Altra Lone Peak 7 Review | Good for Wide Feet and Beginners?

Altra recently released its 7th version of the Lone Peak model early in 2022 and it did not disappoint. Although this was my first test of any Altra shoe, I have been hearing great things about the brand for years and was excited to give them a try.

I was mostly interested to see how the wider toe box and zero drop construction of the Altra Lone Peak 7 would translate to my trail running. For a shoe with what appears to have minimal construction and detail, the Lone Peak 7 takes the cake with superior comfort.

Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Altra Lone Peak 7 and there are not too many things to fault this shoe on. That being said, I do have a couple of small cons, and I’ll discuss those below.

Who Should Buy the Altra Lone Peak 7?

Both runners and hikers alike are looking for a shoe with superior comfort, excellent durability, and moderate traction. This shoe is great for anyone who intends on running low to moderate technical terrain.

With a minimal lug depth, the Lone Peak 7 can handle almost anything thrown in its path but does have limitations when running highly technical terrain. This is a true trail running shoe that can handle moderate hikes really well.

I loved this Altra model for both short and long runs. The biggest advantage I noticed was the comfort of my longer runs. The forefoot of the shoe has a wide toe box that allows the toes to splay when running which provides a natural and comfortable feel. Along with a snug fitting midfoot that allows you to pick up the pace on shorter runs and feel secure. 

If you are running flat trails or steep trails with low to moderate technical terrain, at any distance over stable conditions, you will not be disappointed with the Lone Peak 7 shoe.

But if you require a shoe that can handle highly technical terrain or a shoe that excels in variable conditions, you might want to look elsewhere.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the Altra Lone Peak 7?

If you’re wanting a trail running shoe for highly technical trails where you’ll run into a ton of abrasion or as a hiker for technical terrain, you’ll likely want to pass on this model.

This shoe’s MaxTrac and Trail Claw Lugs are okay for easy to moderate terrains, but I found them to fall short in contexts where I was navigating looser terrain or any form of wetness.

Another drawback to the Altra Lone Peak 7 is that its zero-drop construction may not resonate with everyone. If you traditionally need a running shoe with a higher drop, then you may not resonate with this shoe’s overall performance, especially on flat trails.

Altra Lone Peak 7

$150

4.3

Versatility

4.3

Durability

4.2

Quality

4.3

Best For

• Light Terrain Trail Runs
• Moderate Terrain Trail Runs
• Light to Moderate Terrain Hikes
• Wider Feet

Falls Short

• For Technical Terrain

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Altra Lone Peak 7 Pros

There are multiple pros that come along with the Altra Lone Peak 7. Here are four of the biggest pros that I have noticed

1. AltraEgo Midsole Provides Balanced Cushioning 
2. Lacing System Is Customizable
3. Wider Toe Box Is Good for Wider Feet
4. 0mm Drop Will Be Great for Some

The first pro is the performance of the AltarEgo midsole. This midsole does exactly what the manufacturer says it’s designed to do. Altra states that the AltraEgo is “designed to harmonize the balance of responsiveness and comfort” and it does just that.

The shoe feels great over short and long distances which to me, indicates that it has both responsiveness and comfort. Even though there is a seemingly minimal design to the shoe, the Altra Lone Peak 7 does not fall short in the comfort category.

Another pro of the Altra Lone Peak 7 is the updated and customizable lacing system. As stated before, this is my first review of any Altra shoe. So I have not had a chance to compare and review previous Lone Peak models. But this lacing system is very snug and secure for both shorter and longer runs.

The ability to pull on different portions of the lace and have the shoe conform to your foot differently was a nice touch. Even when tightening the shoe down fairly aggressively, I did not feel as though there was unwanted pressure on any portions of my foot. Altra did a great job with this updated lacing system on the Lone Peak 7. 

Next, the shaping of the Lone Peak 7 offers superior comfort and a natural running feel. Altra has a few different shoe shapes but uses the “Original Foot Shape” with the Lone Peak 7. This is the roomiest of all three options that Altra offers.

I love how much room there is in the forefoot which allows for your toes to splay when contacting the ground. Another aspect I love was not having my foot feel like it was going to spill over the sole of the shoe. I do have somewhat of a wide foot and it can feel like my foot wants to shift side to side over the sole, but not with Lone Peak 7. 

Lastly, this was my first ever 0mm heel-to-toe drop shoe review and it might be my favorite drop height thus far. The feel of having your foot flatter to the ground, as opposed to a higher drop height with a somewhat pitched forward feel, was a pleasant surprise. I do contact the ground with my forefoot/mid-foot as opposed to my heel.

The 0mm drop had a very natural feel for me and if you strike the ground with the front portion of your shoe too, I would encourage you to try a 0mm drop.  But if you are a heel striker when running at a slower pace you may find a higher drop to be beneficial. 

Altra Lone Peak 7 Cons

The Altra Lone Peak 7 did not have many negatives, I really enjoyed the shoe as a whole, but I did find one con with this model.

1. Trail Claw Performance Is Hit Or Miss
2. Features May Lack On This Shoe for Some

Altra updated their Outsole on the Lone Peak 7 with MaxTrac and Trail Claw Lugs. The company states that the MaxTrac outsole has a combination of grip, traction, and durability on all types of terrain.

Along with the Trail Claw canted lugs are strategically placed under metatarsals to provide added traction. This design does work well on low to moderate technical terrain and dry-condition trail. But falls short when the terrain is a bit more technical and variable condition.

I would not have an issue with this build of outsole had Altra not stated that its design is specifically for all types of terrain, which I find to be false. This combination of outsole design and technology performed decently well but I think there are better options out there.

Another drawback that I think could bother some with the Altra Lone Peak 7 is that this model appeared to have lost a few features that other Lone Peak shoes have possessed. Also, the colorways are a little sub-par on this shoe, in my opinion. The colorways used in this shoe’s predecessors looked a lot better.

Note, as I write this review, I’m writing it from a first-time Lone Peak user’s point of view, and I don’t know what I don’t know. So, for this reason, if you look at other reviews of diehard Lone Peak fans then it seems the consensus is a lack of love for this shoe due to features being decreased.

If you’re a first-time Lone Peak buyer and you’re planning to use this shoe for the contexts outlined above, you should be fine. However, I wanted to make it known that I do lack some context regarding this shoe’s performance and its predecessors.

Altra Lone Peak 7 Performance 

Below I am going to break down the performance of the Altra Lone Peak 7 into different subcategories to help you decide if this shoe, in particular, is right for you.

Testing the Altra Lone Peak 7’s Versatility on the Trail

The Altra Lone Peak 7 is a true trail running shoe in my opinion. I think it can be used as a hiker for low to moderate technical terrain due to its comfort, moderate traction, and moderate durability.

But there are better options for more aggressive hikers and even shoes that can be used for both technical trail running and hiking. With that being said it is a great option for the trail runner who wants a hiker for easier walks and comfort over longer distances. 

The Lone Peak 7 model is great for both shorter and longer runs. When out on a longer run, the moderate cushioning comfort of the AltraEgo is apparent. It does a great job providing support but not too much to where you feel low responsiveness.

On the longer runs that I did in this shoe, I never felt like there was a lacking of cushion or comfort. When I grabbed the Lone Peak 7 for a shorter run at faster speeds, the lacing system and responsive feel gave me a good level of confidence.

Performing shorter runs at a faster pace, I like a bouncy feel and a snug fit. Both of these were evident when testing the Altra Lone Peak 7. Variable conditions were not the Lone Peak 7’s strong suit. Dry conditions on low to moderate technical terrain are where the shoe excels. But anything technical or wet is where I found issues with the traction. I will talk in detail about traction in the next section.