Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

For many thru-hikers, that first step is in a pair of Altras. Since launching the Lone Peaks in the US in 2011, Altra has dominated the footwear market for thru-hikers and ambitious day hikers alike. With iconic features like their Footshape toe box and 0 mm drop, Altra users are leaving more and more footprints on the trails they blaze.

Keep reading to learn more about the updates on the Lone Peak 9 and decide if this could be the shoe for you this hiking season. 

View of the new and improved outsole and upper on the Altra Lone Peak 9.

Altra Lone Peak 9 At a Glance

MSRP: $140
Weight: 9.3 oz women’s | 11.15 oz men’s
Cushioning: Mid
Heel-Toe Drop: 0mm
Stack Height: 25mm

Men’s Lone Peak 9 here.

Circumstances of Review

I got to test the Lone Peak 9 in December 2024. They carried me along the trails of east Tennessee and saw their fair share of mud, rocks, and water crossings (no snow, though). Altogether I logged about 50 miles in these shoes before writing this review.

I have exclusively hiked in Altra shoes for the past several years. My shoe of choice is the Altra Olympus — I have logged around 5,000 miles in multiple pairs of Olympuses. I obviously am biased towards Altra, but I haven’t worn the Lone Peak model since the first 500 miles of my AT-thru hike in 2021. 

Intended Use

Altra says the Lone Peaks are best for trail running, hiking, and thru-hiking. I agree: these are great shoes to wear anywhere outdoors where you want a little extra traction. They are best suited for trail use rather than road running.

Why Altra?

Wider Toe Box

One of the biggest features that sets Altra apart from other trail runners is the brand’s FootShape design. All of Altra’s shoes are made with larger toe boxes. At first glance, it can make them look a little like clown shoes, but there’s a reason for the exaggerated front.

With more room, your toes have the ability to splay out much like they would if you were barefoot. Rather than having your toes squished together as in a standard shoe, this design gives your toes room to fully extend, increasing your stability. This translates to better balance and allows you to push off more evenly when hiking.

It is not uncommon for hikers to have to go up a shoe size or two when thru-hiking. This wasn’t my experience, but I did notice a change in my feet. My toes seemed to separate more, and I needed extra room. This has been the key appeal to Altra for me over the years. My toes just like the increased room and don’t feel cramped in these shoes.

Zero Drop

When I first got into the world of thru-hiking, I heard a lot of discussion about heel-to-toe drop. I didn’t understand what it meant, but I heard people raving about Altra’s zero-drop footwear. Finally, someone explained to me that zero-drop just means that your foot sits completely flat in the shoe. In contrast, most shoes have a slightly elevated heel (often around 5mm). This means your heel sits slightly higher in the shoe compared to your toes and that the forefront of the shoe “drops” 5mm from the heel of the shoe.

Many avid Altra wearers find that the zero-drop feature allows for more natural foot posture, almost as if they were barefoot. However, if you aren’t used to wearing a zero-drop shoe, the adjustment period can be brutal. Since it’s relatively uncommon to find zero-drop shoes, our feet aren’t used to sitting completely flat in shoes. This requires muscles in your legs and feet to engage in ways they aren’t accustomed to and can cause growing pains, literally.

On my 2021 thru-hike of the AT, I remember so many hikers limping into Outdoor 76 in Franklin, NC to talk to the shoe guru, Rob. I witnessed many hikers switch out of Altra at this point because they were in so much pain from adjusting to the zero-drop.

This is just an example of why it’s so important to break in your shoes before a long hike. The trail runners themselves are flexible enough that they don’t really need much of a break-in period, but your calves will need a chance to adjust to zero-drop.

Moreover, you don’t want to spend weeks suffering just to decide a certain brand isn’t for you. Just because a brand works for some people doesn’t mean it will work for you, so test your gear before embarking on an extended trek!

Altra’s MaxTrac provides reliable traction.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Features

Traction/Outsole

The Lone Peak 9 has MaxTrac outsoles. This is the grippy bottom section of the shoe. MaxTrac boasts an aggressive tread that will help you dig in and push forward no matter the terrain. I found that it held up well in slick conditions, and I was able to move confidently over wet rocks.

Cushion/Midsole

The Lone Peak 9 uses proprietary Altra EGO midsole foam. Altra shoes offer four varying levels of cushion: low, mid, high, and max. The Lone Peak 9 is considered a “mid” cushion shoe, which I found cushy enough to keep me comfortable throughout long days on my feet. This level of cushion allows you to feel connected to the ground without feeling like you’re wearing platforms.

Rock Protection

The Lone Peak 9 has a Stoneguard insert to provide protection from underfoot rocks and debris. This helps to keep you moving over rocks and roots without noticing every bump in the trail. 

Built-In Gaiter Attachment

The Lone Peak 9 has Altra’s signature GaiterTrap, a built-in strip of velcro at the back of the heel so you can quickly attach gaiters to the shoe. A small metal tab at the top of the shoe provides a second attachment point to keep your gaiters snugly in place. Hiking with gaiters helps to keep small debris like rocks and sticks out of your shoes and helps to keep your socks (and feet) clean.

Altra’s GaiterTrap makes it quick and easy to attach your gaiters to your shoes.

Lone Peak 9 vs. Lone Peak 8: What’s Changed?

The most noticeable difference between the 8 and 9 models is the improved outsole on the 9. Both the Lone Peak 8 and 9 have MaxTrac outsoles, but there is a visible difference between the two. The 9 has a splayed flange heel similar to the Megagrip on the Altra Olympus. The outsole also extends further up onto the forefront of the shoe compared to the 8 and offers a wide area of coverage, allowing for more grip to push forward off your toes and better scramble up rocks.

Other than these noticeable differences to the outsole, the upper allegedly will be more durable. Both the 8 and the 9 are made with ripstop mesh, but the Lone Peak 9 uses 100% recycled ripstop and has been “designed for high-mileage durability.” I didn’t notice any visible difference in the upper, though, so only time and more miles will speak to whether or not it is actually more durable. According to Altra’s website, the midsole was also updated, but again, I didn’t see any specific differences between the 8 and 9.

Lone Peak 9 Pros

Good Color Options

I really like the selection of colors for the Lone Peak 9! In the past, Altra has had limited colors available, including some that I found downright ugly. I think the color palate for the Lone Peak 9 is more modest and doesn’t have any colors that are so bright they hurt your eyes to look at. The women’s color options are Tan, Black, Gray, Dusty Olive, Navy, Purple, and Teal. The men’s options are Gray, Black, Brown, Black/Red, Orange/Teal, Dusty Olive, and Navy.

Appropriate Amount of Cushion

As previously mentioned, the Lone Peak 9 offers Altra’s mid-level cushion. My feet felt happy wearing these shoes for multiple hours and didn’t start to get tired and achy. I typically prefer the maximal cushion offered in the Olympus, but I felt like the mid cushion was enough to stay comfortable without being inches off the ground.

Better Traction Than Previous Models

The updated MaxTrac outsoles offer a noticeable improvement in traction. The outsole provides extended coverage onto the forefront of the shoe, allowing you to really dig in and roll forward off your toes.  

Lightweight and Comfortable

A huge selling point in trail runners compared to boots is how lightweight and comfortable trail runners are. Why put extra strain on your legs lugging around a bulky boot when you could hike in a glorified tennis shoe? The Lone Peak 9 is easy to break in and doesn’t feel cumbersome to wear.

Easy hiking in the Altra Lone Peak 9.

Lone Peak 9 Cons

Not Appropriate for Four-Season Hiking

These shoes are great for hiking in the spring, summer, and fall. However, if you plan to be hiking through snow or expect your feet to get wet and stay wet, the standard Lone Peak 9 is not a good option. Altra does make a waterproof option called the ALL-WTHR that’s available in low and mid cuts for additional ankle support.

Durability

The average thru hiker gets between 500-700 miles out of a pair of trail runners. If you are planning a multi-month thru-hike, you should expect to go through several pairs of shoes. Every model of Lone Peak that comes out has “improved” uppers that are intended to bolster their durability, but I have found that no matter what, the fabric will eventually tear. Boots are typically more durable than trail runners, but potentially at the cost of some sacrificed comfort.

Zero Drop Not for Everyone

As previously mentioned, a zero-drop shoe is not for everyone. The beauty of trail runners is that they are much faster to break in, but Altra can take a little time to get used to. To help with this adjustment period, Altra recently introduced their first non-zero drop shoe, the Experience Wild, which has a 4mm drop.

Outsole Not as Good Without Vibram

MaxTrac is Altra’s version of Vibram. While Altra does have shoes with Vibram Megragrip outsoles, the Lone Peak is not one of them. MaxTrac is fine and gets the job done, but I do believe Vibram provides better grip and traction, especially in wet conditions. There are other comparable brands that use Vibram as well.

Aggressive grip on the Altra Lone Peak 9.

In Conclusion …

The Lone Peak 9 is a great shoe. With a price point that is comparable to similar shoes on the market, the Lone Peak is a solid choice. I started the AT in 2021 in the Lone Peak 4; I call that model my starter shoe. They are what first exposed me to zero-drop and showed me just how comfortable hiking shoes could be.

Many models and years later, I think the Lone Peak 9 is a standout choice for someone who wants to be comfortable in a functional trail runner that will serve them well. If you want to wear trail runners but aren’t sure where to start, this might be the shoe for you. 

Shop the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 9

https://www.altrarunning.com/en-us/trail/mens-lone-peak-9/AL0A85PG.htmlShop the Men’s Altra Lone Peak 9

Comparable Shoes

Topo Ultraventure 4

MSRP: $150
Heel-Toe Drop: 5mm
Weight: 10.4 oz men’s | 8.2 oz women’s

HOKA Speedgoat 6

MSRP: $155
Heel-Toe Drop: 5mm
Weight: 9.8 oz men’s | 8.2 oz women’s

The Altra Lone Peak 9 was donated for the purpose of review.