Whether using the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 as a trail runner or strapping crampons onto them for climbing Glacier Peak, Backcountry Essentials manager, Niki Moltumyr, loves her Altra shoes. The design philosophy of zero drop (meaning both heel and toe cushioning are the same) and a wide toe box make the Lone Peak ideal for a wide variety of uses.
This latest version of the Lone Peak has some fit differences from previous models that will affect each foot differently, depending on the shape of your feet. We highly recommend that you try on all footwear before purchasing, even if you have had a previous version. The Lone Peak has the most generous fit in volume and features a rock guard along with 25mm of stack height which helps protect your feet from below. Niki credits the Lone Peak for helping her get past a plateau in running, thanks to the wide toe box which alleviated the numbness and pain she experienced with other running shoes. While not the lightest runner with similar stack heights, the Lone Peak is loved as both a trail hiking shoe and a favorite of thru-hikers. Erin Belcher, our resident thru-hiker (PCT, AT & CT) raves about her Lone Peaks.
In addition to the best-selling Lone Peak, two other Altra shoes worth mentioning are the Timp 2.0 (which has a lower volume fit, no rock guard, but 29mm of stack height) and the Olympus 4.0, with more of a similar volume fit to the Lone Peak and 33mm stack height. I’ve previously reviewed the Olympus, which have allowed my old knees to start running again.
Backcountry Essentials, owned by Chris Gerston, is an outdoor specialty shop located at 214 W. Holly in Bellingham, WA.