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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Review}} The Altra Lone Peak 3.5 is remarkably close to my overall favorite trail shoe, the Altra Timp. I've used it as both a trail..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Altra Lone Peak 3.5 Review}}
The [[Altra]] Lone Peak 3.5 is remarkably close to my overall favorite trail shoe, the [[Altra Timp]]. I've used it as both a trail running shoe, and as a hiking shoe. Like the Timp, I've used the Lone Peak on a wide variety of surfaces and distances, and found it to be an outstanding trail shoe. The Timp is almost exactly the same weight as the Lone Peak, but slightly better cushioned. The 2 shoes have visually different lug patterns, but I've not noticed any difference in traction. Like all Altra shoes, the Lone Peak is designed to fit a healthy human foot, and while the toe box lacks sufficient height, it's vastly better than most shoes. I rated the Lone Peak 3.5 as "Highly Recommended". (I'll review the Lone Peak 4.0 once I've finished my reviews of other Altra trail shoes and worn the 3.5 out a bit.) {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-top.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 top
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-outside.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 outside
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-bottom.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 bottom
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-inside.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 inside
</gallery>
=Characteristics=
* {{H:cushioning}}. Altra consider the Lone Peak "moderate cushioning", which is below their "high cushioning" for the Timp and "maximalist cushioning" of the [[Altra Olympus]]. That seems odd to me given how little difference there is between the Lone Peak and the Timp. The Timp is certainly a little better cushioned, but it's only a little and nothing like the difference between the Timp and the Olympus. I've found the Lone Peak to have a good balance between cushioning, protection, and ground feel. It's far from minimalist, but it still feels somewhat connected to the ground. On the road, the Lone Peak feels rather heavy for its cushioning, but I've found it works fine for moderate stretches of asphalt.
* {{H:drop}}. The Lone Peak has a little bit of drop unloaded and a little bit of negative drop (forefoot thicker than the heel), but it's small enough that I doubt many runners will be able to detect it.
* {{H:structure}}. The Lone Peak uses just one density of foam and doesn't attempt to manipulate or interfere with your natural biomechanics.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The thickness of the Lone Peak makes it rather inflexible, though I found it loosened up with the miles (again, just like the Timp).
* {{H:outsole}}. There's harder rubber over the entire sole. I can't work out if the red patches in the shape of a small foot are a different material of outsole or just a different color. I've found the outsole to be hard wearing, though I've not been tracking my mileage in them. I've not seen any wear over an estimated 200 miles. The 4mm lugs are a reasonable compromise for traction on different surfaces. Interestingly I've not found any difference in traction between the Timp and Lone Peak even though they have quite different shaped lugs.
* {{H:shape}}. Altra shoes are some of the few that attempt to actually fit the human foot. The Lone Peak does a great job of fitting the outline of the human foot, and so far, I've not cut open the toe box.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper of the Lone Peak has soften far more than I've seen in other shoes as the miles have built up, and now feels rather like old, soft leather. I like this transformation from what started off as a good but unremarkable upper to something that feels unusually comfortable. I've had no abrasion problems after plenty of rugged miles. The padding on the ankle opening works well to protect the ankle during minor twists and to keep the shoe feeling properly attached to your foot.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Lone Peak has a traditional tongue with a gaiter down most of both sides, and is padded towards the top end. It stayed in place and remained comfortable when worn, though I found it didn't open quite wide enough when putting on or taking off. It's a minor quibble, but when you're exhausted and footsore it's a little annoying.
* {{H:lacing}}. The flat laces stayed tied without problems or needing double knotting.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Lone Peak has a soft heel counter that I've never noticed until I probed the area for this review.
{{FastBlr|altra/Lone Peak-2-1078|1078|Altra Lone Peak}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The [[Altra]] Lone Peak 3.5 is remarkably close to my overall favorite trail shoe, the [[Altra Timp]]. I've used it as both a trail running shoe, and as a hiking shoe. Like the Timp, I've used the Lone Peak on a wide variety of surfaces and distances, and found it to be an outstanding trail shoe. The Timp is almost exactly the same weight as the Lone Peak, but slightly better cushioned. The 2 shoes have visually different lug patterns, but I've not noticed any difference in traction. Like all Altra shoes, the Lone Peak is designed to fit a healthy human foot, and while the toe box lacks sufficient height, it's vastly better than most shoes. I rated the Lone Peak 3.5 as "Highly Recommended". (I'll review the Lone Peak 4.0 once I've finished my reviews of other Altra trail shoes and worn the 3.5 out a bit.) {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-top.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 top
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-outside.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 outside
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-bottom.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 bottom
File:Altra Lone Peak 3.5-inside.jpg|Altra Lone Peak 3.5 inside
</gallery>
=Characteristics=
* {{H:cushioning}}. Altra consider the Lone Peak "moderate cushioning", which is below their "high cushioning" for the Timp and "maximalist cushioning" of the [[Altra Olympus]]. That seems odd to me given how little difference there is between the Lone Peak and the Timp. The Timp is certainly a little better cushioned, but it's only a little and nothing like the difference between the Timp and the Olympus. I've found the Lone Peak to have a good balance between cushioning, protection, and ground feel. It's far from minimalist, but it still feels somewhat connected to the ground. On the road, the Lone Peak feels rather heavy for its cushioning, but I've found it works fine for moderate stretches of asphalt.
* {{H:drop}}. The Lone Peak has a little bit of drop unloaded and a little bit of negative drop (forefoot thicker than the heel), but it's small enough that I doubt many runners will be able to detect it.
* {{H:structure}}. The Lone Peak uses just one density of foam and doesn't attempt to manipulate or interfere with your natural biomechanics.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The thickness of the Lone Peak makes it rather inflexible, though I found it loosened up with the miles (again, just like the Timp).
* {{H:outsole}}. There's harder rubber over the entire sole. I can't work out if the red patches in the shape of a small foot are a different material of outsole or just a different color. I've found the outsole to be hard wearing, though I've not been tracking my mileage in them. I've not seen any wear over an estimated 200 miles. The 4mm lugs are a reasonable compromise for traction on different surfaces. Interestingly I've not found any difference in traction between the Timp and Lone Peak even though they have quite different shaped lugs.
* {{H:shape}}. Altra shoes are some of the few that attempt to actually fit the human foot. The Lone Peak does a great job of fitting the outline of the human foot, and so far, I've not cut open the toe box.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper of the Lone Peak has soften far more than I've seen in other shoes as the miles have built up, and now feels rather like old, soft leather. I like this transformation from what started off as a good but unremarkable upper to something that feels unusually comfortable. I've had no abrasion problems after plenty of rugged miles. The padding on the ankle opening works well to protect the ankle during minor twists and to keep the shoe feeling properly attached to your foot.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Lone Peak has a traditional tongue with a gaiter down most of both sides, and is padded towards the top end. It stayed in place and remained comfortable when worn, though I found it didn't open quite wide enough when putting on or taking off. It's a minor quibble, but when you're exhausted and footsore it's a little annoying.
* {{H:lacing}}. The flat laces stayed tied without problems or needing double knotting.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Lone Peak has a soft heel counter that I've never noticed until I probed the area for this review.
{{FastBlr|altra/Lone Peak-2-1078|1078|Altra Lone Peak}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
