ALTRALone Peak 5

We tested this Altra Lone Peak 5 for women on varied terrains and conditions, road, tracks, singles, flat, up and down, in the mountains, undergrowth, on technical and more runnable terrain. We also did long runs, three hours or longer. We even did interval training in dry conditions and in the rain!

The Altra Lone Peak 5 is a trail running shoe. We notice the immediate super comfort; they feel like slippers. You feel like there is no need to “break” them in before going on a first test run. Both the upper and the shoe are flexible, it is comfortable, and you can really feel the shoe and terrain better.

Make sure you tie the laces well before setting and readjust if necessary. But the laces on the Ultra Lone Peak 5 don’t seem to be particularly slippery.

The medial support is only average, but the heel fit is really good (we insist on this point as it is sometimes neglected) even if it has a minimal heel counter.

We first tested the lacing in its original configuration, without passing the lace through the top eyelet, then we wanted to test the lacing all the way to the top to see if the foothold could be improved. It was a bit more reassuring at the midfoot but didn’t fully solve the problem.

We liked the sole’s rebound and energy as well as its stride. The overall comfort is also very pleasant. It has well-balanced heel cushioning, and, as we’ve already stated, the heel hold is good You can really feel the ground under your feet thanks to a good foot strike. The upper is flexible as is the whole shoe.

What we liked less: it lacks medial foothold; your toes move a little too much on a technical downhill and it lacks cushioning at the forefoot. Your toes tend to move around left to right and tap on the front of the shoe. It’s not reassuring when you go really fast in particular sections.

However, it is a good asset in ultra or adventure raid races, for those whose feet tend to swell up a lot!

You would need to see the lifespan of the upper as well as the lugs on the forefoot, which are already showing signs of wear, also the seam at the tip of the shoe touching the sole, not that this last point matters much. There are clearly visible creases on the upper mesh that have already started to form in the flex zones (probably accentuated by our narrow feet).

The mesh gives the impression its tough, but you’d need to validate this over the long-term.

NB: after a slightly longer run in the rain, we noticed that mud likes to get lodged at the heel on the lip of the sole, under the Velcro designed for the gaiter. As for the perforations in the stone guard (to improve breathability or water evacuation), and we also wondered what use they would be in very sticky muddy terrain.

We are used to running with zero-drop shoes, but of course it isn’t for everyone without a transition. Strangely, with a clear tendency to heel strike, we felt at ease with the Altra Lone Peak 5. However, it is still a shoe that isn’t necessarily recommended for all runner profiles.

Overall, the Altra Lone Peak 5 shoes are fun to run with on terrain that isn’t too technical. They are fun on hilly sections and on runnable terrain where you can really take advantage of their spring. They also seem pretty good on the road.

"Overall, the Altra Lone Peak 5 shoes are fun to run with on terrain that isn’t too technical. They are fun on hilly sections and on runnable terrain where you can really take advantage of their spring. They also seem pretty good on the road."

Rating

• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
• Foothold
  7
• Cushioning
  8
• Grip
  8
• Foot strike
  9
• Stone guard
  7