Altra Lone Peak 3.0 NeoShell Mid Boot Review

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.

Full Review	Brand	Name	Rating	Recommended price	Benefit	Weight (oz)	Penalty (sec/mile)	Forefoot Thickness	Heel Thickness	Loaded Drop mm	Cushioning	Flexibility
Saucony Type A Review	Saucony	A/A7	Recommended	$100	6.4	6.7	12.1	19	22	1	4.3	7
Saucony Type A6 Review	Saucony	A6	Highly Recommended	$100	8.2	6.1	9.5	17	21	4	5.0	7
Saucony Type A8 Review	Saucony	A8	Highly Recommended	$90	7.5	6.2	9.7	19	20	-1	4.7	7
Adidas Adios Boost 2 Review	Adidas	Adios	Worth considering	$140	4.7	8.6	13.4	17	27	11	4.0	6
Hoka Bondi 5 Review	Hoka	Bondi	Recommended	$150	6.1	11.6	18.1	38	42	5	7.1	2
Hoka Clayton 2 Review	Hoka	Clayton2	Highly Recommended	$150	9.1	8.3	12.9	23	28	1	7.5	5
Hoka Clifton 4 Review	Hoka	Clifton4	Worth considering	$130	7.7	9.3	14.5	30	35	10	7.2	3
ON Cloudflash Review	On Cloud	Cloudflash	Worth considering	$180	4.4	8.3	14.6	19	26	7	3.7	6
On Cloudracer Review	On Cloud	Cloudracer	Worth considering	$130	5.7	8.2	12.8	19	27	5	4.7	7
ON Cloud X Review	On Cloud	CloudX	Not recommended	$140	4.5	8.3	16.3	21	27	7	3.8	7
Mizuno Wave Cruise Review	Mizuno	Cruise	Worth considering	$120	6.6	5.9	12.5	17	20	7	3.9	6
Newton Distance IV Review	Newton	Distance	Worth considering	$155	7.5	9.1	14.2	26	31	3	6.8	5
Asics Gel DS Racer 10 Review	Asics	DS Racer	Worth considering	$110	8.2	7.0	10.9	21	26	6	5.8	5
Altra Duo Review	Altra	Duo	Recommended	$130	6.0	8.4	13.1	29	29	1	5.0	5
Mizuno Wave Ekiden 8 Review	Mizuno	Ekiden	Worth considering	$115	5.7	5.7	14.6	13	18	6	3.2	8
Saucony Endorphin 2 Review	Saucony	Endorphin 2	Worth considering	$115	8.0	5.1	9.6	15	13	-1	4.1	8
Adidas Energy Boost Review	Adidas	Energy	Worth considering	$160	7.2	10.0	15.6	20	30	7	7.2	5
Altra Escalante Review	Altra	Escalante	Best of the Best	$130	9.1	8.7	13.5	28	25	-1	7.9	6
Altra Escalante 1.5 Review	Altra	Escalante 1.5	Best of the Best	$130	8.2	9.0	14.0	26	27	-1	7.4	7
Saucony Fastwitch Review	Saucony	Fastwitch	Highly Recommended	$90	9.5	7.1	11.1	20	22	4	6.8	7
Topo Fli-Lyte 2 Review	Topo	Fli-Lyte2	Highly Recommended	$100	6.7	9.1	14.2	24	26	3	6.1	5
Reebok Floatride Run Review	Reebok	Floatride	Worth considering	$150	7.7	9.6	14.9	28	34	10	7.4	5
Saucony Freedom Review	Saucony	Freedom	Recommended	$160	5.4	10.7	16.6	25	29	3	5.8	6
Skechers GORun 4 Review	Skechers	GORun	Not recommended	$100	6.1	7.5	11.7	15	23	3	4.5	7
Skechers GOrun Ultra 2 Review	Skechers	GRU	Worth considering	$90	7.5	10.0	15.6	28	34	8	7.5	4
Asics GT 2000 Review	Asics	GT 2000	Not recommended	$120	4.8	11.2	17.4	28	35	5	5.4	2
New Balance Hanzo S Review	New Balance	Hanzo	Worth considering	$110	7.6	6.9	10.7	21	19	2	5.2	5
Hoka Hupana Review	Hoka	Hupana	Recommended	$115	6.1	8.9	13.9	31	36	7	5.4	4
Asics Gel Hyper Speed 7 Review	Asics	Hyper Speed	Highly Recommended	$75	10.9	6.3	9.8	22	26	5	6.8	6
Altra Instinct 4.0 Review	Altra	Instinct 4.0	Worth considering	$120	6.0	9.8	15.3	29	25	-1	5.9	5
Asics Tarther Kainos 3 Review	Asics	Kainos	Worth considering	$130	10.0	6.9	10.7	17	27	9	6.8	6
Altra King MT 1.5 Review	Altra	King MT	Recommended	$140	7.5	10.7	16.7	19	21	3	8.0	5
Saucony Kinvara 8 Review	Saucony	Kinvara 8	Best of the Best	$110	9.3	8.6	13.4	26	31	3	8.0	5
Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Review	Altra	Lone Peak	Highly Recommended	$120	4.2	11.4	17.7	24	25	4	4.8	5
Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 Review	Nike	LT3	Best of the Best	$80	9.8	5.4	8.4	16	21	5	5.3	7
Nike Zoom Streak LT 4 Review	Nike	LT4	Recommended	$90	8.5	5.5	8.5	15	21	3	4.6	6
Nike LunarSpider R5 Review	Nike	LunarSpider	Recommended	$125	6.9	6.7	10.4	17	21	3	4.6	6
Hoka Mafate Speed Review	Hoka	Mafate	Best of the Best	$170	7.6	11.9	18.5	39	40	4	9.0	1
Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 v2 Review	Pearl	N0	Highly Recommended	$100	7.9	6.5	10.1	14	20	4	5.2	8
Saucony Nomad Review	Saucony	Nomad	Worth considering	$110	4.3	10.5	17.2	25	27	2	4.5	4
Hoka Odyssey Review	Hoka	Odyssey	Highly Recommended	$130	8.5	9.4	14.6	37	45	5	8.0	3
Altra Olympus 2.5 Review	Altra	Olympus	Highly Recommended	$150	4.6	11.8	18.4	35	34	0	5.4	6
Altra One 3.0 Review	Altra	One	Recommended	$100	6.1	8.8	13.7	23	23	0	5.4	6
Altra Paradigm 4.0 Review	Altra	Paradigm	Highly Recommended	$150	5.3	11.0	17.1	28	30	5	5.8	8
Asics Piranha SP 5 Review	Asics	Piranha	Recommended	$100	10.1	4.2	6.5	11	15	3	4.2	9
Brooks PureFlow 5 Review	Brooks	PureFlow	Worth considering	$110	6.0	9.7	15.1	26	29	5	5.8	8
Salming Race Review	Salming	Race	Worth considering	$130	6.9	6.5	10.1	16	19	4	4.5	6
Altra Escalante Racer Review	Altra	Racer	Highly Recommended	$140	6.6	7.6	11.8	24	26	6	5.0	8
New Balance RC1600 v2 Review	New Balance	RC1600	Highly Recommended	$110	8.8	5.6	8.7	15	21	5	4.9	8
New Balance RC5000v2 Review	New Balance	RC5000v2	Best of the Best	$125	14.2	4.0	6.2	13	21	6	5.7	7
Skechers GoRun Ride 3 Review	Skechers	Ride	Worth considering	$85	5.9	8.5	13.2	18	28	6	5.0	8
Nike RN Distance 2 Review	Nike	RNDist2	Worth considering	$120	8.0	9.2	14.3	25	28	4	7.4	7
Inov-8 RoadXTreme 220 Review	Inov-8	RXT-220	Worth considering	$120	5.2	8.0	18.2	14	17	3	4.2	8
Salomon Sense Ride Review	Salomon	Sense	Worth considering	$120	8.5	10.0	15.6	26	29	6	8.5	0
Altra Solstice Review	Altra	Solstice	Highly Recommended	$90	7.1	8.1	12.5	23	25	0	5.7	5
Topo ST-2 Review	Topo	ST-2	Highly Recommended	$90	8.2	7.3	11.4	20	18	0	6.0	7
Hoka Stinson Lite Review	Hoka	Stinson	Highly Recommended	$160	7.3	11.6	18.1	35	40	6	8.5	0
Altra Superior	Altra	Superior	Highly Recommended	$110	5.6	9.9	15.5	21	25	-1	5.5	4
Adidas Takumi Sen 3 Review	Adidas	Takumi Sen 3	Highly Recommended	$160	7.7	6.6	10.2	17	21	4	5.1	5
Topo Terraventure	Topo	Terraventure	Review Pending	$110	2.6	10.8	27.5	24	24	0	2.8	10
Altra Timp Review	Altra	Timp	Best of the Best	$130	3.7	11.6	18.1	30	31	-1	4.3	6
Altra Torin 2.0 Review	Altra	Torin	Worth considering	$125	3.4	9.6	20.7	30	25	1	3.3	9
Altra Torin 3.5 Review	Altra	Torin 3.5	Worth considering	$125	5.8	9.3	14.5	27	28	0	5.4	8
Hoka Tracer Review	Hoka	Tracer	Recommended	$130	7.2	7.4	11.5	21	24	2	5.3	5
Merrell Trail Glove 4 Review	Merrell	Trail Glove 4	Best of the Best	$100	3.4	8.4	23.8	13	13	0	2.8	10
Topo Tribute Review	Topo	Tribute	Recommended	$100	5.9	7.3	11.4	20	18	-1	4.3	6
Mizuno Wave Universe 5 Review	Mizuno	Universe	Highly Recommended	$125	10.7	3.1	10.6	9	12	1	3.3	9
Altra Vanish-R Review	Altra	Vanish-R	Recommended	$100	16.1	5.3	8.2	19	21	4	8.5	6
Merrell Vapor Glove 3 Review	Merrell	Vapor Glove 3	Highly Recommended	$85	2.1	6.1	27.6	6	5	0	1.3	10
Nike Vaporfly 4% Review	Nike	Vaporfly	Best of the Best	$250	10.4	7.2	11.2	25	37	8	7.5	2
New Balance Vazee Pace Review	New Balance	Vazee Pace	Worth considering	$110	6.0	8.6	13.4	18	24	6	5.2	5
Asics TartherZeal 3 Review	Asics	Zeal	Worth considering	$140	10.9	6.3	9.8	17	27	9	6.8	6
Saucony Zealot 3 Review	Saucony	Zealot3	Recommended	$130	8.9	9.5	14.8	29	32	4	8.5	6
Nike Zoom Fly Review	Nike	Zoom Fly	Worth considering	$150	8.3	8.7	13.5	29	36	8	7.2	3

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
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.