Ultimate Altra Lone Peak 7 Review (by a Hiker)

Altra Lone Peak 7 trail running shoes are the latest pair I purchased to hike this summer, and I have taken these beauties out on several hikes since. So in this post, you’ll find my honest Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 review. I also ended up buying the matching Altra gaiters, so I also included an Altra Trail Gaiter review below. I’ll keep updating this post about my new hiking shoes as time goes by for progress updates, so stay tuned.

I purchased the Altra Lone Peak 8! Read my review here!!

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Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 Manufacturer Specs

Below is a specs list of the Altra Lone Peak 7 women’s shoes, which is provided on the Altra website, and I’ll share my take on each of the main features following this bullet list in the next section:

• Weight: 9.2 oz / 261 g
• Midsole: Altra EGO™
• Outsole: MaxTrac™
• Cushion: Moderate
• Stack Height: 25 mm
• Drop: 0 mm
• Upper: Quick-Dry Air Mesh
• Velcro attachment for trail gaiters

Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 Features

Weight

I bought my Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 shoes in size 10.5, so of course, they are a little bigger and heavier than the “standard” foot size; but still very light! my left shoe weighs 277 g (including laces and dirt/dust!), and my right one weighs 287 g (also including laces and dirt/dust!). So now I wish I had weighed them when they were brand new to see if one shoe was heavier than the other one from the start! The variance seems strange to me, I highly doubt there are 10 more grams of dirt on one shoe, but who knows? Ultimately, they are super lightweight though, and I feel like I can hike further because my legs lift less.

Upper

The Lone Peak 7’s upper material is quick-to-dry air mesh and is seamless and stitch-free. The material feels very lightweight and Altra claims it’s very durable (time will tell!). I’ve only worn them for about 100 miles so far. I’ve done several river crossings and they dried very quickly, typically within an hour, though my socks still feel damp for a bit longer sometimes.

I recently also completed a slushy half-marathon snow hike in the Sierra, where I had to wear micro spikes with these Altra. My feet got wet of course, and the shoes didn’t have time to fully dry overnight due to low temperatures. But even though I put them back on wet the next morning (with dry socks), they dried up within the first hour.

Outsole and Grip

The women’s Lone Peak outsole was upgraded compared to previous versions. I cannot compare them to prior versions from experience as this is my first pair of Lone Peak Altras. But I’ve been wearing Keen hiking boots for many years, and I get at least as much traction and grip with these Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7. I feel very comfortable going up and down trails, as well as climbing rocks. These Altra Lone Peak 7 have a lot of grip, I don’t slide or glide at all. They are very responsive and let me do whatever I want outdoors with comfort and confidence on any terrain.

Benefit!

What I love about the outsole as well is that it extends past behind the heel. Oftentimes my shoes get worn out so quickly because of the friction and the way I walk. One shoe usually gets worn out faster than the other and the wear gets into the heel. But with these shoes, I feel like they’ll last longer because the outsole goes out about a centimeter from the heel and that design choice really seems to solve that problem. Of course, only time will tell if it truly does!

As an added value, Altra also provides trail gaiters that clip and attach to the trail runners.

Toe box

The toe box is extra wide and I love that! My foot can expand and take up as much room as it needs to support my whole body, and that feels a lot more ergonomic to me. I’ve always had a really good balance anyway from years spent rollerblading, but I feel like these shoes really support my balance even more by allowing my foot to take as much space as it needs.

Cushioning

The cushioning is moderate with a stack height of 25mm. To me, it feels like I could literally walk for hours on end, and never feel the ground beneath me. After multiple hikes of ten miles and longer, I didn’t get sore feet after hiking. I never got blisters even after their maiden 8-mile hike, and I always feel like I could keep my shoes on way longer than I do. The Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 trail runners are that comfy. And they are really well-ventilated too because my feet don’t sweat in them.

Zero drop

The shoe also has a completely flat sole, known as zero drop. Personally, I love this because I think it goes back to enabling my foot to perform a more natural movement. Again, time will tell, but I suspect this may benefit my body more in the long run. My foot muscles can move the way they should in full motion without any restrictions, which may increase their strength in the long term.

Customer Reviews on the New Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7

The biggest takeaway from my pre-purchase research was that people complained about the new Altra Lone Peak 7 for Women’s color options! If that’s all people have to complain about regarding a pair of shoes, then that alone should be enough to demonstrate what a great pair of trail runners the new Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 is.

The only thing I’ll say about the colors is that I ordered my pair online without seeing them in person first, and I purchased them in “dark red”. They are in the dark red family, but to me, they are more pink than red. I expected the red to be more like the red from the 4.5 model a few years ago. But in hindsight, the 4.5 red was more orange, and the 7 red is more pink. Regardless, I wanted shoes that pop and drastically contrast with my hiking outfits. I love my dark red Lone Peak 7’s!

Are The New Altra Lone Peak 7 Trail Running Shoes Worth It?

I am fully aware that it is early days with my new Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 shoes at about 100 miles with them. But so far, I can see what the fuss is about with these legendary trail runners and I am so thrilled to own a pair at long last!

Pros & Cons of the New Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 trail runners

Altra Trail Gaiters Review

I purchased the gaiters after getting annoyed with all the twigs, dirt, sand, and whatever else invaded my shoes after I switched to the Altras. These issues never happened with high hiking boots, but that’s a small price to pay for lighter shoes and more comfort.

Sizing options:

• Small: (M 7-9.5 / W 5-11)
• Large: (M 10-14 / W 12)

My Altra Trail Gaiters

My shoes are a women’s 10.5, so I bought the small gaiters. They connect to the Altra Lone Peak 7 trail runners with a hook on the top of the shoe and two-sided velcro on the back of the heel. They also come with protective velcro squares.

When I first put them on, the gaiters didn’t seem to cover much of the top of my shoes, so I questioned whether they were the right size for me. But after their maiden 6-mile hike, I found the sizing fit to be true to size for me. They fit me and my Lone Peak 7 perfectly and they protected sand, dirt, and random debris from entering my shoes.

The Altra Trail Gaiters feel light because they are thin. I actually forget I have them on so they truly are very comfortable. They also don’t leave marks on my skin after I take them off and the velcro works well. They stay in place, which contributes to my forgetting about wearing them.

Altra Lone Peak Velcro

Historically, I have struggled with keeping velcro attachments clean. I hope the protective squares will help me tackle that challenge. I am trying not to lose them. It’s early days with them, but I’m pleased with my purchase so far.

The Altra Lone Peak Gaiters are a quality product from what I can tell after hiking about 20 miles with them. And I also can’t put a price on walking “clean”. I just love not getting debris and twigs digging into my feet anymore! So if you’re looking for a sign to buy them, here it is!

Frequently Asked Questions about Altra Lone Peak 7 Shoes

Why do Altra shoes have velcro on the back?

The Altra shoes velcro on the back is to fasten the matching Altra trail gaiters, to prevent debris and dirt from entering your shoes as you run or hike. Read more about these gaiters here.

Are the Altra Lone Peak 7 waterproof?

The Altra Lone Peak 7 are not waterproof shoes, because they will get your feet wet if they are submerged in water. However, they are water resistant in the sense that there is no risk in submerging the shoes in water, and they are very quick drying. Typically for me, within an hour, the shoes are dry. It takes longer for my socks to not be damp anymore, but if you plan ahead and bring a spare pair of socks, that could be easily solved.

What’s your experience with Altra Lone Peak 7 shoes?

This is my first pair of Altra’s, and I am pretty sure it won’t be my last. I use my Altra Lone Peak 7 for hiking and backpacking and for me, these have been game changers! They are so light compared to the hiking boots I used to wear. They also don’t keep my feet as hot as the boots used to, so I can now hike and backpack in the desert with these on in the summer, and my feet don’t feel like they are overheating. At first, I was worried about not having any protection for my ankles, but it’s been great so far. And now that I use the gaiters as well, hiking and backpacking with the Altra Lone Peak 7 is even more comfortable.

Altra Lone Peak 7 Size Guide

The best advice I can give you is to try on multiple sizes to see what fits best. The shoes are available in regular and wide width. When you try them on, make sure there is a thumb’s width worth of space between your big toe and the front of the shoe to ensure proper fit. When I tie mine, I also make sure my heel is right against the back of the shoe, by tapping on my heel inside the shoe against the floor. This helps me protect my toes even more and also ensures I buy the right size shoe each time.

Final Thoughts

I hope this review can help you make your decision on buying the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 trail running shoes and the matching trail gaiters. I find these trail running shoes excellent for hiking and backpacking purposes, and very comfortable even for all-day wear. The gaiters also perform really well and I am officially a fan of Altra’s now! Go on, buy a pair now! I am sure you won’t regret it!

Thanks for reading and happy trails! 🙂

Post originally published on June 6, 2023, and last updated on May 9, 2024.