Altra Men's Lone Peak 6 Sneaker

Product Information

No doubt, that limited support can be a springboard for some hikers to develop their lower bodies and show off their ripped calves. But not me. That light-duty build took its toll on mt (flat) feet, (genetically) weak ankles, and skinny calves. On easier trails tha I normally hike, I had trouble with rolled ankles, cramping feet, shin splints, and calf strains. MATT: I applaud Altra for staying the course with a tried and true shoe here while looking for areas to provide marginal gains. This approach should be well received by all the Lone Peak fans who will need to replace their old worn-out models. Dom: Over time, the Lone Peak has had its ups and downs. The earliest shoes were clunky, and version 3 was the first iteration that felt secure enough and light enough to race. Since then, I’ve never really felt that Altra have been able to recreate the success. 3.0 was a great shoe, but had durability issues. 3.5 improved on upper durability, but too much stretch for good foothold. 4.0 performed better but weighed a ton. 4.5 lightened the shoe slightly, but compromised foothold. 5.0 was oversized all around, and felt floppy on the foot. In the meantime, the competition has become hotter (including from Altra’s other models), and the Lone Peak has felt ‘left behind’. Please read on to see which paths the latest edition took.

I'm all about those roomy toe boxes, but not all about the zero drop. (For what it's worth, the podiatrist who trained me in hiking footwear had the same take on Altra trail running shoes.) Sadly, I quit hiking in my Lone Peaks after my second calf strain in fifty miles—after zero calf strains in my previous 10,000 miles in other brands (and none in 3000 Altra-free miles since). Some of my customers, co-workers, and friends have had more serious issues in the Altra Lone Peak, including injuries such as stress fractures, broken ankles, and ruptures Achilles tendons. Altra's best selling trail shoe has been updated. We carry a full range of colors and sizes in the new Lone Peak 7. TAYLOR: The Lone Peak series has a great following, and for a good reason. A very natural running feel is what you’ll get from top to bottom. There is a lot of room for natural foot splay and placement, minimal cushion, and solid grip for various terrain. In some ways, it simply feels like an extension of your foot.Matt: "First things first, runners should know that this shoe offers Altra's original, wide-shaped toe box. I usually wear an 11, but a 10.5 in this shoe was more than comfortable for me. The upper offered a comfortable wrap around my foot while still providing enough room for my toes to move and adjust while on the trail."

Aside from feeling somewhat roomy, the Lone Peak 6 felt comfortable and precise with little break-in. I would classify the height of the heel collar as average, and despite the low-rising, flexible heel counter and the minimal cushion lining the upper, it still provided a good level of heel hold. The vamp over the midfoot felt just a touch below average in height, which for my high instep often causes numbness, but to my surprise, I had no issues with it, even after running up to two hours. While on the topic of the outsole, the Altra Lone Peak 6 has a tremendous 8mm of rubber underfoot. Bearing in mind that the average is 3.7mm, that is a ton of material. Matt: "I would say that the underfoot protection was one of my favorite aspects of this shoe. The Lone Peak doesn't have the tallest midsole out there, but the AltraEGO foam feels refreshingly resilient. Also, the stone guard adds an extra bit of armor, which helped instill total confidence while trekking over gnarly terrain. Since the heel-to-toe drop is 0 mm, there's a consistent amount of cushioning in both the heel and the forefoot. I knew I could trust the Lone Peak 6 no matter the distance or the surface. It truly was versatility at its finest." We’ll get into the details below, but I think “Flat Bois” all over can take a collective breath and relax.Brycen: "I could not feel the pavement, dirt, tree branches, or anything that was under my foot while running in this shoe. The Lone Peak 6 is one of the best shoes for my knees that I have reviewed. I'd give it a perfect 10 when it comes to protection."

The Altra Lone Peak is a classic and this one does more to stay the same than it does to make big changes. That said, we already know Altra has several trail models that DO incorporate more tech, such as the Timp redesign (new upper), the Mont Blanc (new shoe and new upper material for Altra) and the Mont Blanc with a dual Boa system, and the Outroad, which looks to have considerably less tech, but a new-ish approach for the brand.

Canice: The Lone Peak 6 is a nicely improved iteration of a now classic distance trail running shoe. The upper and mid foot hold are the stand out stars of the LP6 and the midsole and outsole get the job done. Brycen: "The Lone Peak 6 has a perfect level of flexibility for trail running. Whether hiking or running, the Lone Peak will adapt and move with my foot, always providing an ultra-smooth ride." The toebox is almost too roomy for me. It’s not a dealbreaker and many people will love it, but I could handle less space,” one reviewer says. Dom: The first thing that I noticed was the more modern and stripped-down upper. The lighter upper of the LP6 results in a useful weight reduction compared to the outgoing LP5. (Drop in US M10 was 26 g per shoe, almost exactly an ounce lighter)