into the alpine. Overall, the Altra’s eVent upper and over-the-ankle design did a great job of keeping water at bay, which made it a great companion for wet-weather hikes. We’ve spent a good amount of time using Gore-Tex-lined footwear recently, and it's nice to see that the eVent fabric provided similar levels of protection. Balanced Cushioning Platform: Places your heel and forefoot the same distance from the ground to encourage proper, low-impact throughout your trail run.If there’s one thing that Altra does well, it’s comfort: no matter the style, every Altra shoe has a zero-drop footbed and wide, “FootShape” toe box. Many hikers and runners find that these features allow their feet and body to align and move more naturally, resulting in less impact. For us, the wide toe box provided impressive comfort right out of the box. And coupled with the thin yet supple upper, we experienced virtually no break-in period. On soft, loamy trails, the Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM offered the experience of walking on a cloud. Last year Altra debuted the Lone Peak 3.0 and Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell. These new designs improve upon their predecessors while retaining everything that’s made the Lone Peak series a crowd favorite. However, in addition to the 3.0 upgrade Altra also released something more unique, the Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mid. While the traditional Lone Peak designs are geared primarily towards trail runners (a style recently co-opted by long-distance hikers), the Mid was designed for all the hikers in the crowd. This new hiking shoe offers everything we love about the Lone Peak design with the added support of a boot. You’ll be hard pressed to find a mid-sized shoe as lightweight as these. The pair I have are quite a few ounces lighter than my previous mid-sized shoes from Keen and are only marginally heavier that the Salomon trail runners I used on the Appalachian Trail. Still, compared to most trail runners these shoes will still be a great deal heavier. For example, my pair of NeoShell Mids are nearly a half pound heavier than my regular low-cut Lone Peak 3.0’s. Even so, if you’re looking for a compromise between weight and ankle support than these shoes are one’s to keep your eye on. CONS Midsole Comfort Footshape Toe Box: Allows your toes to relax and spread out naturally for more comfort and stability in uphill climbs and downhill descents. Waterproof hiking boots aren’t typically praised for their breathability, but we’re pleased to report that the Lone Peak RSM is a standout in this area. While it certainly can’t compete with non-waterproof mesh versions, we came away impressed with the Lone Peak RSM’s ability to keep our feet cool on moderately warm days. Even during a handful of summer hikes—outings we typically reserve for trail-running shoes—our feet never felt soggy or damp due to moisture buildup. All things considered, we found the eVent upper to breathe better than similarly equipped Gore-Tex models.

Trail shoe M LONE PEAK ALL-WTHR Mid 2 col. BLACK - Altra Running

Altra EGO: Dual-Nature midsole compound with a responsive, yet soft feel for increased energy return.Comfort is a subjective thing that has a lot to do with fit, body type, and the specific types of hiking you do. The Lone Peak's roomy toe box, moderate cushioning, and minimal support works for many hikers. When it works for you, the Lone Peak can feel like your favorite slipper with trail traction. For others, though, that big toe box may be uncomfortable or feel sloppy on technial terrain. Personally, I found the Lone Peak pretty comfortable on easier trails but not on steeper, tougher trails. That being said, plenty of people absolutely love that comparatively loose fit and max toe room. The Altra Lone Peak All-WHTR Mid 2 have a specifically designed wide toe box that allows the toes to spread out naturally. The cushioned sole with zero drop keeps the foot balanced whilst running and the Altra Ego midsole compound provides comfort without compromising energy return. Grip is good across a variety of surfaces due to the MaxTrac™ outsole, which has angled lugs and the cantilever ridges under the big toe gives added grip when setting off and running up hill. The all-weather outer is water resistant and the hook and loop tap holds strapless gaiters in place for added protection in poor conditions. During my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail I inevitably switched from wearing waterproof shoes as, like many, I found that given enough rain water inevitably seeped its way into the interior of my shoes. And once the inside of a waterproof shoe is wet, the same system that’s supposed to keep water from getting in keeps water from getting out, making them harder to dry. The Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mid is a lightweight, durable, and overall comfortable shoe. The external NeoShell layer provides excellent waterproofing even keeping dust and other small particle debris from entering the shoe. The ankle support is effective and more importantly, comfortable. Despite using an identical design to that of it’s more breathable brethren, the NeoShell Mid’s midsole was noticeably more stiff, feeling somewhat less cushioned than its non-waterproof counterpart. Still, the midsole design, combined with the snug ankle fit and the spacious toe box, mean the NeoShell Mid keeps your feet happy for miles and miles. Wearing these for hours at a time on the foot was almost unnoticeable, so even though they did not win in this metric, they were so close that we gave them a very high mark in regards to their overall weight. Water Resistance

Lone Peak 5 - Altra Running Lone Peak 5 - Altra Running

Wide toe box and zero-drop shape give the boot excellent out-of-the-box comfort (especially for those with wide feet or that are prone to blisters). The NeoShell is a “breathable” waterproof material developed by Polartec. However, rather than lining the interior of the shoe like other waterproof designs the NeoShell is wrapped around the exterior of the shoe. In doing so the lining attempts to stop water from the onset before it even has a chance of getting to the interior fabrics. In my experience, it would seem this design choice paid off.With a listed weight of 1 pound 10 ounces for the pair (our men's size 9 was 1 lb. 11 oz.), the Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM is one of the lighter mid-height hiking boots on the market. The Altra manages to undercut other popular options like the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (1 lb. 15.6 oz.), Vasque Breeze LT Mid GTX (1 lb. 11 oz.), and Hoka One One’s Sky Toa GTX (1 lb. 14.2 oz.). The Altra even comes in lighter than some waterproof trail running shoes like La Sportiva’s Akyra GTX (1 lb. 11.4 oz.). In other words, for those who enjoy moving fast and light but don’t want to sacrifice over-the-ankle protection, the Lone Peak Mid is an attractive option. The soft midsole and roomy toe box made for a sloppy-feeling boot on technical and off-camber terrain.

Altra Lone Peak All Weather Mid - idealo

Being so lightweight, the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR has given up some durability by using such thin materials. Many users have reported durability issues with these boots and feel that they do not last particularly long before materials begin delaminating. We also saw reports of wear occurring due to rubbing, which in turn can cause the waterproof eVent liner to fail, often around the top of the metatarsals. With such a lightweight shoe, you’ll compromise on durability: one of our toe caps began to separate after just one hike. Some companies like to offer different choices for men and women when it comes to shoes and apparel. Sometimes models that are available to men are not available to women and vice versa with each sex being offered their own special load outs with different styles and names. However, the Lone Peak 3.0 Neoshell Mid is available in both men’s and women’s sizes with minimal design aspects tailored to properly fit our differing body types. So I’m happy I can say this shoe is available to everyone! The NeoShellWe’d be remiss not to provide a comparison to Salomon’s wildly popular X Ultra 4 Mid GTX hiking boot. Both the Altra and Salomon boast aggressive outsoles, waterproof constructions, and come in both low-top and mid-height options. However, the similarities end there. Whereas the Lone Peak has a very roomy fit and wide toe box, the X Ultra runs a bit small and is better suited for narrow feet. The Salomon is also heavier than the Lone Peak at 1 pound 11.2 ounces, although this translates to a sizable increase in both support and durability—two areas where the Altra fell noticeably short. For technical trails or hiking with a heavy load, the Salomon is far and away the more capable boot. If you prefer the trail runner-like personality or have particularly wide feet, however, the Lone Peak has its place. With an eVent upper, gusseted tongue, and over-the-ankle cut, the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid is fully capable of sealing out the elements. Compared to a standard hiking shoe, the boot’s mid-height build offers a sizable step up in protection and prevents water from coming in over the collar during steam crossings or while hiking through deep mud. Throughout testing, I found that the Lone Peak did a fantastic job keeping moisture at bay, even during sustained downpours. Our team has spent a lot of time testing Gore-Tex-lined footwear, and it’s nice to see that the Lone Peak’s eVent fabric provides similar levels of wet-weather assurance. However, it’s worth noting that unlike many Lone Peak offerings, the ALL-WTHR Mid does not include a gaiter trap at the heel (although you can always add a patch of Velcro to achieve the same effect). Comfort is a metric in which the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR has almost no equal. As one of the top-scoring models in this fundamental metric, this shoe (ahem, boot!) will be very appealing to a wide range of hikers. A big part of this appeal comes from Altra's signature wide foot shape. Rather than feeling tight and constricted, the foot is allowed to sit in its natural position. This is especially nice after long days on the trail — as your feet swell, they have the room they need. Similar to the Appalachian Trail, along the WHW there were days where the cold rain felt near constant. However, these shoes remarkably kept my feet warm, and more importantly dry. The same cannot be said for my hiking partner, who was sporting the older women’s Lone Peak 2.0 NeoShell lows. She suffered the soggy fate of having water find its way down her ankles and into her shoes. This leads me to believe that if you’re going to bother getting an Altra NeoShell shoe at all you’re probably better off getting a Mid-sized shoe to begin with.