Altra Lone Peak 4.0 Review

Like so many upstart fitness gear companies, Altra started with two athletes who were devoted to the sport of trail running. They tinkered with existing shoes they found, experimenting with sole shapes until they were able to launch their own first few products. Instead of a hyper narrow focus that would exclude many users, Altra made the Lone Peak 4 suitable for both hikers and runners. It will support you and reduce fatigue, no matter what you do on the trail.

The toe cap has a rough, sandpaper texture. It adds to the clunky look of the shoe but also protects you from trail hazards. If you get a foot stuck under a tree root, the toe cap makes it easy to escape.

Altra uses a lot of brand-specific buzzwords to describe a shoe's features, more than any other make we can think of. It makes it hard to understand the shoe just from looking at the product page. But we did some research, so we can explain some of the terms and what they mean for your possible purchase decision.

The Trailclaw outsole is like a grappling hook for your feet. Instead of having consistently sized and spaced lugs all over, the rubber sole offers slanted lugs in the midfoot area. That helps you plant your feet when climbing or going up a technical trail. But looking at the front of the shoe, you see larger lugs with more of an ability to dig in. Those are for descending trails. By switching the composition, size, and placement of outsole traction, Altra made a shoe that will be of aid to you during every step of a hike or run. It means you can't run a road or track with the Altra Lone Peak 4, but that probably isn't what you are looking for anyway.

The Stoneguard is a hard but lightweight plate you can place in your shoe, with the insole between your foot and the guard. The Stoneguard gives you added protection against rocks, roots, and other obstacles that can injure you or interfere with your trail experience.

Finally, Gaitertrap is a play on words. Gaiters are fabric sleeves that attach to the top of a shoe and go over your bottom ankles like compression socks for running. The purpose of the Gaitertrap is to keep sand, rocks, and other debris out of the shoe. Many runners swear by them, but others say the fabric traps in heat. But few argue that gaiters do not work, and we found a few negative comments about the Altra Gaitertraps. They are durable and effective, and if there is a bit of extra heat, it is probably preferable to the rubbing and blistering that sand or pebbles can cause.

The midsole of the Altra Lone Peak 4 is EVA or ethylene-vinyl acetate. It is a plasticized polymer with the give and resilience of rubber. It adds to the overall cushioning and support, without adding weight, and is durable, heat resistant, and abrasion-resistant. EVA is a common material in running shoe midsoles, especially in recent years.

By the way, if you don't know what the midsole is, it is the area just below the very bottom of the shoe fabric and above the outsole. On running shoes, it will usually have a wedge shape and may be painted a different color to distinguish it from the rest of the sole. On Altra Lone Peak 4 shoes, the long midsole will match the main body color (not the trim color, which may be different).

Above the midsole, and above the Stoneguard, the uppers are mesh fabric. The Altra website calls them "Quick-Dry Air Mesh." It's a bit frustrating to see Altra use that and similar terms throughout its product descriptions. There is no substantial difference between the mesh on the Lone Peak 4 and any other mesh on any other shoe. It allows air to circulate, keeping your foot sweat from soaking in to cause odor or misshape the lining. And while the Lone Peak 4 isn't waterproof or weatherproof, the mesh will dry quickly so you can wear the shoes again the day after a trail run or hike. The shoe is suited to heavy use and frequent wear.

The construction and lack of ankle support make the Lone Peak 4 a more lightweight choice than regular hiking boots. Hiking boots may also lack a breathable upper since many are made of leather or leather derivatives. Also, hiking boots we have seen have a consistent lug pattern on the outsoles. That means they will grip and keep you upright on dry grassy or rocky trails. But the Altra Lone Peak 4 beats hiking boots when it comes to climbing down a short waterfall or using slippery rocks to cross a creek. Shoes like the Lone Peak 4 will keep you on the trail longer, with less fatigue and a decreased chance of slipping or falling.

The Altra Lone Peak 4 has become quite popular with true hikers, or those who set out to walk an established trail from beginning to end. Will wearing these shoes help you hike the Appalachian Trail faster? We wouldn't put money on it, but they will keep you comfortable, supported, and safe. Just be sure to wear thick socks, probably wool socks in cold weather. The perforated mesh is great at giving you cooling air, but not so great at retaining heat.

Though it is a darling of Appalachian Trail and other long hike aspirants, the Altra Lone Peak 4 is for any hiker or trail runner. It can handle short distances with changing altitudes. You can take your regular hikes in them, or wear them for a trail 5K event. The creators at Altra wanted to make a shoe that protects and complements the human foot first and meets a specific purpose second. Everything about the shoe suits it to a variety of trail and mountain pursuits.

We recommend the Altra Lone Peak 4 to anyone who will use it regularly to run or hike trails. It is especially suited to climbing and descending, on any terrain, because of its wider toe box and canted outsole lugs. The toe box lets you wiggle, and plants your toes for stability. The different shapes and angles on the outsole provide consistent traction. And the insole in the shoe will not bend or crumble, even during max exertion and hard scrambling.

Other features include the ability to drain water quickly. We don't recommend wading through a stream in the Lone Peak 4. It does not claim to be waterproof. But if you encounter a small waterfall, with slippery rock footholds, you will be able to cross it. The shoes have excellent traction that does not quit, even when dealing with surfaces covered in slick algae.

Though it is not an all-around fitness shoe, and we suggest not wearing it off the trail ever (to extend the working life), if you do any serious trail running or hiking, the Altra Lone Peak 4 is for you.