Altra Lone Peak 6 Review
January 22, 2023
Via Francigena
By guy yefet
In this blog, you will find my review of the Altra lone peak 6. One of the best trail running shoes!
Altra Lone Peak 6 have been upgraded with new upper construction and a customizable lacing system designed for a better fit on the trails. This evolution delivers the ultimate trail features like the grippy MaxTrac™ sole with trailing TrailClaw™ lugs designed to conquer any terrain.
Weight: 300 g
Midsole: Altra EGO™
Outsole: MaxTrac™ technology
Damping: Moderate
Upper: Durable air mesh for quick drying
The Altra lone peak 6 shoes served me faithfully for 1000+ kilometers walking the Via Francigena.
Altra maintains its modest and militant line with the choice of materials and design of Lone Peak 6.
A variety of light and dark colors make up the model's color palette. The upper limb is sewn from a very dense mesh fabric that looks and feels the same as the previous model. Precise laser-cut square ventilation holes stand out in the front of the shoe and on the outer side of the heel.
In the coloring of the shoe on the sides, small squares are integrated that remind of the ventilation holes and eliminate them within the overall design.
All the materials in the shoe were chosen on the soft side of the scale. It feels more like a slipper than a trail running shoe. Another feature is a combination of narrow and long drainage openings at the bottom of the sole of the shoes.
In the previous model, the liquid drainage was very successful, even after occasional immersions during running, the water was drained out and not stored inside the shoes.
In Lone Peak 6, Altra took it a step further and enlarged the drain holes. This should ensure further improvement in drainage and ventilation.
Another thing Altra repeats religiously is the lack of rigid heel support.
In most pairs of shoes, there is a hard part in the heel of the shoe, that performs several functions. The basic one supports locking your feet, and the more advanced one is mechanical protection from damage. In Altra, it simply does not exist. The heel is soft and folding, but very cushioned.
The softness and flexibility of the sole, with the grip lugs located in strategic places, provided plenty of grip on rough, sandy, and rocky terrain.
In descents, when the side slope is frontal and not lateral, the width of the shoes actually helps. The toes do not get stuck in the front part of the shoes, and nail injuries that usually accompany this are avoided.
// Damping: the damping in Altra Lone Peak 6 is excellent on the border of pleasant. The shock absorption of the shoe is well felt, and it integrates well with the Stone Guard that protects the foot from the stabs of the stones.
// Off-road grip: I walked with the Altra Lone Peak 6 on almost every off-road route. Tight gravel paths, rock crossings on the Alps, climbs and descents in hills, and much more. The shoe grips the ground well thanks to its serrated sole, and it gives confidence to the runner in the field.
// A sense of terrain: this is something that, in my eyes, is unique in ALTRA LONE PEAK 6. The shoe makes you feel close to the ground and gives feedback on what is happening under your foot. On the other hand, it filters out the bumps and punctures of the stones you walk over in the field.
// Width: although this is seemingly obvious when it comes to Altra shoes, the shoe offers a particularly generous width that is suitable for those who are looking for wide shoes and cannot find them.
Last year, I walked 880 kilometers on the Camino de Santiago with the Solomon Speed Cross 5 which was also excellent but was too narrow. I did not feel the same comfort as in Altra lone peak.
// Flexibility: Altra Lone Peak 6 is very flexible and allows the runner to move freely with every step, as nature intended.
// The grip of the shoe on the foot: the main grip of the ALTRA LONE PEAK 6 is in the middle part where the laces are.
In the front part, the foot feels too loose, and this causes the foot to move inside the shoe.
// The laces are a bit too long: personally, it didn't really bother me that much, but maybe some will be bothered by it. More than once, the laces came undone, and I had to tie them again several times.
For those who have never experienced running with zero-drop shoes, at first it will be a bit strange. The strangest and most different part is the tread. Those used to running on shoes with a straight drop of 8-10 mm will feel that to run with Altra, they must shorten their stride. This is not unique for Altra lone peak but for any shoe with zero drops.
The body's natural tendency will be to shorten the steps and change the tread Heel guide for mid-foot stepping, or front stepping.
The body learns that if you continue to step on a heel, you get a shock and a blow with every step because the shoe does not have a thick and cushioning heel like in other pairs. This difference disappears as you move to run in more technical and less tight terrain.
The shoes feel very soft and flexible. The feeling when locked is that the shoe is very wide even when the laces are tightened. It's something you have to get used to when you go ultra.
The toes are indeed spread widely inside the toe box. It's not a marketing trick or gimmick. It is a completely different feeling, you learn to enjoy the advantages it gives - a better grip on sandy or loose ground, a wider tread, and a better grip on technical terrain.
No. The Altra lone peak 6 is not waterproof, but to Altra's credit, it can be noted that they do not store water in large quantities, but drain it quite well.
One of the most essential parameters is the shoe's ability to evaporate/drain water. Not always the reason that the shoes fill up with water is entering a spring or crossing a stream. Quite a few long runs in the field or when I went on a hike, I finished with the shoes soaked in sweat to a level that you could literally squeeze them out.
The shoe stays moist on the inside, but it doesn't feel like running in a sponge that someone is making sure to wet all the time. Even though the shoes are wet inside, there are no scuffs or other damage to the feet.
If you want to experience hiking trails differently, you should check out trail running shoes.
I am talking about trail-running shoes and not running shoes.
Trail running shoes will respond to changing routes, stones, and slippery ground. Therefore, it is necessary to equip yourself with dedicated shoes to ensure the safety of your feet.
This is where trail running shoes come into play.
In the last few years, I switched from trekking boots to trail running shoes, and it changed my whole perception.
1kg on the legs is like 5kg on your back!
This is a common saying, although some make it easy with 3kg. Basically, this is a relatively physical matter.
We lift our legs in every route, unlike the rest of the body, which for a large part of the walk, we are not required to lift.
If you think of your shoes as weights, you are basically doing non-stop sets of weight lifting with your feet throughout the entire walk.
The legs have a large lever. Therefore, more force is required to change their height during the walk.
The bottom line is that it is very worthwhile to reduce the weight of your shoes, and trail running shoes can easily save more than a whole kg on your feet!
They are much more ventilated. The reason it's good, apart from the fact that it's more pleasant (especially in hot weather). It's an excellent way to solve a serious blistering problem that plagues most trekkers.
Better feedback from the ground.
Since cross-country running shoes are often significantly softer than classic mountain shoes and have a thinner sole, there is much more accurate feedback from the ground and you can feel the route you are walking on, unlike a monstrous shoe that is as indifferent to the spike of a boulder as it is to an asphalt road.
This is good for several reasons:
*Strengthens the postural muscles in your legs.
*Prevents falls and slips due to the brain's understanding of the position of your feet on the ground.
*Changes pressure points along the walk. This helps prevent pain in the foot after a long walk. These pains arise due to constant pressure on the same points in the foot over time.
*Trail running shoes are simply a comfortable thing.
*There is no need for other shoes for the evening when you finish the day of walking.
*I have found that they make unnecessary the need for a replacement for the evening hours or days of rest in the towns that were a must during the mountain shoe era. If before I switch to trail running shoes, I had to take sandals with me to air out my feet in the evening, with trail running shoes, I don't feel that need. Beyond the fact that it saves another item and a lot of weight on the back, it's convenient not to feel the need to change the hiking boots straight away arriving at camp for the night.
// The grip on a rough surface - the sole of the outdoor shoes can provide good grip during running on soil, dust, mud, stones, tree roots, and all other things that may come up along the way.
// Foot protection - several internal and external features of the shoe will help protect your feet from hitting objects such as stones and roots. And a durable material found in the upper part of the shoe will protect against scratches and cuts in the fabric.
// Rigid structure - trail running shoes are built in a way that should prevent sharp ankle turns, since off-road walking involves shorter steps in changing directions, maintaining consistency and forward momentum is not as important as road shoes.
// Height differences between the heel and the toes
This is a necessary measure when choosing shoes. Your personal preference is crucial. This is called "drop".
An average shoe or one with maximum cushioning will have a high drop.
A shoe with minimalist cushioning will be satisfied with a drop of 0-4 millimeters.
A "barefoot" shoe will be without a drop. For reference, a running shoe will often have 8 millimeters or more.
Trail running shoes are not waterproof, which is the only way they can be so light and breathable. The cool part is that it's not such a problem. Those of you who have gone out to walk with "classic" mountain shoes in the rain, or deep snow, or cross a river with them at least 20 cm deep, know that they definitely get wet (yes, the Gortex too).
Trail running shoes get wet much more easily, and any light rain or walking in a 5 cm puddle will wet your socks, but the beauty is that the faster they get wet, they dry - really fast!
In practice, in most treks that include snow or rain, Trail running shoes will reduce the wet walking of your feet due to rapid drying. Surprising and cool.
Other companies offer trail running shoes with 0 drops, but Altra has its own fan club, and you can see why. These are comfortable shoes with excellent grip and excellent moisture removal ability.
The ALTRA LONE PEAK 6 is an excellent outdoor shoe with moisture-wicking ability. Absorbs the shocks nicely and gives confidence when walking and running. They give a good ground feel and have excellent grip on all surfaces.
How long do Altra lone peaks last?
Trail running shoes are known to wear out faster. The Altra lone peak 6 may last 600-800 km, although this depends, of course, on a variety of parameters.
After walking with the Altra lone peak 6 for 1200 km in rocks, snow, mud, and rain, I can unequivocally recommend them.
I didn't have a single blister on the Via Francigena route, and I know a lot of that is due to the shoes.
Of course, after 1200km, the shoes are no longer the same. I have to buy new ones, but what is certain is that it will be a pair of Altra lone peak shoes.
If you get along with drop 0 and like very soft and flexible shoes - Welcome to Altra's club.
Read My Other Blogs:
Via Francigena: A Beginner Guide For A Pilgrimage To Rome
Annapurna Circuit Solo: The Detailed Itinerary
The complete guide to solo travel in nepal
3 Days In Kathmandu: The Ultimate Kathmandu Itinerary
12 best reasons to visit nepal
Scotland road trip Itinerary for 14 days
How to plan the ultimate norway road trip
15 most amazing places in Norway
8 most scenic routes in norway
how to spend weekend in Amsterdam
2 weeks in sicily: the perfect sicily road trip
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