The thru hiker favorite among all trail runners for hiking

The Altra Lone Peak 7 has long been the most popular trail runner on the PCT thanks to its durability, width, and comfort. And we take thru-hiker gear endorsements very seriously.

Of course this trail running shoe is comfortable and grippy, but Lone Peak’s secret sauce is the famous extra wide toe box. Over the course of a long day of hiking, the forefoot and toes tend to swell and enlarge slightly, which the Lone Peaks accommodate perfectly with the natural foot shape.

• Price: $150
• M’s Weight: 11.0 oz | W’s Weight: 9.2 oz
• Heel-Forefoot-Drop: M’s 25-25-0 | W’s 25-25-0
• Lugs: 5 mm | Rockplate: Yes
• Width: Average (V7 is narrower) | Overall Fit: True to size
• Wide Sizes Available: Yes
• On Trail/Off trail? Either, but prefers on trail.
• Pros: Zero drop. Wide toe box. Most popular on PCT. Great traction. Long Lasting. Rockplate.
• Cons: Zero drop. Light cushion. A bit sloppy on technical terrain.

Features

As hiking shoes go, Lone Peak has previously been known to run wide. However, Altra has tamped the width down slightly from its hay day, so people without wide feet can enjoy it more securely without the sense that they’re sloshing about. And if you do have wide feet, purchase the wide width size.

The Altra Lone Peak is also a zero drop shoe, which can be divisive with an equal heel/forefoot stack height of 25mm. Walking in zero drop can feel a bit odd at first as it increases activation of the calf and along the Achilles, but we find the transition for hikers is easier than for runners, and that most people quickly get used to it.

We prefer it when going downhill or on flats, but for steep uphill, a bit of drop is preferably. As trail running shoes go, it has a fairly light amount of cushioning, but the rock plate and sturdy midsole helps provide extra defense.

This is a trail runner that is comfy enough for long days on hard packed trail, yet responsive enough for scrambling or boulder hopping. These trail runners are comfortable out of the box, with enough support to be ready for long days immediately.

Altra’s are another shoe with a famously excellent tread. Theirs is called MaxTrac, and it has aggressive, 5mm lugs in a chevron pattern, perfect for gripping on slanted, slippery terrain. Perhaps because of the tread and thick midsole, this is the heaviest trail runner on our list, though on average only by one ounce per shoe.

Like most hiking shoes we recommend, it has a comfy, quick drying, breathable mesh upper with a reinforced toe cap. Altra builds in a velcro attachment point, which is nice if you like wearing gaiters.

Verdict

All in all, the Altra Lone Peak is a time-tested, thru-hiker approved trail runner, largely the same as it’s always been, only slightly narrower. We’re happy to continue endorsing it on this list.

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Read about more great trail runners for hiking in our guide to the best hiking shoes of the year.