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This is the fourth consecutive year we’ve put a Spring Shoe Award in the Lone Peak’s trophy case. It’s simply because few shoes can do what the Altra Lone Peak 7 can. The outsole is tacky. The stone guard is strong and durable. The toebox is spacious and wide to let your toes wiggle and splay. And the toothy lugs are aggressive to claw through dirt and mud. Plus, since it’s an Altra, it all goes down on a zero-drop platform.
Pros
- Increased number and length of lugs
- Tackier outsole rubber boosts wet-surface traction
- Stitch-less upper improves midfoot lockdown
- More stable ride than the Lone Peak 6
Cons
- Heavier than previous version
- Thinner toe bumper than earlier models
- Transition gradually to zero-drop platform
Key Specs
| Type | Trail |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) |
| Drop | 0 mm |
- Who it’s for: Runners seeking a zero-drop trail shoe with versatility for both rocky and soft terrain, wet and dry conditions, and long and short distances
- Preceded by: Altra Lone Peak 6
- For runners who like: Topo Athletic Terraventure 3, Topo Athletic Pursuit
- Key features: Full-length stone guard, Velcro gaiter tabs, FootShape fit, MaxTrac rubber outsole, 5mm canted lugs
- Midsole foam: Altra Ego (EVA/TPU blend)
Altra Lone Peak 7 Overview
“The route I run most is a four-mile loop on a mountain that has every kind of surface that one can expect to get in Pennsylvania—gravel, technical downhills, rocky climbs, and water crossings. This shoe grips all of it. The traction is fantastic, and the cushioning is ample, but still allows for ground feel and solid footing on rock,” said tester Scott C., who put more than 150 miles of running on the Lone Peak 7 in both wet and dry conditions.
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On average, Scott logs about 40 miles per week at 10:00 pace. He has a neutral gait and runs with a midfoot strike. His arch height and foot width are both average. After nearly two years as an RW wear-tester, he’s trialed more than five Altra models and loves a shoe with a spacious toebox.
Lone Peak 6 vs. Lone Peak 7
Let’s be honest. Traction has never been an issue for the Lone Peak. A secure fit has. Altra has tinkered with its upper to ensure that its roomy toeboxes allow for natural foot movement and toe splay, but not too much motion that it feels sloppy. It’s a tough balance to get right. While the sixth version’s customizable lacing system did the trick for some, this version feels more locked-in from a new stitch-less upper. Fewer bulky overlays and no seams let the mesh wrap the foot more closely without wrinkling and bunching.
“This is my contender for shoe of the year. I skipped the 6 because the fit always felt off to me, but I ran my 5s into the ground. I feel that the 7, in almost every way, is a refinement and improvement of the 5 and 6,” said Scott.
Despite the refined upper, the Lone Peak actually weighs an ounce more than last year for a men’s size 9. That’s from the new stabilizing heel clip. It feels a bit hard and plasticky, sitting right atop the Ego midsole foam—a softer cocktail of EVA and TPU. But it offers a pinch of extra support that the sixth version lacked for navigating serpentine paths and tight singletrack.
What Our Testers Liked Most
After our testers put more than 100 miles on their pairs of the Altra Lone Peak 7, we asked them what features set this trail shoe apart from the rest. Here are the top three qualities that multiple testers praised in their feedback for the Lone Peak 7.
Versatility
“Full disclosure, the Lone Peak has been my favorite trail model I’ve ever worn,” said Rip C., who logs about 30 miles per week at 9:00 pace. He runs with a midfoot strike and a neutral gait, and has an average-width foot with a high arch. “The traits that originally led me to the shoe remain in this update: the wide toebox, flexible forefoot, and balance of cushioning with underfoot protection that doesn’t sacrifice ground feel. Speedsters may want a stiffer shoe, but for me, it’s just as useful in training as on race day.”
Cushioning and Ride
“The cushioning was a little on the softer side, but it wasn’t a marshmallow. While I wouldn’t choose the Lone Peaks for speedwork or short, speedy racing, I could still get a good, responsive push-off from them,” said tester Kelly A., who has a neutral gait and a wider foot with an average arch height.
As a midfoot striker, Kelly said she especially enjoyed the Lone Peak’s ride. “On smooth trails, I felt like I was gliding—almost floating—downhill. It was easy run fast without feeling like the shoes worked against me.”
“I’d never run in Altras before, so the zero drop felt a little strange at first, but I did get used to it,” she added. “I’ll wear them for longer distances (upwards of 50K) or have them in a drop bag for later in an ultra race.”
Dry Surface Traction
Newly formulated MaxTrac outsole rubber and longer outsole lugs improve the Lone Peak 7’s grip on loose dirt. The lugs now measure 5mm in length—that’s about half a millimeter longer than the teeth on the Lone Peak 6.
“I ran on technical trails, fire roads, cinder, pavement, and up and down mountains—these shoes didn’t hold me back on any terrain,” said Kelly. On average, she runs about 30 miles per week split between rocky Pennsylvania trails and city streets.
What Our Testers Liked Least
In every trail running shoe, there’s always something that can be improved. So, we also asked our testers what aspects they could do without in the Altra Lone Peak 7. Here are the top three things we hope to see improved or updated in the shoe’s next version.
Upper Protection
“The one thing that puzzles me is the soft enclosure around the forefoot. During my second run in the Lone Peak 7s, my foot collided with a nasty rock on a technical trail, and I nursed a bruised big toe for two weeks,” Rip told us. “For heaven’s sake, stiffen that toe bumper.”
Interestingly, Rip also added that, although the drainage holes have been removed, there is little water retention. “Even when the shoe is saturated, the uppers dry exceptionally well midrun,” he said.
Traction on Wet Rocks
We found the Lone Peak can still slip a bit in specific wet conditions. General rain and puddles are not a major issue. However, things can get dicey if you’re covering miles of rain-slicked rocks or dewy scree. “The outsole grips and grabs on the trail, road, over wooden bridges, and through grass. Wet rocks can be a problem, though,” Rip said. “And you’ll need to slow down when you encounter mud.”
Ankle and Heel Fit
“On very technical trails and rocky terrain, I wished the Lone Peak was snugger and more secure around the heel. My foot felt secure from front to back, but my heel slipped a bit from side to side,” said Kelly. “However, on fire roads, pavement, and smooth singletrack, this wasn’t an issue at all.” One other important note is that the shoe’s collar sits fairly low on the ankle. While we liked that this eliminated any rubbing around the ankle bone, we also found it could allow small stones and grit to get inside the shoe.
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