After initial acclimatisation, Peter Macfarlane awards the Altra Lone Peak 9+ shoes his Best in Test.
The Altra Lone Peak 9+ shoes are the lightest shoes in my test group and the one most likely to be described as a runner’s shoe, but for me the comfort and performance make them compatible with any outdoor activity.
Peter Macfarlane’s Best in Test
The Lone Peaks are an excellent shoe and currently my first choice of footwear.- long term comfort
- fit
- grippy
- roomy toe box
- unusual fit won’t suit everyone
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $155 / £130 (available from Altra) Weight: 670g pair, UK9 Materials: Vibram Mega grip outsole, EGO midsole, No-sew overlays, 100% RPET ripstop mesh upper Features: low heel-to-toe drop, original foot shape fit, gaiter clips Waterproof: No Sizes: UK 6 to 15 (half size 6. To 11.5) Women’s version: yes www.altrarunning.eu |
The construction is very simple with a gridded mesh upper reinforced by synthetic overlays at the toe and round the heel. The large plastic logo on the outside also offers a little more protection. The toe bumper is quite soft, but strengthened by an overlay. Bump resistance comes from the outsole which curves up quite far and does offer decent protection from rocks. The outsole is a Vibram unit, which is flat without a heel breast.
There is a series of reasonably aggressive lugs which are very grippy in most situations. On loose dry gravel, grass and general trail surfaces the grip is excellent and it brings confidence on wetter conditions too, but it reaches a point on very wet surfaces where the grip slips away, and I have been caught out a few times on my local trails (wet clay and sodden grass).
The heel curves up slightly but is aggressively lugged so there is still good traction downhill if you dig your heels in, and to be fair the large contact area of the sole unit works well for descent in most cases.
The midsole is lower profile than the last Altras I reviewed which engenders a more connected groundfeel, while the cushioning is still excellent. There is plenty flex at the toe but it’s not overly soft, and with good stiffness under the heel it’s a combination I’ve found to be dexterous and nimble. It’s as lively as softer and lighter shoes, but less tiring over a long day.
The fit is very individual to Altra with a very wide forefoot that can feel unusual if you haven’t worn this style before. There is room for your toes to spread wide, which has two noticeable benefits – your toes move naturally as you walk, and after a long day with hot swollen feet, there is no additional discomfort.
The heel cup has a good height and structure and is well shaped to grip my narrow heels. The edge of the ankle cuff has a close fit, but with a nicely rounded edge I have experienced no rubbing or pressure, even straight from the box.
The flat laces are threaded through reinforced slots in the upper, and a lightly padded tongue underneath has protected my forefoot from lace pressure over extended use. The tongue is gusseted inside as part of light mesh liner that runs round the whole front of the shoe.
As there is no waterproof lining any water comes straight through into the shoe, but I have found the inner layer filters out most debris and dirt coming in, stopping it getting into my socks. This means I have been quite happy to go bog hopping in the Altras but I am always careful to rinse them out when I get home. Longevity is always a concern with light weight construction and higher performance materials.
Over the month’s testing, I have been hard on the Lone Peaks and there is now some wear to the outsole and a little abrasion on the upper, but nothing has caused me concern yet. The Lone Peaks are an excellent shoe and currently my first choice of footwear. There might be some initial acclimatisation to the unusual fit and softer flex compared to boots but the intuitive feel and long-term performance I think are worth it.
Testing conditions
Peter walked Munros and ran his local trails in the Kilpatrick Hills for this test and is a long term fan of trail shoes for general outdoor use. He is a UK9, has a narrow heel and wide forefoot, and the weights are taken from his own digital scales.
This review was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine.
