Zero-Drop Trail Runner Gets Durability Upgrade: Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

The snow was slick white on the Rocky Mountain trail in Colorado. It had been packed into a luge-like grade that sloped outward toward some exposed rocky terrain. The February cold pressed in as I hiked in the new Altra Lone Peak 9 shoes. Normally, this time of year, I’d be wearing boots or some sort of traction device, but with the new upgrades to the classic Lone Peak MaxTrac outsole, I had plenty of grip for the wintery trail.

Altras have been my choice for lightweight hikers for years, and the Lone Peak series is one of the brand’s flagship shoes. Lone Peaks gained popularity among trail runners and long-distance ultralight hikers for the lightweight, zero-drop design and comfortable, minimalist fit. The Lone Peak 8 is currently the Best Overall Hiking Shoe on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Hiking Shoes, and for good reason.

So, I was excited to get my hands on a pair of the Altra Lone Peak 9 trail running shoes to test them out. From the hot, dusty sections of the Continental Divide Trail to the high altitude of the Colorado Trail, I packed some serious miles on these shoes. They look a little worse for wear than they did out of the box. But they performed and held up well against the abuse of the trial.

In short: Altra redesigned the Lone Peak 9 Trail Running Shoe ($140) with a new upper, midsole, and outsole to provide better durability, traction, and comfort. For hikers, trail runners, and anyone who likes zero-drop shoes, Altra has created a burlier trail runner that’s still ultralight. It is not a shoe with maximum cushion or rigid support. But as the next evolution in the Lone Peak series, this shoe delivers on Altra’s promises.

If you’re shopping for hiking shoes, compare the Lone Peak 9 to others on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Hiking Shoes.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Review

Out of the box, these shoes look sleek. The Lone Peak 9 is ultralight, clocking in at 11.15 ounces. They still feel pretty beefy for such lightweight hikers, though, and were clearly designed with long trails in mind.

The Lone Peak 9 looks similar to its predecessors. It has the signature roomy toebox that my wide feet love. And, like all eight of its predecessors, it is zero-drop. The Altra Lone Peak 9 is available in men’s and women’s sizes. Compare it with our review of the Lone Peak 8.

Upgrades & Updates

Historically, the Lone Peak series is a go-to for trail runners and ultralight hikers because of its light weight and close-to-the-earth foot feel. But they don’t have a reputation for being the most durable shoes. After a few hundred miles or a full hiking season, it’s usually time for a new pair. The Lone Peak 9 is supposedly designed with durability at the forefront to address that.

The upgraded Lone Peak 9 has a redesigned ripstop upper mesh with no-sew overlays, which is meant to boost the shoe’s durability and longevity. Altra said it also updated the MaxTrac outsole to provide a better grip on slippery surfaces and tweaked the Altra EGO midsole for added cushion.

I talked to a few hardcore trail runners who swear by Altra and refuse to wear anything else. They can easily go through several pairs of Lone Peaks a year. And without a sponsorship, at $140, replacing multiple pairs of these shoes can get expensive. So, they were understandably stoked for the release of the Lone Peak 9. The longer this shoe lasts someone, the more cost-effective it is to own a pair (and the less waste gets produced).

On the Trail, in the Snow

I’ve been testing these shoes while training for a spring backpacking expedition in the Himalayas. They didn’t need to break in like a stiffer leather hiking boot would. However, over time, they molded to my feet and stretched out a bit.

I’ve found that with low-cut socks, the heel guard can dig into my heel and cause blisters or irritation. That problem is easily mitigated, though, with some slightly higher-cut socks.

The Lone Peak 9 comes in a waterproof version. But even the non-waterproof version kept my feet warm and relatively dry. They do have a GaiterTrap tab, which makes it easy to add a strapless gaiter as needed, depending on trail conditions.

MaxTrac Traction

I really put the MaxTrac outsole to the test this winter on the snowy and icy trails of Colorado. They did quite well, with the exception of some isolated traction issues. I still find the Vibram outsoles offer more traction, which are available on some Altra models. The Lone Peak 9, however, doesn’t use Vibram.

The grippy MaxTrac outsole is visible on the Lone Peak 9 with its signature “foot” style imprint that most seasoned hikers will recognize. It provides solid traction and a grippy sensation on rocks, roots, and scree. However, the traction did give out on me when it was wet on hardpack snow or ice, and I had to use crampons to mitigate that.

So are they more grippy than the Lone Peak 8? That’s hard to know for certain without lab testing. But it’s safe to say the traction isn’t worse than previous versions. It’s at least as good, possibly better.

EGO Midsole & Zero-Drop

Altra notes that version 9 has a refreshed Altra EGO midsole, intended to provide a plush cushion that is still engaged with the ground feel. I could tell a difference between these and the Olympus 6, which I’ve hiked in extensively and has max cushion midsoles. If you are carrying a heavy pack or are a larger hiker, the Lone Peak 9’s midsole could feel too thin over longer, rougher terrain.

The signature zero-drop is a key part of Altra Lone Peaks. It is intended to provide a natural foot position platform that makes running or hiking stable and natural for the entire body. The zero-drop flat platform ties into the roomy, spacious toebox of the Lone Peak 9. It let my feet splay out naturally while I was walking, hiking, or jogging in these shoes.

Increased Durability?

After a few months of testing these new Lone Peaks in pretty harsh winter terrain, the durability seems promising. I tracked these shoes through a little bit of everything, and they have weathered it all well. They stood up to rocks, ice, and snow in testing this season and aren’t anywhere near needing to be replaced.

Altra claims this shoe is more durable and will last longer, and for what it’s worth, I believe that. However, the true test of time will be how they look a year and hundreds of miles from now. I’m eager to see how they fare as I hike throughout spring, summer, and fall.

Altra Lone Peak 9: Who Is It For?

After numerous hikes in the Lone Peaks 9, I can tell that the new upgrades make a real difference in the shoe’s feel. The traction is good, and the claims about durability have held up well (at least so far).

This shoe’s reinforced upper could help save hikers money on replacements. It might even help reduce the number of Lone Peaks that end up in landfills.

I would recommend the Lone Peak 9 as a trail running shoe or a lightweight hiker for anyone looking for a well-built zero-drop shoe. If you run trails multiple times a week or are a thru-hiker looking to go long and light on a hike, this is a great footwear option.

That’s why the Lone Peak 8 was GearJunkie’s Best Overall Hiking Shoe on our guide to the Best Hiking Shoes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lone Peak 9 on that list soon.

If you want exceptional cushion or ankle support, this is not the shoe for you. However, the Altra Lone Peak 9 does well on a variety of terrain and is designed for some tough miles on rocky trails. Avid fans of the Altra Lone Peak series will appreciate the upgrades the brand made.