Altra Lone Peak 8 Review: Light as a Feather and Perfect for Low-Key Camping Trips

The Altra Lone Peak 8 continues to be my go-to hiking shoe for camping trips when I don’t want to haul anything bulky. Don’t get me wrong — these shoes can do it all, within reason, and are absolutely perfect for short and mid-range hikes. I’ve now taken them all over the Elk Mountain Wilderness in Colorado and continue to love their minimalist feel.

These are super-lightweight, zero-drop trail runners that are great for covering mileage at a quicker pace. I love them when I’m with my pup because he usually wants to jog for a little while, but then also slows down to sniff-inspect everything he doesn’t usually encounter at home.

The Lone Peak 8, like all Altras, has a more natural fit, with a roomy toebox designed to keep feet comfortable so that you can move more freely. At first glance, they might look especially wide up front, but that’s just so that your feet and toes can spread out.

In short: I’d recommend these shoes for shorter adventures where you might want to cover more ground quickly. The cushioning won’t make you feel like your feet are in the lap of luxury all day, but they’re scrappy and ready to play in the wild.

Altra Lone Peak 8 Review

Short and Steep

On a recent trip to camp on the Taylor River outside of Almont, Colo., I had tons of mountain biking planned. But I was bringing my best buddy (my dog), so I knew I’d also do at least a few shorter hikes on trails around camp. I knew the Altra Lone Peak 8s would be the perfect hiking shoes for the weekend.

These hiking shoes are easy to clip to a pack, easy to carry, dry quickly, and perform just as well as some of their more substantial cousins in the hiking shoe world. Because they’re so lightweight, and have a zero drop, they definitely have the minimalist feel. But I’ve been surprised how often I grab them over a more cushioned shoe in the past few months.

And this is certainly more than a stroll-around-the-block shoe. Before bombing down Doctor Park on a bike, one of the most popular mountain biking trails in the area, my pup and I hiked up it, which means some significant climbing on loose, rocky terrain. We jogged the flats through the aspen forests, and bouldered up a few rocks for even better views of the valley.

The MaxTrac rubber outsole is great for grip on just about any terrain. Despite the thinner sole, the ability to maneuver on various surfaces is not lacking.

How They Feel

The ripstop mesh on the upper makes these shoes quick to dry so that your feet are never sweaty. The roomy toebox is sort of Altra’s bread and butter. Feet fit in a more natural way so that you’re not only more comfortable but are also using your full step in a more natural way. It makes sense that these are trail runners, because the positioning of the foot is just so comfortable.

Another one of my favorite features of these shoes is the Velcro tab on the back of the shoe. It’s perfect for adding gaiters when tackling trails with loose pebbles or sand. With gaiters, these shoes would make an excellent pick for romping around on sand dunes or exploring dusty desert trails. Altra makes its own branded gaiters that fit the Velcro tab perfectly.

I personally love the extra room in the toebox and the way my toes can really spread out. I have a bit of a wider forefoot, so Altras always feel like my feet aren’t being suffocated and can instead breathe and relax.

Go-To for Smaller Adventures

When I changed out of my Lone Peak 8s and into my mountain biking shoes for the second adventure of the day, I kind of wanted to just keep the Lone Peaks on. And honestly, if you run flat pedals and know you’ll be doing some hike-a-bike, that wouldn’t be a bad call.

Depending on your feet, these might not be the go-to for a long thru-hike, but they’re super fun for morning romps. I also like that they’re a bit stylish. I’d definitely wear these around town after all the adventures of the day are over and it’s time to seek out pizza. The color combinations are sharp, and I feel like they pair nicely even with a pair of jeans. 

The Altra Lone Peak 8 made my selection for “best minimalist women’s hiking shoe” on Gear Junkie’s Best Hiking Shoes for Women guide. These shoes will definitely stay in my rotation through the summer and the fall!