Latest revision as of 15:31, 8 October 2016

Altra's first hiking boot is the Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mid, which is based off the Lone Peak 3.0 running shoe. Because of this, it's remarkably light coming in at just 14.5oz/410g which is about 20% lighter than my favorite hiking boot, the Hoka Tor Ultra. The approach and that Altra have taken as its advantages and its problems. Like a running shoe, the light weight reduces fatigue on long hikes when compared with a true hiking boot. The shape of the Lone Peak is a huge plus, as it's one of the few that matches the shape of the human foot. The downsides however are also pretty significant, the biggest being the rather poor waterproofing. The light weight also means that it's not as tough and rugged as a true hiking boot would be. I like the Lone Peak boot, but I'd only use it on relatively easy hikes, and I'm glad I stuck with the Hoka Tor Ultra for hiking above the Arctic Circle on the Kungsleden.

Altra Lone Peak Boot top	Altra Lone Peak Boot outside
Altra Lone Peak Boot bottom	Altra Lone Peak Boot inside

1 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The Lone Peak is well cushioned for a hiking boot, similar to the Altra Torin though it's hard to accurately measure the cushioning of the boot. It's quite a bit less cushioned than the Hoka Tor Ultra, and a little less isolated from the trail. While some folks like to have a good feel for the surface under foot, I value the extra protection when I'm hiking over rugged trails, especially when I'm tired.
• Drop. The Lone Peak claims to be a zero drop, but I've not been able to accurately measure it as my test gear is designed for shoes. It feels close to zero drop, but I found that most Altra running shoes are close but not quite there.
• Structure. The Lone Peak is a single density of foam and I found it extremely neutral with no interference to my biomechanics. Altra say that there's a "StoneGuard", which is a protective sheet that goes between of the midsole and the outsole.
• Flexibility. The Lone Peak has nice flexibility for a hiking boot, but that's a low bar to beat.
• Outsole. Altra's "MaxTrac Sticky Rubber" outsole provides good traction, though nothing like the amazing grip of the Hoka Tor Ultra.
• Shape. The shape of the Lone Peak matches the shape of the human foot, something that is still unusual in that the footwear industry. Unlike many other Altras, the Lone Peak has reasonable volume in the toe box, so there's no sense of your toes being trodden on while you're wearing them.
• Upper. The upper is far more like a running shoe than a hiking boot, so it's not as ruggedized or resilient. So far, I've not had any issues, but I don't expect it to stand up to gnarly trails as well as a true hiking boot. There is a remarkable amount of padding around the ankle opening, far more than you'd find in a running shoe.
• Waterproofing. It's tough to make a waterproof boot due to the shape, amount of stitching and the stretching that occurs. Altra use Neoshell by Polartec which is waterproof to a pressure of 10,000mm, which should be enough, but I've had wet feet in my Lone Peak boots. I suspect the issue is leakage around the tongue stitching as I've had both a slow seepage and a sudden influx of cold water from around that area. The other issue I see with the waterproofing is the relatively low height of the boot. The back of the boot is about 2.5 inches/6.5 cm lower than the Hoka Tor Ultra, which makes it far more likely for water to get in the boot when you're waterproof trousers ride up as of a sometimes do on steep terrain. Having a waterproof boot that doesn't keep your feet dry is worse than a non-waterproof boot. Once water gets into a waterproof boot, it won't dry out as well as it doesn't drain.
• Tongue. The tongue is attached to the shoe for most of its length to sure it's waterproof, and the tongue is well-padded, especially towards the top.
• Lacing. The laces are rounded, and I found that they have an annoying tendency to come undone. Even more annoying is the lacing system at the top of the boot. Most hiking boots have hooks for the topmost few lacing points which makes putting the shoe on quick and easy. The Altra uses a closed loops, which makes putting the boot on far more tedious. I suspect this also reflects a lack of experience in making hiking boots, and hopefully this will improve over time.

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2 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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