The Altra Lone Peak 8 continues to be my go-to mountaineering shoe for tenting journeys after I don’t need to haul something cumbersome. Don’t get me fallacious — these sneakers can do all of it, inside motive, and are completely excellent for brief and mid-range hikes. I’ve now taken them everywhere in the Elk Mountain Wilderness in Colorado and proceed to like their minimalist really feel.
These are super-lightweight, zero-drop path runners which can be nice for overlaying mileage at a faster tempo. I really like them after I’m with my pup as a result of he normally needs to jog for a short while, however then additionally slows right down to sniff-inspect every little thing he doesn’t normally encounter at dwelling.
The Lone Peak 8, like all Altras, has a extra pure match, with a roomy toebox designed to maintain toes comfy to be able to transfer extra freely. At first look, they may look particularly extensive up entrance, however that’s simply in order that your toes and toes can unfold out.
In brief: I’d suggest these sneakers for shorter adventures the place you would possibly need to cowl extra floor shortly. The cushioning gained’t make you are feeling like your toes are within the lap of luxurious all day, however they’re scrappy and able to play within the wild.
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Light-weight -
Pure match with roomy toebox -
Tremendous-grippy outsole
Altra Lone Peak 8 Evaluate
Brief and Steep
On a current journey to camp on the Taylor River outdoors of Almont, Colo., I had tons of mountain biking deliberate. However I used to be bringing my finest buddy (my canine), so I knew I’d additionally do at the least a couple of shorter hikes on trails round camp. I knew the Altra Lone Peak 8s could be the proper mountaineering sneakers for the weekend.
These mountaineering sneakers are simple to clip to a pack, simple to hold, dry shortly, and carry out simply in addition to a few of their extra substantial cousins within the mountaineering shoe world. As a result of they’re so light-weight, and have a zero drop, they positively have the minimalist really feel. However I’ve been shocked how usually I seize them over a extra cushioned shoe prior to now few months.
And that is definitely greater than a stroll-around-the-block shoe. Earlier than bombing down Physician Park on a motorbike, one of the vital well-liked mountain biking trails within the space, my pup and I hiked up it, which implies some vital climbing on free, rocky terrain. We jogged the flats by the aspen forests, and bouldered up a couple of rocks for even higher views of the valley.
The MaxTrac rubber outsole is nice for grip on nearly any terrain. Regardless of the thinner sole, the power to maneuver on numerous surfaces just isn’t missing.
How They Really feel
The ripstop mesh on the higher makes these sneakers fast to dry in order that your toes are by no means sweaty. The roomy toebox is kind of Altra’s bread and butter. Ft slot in a extra pure method so that you just’re not solely extra comfy however are additionally utilizing your full step in a extra pure method. It is smart that these are path runners, as a result of the positioning of the foot is simply so comfy.
One other certainly one of my favourite options of those sneakers is the Velcro tab on the again of the shoe. It’s excellent for including gaiters when tackling trails with free pebbles or sand. With gaiters, these sneakers would make a superb choose for romping round on sand dunes or exploring dusty desert trails. Altra makes its personal branded gaiters that match the Velcro tab completely.
I personally love the additional room within the toebox and the way in which my toes can actually unfold out. I’ve a little bit of a wider forefoot, so Altras all the time really feel like my toes aren’t being suffocated and might as an alternative breathe and loosen up.
Go-To for Smaller Adventures
Once I modified out of my Lone Peak 8s and into my mountain biking sneakers for the second journey of the day, I type of wished to simply maintain the Lone Peaks on. And truthfully, for those who run flat pedals and know you’ll be performing some hike-a-bike, that wouldn’t be a foul name.
Relying in your toes, these won’t be the go-to for a protracted thru-hike, however they’re tremendous enjoyable for morning romps. I additionally like that they’re a bit trendy. I’d positively put on these round city after all of the adventures of the day are over and it’s time to hunt out pizza. The colour combos are sharp, and I really feel like they pair properly even with a pair of denims.
The Altra Lone Peak 8 made my choice for “finest minimalist girls’s mountaineering shoe” on Gear Junkie’s Finest Climbing Footwear for Girls information. These sneakers will certainly keep in my rotation by the summer season and the autumn!