In the beginning of 2024, Altra dropped at market the subsequent era of its esteemed path shoe — the Altra Lone Peak 8 ($140). Typically lauded as among the finest path operating and climbing sneakers for a choose group of avid path aficionados, it ranks extremely as an on a regular basis shoe for people looking for underfoot consolation, a contact of grit, and a heightened decrease leg power expertise.
The brand new Altra Lone Peak 8 doesn’t disappoint and returns as regular and dependable as ever. Over its many iterations, the Altra Lone Peak mannequin has confirmed itself to be a uniquely versatile shoe that exhibits up with consolation and performance, topped with a refreshingly gentle, pliable, and home-like really feel. Even after the Lone Peak’s operating days come to finish, it readily transitions in to a dependable hiker, yard employee, or an about-the-town shoe. I believe it’s value reiterating that regardless that Altra has lately made waves with important adjustments in drop and offering some sneakers with slim match Footshape — maybe throwing into query Altra’s unique mission — the brand new Lone Peak 8 rides true with total consistency and fidelity.
I believe most of us will agree that not rather a lot has modified from both final 12 months’s Altra Lone Peak 7 — learn our Altra Lone Peak 7 assessment. The higher stays snug, the midsole continues to ask the toes inside with underfoot cushion and responsiveness, whereas the outsole traction performs adequately throughout a wide range of terrain.
Notably, there stays ample room within the toebox and the Lone Peak 8 gives practical flexibility for very good floor really feel. It have to be acknowledged that if you’re new to low-drop or zero-drop trainers or seldom stroll barefoot, it’s suggested to progressively improve time and mileage in these sneakers as they place a excessive demand on decrease leg tendons and muscle mass. However after getting constructed the stamina — it’s definitely worth the minimalist way of life.
The Lone Peak 8 is designed off the Unique Footshape final for toes and toes to do their pure factor in a capacious toebox. It rides a zero-drop platform at a claimed 25-millimeter stack peak for stable floor really feel. Though the claimed weight has elevated barely to 10.7 ounces (303 grams) for a males’s U.S. measurement 9, it inexplicably runs mild. The Lone Peak 8 is true to measurement and is moreover provided in vast match.
Primarily based on all of this, it earned “Finest Zero-Drop Shoe” in our Finest Path Working Footwear information.
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The Altra Lone Peak 8. All pictures: iRunFar/Tom Caughlan
Altra Lone Peak 8 Higher
The Altra Lone Peak 8’s updates are felt and seen with the design and development of the higher, albeit refined and nuanced. Altra designers have upgraded the higher with a brand new ripstop mesh for augmented sturdiness. They used much less higher materials within the toebox space, leading to much less creasing, however with out sacrificing the ample room offered by a real Unique Footshape. The brand new higher materials nonetheless gives distinctive breathability, a fast dry, and heat. I used to be capable of run in plenty of chilly rain, mud, and important snow, and my toes and toes saved cozy and heat. I understand socks make a distinction as properly, however I used to be impressed that the mesh was capable of defend, drain, and breathe concurrently.
Interrupted welded overlays prolong from the midfoot to the heel on each side of the shoe. The overlays not solely intensify the look of the shoe, but it surely offers the midfoot extra of a comfortable and guarded match. The ripstop mesh presents a extra interesting look with constant mesh movement on the lateral facet of the shoe changing the see-through mesh of the Lone Peak 7, which introduced a window to the underlays.
The padding on the heel collar nonetheless helps the foot and maintains a gentle lockdown even over technical terrain. The lacing tightness is necessary to how cosy each the midfoot and heel really feel with the Lone Peak 8. Moreover, the low trip heel match with the supportive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) heel unit gives wanted stability on reasonably technical terrain and downhill singletrack.
The designers saved what labored from earlier fashions and fine-tuned a number of of the higher’s attributes. As I famous in our Altra Lone Peak 7 assessment, the practically absolutely gusseted and padded tongue stands guard towards undesirable particles whereas including a pillow-like really feel for the highest of the foot. Nevertheless, within the Lone Peak 8, tongue development received sharper. There may be now a tighter gusset on the lateral facet, and upon nearer inspection and due consideration whereas operating, this slight change enhanced a snugger midfoot lockdown and even much less room for particles to enter the shoe.
The Lone Peak 8 has longer laces than its predecessor and comes with two further holes within the stitched rubber reinforcements. I’ll admit that I’m uncertain if these are for lacing and additional midfoot lockdown, for weight financial savings, or just for aesthetics. Moreover, the bottom lace holes have further plastic assist on the base of the lacing system, which I appreciated for total higher integrity.
Different higher modifications embrace an extended heel pull tab and an extended and wider tongue pull tab that extends half the size of the tongue. I appreciated these refined adjustments as I discovered myself utilizing each of them since they have been truly practical. On most sneakers, these appendages appear purely aesthetic. There may be additionally a wider Velcro gaiter attachment location on the heel for extra endurance.
One of many critiques I had of the Lone Peak 7 was the dearth of safety across the large toe and the flexibility of the shoe to offer appropriate safety throughout extra rugged terrain. Though, there could also be barely thicker rubber instantly over the large toe, there may be much less total toe safety with decreased rubber bumper on each the medial and lateral toebox. This stays a con of the shoe design, however might be a weight saving resolution and one that matches the general mission of the Lone Peak.
A lateral view of the Altra Lone Peak 8.
Altra Lone Peak 8 Midsole
The Altra Lone Peak 8 midsole is energetic. It accentuates the operating and motion expertise with a pliable and responsive really feel that gives the wearer with consolation and nimbleness. Mixed with the outsole, the Altra EGO foam accentuates a floor really feel that many minimalist runners and hikers take pleasure in whereas adventuring. The Stoneguard full-length rock plate provides safety and slight stiffness beneath reasonably technical terrain, with out sacrificing an excessive amount of flexibility and turnover pace. The midsole is snug and balances swiftness with gentle landings.
Some runners might say that Altras break down quick, which can be attributed to midsole foam. However the Altra EGO utilized in many Altra shoe fashions in my view gives a agency consolation over many miles on each the paths and the pavement. As I discussed beforehand, I respect how the Lone Peak mannequin might be transitioned right into a hiker or an on a regular basis shoe as soon as the operating spring and assist has slowly misplaced its steam. I’m presently at 80 miles, and imagine I can push the Lone Peak 8 to 350 miles or extra.
A medial view of the Altra Lone Peak 8.
Altra Lone Peak 8 Outsole
Altra has maintained the MaxTrac outsole for the Altra Lone Peak 8. Though the outsole isn’t a Vibram or VJ degree rubber — the MaxTrac materials, mixed with the outsole design, serves the general function of the Lone Peak mannequin properly. It gives safety and respectable sturdiness for efficiency on average technical terrain, particularly together with the Stoneguard rock plate. Nevertheless, the outsole rubber and design additionally permits the wearer to take this shoe out in town, backpacking, or in my case, donned for my area work days. It doesn’t must be overly built-up, aggressive, or cheesy.
Over the course of my assessment miles for the each the Lone Peak 7 and Lone Peak 8, I discovered that the MaxTrac outsole gripped decently properly on most of my runs. Though, I wouldn’t go for a strict highway run within the Lone Peak mannequin, the flex and traction enable the highway miles to stay mild with fast turnover. They carried out properly in sloppy moist circumstances and in snow with some seize.
I did discover that snow atop mud proved to be harder and extra care was wanted to maintain from slip sliding away, as was the identical with actually slick rocks in chilly, wet circumstances. In sum, the general grip is appropriate, which is abetted by the variety of multi-directional chevron lugs. During the last two Lone Peak iterations, there are extra lugs positioned on the midfoot for extra floor contact and safety whereas the lugs are sharper and tackle extra of that claw-like look that Altra advertises.
The outsole of the Altra Lone Peak 8.
Altra Lone Peak 8 Total Impressions
The Altra Lone Peak 8 stays prime of the record — as our favourite zero-drop shoe in our Finest Path Working Footwear information — due to its superior versatility, reliability, and total consolation. It actually does encourage that feel-good sigh of reduction while you slip them on. They encourage motion.
The brand new Lone Peak 8’s refined higher modifications will possible preserve a core group of followers and maybe convey new path lovers and practical health movers into the fold. It’s an all-around respectable performer with resilient midsole foam and floor really feel. The Lone Peak 8 has each a breathable and protecting higher with appropriate traction beneath to make use of as a every day coach or hiker. I’d throw in a runnable 50k, speedwork, plyometric exercises, and on a regular basis life to the record of issues this shoe can do.
It’s a super reduction to know that Altra nonetheless designs sneakers with a low stack peak and 0 drop when the pattern of most operating footwear appears to be stacking on the millimeters, foaming up air and beads for extreme cushion, and hoping to be tremendous — whereby the Lone Peak mannequin, constructed on performance and minimalism, is tremendous in its personal proper.
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Name for Feedback
- Have you ever tried the Altra Lone Peak 8? What have been your ideas?
- How does the Lone Peak 8 examine to earlier fashions for you?
- Do you want operating in zero drop sneakers on the whole?
[Editor’s Note: If you’re affiliated (i.e., an employee, ambassador, etc.) with a shoe brand, please share your relation in each of your comments on this article. Thanks!]
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A prime view of the Altra Lone Peak 8.
