Australian Hiker

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Altra Lone Peak 7 Women's Trail Running Shoes Review

Many will know that my preferred Altra hiker is the Lone Peak model which I have been wearing for many years now! I recently tried not to be a creature of habit and spent some time wearing the Altra Mont Blanc Women’s Shoes – I really liked them but I just can’t keep away from the Lone Peak!

So here I am again trading up a model to the Lone Peak 7. They are kinda the same and kinda different from the Lone Peak 6 Shoes. The styling is similar and different – this time around the colours are vibrant and not so predictable. I opted for the Dark Purple but they also come in Light Grey (grey and light green), Dark Red (which not surprisingly is dark red with a bit of orange), Orange (very pale orange and bits of black) and Tan (which is yes, tan with bits of light blue). Not all these colours are available in Australia and then of course it depends on your size. Speaking of which, the Lone Peak 7 comes in half sizes from 5.5 up to 12.

This version is Altra’s lightest Lone Peak being only 546 grams (size 9.5) given the upper is constructed of Quick-Dry Air Mesh. It is described as having ‘moderate’ cushioning with a stack height of 25mm and despite the Mont Blanc having ‘high’ cushioning and a stack height of 30mm, I find the Lone Peak 7s much more comfortable to hike in. It probably doesn’t make sense but that’s just how it feels for me!

All the usual Altra features are there such as Zero Drop, the MaxTrac™ outsole, the Altra EGO™ midsole and GAITERTRAP Velcro for securing lycra gaiters such as the fabulously colourful Dirty Girl Gaiters. The 7s still have a lacing arrangement where the Lycra gaiters attach to the gaiter hook instead of a small loop that was at the front of previous models. I still don’t like this because it does impact the tightness of the lacing whereas the previous arrangement didn’t.

While there are still six lacing eyelets, there are now two double lace-throughs (as opposed to eyelets) which serve to provide less lace sliding during wear.

The one thing that disappoints me with Altra shoes is that the tongue under the lacing slips sideways from the first step! Not really a problem that impacts comfort or wearability – it just annoys me. The revised lacing system does reduce the slipping but I still find I need to wrap the laces around the tongue guide to be sure.

The price at AUD $269.90 is getting up there but they are a durable and comfortable shoe and you can often find them on sale at a lower price.

I’ve worn these shoes on a range of trail surfaces now including the Callum Brae Nature Reserve Loop ACT (4.64km) and the Thredbo River Track NSW (9.2km) in Kosciusko National Park. The ascents and descents, rocky gravel, muddy patches, clambouring and many steps were not an issue for the Lone Peak 7s.

Altra continues to improve the Lone Peak range and the 7s are the best wearing, looking and feeling version to date.

We Like

• Great wide fit
• These are a comfortable hiking shoe with long lasting midsole cushioning
• Comfortable cushioned tongue that adds to the overall comfort
• Robust toe guards and well padded heals that provide good protection for both the front and rear of the foot
• Great long wearing traction lugs that last in a wide range of conditions from wet to dry
• Breathable so your feet don’t overheat. They also dry reasonably quickly in warm weather if they do get wet
• Robust but lightweight construction which reduces the impact on the legs after long days of hiking

We Don't Like

• Removing the gaiter loop and replacing it with the lacing doesn’t make sense to me – it unnecessarily tightens the laces
• The lacing tongue continues to slide about but less so than previous versions

Would I Use These Shoes for Hiking?

Yes, definitely! These shoes are great for all short, day, multi-day and even multi-week hikes in most conditions with the exception of continually wet or snow conditions

Best Use

For hikers who:

• Want a comfortable and hard wearing shoe on the trail
• Have a wide forefoot
• Prefer zero drop shoes

Buy One

You can purchase the Altra Lone Peak 7 Women’s Trail Running Shoes at Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD$269.90 RRP

Other Versions

• Available in both men’s and women’s sizings
• Available in a ‘wide fitting’ for those of you with a really wide forefoot

Altra Lone Park 7 Women’s Trail Running Shoes in Dark Purple

Altra Lone Peak 7 Women’s Trail Running Shoes close up of sole. The pattern and material used in construction of the sole provide a very durable and grippy shoe

Altra Lone Peak 7 Women’s Trail Running Shoes front and rear view. The velcro gaiter trap is visible on the right hand side

Gaiter Trap close up of Lone Peak 7 with the velcro ‘open’

Altra Lone Peak 7 – close up of mesh and hook for the gaiter trap hook

Altra Lone Peak 7 – inside and outside side view

Gill in her Altra Lone Peak 7s and Dirty Girl Gaiters. The hook in the front of the gaiters is hooked onto the small piece of lacing at the front and the back is attached by velcro to the gaiter trap

Altra Lone Peak 7 in Dark Red

Altra Lone Peak 7 in Light Grey

Altra Lone Peak 7 in Tan

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Last updated

17 February 2024

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