Gear Review – Altra Lone Peak 5

Altra Lone Peak 5 Trail Runners

It took me a long time to switch from ‘traditional’ hiking boots to trail runner shoes – 9 years specifically. Long before I made the switch for good – in 2019 – I knew I had to. But I had a hard time finding trail running shoes that would work for me. The search was expensive too, which is one of the reasons it took so long. I tried Brooks, Soloman, Vasque, Hoka, and Asics (maybe others?), but nothing worked for my feet. And that brings up a critical point about any search for the ‘best’ trail running shoe for you – it depends entirely on your feet. My feet and toes are wide, and my arch is high. That combination is perfect for the Altra Lone Peak.

Buyer Beware – the Altra Lone Peak is not for everyone

The Altra Lone Peak has proven to be the perfect backpacking shoe for me. Two shoe attributes seem critical: (1) the wide and spacious toe box and (2) the zero heel drop. The Lone Peak’s large toe box is great for my foot shape. The other trail runners I tried were far too narrow in the toe area. This caused discomfort and rubbing, which quickly led to blisters. The zero-drop feature solved several foot issues I’ve had previously. The zero drop refers to the fact that the heel of the Lone Peak is level with the rest of the shoe – in non-zero-drop shoes, the heel area is higher. I no longer suffer from years of painful plantar fasciitis issues with the Lone Peak. I’m curious how the zero drop solved that, but it did.

Construction

The pictures below show the most prominent feature of the Lone Peak 5 – the wide and spacious toe box. The orange toe caps are seen in the image on the left. In previous versions of the Lone Peak, the toe cap was glued in place. It would always come loose and start to separate, which proved to be the first failure point. On the Lone Peak 5, the toe cap has been sewn in place – which solved the separation problem. The heel material is also higher on the Lone Peak 5. That has helped with the other failure point I experienced – heel material wears on the inside of the shoe. The heel area still wears out quickly, but the higher fit has helped with the up-and-down heel slippage that causes the wear.

Weight

‘MaxTrac’ tread with ‘TrailClaw’ design – lack of lateral support

I’m not sure about all the buzzwords Altra uses to describe the tread on the Lone Peak 5, but it works well. Traction on any ‘normal’ trails is outstanding. Traction is significantly reduced on hard-packed snow and ice, but I don’t think any trail runner will perform well in those conditions. Lateral (side-to-side) support could be better, which leads to a feeling of uncertain lateral traction. The Lone Peak has a pretty ‘flimsy’ side-to-side feel, something I noticed from the first time I wore the shoe in 2019. But I remember thinking early on that first hike, my season-starting Tecumseh Trail hike, ‘these are never going to work.’ But they did work! The lack of lateral rigidity causes issues in some situations (side-slanting rock scrambles), but in typical use, it makes the Altra’s more comfortable.

Altra Lone Peak 5 Durability and Wear

Durability and wear, and long life in general, is not a selling point of Altra Lone Peak 5! I bought my first pair of Lone Peak 4’s in early 2019. It is now early 2023, and I’m beginning to use my 5th pair of Lone Peak’s. And I also threw in one pair of definitely-not-recommended Altra Timps during that time. My use is heavier than most. Between backpacking trips and daily Jaden and Bailey walks, I get in about 1500 miles of hiking per year. I wear my Lone Peaks until they can’t be worn any longer (for dog walks, not backpacking). I get roughly one season of use per pair. Your ‘mileage’ will vary based on your use, but long life is NOT a reason to buy the Altra Lone Peak 5.

Conclusion – Altra Lone Peak 5 trail runners

The other selling points of the Lone Peak 5 are the comfort, breathability, and quick drying characteristics. The Lone Peak 5 is a very comfortable backpacking shoe if they fit your particular foot style and shape. Since starting to use Altras I generally leave my camp shoes at home given how quickly they dry. That’s another weight savings.  The Altra Lone Peak 5 trail runner is not for everyone, but if you’re one of the ‘lucky’ ones that have a foot shape that works with them, and you can stomach the relatively short lifespan, it’s a tough trail shoe to beat.