The Altra Lone Peak 8 continues to be my go-to climbing shoe for tenting journeys after I don’t need to haul something cumbersome. Don’t get me mistaken — these footwear can do all of it, inside purpose, and are completely excellent for brief and mid-range hikes. I’ve now taken them all around the Elk Mountain Wilderness in Colorado and proceed to like their minimalist really feel.
These are super-lightweight, zero-drop path runners which can be nice for overlaying mileage at a faster tempo. I like them after I’m with my pup as a result of he often desires to jog for a short time, however then additionally slows right down to sniff-inspect every part he doesn’t often encounter at house.
The Lone Peak 8, like all Altras, has a extra pure match, with a roomy toebox designed to maintain toes snug to be able to transfer extra freely. At first look, they may look particularly broad up entrance, however that’s simply in order that your toes and toes can unfold out.
Briefly: I’d suggest these footwear for shorter adventures the place you would possibly need to cowl extra floor rapidly. The cushioning received’t make you’re feeling like your toes are within the lap of luxurious all day, however they’re scrappy and able to play within the wild.
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Light-weight -
Pure match with roomy toebox -
Tremendous-grippy outsole
Altra Lone Peak 8 Assessment
Quick and Steep
On a latest journey to camp on the Taylor River exterior of Almont, Colo., I had tons of mountain biking deliberate. However I used to be bringing my greatest buddy (my canine), so I knew I’d additionally do at the very least just a few shorter hikes on trails round camp. I knew the Altra Lone Peak 8s can be the proper climbing footwear for the weekend.
These climbing footwear are straightforward to clip to a pack, straightforward to hold, dry rapidly, and carry out simply in addition to a few of their extra substantial cousins within the climbing shoe world. As a result of they’re so light-weight, and have a zero drop, they undoubtedly have the minimalist really feel. However I’ve been shocked how usually I seize them over a extra cushioned shoe up to now few months.
And that is actually greater than a stroll-around-the-block shoe. Earlier than bombing down Physician Park on a motorcycle, probably the most well-liked mountain biking trails within the space, my pup and I hiked up it, which suggests some important climbing on free, rocky terrain. We jogged the flats by means of the aspen forests, and bouldered up just a few rocks for even higher views of the valley.
The MaxTrac rubber outsole is nice for grip on nearly any terrain. Regardless of the thinner sole, the flexibility to maneuver on varied surfaces will not be missing.
How They Really feel
The ripstop mesh on the higher makes these footwear fast to dry in order that your toes are by no means sweaty. The roomy toebox is type of Altra’s bread and butter. Toes slot in a extra pure means so that you just’re not solely extra snug however are additionally utilizing your full step in a extra pure means. It is sensible that these are path runners, as a result of the positioning of the foot is simply so snug.
One other one in all my favourite options of those footwear is the Velcro tab on the again of the shoe. It’s excellent for including gaiters when tackling trails with free pebbles or sand. With gaiters, these footwear would make a superb decide for romping round on sand dunes or exploring dusty desert trails. Altra makes its personal branded gaiters that match the Velcro tab completely.
I personally love the additional room within the toebox and the way in which my toes can actually unfold out. I’ve a little bit of a wider forefoot, so Altras all the time really feel like my toes aren’t being suffocated and may as a substitute breathe and chill out.
Go-To for Smaller Adventures
Once I modified out of my Lone Peak 8s and into my mountain biking footwear for the second journey of the day, I form of needed to simply preserve the Lone Peaks on. And actually, in the event you run flat pedals and know you’ll be performing some hike-a-bike, that wouldn’t be a foul name.
Relying in your toes, these won’t be the go-to for a protracted thru-hike, however they’re tremendous enjoyable for morning romps. I additionally like that they’re a bit trendy. I’d undoubtedly put on these round city after all of the adventures of the day are over and it’s time to hunt out pizza. The colour mixtures are sharp, and I really feel like they pair properly even with a pair of denims.
The Altra Lone Peak 8 made my choice for “greatest minimalist ladies’s climbing shoe” on Gear Junkie’s Finest Climbing Footwear for Girls information. These footwear will certainly keep in my rotation by means of the summer season and the autumn!
