Altra  Lone Peak 8 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

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.

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 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.

Very comfortable. Great to walk in. The problem is after 6 months they are falling apart.

Very comfortable but not very durable for the price. After just 2 days of normal wearing the liner on the edge of the shoe where the mesh ends and the rubber starts started to separate. After one relatively easy hike in somewhat wet conditions the hole grew significantly. They do feel very stable and grippy when hiking and are so comfortable I wear them almost daily but the lack of durability is very disappointing.

The Altra Lone Peaks are a great trail runner/light hiker for those who have wide feet or just want an anatomical foot box. What I like about these shoes: Right out of the box these shoes were ready to go. Extremely comfortable with just enough cushion but not so much that you don’t feel the ground beneath you. Some trail runners excel only in one area, mainly trail running, but the lone peaks are also comfortable enough for short runs on the pavement which is great if your route covers multiple surfaces. They also grip well on wet and slick rocks. I love how much room my toes have to splay out creating a more natural stride and I’m glad that Altra hasn’t narrowed the toe box on this line like they have on others. These shoes are also incredible at draining water which is great for shoulder season training where puddles can be deeper than they look. What I don’t like: There’s not much to complain about with these shoes. They seem like they’ll last a long time. So if you’re in the market for a pair of all around outside shoes, these are it. Just get them, your feet will thank you.

Lone peak review I use trail runners as hiking & backpacking shoes far more often than actually trail running. I wore these shoes for a couple days, before taking them out to Joshua Tree. Here’s how they did: The good: 1. These shoes are known for their wide toe box, which I thought would cause my feet to slide around. Amazingly, they hold my feet securely from the heel to the mid-section, and allow my toes to splay naturally, without rubbing. 2. The soles & tread are magical - they are sensitive & durable, and amazingly squishy without losing energy while walking (even through sand). 3. They are comfortable from day one. I hiked in these with my favorite Smartwool socks, and had no blisters, hot spots, or discomfort at all, far before the “break in” period should be over! 4. Finally, I find the zero drop great for unstable terrain. I feel that my ankles are more stable without extra height under my heels. The bad (why they get a 4 instead of a 5 from me): 1. Zero drop shoes work different muscles in you feet and legs than typical running shoes. The first morning after hiking I confirmed this, with muscle pain in my calves & feet. I am still getting used to these shoes, but I recommend getting used to this shoe style before going long distances. 2. The same wide toe box that I’m growing to love is bad for scrambling over steep terrain. These are the opposite of approach shoes, by design. Great for distance, bad for scrambling. 3. They aren’t going to win a fashion show. These are a little dad-shoe, along with an odd extension behind the heel. Overall, if you’re curious to try these, I say do it! Just expect some time for your leg muscles to adjust, and enjoy the comfort along the way.