Altra Lone Peak 5 their first model available in Wide

I won’t buy them again unless they develop a better outsole – mine as well as my sisters and brother-in-laws have all worn down much quicker than other shoes we’ve had in this category of footwear. For me they are comfy, but they need to last longer for how much they cost – I’ve relegated them to only being worn on dirt, as I believe wearing them around town, scuffing on the concrete wears them out more. I wish you luck with the fitment, I know that was an issue for my dad as well.

Yeah, I’ve viewed Altra as a shoe company that got one thing right: a toebox shaped more or less like a real foot. In nearly every other element of shoe making, I’ve had the feeling that they thought they could re-invent the wheel, and have been wrong at almost every turn. But because they remain the only company that makes a shoe with a toebox with room for 5 toes (Topo not quite there, IMHO), and that has cushioning, I continue to hope that they’ll get things right.

BTW, I suspect that the narrow midfoot issue has two root causes: 1. a narrow midfoot or shoe waist helps to stabilize or “lock” the foot into the shoe, although this is not a great way to do that; 2. at some point the company became enamored with shaping their shoes like their logo, which is shaped more like an hourglass than a foot.

The impression I have from some recent big changes made to their trail line suggest to me that they’ve hired some people from the traditional shoe industry that are helping them actually make shoes that fit and perform well, and who actually have some knowledge of biomechanics and ergonomics.

Regarding the durability issues – yeah, I don’t know what’s the deal there. People have been complaining about this for years.

If the shoes don’t wear out, people won’t buy as many – that’s my guess. I hate the fact that I think a company might think this way. It is not giving them the benefit of the doubt, but companies don’t often do themselves any favors in not explaining their reasoning.

I’ve viewed Altra as a shoe company that got one thing right: a toebox shaped more or less like a real foot.

Given how successful Altra has been with their wide toebox and zero-drop shoes, I’m surprised more companies haven’t picked up on this design. There’s Topo, and that’s about it. Other companies with those features are minimalist/bare-foot style. I would love to see Salomon or La Sportiva come out with an Altra competitor, but they are stuck in the past making narrow shoes.

I also thought that by now, Altra would have come out with a Lone Peak Pro model (or something), that features a Vibram sole and more durable upper.

(Takes off shoe)

I’m on my ?th pair and wear them daily.   I used to go through two pair of La Sportiva Wildcats per year.   I go through three pair of Altras.

With the Wildcats, I knew it was time to replace them when I started to get lower back pain.   Outwardly they seemed fine but the midsole was at a point that they needed to go.

With the altras, I get a wear spot like this. Otherwise they are fine and I’m sure I could throw some tenacious tape on them and milk another month or two out of them.

Oh, and I have a narrow foot.

I get the same problem. I have the same problem on my Salomons. Apparently applying a silicon seam sealer helps to fix this, but to me, this is a problem for almost all lightweight shows and represents a real disconnect between the shoe designers and their product. Idk how all these shoemakers can’t figure this out. It is stuff like this which makes me think less highly of them in terms of their goals about the product.

Silicone sealant is a bit soft. Can I suggest trying a PU sealant, specifically Shoe Goo by Wapro. It’s very good stuff!

Cheers

I plan to try this on my new pair of Salomons (see link). I’ve used shoe goo before, I suppose that would likely work as well.

https://bedrockandparadox.com/2016/07/02/how-to-aquaseal-your-trail-shoes/

Altra has new owners. Every thing will change

Thanks for the tip! I’ll try one of those two options when I buy my next pair. Seems like there’s no shortage of the 4.5s on Amazon for less than $90, but none in size 13 for some reason. The ones I’m wearing are pretty beat.

It appears that I’m outta luck finding any 4.5s in size 13 on Amazon

Looking at the Mk5s, it seems they moved their logo forward and rearranged the fabric some. I’m interested to see if that reinforces the area that keeps wearing out on me. The Khaki and Orange/grey look pretty dope…

As much as I hate paying full price, I’m just going to go with the 5s.

“La Sportiva come out with an Altra competitor, but they are stuck in the past making narrow shoes.”

I didn’t think the toe box in the La Sportiva Wildcats were cramped at all, but it’s been a few years since I’ve worn them. The only reason I switched was due to an Achilles tendon injury, and my PT recommended that I transition to a zero drop shoe, that process being a whole topic of its own.

If LS ever made the Wildcat with a zero drop, I’d switch back in a second. For my foot, it was superior in every other way other than the raised heel.

As much as I love Altra-they are moving in the wrong direction. Their toe boxes are narrowing, materials are poorer. Look at there earlier versions of Lone Peak, Superior, etc. You can easily see the toe box narrowing.

As much as I love Altra-they are moving in the wrong direction. Their toe boxes are narrowing, materials are poorer. Look at there earlier versions of Lone Peak, Superior, etc. You can easily see the toe box narrowing.

I’m on my second pair and there won’t be a third; they’re comfortable but I only got a few months out of them before they started coming apart, and the majority of their usage was on a local, semi-groomed running trail.  Just not enough lifespan to justify the price.

@bon-zo 100%. I loved the Lone Peak Mid Mesh. Never got blisters, super comfortable-for 75 miles. 75-125 was cushion was all but gone. 125-150 cushion dead/collapsed, tread significantly worn, toe caps peeling. Warrantied a few times then got tired of that.

I am using Topo Trailventure mids now. Good toe box. Doesn’t quite breathe as well and not as pillowy soft as first 75 miles of Lone Peaks are but they have Vibram soles and cushion has not degraded much at 250 miles. Decent replacement.

Just curious how heavy you both are fully loaded? Maybe I am not sensitive to the cushioning since I will often wear my NB Minimus shoes, and don’t have issues, or maybe I’m just not walking as far.

I don’t use my Lone Peaks with any load at all; they’re just a trail-running -jogging, honestly – shoe for me.  So it’s just bodyweight: about 190 on a very good day.

@mikebergy Day hike-190lbs loaded, 3-6 day trip 200-205lb total loaded.

That’s interesting.  I’m probably the largest BPLer and I don’t have any issues with the midsole breaking down on me.  The fabric of the upper is usually what sends them to retirement in about four months.

Agreed that their quality is lacking, I just haven’t found a zero drop shoe that’s better.  Not at all interested in a minimalist barefoot-style one.

Dagnabit how am I just learning about Topo Adventure?

Should I go with the Ultraventure Pro?  Terraventure?

Looks like they all have a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, or at least the few I looked at.

Regarding Topo: If you like the Lone Peaks, go with the Terraventure 2. It’s most similar in stack height and only has 3mm drop. I do suspect Topo will be releasing a new version soon.

If you want a little less cushioning than the Lone Peaks and zero drop, go with the Runventure 3 (my favorite trail runner of all time).

More cushioning and 5mm drop are shoes like the Ultraventure or Ultraventure Pro. I haven’t tried the Ultraventure Pro, but the Ultraventure is too squishy for my taste.

Altra has been bought by the VF Corporation of North Carolina – owners of The North Face. This will hopefully mean they have access to more technical expertise. Apparently the trade has seen the new range and there are big changes on the way this year, but the details are still embargoed. According to at least one trade source they are taking things in a good direction.

I have a wide, high volume foot and have a hell of a time finding low drop trailshoes. Sure, the Lone Peak 4.5 has a wide toebox, but for some illogical reason the midfoot is relatively narrow and low volume so I have to go up a full size. This makes for a sloppy shoe that doesn’t work well on side-slopes. The midsole is too squishy for my tastes, and the outsole wears rapidly, with marginal grip. Unlike some others above I’ve had reasonable mileage, despite doing most of my walking on rough ground here in the English Lakes. So, far from ideal – but for longer projects it’s still much the most comfortable shoe I can find, so I live with the downsides.

The 5 hasn’t made it to the UK yet, but according to reviews, the changes are:

• The new wide fit, advertised as 4E – which will hopefully be a game-changer for people like me.
• A completely new midsole taken from their road range – reportedly a bit springier and less squishy, and with better ground-feel
• Improved drainage
• A toecap that’s stitched in and shouldn’t delaminate like the 4.5
• Improved protection from the stoneguard, without extra weight
• A new outsole, claiming better grip and durability.

The main alternative is probably the 2nd generation Inov8 TerraUltra, which I haven’t tried yet. It’s the widest shoe in the Inov8 range and has a lot of fans. By reputation it’s better designed and more durable than the Lone Peak, though at a premium price. But with the new wide fitting the Altra may work better for those of us with spades for feet. I’m waiting till I can try both side-by-side.

I tried the Lone Peak 5 in wide width today. It is wider than the 4.5, but not by much. However, the volume is considerably increased, so much so that some might find them sloppy.

The volume was fine for me, although the cut of the upper maybe could use some refinement, with a little puckering of the fabric over the toe box visible. But that may be by design, as the toe box volume is so great that the toes can be lifted (flexed) without being constrained very much by the upper.

In terms of actual width – the width of the midsole or platform – I was not blown away. My feet measure 9 D/E, so not so very wide. Through the ball of the foot I’d say there was just enough room. But through the midfoot, although there was adequate volume and upper material, the midsole was too narrow, with the base of my 5th metatarsal hanging partway off the lateral side of the midsole.

Every company has their own lasts and proclivities. It’s interesting to compare H0ka and Altra. Hokas in the same width are almost always wider across the ball of the foot and the midfoot, but obviously narrower across the toes. As I remarked in the OP, I get the feeling that Altra shapes their lasts more like their logo – which looks like an hourglass – than like a human foot. Hoka shapes their lasts like a foot with one big pointy toe. Goodness, would that someone could combine the two and make a shoe that’s truly shaped like a foot.

Well, like my foot, which climbers might call a “fat foot” and cobblers a “german foot.”

All that said, the Lone Peak 5 was probably the most comfortable of half a dozen shoes I tried on today and I’ll probably buy a pair later in the spring for a two week trip, although the Speedgoat 4 in Wide probably fit better overall but squeezes the toes.

You know what truly fits foot-shaped feet? Sandals. I’ve decided that maybe shoes are not always necessary. I did a two-night backpack trip recently wearing Luna sandals with nylon tabi socks. I need to toughen up my feet but otherwise it was fine. I’ve hiked in the Sierras in Chacos and it was fine, even in the snow. The snow wasn’t great, but it was fine. Sandals (with socks) don’t give me blisters, don’t cause me to lose my toenails, aren’t as hot and don’t seem to wear out as fast.

Hi Diane, thanks and yeah, for whatever reasons, sandals are nearly always shaped more like feet than are shoes. I wore a pair of Ecco Yucatan sandals for a trip in the Bighorns last summer and they did fine, with fresh socks just warm enough for 30F mornings, just. Socks and sandals also dry faster than any sock and shoe combo after stream crossings.

I’ve spent a lot of my life barefoot, and am generally of the opinion that shoes evolved as an early human technology to keep feet warm, rather than to protect them from pointy things on the ground. When conditioned, foot soles are very tough, but very susceptible to the cold, particularly if the ground is wet. I’ve noticed I can walk barefoot comfortably down to 32F if the ground is dry, but start to risk frostbite around 50F if the ground is wet.

I’m looking at the Lone Peaks for a 2 week trip in the early spring this year and would be concerned that sandals might leave me too cold, particularly in prolonged wet and wind, which I’m likely to face. Maybe I should consider wearing sandals and carrying a pair of neoprene socks for worst-case weather, and conventional socks for fairer conditions. Hmmm

Better still, I think, would be a wind-resistant wicking fleece sock, something like the fabric used by Patagonia in their R1 Techface garments. I don’t think anyone makes socks like that, though.