I’ve worn LPs of various models since the LP1.5. They are quite different shoes and it’s very individual whether they work at all for people, and whether a particular model works at all for people.
I liked the 1.5 and the 2.0 but could not even get the 3.0 and 3.5 to fit comfortably in the store (let alone on trail)! My favourites since have been the 4.5, the 6 and the 9.
In general, they all have zero drop and a moderate (but not barefoot) stack height. As a result they give reasonable ground feel and reasonable protection.
Generally speaking, they also all have a relatively wide forefoot and midfoot and an average heel width. But these have all varied a little between models, to the extent that 2 models wouldn’t even fit me in the store let alone after a foot-swelling, long day on trail.
In the last few years (with my advancing age!) I have found that for day and week long hikes I still prefer LPs, but for multi-week, on-trail, hikes I now prefer Timps for more cushion and less foot fatigue. If the trip is going to involve more off-trail then I still prefer LPs for better ankle stability.
Ultimately, only *your* feet can tell you if they are a good fit for you. No review or hiker-survey or Reddit post can tell you that! The same with Topos or Hokas etc. I’ve yet to try any pair of Topos that was even comfortable in the store *for me*. Same with La Sportiva, Hoka and others. That doesn’t make those terrible shoes - they are just terrible *for me!* Likewise, the fact that some of the LPs over the years have suited me well doesn’t make them the best shoes ever for everyone - they are just good (and sometimes ideal) *for me!*
Fellow wide Lone Peak wearer (though in women’s) and I made the mistake of switching to Olympus 275s for my first 100 attempt since I thought more cushion would help me. Olympus and Olympus 275 are known for being roomy, but by mile 30 there was no room for my little toes and by mile 40 my arches were screaming. I DNF’ed at mile 54 and could barely get the shoes off. I’m sticking with the Lone Peaks from now on, no matter the terrain.
I have an older model and what a fun discovery it was that they don't grip on smooth floors.
I really like they're finally doing black on black though.
I'm coming from a barefoot shoe background, I still run in Xero HFS on less technical terrain (granted, only got into trail running half a year ago). So far we couldn't find any other trail shoe than the Altra lone peak that has a zero drop heal with wide toe box. The lone peak 9+ is my first Altra and so far it proved to be pretty nice, however a bit too cushioned for my taste. My boyfriend started out using altras with a lone peak 6 and recently got a 9+. He feels like the 9 is way stiffer. If someone knows about a good trail shoe with zero drop, gove me a shout (we are in Denmark but gonna live in Spain for half a year)
I like the Altra LPs. I've got both regular and WP versions over the years.
It's true, tread life is limited; I've moved them on before I otherwise would due to tread reasons. And their tread on their regular (and older) models just isn't the same as a good vibram sole.
(I look forward to trying the new vibram model once I find it on a clearance rack...)
Don't use shoes you haven't done plenty of hiking in if you're changing types. So, get those new ones soon and start training in them. Muscle use will be different!!
(FWIW, I'm a fan of Altra's Lone Peak shoes. Unless I'm on snow and need mountaineering boots for crampons, I use LPs. They've taken me up Helens more than once, and all my other hikes for years.
I also live in the PNW, and strongly disagree about waterproof. Waterproof is appropriate in snow, but otherwise the shoes accumulate too much sweat to stay dry anyway.
I do the vast majority of my hiking in Altra Lone Peaks, and do indeed where the older pairs around town once the tread has worn down more than I want on the trail. The waterproof LPs I have our actually almost entirely for in town use during the wet weeks.
I also have single and double mountaineering boots from Lowa, for the trips that will take me over snow or in below freezing temps for a long time.
That's my point, my WP LPs are pretty much for in town use. Even if it's raining, I'd rather hike with regular trail runners. But my feet sweat some in any WP shoe, so there's that...
I use Lone Peaks, but they aren't the most durable ever. I expect to replace them once a year or so, and I'm waiting on clearance sales for the new vibram soled ones. But they work really well for my feet and body.
Lone Peak Altra + Vibram.
I use them for anything I don't need crampons for. (I've even put spikes on my WP LPs.) And I wear them as my regular shoe as well (once the soles are worn down, they are transferred to the "everyday wear" pile, since I don't need as much traction).
bcgulfhike
