In need for new trail running or hiking shoes? Hikaholic Deen is reviewing the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 (EU / US)! He bought these shoes about a year ago after watching many videos of thru hikers in America wearing these shoes. So he had to try them and see what all the hype was about. He doesn’t use them for running but for hiking. After a lot of kilometres on these shoes, it is time for a review.
Don’t feel like reading? Check out the YouTube review at the end of this blog!
THE SPECS OF THE ALTRA LONE PEAK 4.5
TIP: Always buy your hiking shoes 0.5 or 1.0 size bigger than your regular shoes. So when your feet get swollen or when you hike downhill, your toes won’t bump into the front of your shoes.
THE FEATURES
FOOTSHAPE TOEBOX
Altra’s FootShape toe box allows the toes to relax and spread out naturally and the big toe to remain in a straight position. This enhances stability and maximizes running performance.
TrailClaw
The Altra TrailClaw is a technology used for the outsole. It is a technique built for any trail condition that allows the hiking shoes to excel on most surfaces. The sticky rubber in the midfoot area is used for uphill climbs, like the rubber towards the toes is useful for going safely downhill.
ZERO DROP
Altra included a zero drop at their Lone Peak 4.5. But why go for zero drop? The use of zero drop shoes can prevent lots of pain for your back, foot or knee. Zero drop can take away the strain from the knee and spread it to the calf muscles. Altra advices you to train walking long distance with these shoes, because it is a different muscle group you use for walking,
PROS OF THE ALTRA LONE PEAK 4.5
EMBRACE THE SPACE
The Altra shoes are well known for their footshape toe box. If you have issues in regular shoes where your toes tent to rub against each other or rub against the shoe, Altra is the solution for you! The rubbing can cause pain and blisters, but that will probably not happen when your foot has the space like in the foot shape toebox of the Altra Lone Peak 4.5.
SUPER QUICK DRY AIR MESH
The upper of the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 is made of a durable quick dry air mesh. The opinions are divided about the use of Gore-Tex in hiking shoes. If you just like walking in the spring, summer, autumn or soft winters (even for long distances), trailrunning shoes are the best choice! But be carefull: We talk about three season shoes. If you go alpine climbing or go to real winter landscapes it is really important to wear the right gear.
Back to Gore-Tex or not: Even Gore-Tex shoes let water in, but they dry slower in comparison to shoes which are made of air mesh. You can easily get sweaty feet in Gore-Tex shoes which can cause blisters quicker. Not convinced yet? If you cross a river with Altra Lone Peak 4.5s you don’t have to worry. They dry super fast!
GAITER TRAP
Trail gaiters are a big hit in the States. You can buy them via Dirty Girl Gaiters. In Europe you won’t spot gaiters that much on trails. Gaiters are some sort of shoe sock, which prevends sand or dirt getting launched into your shoes. The Altra Lone Peak have gaitertraps in the front and back of the shoes, which is a big plus. This way you won’t have to alter your shoe personally if you want to use gaiters on trail.
CONS OF THE ALTRA LONE PEAK 4.5
THE FLAP
At the back of the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 is a thing hikers call ‘the flap’. The reason why it is there is to provide more surface grip when running. It flattens when hitting the ground in an angle, so runners have more grip. When used for hiking, this flap launches sand, mud or other dirt in the air and hits you in the back. Some tru hikers cut this flap so they won’t have this problem anymore. Or you can wear a pair of gaiters.
OVERALL CONCLUSION
Deen absolutely loves the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 and would definitely recommend these shoes, especially for people with wider feet and who like the freedom in their toes when hiking. He can’t wait until the Lone Peak 5.0 gets released next year so he can try them as well.
Tell us in the comments if you like the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 or if you will try them as well! What is your favorite trail shoe?
2 comments
Love the comfort in the shoe. Very light weight and breathable. Flexibility in these shoes are great and maybe a little to great because I twisted my ankle a few times during a casual low to moderate hike. Super comfortable shoe though in my opinion.
Thank you for your reply John! We couldn’t agree more. It’s a great more, the shoe is super comfortable. Oh no! Sorry that you twisted your ankle, the more you hike, the stronger your ankle will be, so the less you will twist it probable!