[pct-l] Review of Altra Lone Peaks

Wed Apr 15 19:45:23 CDT 2015

Isabella, the Altra Lone Peaks have very little arch support, I wouldn't say
they have none, but it is not much, less than any other trail runners I have
worn.  They don't need as much arch support because of the way they are
designed.

I absolutely love my Lone Peaks, but there are some things about them I
think people should be aware of.  First, the toe box.  It is not just wider
than other trail runners, it is shaped differently.  From the moment I tried
them on I could tell that a shoe manufacturer finally got it right when it
comes to the toe box.  They allow your toes to spread out like they
naturally should when you walk.  It is so comfortable it makes you wonder
why no one ever got it right before.    

The second thing about them is the zero drop heel.  For me this took some
getting used to, but now it feels totally natural.  They change the way your
foot hits the ground and Altra says there is about a two to three week break
in period, not for the shoes, but rather for your feet, your calves, and
your shins.  For me (a 62 year old male who has never worn any type of shoe
that even comes close to this and never go barefoot) it took longer.  I got
mine back in January and it took me about two months to get comfortable with
them.  I had some soreness in my calves and shins for a week or two, nothing
serious.   But the long "break-in" period is so worth it. I would not
recommend someone start a long hike in these if they haven't worn them for
at least 2 or 3 weeks prior to the hike.  If you do start a hike shortly
after buying them, you might want to use a heel pad insert off and on for
the first week.  Or if you just can't adapt to the zero drop heel, you can
use a heel pad insert to neutralize the zero drop and wear the Lone Peaks
just for the incredible toe box feature.  They also have a neat little
gaiter trap on the heels.  It is like a built in Velcro patch for gaiters
like Dirty Girl gaiters.

They have a sole that I would say is about average stiffness for a trail
runner.  The Lone Peaks are very cushy but a lot of the cushiness comes not
from padding but rather from the way it changes your stride because of the
zero drop heel. There is a lot less pounding on the ball of your foot which
was always a problem for me with other shoes.  The insole that comes with
them doesn't look like it would be very cushy, but actually I have found it
to be very comfortable.  In my training hikes I have purposely been stepping
on all the sharp edge rocks that I can and I don't feel the sharp edges and
have no soreness later.

I know this zero drop heel concept may scare some people away (I was very
skeptical myself), but all I can say is go try on a pair.  I find them to be
so comfortable that I wear them everywhere I go and around the house, not
just hiking. I may never be able to wear "normal" shoes again. They do look
a little strange because of the shape of the toe box.  My wife says they
look like clown shoes.  My answer to that is I will wear clown shoes if it
means I can hike big miles with no blisters and no feet problems.

If you try a pair on, I think you will find that you need to get a bigger
size than normal.  Those devices they have in shoe stores to measure your
feet say I should wear a size 10 1/2 shoe.  I normally wear a size 11 or 11
1/2 trail runner, but I got a size 12 in the Lone Peaks.  It just felt like
it fit better and there was no slippage in the heel.

I-Beam 

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
isabella at bendnet.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 7:35 AM
To: 'Scott Williams'; 'Brian Gill'
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

Do Altra Lone Peaks have arch support?  I have a weird issue and need a shoe
with NO arch support.  Hard to find.
Also, are the Altras cushy at all?  Stiff sole?
Thx, Mademoiselle

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott
Williams
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2015 3:12 PM
To: Brian Gill
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Top thru hike shoes

Hey Brian,

The most popular and commonly seen shoes on some of the greatest hikers I
know are the Altra Lone Peaks.  With their zero drop heal and wide toe box,
they're some of the most comfortable out there.  At last years ALDHA West
Gathering, the largest group of Triple Crowners in one place ever, we took
pictures of everyone with their shoes stuck in the shot as a big rosette of
Altra shoes.  Just to name names of those who hike in Lone Peaks, the list
includes, Lint, Snorkel, Freefall, Allgood, Dirt Monger, Swami, Why Not, and
it goes on and on.

There are other great shoes out there as well, however, and shoes are soooo
personal.  If they feel great and you don't get blisters, go for anything
else.   I train in Altras, Knocked out 14 miles and 4,500 vertical in them
yesterday, but I still use my old Montrail Sabinos, when I'm thru hiking.
The Sabinos were the widest toe box I could find back in 1009 and when they
did me so well on the PCT in 2010, I bought a big stack of them at $40 a pop
when Montrail changed the pattern later that year and had them on remainder.
So, I'm just too damn cheap not to use them although I take out the insoles
to approximate the feel of the Altras.  $40 or $110 per pair over a thru
hike saves me a bit of cash.  I had one pair last me from Georgia to New
Hampshire on the AT last year.  I only traded 'em out because I needed a bit
of tread to hit the Whites. But I sent them home and am still waking around
in them. The Lone Peak is not that robust, just the most comfortable shoe
out there.  But the Montrails still do me well. Once I use 'em all up
however, I'll be using whatever Altras I can find in the bargain stores.
Last year, when the Lone Peak was upgraded, I was able to find the original
Lone Peaks at Sports Basement at $40 a pair.  I called the people I knew who
used them and bought up whatever sizes fit.

Altra is by no means the only great shoe out there, but many of the greatest
thru hikers in America are using them this season  and have been for the
past 2 or 3 years.

Have a wonderful Hike,

Shroomer

On Tue, Mar 31, 2015 at 8:27 AM, Brian Gill <pctpanama at aol.com> wrote:

> What's  the top three shoes for a thru hike now days?  Panama
>
> "Sent from my iPhone"
>
>        Brian
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