I’ve never personally been the biggest fan of bulky, industrious-like hiking shoes. Whenever I used them as a kid or teenager, they felt like another obstacle and burden on hikes.
Because of this, I did what many kids and teenagers choose to do; wear a good pair of tennis shoes that end up completely filthy and a headache for your parent. (I ruined too many “school” shoes like this as a kid.)
But now, after getting introduced to trail running a few years ago, my trail shoes are now my default hiking shoes for any sort of mountainous terrain. And my preferred choice of shoes being Altra’s Lone Peak 7s.
These things have 3 crucial characteristics that make them my go-to pair of trail shoes:
- Light weight
- Well built
- Exceptional traction
Light Weight
As I shared at the start of this article, the weight and bulk of normal hiking boots have always been the biggest pain point. Most trail running shoes, because they’re designed for agility and endurance, are leaps and bounds lighter than normal hiking shoes. Depending on how much ankle stability you need or want, will determine how much they weigh and overall size.
However, between companies like On and Salomon, you can still find lighter shoes than the Lone Peak 7s that have solid support.
One of the potential down sides of the lightness though can be the durability. There are so many factors that go into this that it’s hard to say how long your shoes will last. For example, how often will you use them, what is the terrain like (sharp rocks, tree covered dirt trails, sand, etc.), weather conditions (wet vs dry), length of each use, etc.
Personally, my Lone Peak 7s are still going strong after getting my last pair in the Spring of 2022. (I’ve ran 100+ miles on trails, 50+ miles on road, and 2 Ragnars with them.)
Well Built
From all the running and abuse my Lone Peak 7s have taken the last 2 years, they still work today because of the strong, durable materials Altra used. Every part of the shoe, from the laces to the tongue, have different materials specific to their function and location. Due to this variety of materials, the entire shoe is strengthened and comfortable.
For example, I can’t tell you how many times the rubberized toe guard has saved my big toe and prevented a giant tear from forming or even starting. I recently did some trail runs in Hawaii, and the majority of these trails are made up of volcanic rock. If you haven’t experienced this stuff in person, let’s just say exceptionally jagged, razor sharp, and does not feel good to fall on. On one of these runs I slammed the front of my right shoe into a lip of volcanic rock. If I wasn’t wearing the Lone Peak 7s, then the front of the shoes would’ve been shredded and my toes potentially fractured or broken.
Exceptional Traction
I currently have 2 primary trail shoes, my Altras and a pair of Salomons, and I much prefer my Altras. In my opinion, the Lone Peak 7s have better traction because of the wide toe box Altra uses. This provides more overall surface area for the shoes to touch and connect with the ground while running.
However, I will say that both of them, right out of the box, have tremendous grip; to the point that it’s arguably equal to, or better than normal hiking shoes. Over the last 3+ years though, my Altras have held up better. Even though they’ve both been used enough that the bottom treads have softened and worn down. (I simply haven’t noticed as many slips with the Altras compared to my Salomons.)
The Recap
All-in-all, the Lone Peak 7s are a great shoe for trailing running, hiking, or tackling just about any outdoor adventure. They’re my favorite right now (summer 2024) and I’m eager to try their newer, 8th generation.
*Pricing tip, you’ll be able to find pretty good deals through other retailers that still have inventory of the 7s compared to the 8s.