Altra Lone Peak 4.5 Trail Shoes – Hands On Review

When going for a walk, hike, or trail run you know that you have got to have the proper gear – it doesn’t always have to be expensive or tons of stuff but what you have needs to work well.

A good pair of running shoes is at the top of the list when it comes to gear for backpackers, hikers, and runners. Taking care of your feet isn’t an option, it’s a necessity.

This review is going to show both sides – the good and bad, that can happen when trying out new shoes so let’s just get into it. In this article, we are going to talk about the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 Trail Running Shoes.

Who We Are

Bearded Goat Gear is an active lifestyle company with the goal of getting you outside with the right gear. Whether it is backpacking, trail running, cycling or even making your way down a body of water; Bearded Goat Gear provides you with all the information you need to get the right equipment for your adventures.

Whether it is clothing, accessories, or access to a new outdoor trip, Bearded Goat Gear focuses on providing you with the info you need to enrich your experience and keep your enthusiasm going – and hey, getting new gear is just fun 🙂

Our Decision

Definitely a yes. They are comfortable with a roomy toe box for people with a wider foot. This version of the Lone Peak shoe is great for walking, hiking, and running.

We did have a bit of an issue at first, but it was resolved quickly, and we were able to use it for a trail running shoe review after putting some miles on it, mostly walking and hiking. More on that later…

What Did We Like the Most?

The  purchase of these trail running shoes was actually a mistake. Not a great way to start a relationship with a new pair of shoes, right?

I had previously bought the Altra Lone Peak 4 (previous version of the Lone Peak) and had intended to keep them as a second pair for everyday use.

That said, I really loved the comfort level of the shoe and the grip of the soles. They have great traction on a lot of different terrain from gripping that rock you hop across, to dirt, mud, and everything else you might find on technical terrain or an easy walk in the park.

They’re also lightweight (in my book) with a mesh upper that lets the shoes breath a bit which is great for both hiking shoes and trail shoes.

What Did We Like the Least?

There is a bit of a breaking in period for the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 shoe. This may not apply to everyone, but a few people on Reddit (as well as our tester – yours truly!) have said that they did experience some problems with the Achilles heel area while wearing them. They said they solved the problem with a bit of moleskin and breaking them in for a few days to make them more comfortable. 

I definitely had this problem – the first time I wore them they rubbed right through and created a raw spot through a pair of Darn Tough socks. Bad start and nearly put them off me, but I went back and looked a little deeper at what people had said in various reviews.

So, I did the same and used some Moleskine and tried wearing them for walking after letting the blister / raw spot heal up. After that, I haven’t had any issues with or without Moleskine.

This was the only real issue I had using them. Once you get past the first few days they’re great.

Features

The Altra Lone Peak 4.5’s have probably got what you need, but here is a list of features:

• FootShape toe boxes allow the toes to relax

• Trailclaw outsole with Maxtrac rubber

• Thinner, softer, upper for increased flexibility

• Thicker midsole foam for added resiliency

• Velcro strip for gaiter attachment at the heel

• Easy lacing system with a ring for better adjustments

• Hook and loop tab near front for your gaiters

• Light weight: 10.5 oz

Real World Use & Testing

As with all products that we purchase, we test them under the same conditions that you might face. Here is what we found.

Performance

These shoes have been tested for the last few weeks (walking a few miles per day) on the roadways as well as the trails, and they perform great. They’re comfortable and there have been no problems other than the heel issue in the beginning. 

I got these at a great discount, so the minor issues in the beginning weren’t a deal breaker. This might have been different if they were full price and the heel issue couldn’t be fixed. 

They would have been returned and counted as a loss since most places won’t take shoes with blood on them (at least in my experience). I decided to keep them for this show review because they’re just as comfortable as the Lone Peak 4 now that I’ve gotten past the initial issue, in my opinion. 

It is funny how the wrong shoe turned out to be good because they are a great walking and hiking shoe if you can get past the first few days of breaking them in.

Any Issues?

Just the heel issue at first, but once you wear them a few times that seems to solve the problem.

I like how the shoes fit, feel, and perform and would recommend them.

The Altra Lone Peak 4.5 trail running shoes have a comfortable fit and perform just as well as their predecessor, the Lone Peak 4. The heel issue is temporary and can be solved with some cushioning and repeated use but be aware of this if you know you are prone to problems in this area.

Any Potential Issues We See?

Not really. Just be aware that they may take a day or two to break in for some (depending on where your Achilles tendon rests inside the shoe and how the “cup” of the heel portion of the shoes fits your body).

Not everyone has this problem. If you have had this issue in the past with other shoes you may want to avoid purchasing these, or pad the heel area with some extra cushioning for the first few days of using them.

Value

The price for the Altra Lone Peak 4.5’s is around $80 to $120, which is pretty normal price for shoes in this range.

With the heel issue I experienced I’m glad that I picked them up on sale, but otherwise I’m very happy with the price and value.