Altra Lone Peak 9 Assessment

The snow was slick white on the Rocky Mountain path in Colorado. It had been packed right into a luge-like grade that sloped outward towards some uncovered rocky terrain. The February chilly pressed in as I hiked within the new Altra Lone Peak 9 sneakers. Usually, this time of 12 months, I’d be sporting boots or some kind of traction gadget, however with the brand new upgrades to the basic Lone Peak MaxTrac outsole, I had loads of grip for the wintery path.

Altras have been my alternative for light-weight hikers for years, and the Lone Peak sequence is without doubt one of the model’s flagship sneakers. Lone Peaks gained recognition amongst path runners and long-distance ultralight hikers for the light-weight, zero-drop design and comfy, minimalist match. The Lone Peak 8 is at the moment the Greatest Total Climbing Shoe on GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Climbing Footwear, and for good motive.

So, I used to be excited to get my palms on a pair of the Altra Lone Peak 9 path trainers to check them out. From the recent, dusty sections of the Continental Divide Path to the excessive altitude of the Colorado Path, I packed some critical miles on these sneakers. They appear just a little worse for put on than they did out of the field. However they carried out and held up nicely towards the abuse of the trial.

In brief: Altra redesigned the Lone Peak 9 Path Operating Shoe ($140) with a brand new higher, midsole, and outsole to offer higher sturdiness, traction, and luxury. For hikers, path runners, and anybody who likes zero-drop sneakers, Altra has created a burlier path runner that’s nonetheless ultralight. It’s not a shoe with most cushion or inflexible assist. However as the following evolution within the Lone Peak sequence, this shoe delivers on Altra’s guarantees.

When you’re purchasing for climbing sneakers, evaluate the Lone Peak 9 to others on GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Climbing Footwear.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Assessment

Out of the field, these sneakers look modern. The Lone Peak 9 is ultralight, clocking in at 11.15 ounces. They nonetheless really feel fairly beefy for such light-weight hikers, although, and have been clearly designed with lengthy trails in thoughts.

The Lone Peak 9 seems much like its predecessors. It has the signature roomy toebox that my broad toes love. And, like all eight of its predecessors, it’s zero-drop. The Altra Lone Peak 9 is on the market in males’s and ladies’s sizes. Evaluate it with our assessment of the Lone Peak 8.

Upgrades & Updates

Traditionally, the Lone Peak sequence is a go-to for path runners and ultralight hikers due to its mild weight and close-to-the-earth foot really feel. However they don’t have a repute for being probably the most sturdy sneakers. After just a few hundred miles or a full climbing season, it’s often time for a brand new pair. The Lone Peak 9 is supposedly designed with sturdiness on the forefront to handle that.

The upgraded Lone Peak 9 has a redesigned ripstop higher mesh with no-sew overlays, which is supposed to spice up the shoe’s sturdiness and longevity. Altra mentioned it additionally up to date the MaxTrac outsole to offer a greater grip on slippery surfaces and tweaked the Altra EGO midsole for added cushion.

I talked to a couple hardcore path runners who swear by Altra and refuse to put on the rest. They will simply undergo a number of pairs of Lone Peaks a 12 months. And with out a sponsorship, at $140, changing a number of pairs of those sneakers can get costly. So, they have been understandably stoked for the discharge of the Lone Peak 9. The longer this shoe lasts somebody, the less expensive it’s to personal a pair (and the much less waste will get produced).

On the Path, within the Snow

I’ve been testing these sneakers whereas coaching for a spring backpacking expedition within the Himalayas. They didn’t want to interrupt in like a stiffer leather-based climbing boot would. Nevertheless, over time, they molded to my toes and stretched out a bit.

I’ve discovered that with low-cut socks, the heel guard can dig into my heel and trigger blisters or irritation. That downside is definitely mitigated, although, with some barely higher-cut socks.

The Lone Peak 9 is available in a waterproof model. However even the non-waterproof model stored my toes heat and comparatively dry. They do have a GaiterTrap tab, which makes it straightforward so as to add a strapless gaiter as wanted, relying on path situations.

MaxTrac Traction

I actually put the MaxTrac outsole to the check this winter on the snowy and icy trails of Colorado. They did fairly nicely, apart from some remoted traction points. I nonetheless discover the Vibram outsoles provide extra traction, which can be found on some Altra fashions. The Lone Peak 9, nonetheless, doesn’t use Vibram.

The grippy MaxTrac outsole is seen on the Lone Peak 9 with its signature “foot” model imprint that the majority seasoned hikers will acknowledge. It offers strong traction and a grippy sensation on rocks, roots, and scree. Nevertheless, the traction did give out on me when it was moist on hardpack snow or ice, and I had to make use of crampons to mitigate that.

So are they extra grippy than the Lone Peak 8? That’s arduous to know for sure with out lab testing. But it surely’s secure to say the traction isn’t worse than earlier variations. It’s a minimum of pretty much as good, presumably higher.

EGO Midsole & Zero-Drop

Altra notes that model 9 has a refreshed Altra EGO midsole, supposed to offer an opulent cushion that’s nonetheless engaged with the bottom really feel. I may inform a distinction between these and the Olympus 6, which I’ve hiked in extensively and has max cushion midsoles. If you’re carrying a heavy pack or are a bigger hiker, the Lone Peak 9’s midsole may really feel too skinny over longer, rougher terrain.

The signature zero-drop is a key a part of Altra Lone Peaks. It’s supposed to offer a pure foot place platform that makes working or climbing steady and pure for the complete physique. The zero-drop flat platform ties into the roomy, spacious toebox of the Lone Peak 9. It let my toes splay out naturally whereas I used to be strolling, climbing, or jogging in these sneakers.

Elevated Sturdiness?

After just a few months of testing these new Lone Peaks in fairly harsh winter terrain, the sturdiness appears promising. I tracked these sneakers via just a little little bit of all the pieces, they usually have weathered all of it nicely. They stood as much as rocks, ice, and snow in testing this season and aren’t wherever close to needing to get replaced.

Altra claims this shoe is extra sturdy and can last more, and for what it’s value, I consider that. Nevertheless, the true check of time will probably be how they give the impression of being a 12 months and a whole bunch of miles from now. I’m desperate to see how they fare as I hike all through spring, summer time, and fall.

Altra Lone Peak 9: Who Is It For?

After quite a few hikes within the Lone Peaks 9, I can inform that the brand new upgrades make an actual distinction within the shoe’s really feel. The traction is sweet, and the claims about sturdiness have held up nicely (a minimum of to this point).

This shoe’s strengthened higher may assist save hikers cash on replacements. It’d even assist cut back the variety of Lone Peaks that find yourself in landfills.

I’d advocate the Lone Peak 9 as a path working shoe or a light-weight hiker for anybody on the lookout for a well-built zero-drop shoe. When you run trails a number of instances per week or are a thru-hiker trying to go lengthy and light-weight on a hike, it is a nice footwear choice.

That’s why the Lone Peak 8 was GearJunkie’s Greatest Total Climbing Shoe on our information to the Greatest Climbing Footwear. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Lone Peak 9 on that listing quickly.

In order for you distinctive cushion or ankle assist, this isn’t the shoe for you. Nevertheless, the Altra Lone Peak 9 does nicely on quite a lot of terrain and is designed for some powerful miles on rocky trails. Avid followers of the Altra Lone Peak sequence will respect the upgrades the model made.