Altra  Lone Peak 9 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

This latest iteration of the Lone Peak series is a comfortable, stable, trail-worthy shoe that's a pleasure to slip on and lace up. For my daily trail runs or hikes, this shoe was easy to put on right out of the box and head out the door and onto trails. So far, I've taken these out in a potluck of conditions, including wet, snow, and ice. Traction is tacky even in poor conditions without being overly aggressive and I appreciated that balance between having some feel underfoot while still feeling like there's plenty of cushion. What I like most about these shoes and others in the line is their spacious toe box. Their literal footprint looks like what a foot is meant to fit within. This results in not only a comfortable fit but a comfortable stride when running. No slipping or wiggle, but also plenty of room for toes to spread out. Besides the snow and ice, I dipped these into a passing creek. They're not advertised to be water resistant, so I didn't have any expectations but was a little surprised that they just soaked up water immediately instead of beading even a little. (Grateful for wool socks.) Not a big deal, and probably just a testament to their breathability. That said, go with the all-weather version if you need any water resistance. Having worn a lot of zero-drop shoes including Altras, I appreciate this feel and the stride for both running and hiking. In the past, I'd thought the sizing of Altras had been inconsistent but these feel just right and as advertised. All that said, these aren't my perfect shoe. Even though they're a neutral pronation like I'm accustomed to, I think the arch placement is just a bit off for me. But I think this is just a result of feet being varied and weird. If you're looking for a zero drop, all purpose trail runner and/or have experience with the Altra fit, I think this is an ideal shoe.

Years ago I got the Altra Lone Peak 5, and fell in love with the Altra shoe for trail running / long distance through hiking. Stuck with them through the Lone Peak 7 (which i've now had 2 pairs of) because they are such a great shoe. I wear a size 11 wide in the former shoes. They are light weight, low drop and flexible (yet supportive) with a wide toe block for maneuverability and zero blisters over high mileage. These new shoes are anything but that... First off, they are a COMPLETELY different size. My size 11 that I typically wear was like a clown shoe. Not sure how a brand changes the length of their own shoe size that much? Second, the width is all thrown off because they cheapened the lining by making it thinner and less cozy. The lining surrounding your heel, and the tongue of the shoe is half the thickness and provides half the comfort. Last but not least.. the sole. The sole of these shoes is a joke. The old Altras you could almost flex 180 degrees backward from heel to toe showcase the ultra light material and flexibility.. These soles are stiff and thick removing that same grounding feeling when wearing them. All around it just seems like they made a once comfortable, durable, and ultra light trail runner into a stiff sole cheap product for the lowest common denominator that doesn't actually wear them on trails.