The New Altra Lone Peak 8 vs Lone Peak 7 (Hiker Review)

Altra recently launched the Lone Peak 8, and I couldn’t help but buy a pair! So in this post, you’ll find my honest Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 review, and how these trail running shoes compare to the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7, which I’ve owned for about ten months now. I’ll keep updating this post about my new hiking shoes as time goes by for progress updates, so stay tuned.

Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 Manufacturer Specs

The Lone Peak 7 and Lone Peak 8 are both exceptional trail running shoes, with several similarities and subtle differences. Overall, both models provide excellent comfort, stability, and performance for trail runners, with the Lone Peak 8 possibly offering slight weight and upper material enhancements.

Below is a comparative table, and I’m going into details in the subsequent section.

	Altra Lone Peak 7	Altra Lone Peak 8
Weight	9.2 oz / 261 g	9.16 oz / 259 g
Midsole	Altra EGO™	Altra EGO™
Outsole	MaxTrac™	MaxTrac™
Cushion	Moderate	Moderate
Stack Height	25 mm	25 mm
Drop	0 mm	0 mm
Upper	Quick-Dry Air Mesh	Ripstop mesh
Velcro attachment for trail gaiters	Yes	Yes

Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 Features

Weight

The Lone Peak 8 weighs 9.16 ounces or 259 grams, slightly lighter than the Lone Peak 7 which was 9.2 ounces or 261 grams.

I bought my Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 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 286 g, and my right one weighs 285 g (including laces and dirt/dust!). My Lone Peak 7s weigh 287 g, which explains why I can’t feel a difference between walking in either pair. Ultimately, the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 trail running shoes are super lightweight, and I feel like I can hike further because my legs lift less.

Upper, Outsole, and Grip

Both shoes feature the Altra EGO™ midsole and MaxTrac™ outsole, ensuring reliable cushioning and traction on various terrains. They also offer a moderate level of cushioning, with a stack height of 25mm and a zero-drop design, promoting a natural foot positioning.

However, while the Lone Peak 7 boasts a Quick-Dry Air Mesh upper, the Lone Peak 8 utilizes a Ripstop mesh upper, which may offer different breathability and durability characteristics. Time will tell!

Benefit!

What I love about the Lone Peak 8 trail running shoes is that the outsole extends past behind the heel. My shoes get worn out so quickly because of the way I walk. One shoe usually gets worn out much faster than the other and the wear gets into the heel. But these shoes last longer because the outsole goes out about a centimeter from the heel and that design choice really seems to solve that problem.

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

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.

The Altra Lone Peak 8 hiking shoes feel a tad wider to me compared to the Lone Peak 7, but it’s only a fraction. When I hike with my Lone Peak 8, they feel exactly like hiking with my Lone Peak 7s.

Cushioning

The cushioning is moderate with a stack height of 25mm. It feels like I could 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. So far, I’ve only worn them for a quick 6-mile backpacking trip, but I honestly cannot feel the difference between wearing the Lone Peak 8 and the Lone Peak 7! These trail runners are very comfy. And they are well-ventilated too because my feet don’t sweat in them.

One difference I have noticed is that the cushioning on the back of the heel, on the vertical part of the shoe, appears to be more padded on the Altra Lone Peak 7 than on the Lone Peak 8 on the pairs I have.

Zero drop

The shoe also has a completely flat sole, known as zero drop. I love this because it goes back to enabling my foot to move more naturally. 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 8

With the Lone Peak 8, it seems that reviewers are happier with the colors, which I remember seemed a big issue with the Lone Peak 7. However, while most people say they feel true to size, some say they are wider or narrower than previous models. So, simply buy a pair or go to your local retailer to try them on before you commit. I am happy with mine and I am sure you won’t regret your purchase either!

Are The New Altra Lone Peak 8 Trail Running Shoes Worth It?

I am fully aware that it is early days with my new Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 shoes. 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! Since I can still also use my LP7, I am pumped to have these two pairs now, especially if I end up on hikes where my shoes don’t have time to dry overnight!

Pros & Cons of the New Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 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

I bought the small gaiters because my shoes are a women’s 10.5. They connect to the Altra Lone Peak 8 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 8 perfectly and they protected sand, dirt, and random debris from entering my shoes.

The Altra Trail Gaiters feel light because they are thin. I 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 8 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 8 waterproof?

The Altra Lone Peak 8 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 8 shoes?

This is my second pair of Altra’s. I used my Altra Lone Peak 8 for hiking and backpacking and they 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 Thanks to the Altra gaiters, hiking and backpacking with the Altra Lone Peak 8 is even more comfortable. The Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 are just as comfortable as the Altra Lone Peak 7 and I am pumped to now own my second pair of Altra’s!

Altra Lone Peak 8 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 decide on buying the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 trail running shoes. 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! So whether you are into trail running, hiking, or thru-hiking, go on, buy a pair now! I am sure you won’t regret it!

Thanks for reading and happy trails! 🙂