Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

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These classic Altra shoes are updated with refined uppers. But they still have the grippy outsoles and roomy toe box zero-drop runners love. Underfoot protection shields you from rocks and debris.
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View the Altra Lone Peak Product LineView all Altra Men's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running Hiking |
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Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 0 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 25 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 25 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Ripstop mesh |
Midsole | Altra EGO foam |
Outsole | MaxTrac rubber |
Rock Plate | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 5.4 oz. |
Gender | Men's |
7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
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U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
UK | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
EU | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51.5 |
Foot Length (in.) | 9.8 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 13 | 13.4 |
Altra’s unique FootShape™ toe box and zero to low shoes are built to place your foot in a natural position, with a stable and confident foundation to run on. When fitting, be sure to allow a full thumb’s width in front of your toes. If your feet are used to cramped toe boxes, Altra shoes may feel a little big at first. Give your toes some time to get used to the newfound wiggle room.
Altra offers a range of FootShape fits:
Original Fit: The fit that started it all, Original is the roomiest of the 3 options from Altra.
Standard Fit: The most common fit from Altra is right in the middle of Original and Slim.
Slim Fit: The slimmest-fitting Altra option still allows room for your toes to spread out naturally.
IS THIS SHOE TRUE TO SIZE? The product Features above will provide a suggestion if Altra advises you to size up or down in this particular shoe. If no such note exists, please order your regular size.
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[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Great shoes. These are perfect for light hiking / walking outdoors. Great grip and slip bottom. I will definitely be purchasing my wife a ladies style. I think these will be perfect for summer.
I’ve worn out 2-3 pairs of every Lone Peak since version 4. The Lone Peak 7 served me well on a recent thru hike of the 500 mile Colorado Trail, and I was excited to test the Lone Peak 8. I have a new pair of 7’s on hand, so I’ve been able to test versions 7 and 8 back to back. As you can see in my photos, it looks like Altra made only minor cosmetic changes. Are there any differences we can’t see? I’ve taken the new shoes trail running and I’ve used them hiking with a 35 lb pack. My feet tell me they’re the same shoe. That’s good news for me because my feet love the Lone Peak 7. I don’t know what would have made them any better, and I guess Altra couldn’t think of anything either. So they changed the colors. At least they didn’t break anything! The tread design (and maybe the rubber compound?) changed with version 7, and I have found it much grippier than previous versions, especially on wet rocks and decomposed granite. I’m happy to see the same sole on the 8; it’s a huge improvement, retaining good grip even as the lugs wear thin. You may want to replace the flimsy insoles right away. For the cost of a PT co-pay, you can get a pair of Superfeet or other insoles. (If that cost comparison means nothing to you, you’re still young enough to run with crummy insoles.) Stiffer insoles transform the shoes, greatly increasing comfort when hiking long days with a backpack. My Lone Peak 7’s were good for about 600 miles, mostly backpacking. At that point, the midsoles were noticeably compressed and the tread was getting thin. I’d also used them for a couple weeks of trail maintenance work on the Arizona Trail. Those shoes kicked a lot of rocks off the trail and I’m impressed by their durability. I look forward to using the Lone Peak 8 on my upcoming Arizona Trail thru-hike. Between the wide toe box and the zero-drop design, my feet are far more comfortable in Altras than in the myriad other brands I’ve tried. If your feet look anything like mine, or if you’re searching for a more comfortable shoe, I highly recommend trying a pair of Altras.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] (I have received this product for free in exchange for writing an honest review) I have worn other zero drop shoes before and the Lone Peak 8s have more "sole" to them than most, yet still allow you to feel the terrain as you walk/run. Very comfortable on first wear. Wide toe box gives your feet pleanty of room to spread out and ample cushioning around the ankle and heel (again, more than most that i have worn in the past). Very good grip and feel from the soles, no issue with losing traction at any point. Shoes seem to be of good materials and construction. Have worn them for just over 2 weeks now, mostly walking, out and about and a handful or runs and so far, no concerning wear with either the soles or the stitching on the uppers. Colors need a little getting used to but other than that, a very good, very comfortable, well performing shoe.
I wanted to try something new after 10 years with the same running shoe. I have flat feet and supinate (ie foot rolls outwards) and my current size 10.5 Wide shoes are ok but wear out very quickly. My first impressions with the Lone Peak 8 Original Fit shoes was very favorable. They are lighter and more comfortable than my current shoe with a wide toe box. I've dropped to a size 10 and that works great because the toe box is so much bigger. Not sure yet but there seems to be far less fatigue after a run. I may have found my go to shoe. I'm taking one star off until I find out if they can stand the test of time. I'm hard on my shoes! Fingers crossed
I've currently taken these shoes out on three trail runs, all around 7 miles. The shoe itself looks great, grips great, shows no issues with a breaking-in/running in a new shoe (e.g., blisters, creasing, etc.). For well maintained trails, its a five-star product all the way, especially in contrast to the previous versions of this model (I've owned the Lone Peak 5's, and 7's). The mesh grid functions much more effectively at not trapping grass seeds, which the Lone Peak 7's were magnets for. I have high arches, and whereas the internal support isn't quite there, it was by no means an issue. My feet felt surprisingly great from all three runs so far. The only complaint I can give this shoe is the rock plate under the tread just isn't quite durable/thick enough for Southern California granitic trails. I'm often feeling much more than I'd like when bouncing around fire roads, or up old less-than-regularly maintained trails. When the trails are well maintained or newly built, this shoe performs wonderfully. Of course the life of shoe cannot be addressed within a short period such as this. Yet so far it has performed exceedingly well for my expectations. My last two Lone Peaks made it around 300 miles before delaminating, with noticeable foam collapse and wearing occurring around 25 miles. So far they still look spotless for three runs and wearing them around my work areas as a wildlife biologist.
These shoes are amazing! They offer great traction on smooth and slippery surfaces, just like anti-slip or basketball shoes. At the same time, they also provide excellent grip on rough, rocky, and muddy clay soil, just like hiking boots. The tread pattern is v-shaped, similar to that of an agricultural tractor tire. The shoes are very lightweight, which makes them perfect for running and walking, and they offer excellent cushioning. Although they are designed for trail running, I wore them casually for a few days and found them to be great for office work and casual walking. They provided a soft and comfortable feeling around my feet, without any chafing. The shoes run slightly larger in size, but wearing thicker ankle socks made them fit just right. The size variance for me wasnt significant enough to go up a size. I tested them on the Aiea Loop Trail, a 4.5-mile loop trail in Hawaii that is hilly, rocky, wet, mountainous, and wooded, and they were perfect. Despite partially submerging my shoes in a damp, muddy portion of the trail, my feet remained dry, which indicates that the shoes repel water. I also ran up and down the steep Koko Head Crater Trail in Hawaii, and the shoes provided amazing cushioning that absorbed the shock and impact that would usually reverberate to my knees when running down the steep grade of the trail at fast speeds. In summary, these shoes are perfect for trail running and casual wear.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Altra Running US Men's Lone Peak 8 are nice! These shoes fit true to size, I got a 10.5 and usually get a 10.5 and they fit perfect. They have a nice amount of room in the toe box and fit great. I really like the zero drop. I find these much easier to run/walk in compared to traditional shoes. The zero drop is better overall for the body. The colors aren't the greatest, but the overall shape is really nice. I find these super comfortable and durable! I would absolutely buy these and recommend them. I did get these shoes for free in exchange for my honest review, thank you Altra!
This is my 5th pair of Lone Peaks: 3, 4, 5s and the latest 8ths. I just don't know why they would take a toe design that lasts with stitching and replace it with this ridiculously non-durable glue stuff. Less than 50 easy miles of trail hiking and 6 months and these Lone Peaks are already coming unglued at the toe.
I don’t always have an easy time finding running shoes that work for me. My feet aren’t particularly wide (on the border of D/EE), but I have a high arch and a high volume midfoot, so between the supination and the volume it makes me really sensitive to how the outside of the arch fits. I’ve found that a lot of “foot shaped” shoes wrap the cup heel too far up the outside for my comfort. The Altra Lone Peak 8 fits deliciously neutral along the bottom of the foot, leaving no pressure points to press on tendons. I do really love everything about the midfoot fit. The overlays create just the right amount of structure to hug the foot and keep the shoe from squirming in uneven and challenging terrain. It feels good going up the steeps and coming down. The upper is a durable ripstop material that is suited to a lot of trail conditions – not too clammy for warmer weather, but not so open that it would be a problem in wet and cool conditions. The heel is a bit loose, but lacing those last two eyelets snugs it right down, and there’s a good amount of cushion to keep it feeling snug. The midsole is a nice medium thickness and density to give you support and a stable footplant on mixed terrain, and the rock plate damps any sharp edges while keeping you feeling connected to the ground. Altogether it just works well. It’s been wet in the area (hello atmospheric rivers) and while the local trails were not outright muddy, they were still damp and a bit slick in the less rocky sections. Footing stayed secure even in the steeper sections going up and down, and the midfoot lock helped keep my foot in place to make every step feel precise. They also keep their grip well on wet pavement and sidewalks. The outsole on these feel like they are made with a similar compound to a tackier mtb tire. It’s a bit draggy, and would not be my first choice for a road-and-trail outsole, but I’d grab them over most of my road shoes for wet and mossy conditions. Those outsoles, though, are the one area of concern that I have. The tackiness may come at the cost of a bit of durability, and I’m not sure these shoes would be the best choice for walking and running on pavement. The sharp edges on the tread seem to have rounded off pretty fast. I’d try to save these shoes for mixed rock and dirt trails where the grip is necessary for covering difficult terrain and the tradeoff for more grip makes the most sense. Oh, and as you can see from the marked up picture, the tongue does slip a bit to the side, but not so much that it creates any gaps in coverage, and the tongue itself is padded enough that there are no pressure points from the lacing. And one last note on the fit from that pic as well. I wear a 10.5/44 hiking shoe and got these in an 11 med. They are a touch long, but I needed the extra width of that one size up to give the outside of my foot enough room. The midfoot lock keeps the extra space manageable and I’d take that tradeoff rather than going with the shorter length and a tighter midfoot. 4.5 overall, 5 as a technical trail runner, 4 as an everyday trail shoe with mixed trails and paved surfaces.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received these in exchange for my honest opinion. They are very comfortable; love the zero drop and I have actually started using them as my daily shoes since I am on my feet all day walking and up and down stairs. The extra toe room makes them even more comfortable. They are also very light for when I am run. At the end of a long trail, my feet don't feel tired from the weight of the shoes. I wear a 10W and the fit great. Wish there were better color options though.