I’ll start by saying I’m somewhat of a shoe hoarder! Straight out of the box the Altra Lone Peak 7’s look cracking, but how do they perform…let’s find out.
Fit & Feel
Personally I like a shoe that I don’t notice (if that makes sense). I put these on and forget them, they’re by far the comfiest trail shoes I have. They’re not the lightest, but the comfort more than makes up for that. Altra are all about keeping the feeling natural…for me, they’ve nailed it.
The upper is a lightweight mesh which is really flexible and doesn’t pinch your feet where it creases – something I unfortunately experienced with other shoes using rigid synthetic uppers.
The toe box is nice and wide on the Lone Peak 7 (the widest I’ve ever tried), your toes really feel free to move as they should. Initially I thought the sizing may have been slightly too big, however after a few runs I got used to them.
They feel narrower around the middle of the foot which provides much needed support (due to the wider box). I need this as I have a tendency to roll my ankles.
The cradle at the rear of the shoe really holds and supports your heal which further aids confidence in the shoe.
The ‘Altra Ego’ foam used in the midsole is designed to give a good level of comfort without loosing the feel of the trail. This allows your foot to really react to the terrain. It’s definitely not deeply cushioned, but I found them to offer all the protection I need…I’m yet to feel fatigued wearing them.
I often find myself changing the innersole in my shoes. No need in these, they’ve obviously spent some time developing a quality product.
Grip
The Altra Lone Peak 7s utilise the Maxtrac outsole. The clue is most definitely in the name, this ‘sticky’ rubber really does offer you more traction on the slippery stuff, which gives you more confidence moving at speed. The 5mm lugs really help when it comes to running on loose trail and through mud.
You’ll see on the soles that there’s extra grip around the big toes, this is a stroke on genius. I feel myself gripping and pushing forwards more with them, this is really aided by the wider toe box. I’ve not doubted that they wouldn’t grip! It’s only when it comes to thick mud do I wince as I tread.
In the wet
Generally speaking I try and avoid getting my feet wet where I can. These have no drainage holes, but I’m pleased to say they dried incredibly quickly because of the lightweight mesh upper.
Also, if you use gaitors, you’ll find a small velcro section to the heal of the shoe where you can attach them…nice touch!
Durability
You’ll notice that there’s no stitching to be seen, this leads me to believe that they’re held together with glue which would normally make me question their lifespan. I’ve covered the best part of 200 miles in them across pretty much every condition from tarmac, wet grass, mud, snow, flowing water, dry trail, wet trails with wet rocks…other than some creasing they’re holding up to the punishment well.
Final Thoughts
Although they’re a ‘trail’ shoe, I’ve found myself using them on the daily. In my eyes there’s no better compliment.
Available in a multitude of nice colours for £135