Altra Lone Peak 4 Trail Running Shoes Review |1 – Introducing the Lone Peak 4

An Introduction to the Altra Lone Peak 4
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The Altra Lone Peak is Altra’s most popular trail shoe. Not just for runners, but long-distance walkers too, who appreciate the extra space in the toe box as much as runners, from newcomers to ultra-marathon-regulars! The Lone Peak 4 features many changes designed to improve on the flagship shoe and is due to arrive in the UK in early September. Like all Altra running shoes, the Lone Peak 4 is Zero Drop and has a roomy, rounded, Foot Shape Toe Box.

The durability and breathability of the upper has been improved. The mesh is now a tough rip-stop material designed to withstand the bramble’s that will be forcing their way onto UK trails in September, as well as abrasion from rocks. The toe bumper is firmer and chunkier. That means if you tend to kick rocks when running, you will get more protection in the Lone Peak 4 than in previous versions. For those with heel spurs or other lumps and bumps on the back of their heels you will be pleased to hear that the Lone Peak 4 has a soft heel counter with no plastic insert. The fit around the heel and the midfoot has also been improved. The shoes will pull in around the foot better to give a snugger fit, whilst maintaining the toe room that Altra is famous for. This will mean that those with low volume feet won’t find their feet moving around inside the shoes as they run on uneven terrain. The upper also fits the new Altra 4 point gaiter, which fits the shoe much more snuggly than the previous gaiters to help keep dirt and stones out of your shoes.

The stack height and durometer of the midsole remains the same so the ride, in terms of the feel of the cushioning, should feel the same as in the Lone Peak 3 and Lone Peak 3.5. However, the rock protection has been upgraded from a layer of dense EVA in the midsole to a plastic insert. This will offer that bit more protection from sharp rocks, especially as the midsole gets more compressed after a few hundred miles. The toe has also been turned up a bit to give the shoe a bit more of an encouraging roll. The sizing should be more like the Lone Peak 3.0 than the typically smaller fitting Lone Peak 3.5, where some customers went up half a size.

Fell free to contact us about sizing of different Altra running shoes.

The key area of any trail shoe is the outsole. In the UK we need good lugging to get us through the muddy tracks on wet days. The previous models of the Lone Peak have been cushioned enough to be used on the road while you travel to your trails and good on drier trails but haven’t been quite as good in the wet. The outsole of the Lone Peak 4 aims to change that. The outsole is made from Altra’s own compound called Maxtrac, designed to grip rocks in the wet. The pattern of the outsole is heavily lugged in a claw like pattern. The toe of the midsole is also curved up which will allow better bite on the muddy climbs. The Lone Peak 4 is still a very versatile trail shoe and it won’t replace your deeply studded fell or cross country shoes but, these improvements mean that you can have a lot more confidence in staying upright on a mixed trail run.

If you aren’t used to zero drop shoes like Altra’s then it’s best to gradually increase the time you spend in the shoes. So, that your feet and lower legs get used to working while running. For more information see: northernrunner.com/blog/running-in-altra-zero-drop-shoes/.