Altra Men's Lone Peak 6 Sneaker

Product Information

Once I start running, I stop noticing the shoe, which I think is a testament to the natural feel that the Lone Peak provides,” another reviewer says. “It’s like the shoe becomes an extension of my body.” For neutral runners who want a go-to zero drop shoe, it’s a brilliant, reliable option for anything from shorter, speed workouts on the trail to full-on marathon-length runs. Who should NOT buy them The Altra EGO midsole and MaxTrac outsole remain unchanged in the 6. On my first run, the snow was coming down pretty hard towards the end. The ground was entirely coated, yet the grippy MaxTrac outsole provided the confidence to run and not worry about slipping. However, I did notice that a few flakes tended to fly up onto my ankles with each step — though I expect that’s due to the rubber heel lip. I normally wear a size 11.5 US shoe, but size up to 12 for most trail shoes. The Altra Lone Peak 6 fits true to size in my size 12, but might be a smidge shorter than the Lone Peak 5. My size 12 Lone Peaks weigh in at 11.06oz (314g), and feel like a mid-weight while running, but a real lightweight for hiking.

Another Altra-specific feature is its more rounded toebox, which runs in line with how the foot is naturally shaped. The wider design in front of the shoe allows the foot to splay out a bit more. While on the topic of the outsole, the Altra Lone Peak 6 has a tremendous 8mm of rubber underfoot. Bearing in mind that the average is 3.7mm, that is a ton of material. That’s the point of these shoes for me, they’re here to support and protect your feet, while you do the running. The Altra Lone Peak 6 are super grippyThe outsole of the Altra Lone Peak 6 is pretty unchanged from its predecessor and with good reason. The 40 4.4mm deep lugs are really well constructed and planned out. Canice is a 2 x finisher of the Wasatch 100, the Bear 100, Moab 100, Western States 100, and Leadman as well as many other ultras. He regularly competes in Expedition Length Adventure races with his longest race to date 600 miles as well as in traditional road races and triathlons.

The traction pattern is similar to the likes of the Salomon Speedcross 5 multi-directional chevrons throughout the underside and enough spacing to allow mud to fall off the shoe rather than to cake onto it. Dom: Over time, the Lone Peak has had its ups and downs. The earliest shoes were clunky, and version 3 was the first iteration that felt secure enough and light enough to race. Since then, I’ve never really felt that Altra have been able to recreate the success. 3.0 was a great shoe, but had durability issues. 3.5 improved on upper durability, but too much stretch for good foothold. 4.0 performed better but weighed a ton. 4.5 lightened the shoe slightly, but compromised foothold. 5.0 was oversized all around, and felt floppy on the foot. In the meantime, the competition has become hotter (including from Altra’s other models), and the Lone Peak has felt ‘left behind’. Please read on to see which paths the latest edition took. Canice: Altra has maintained their gaiter trap on the heel. This is a feature that works well but I find it unnecessary, and though it does not weigh much on its own, I would gladly drop it to save a little weight. For that matter I could ditch the heel loop too. The Lone Peak is exceptionally easy to get in and out of and I have never used the heel loop in any of the various generations of Lone Peaks. Yes, I am a weight weenie :) Even with a bed of soft cushioning and a host of protective features, the Lone Peak 6 remains lightweight and nimble. ALEX: You can’t review an Altra without first expressing appreciation for that wonderfully roomy, foot-shaped toe box. I hope my fellow Lone Peak reviewers don’t mess this up. Taylor, don’t mess this up by talking about the upper first (Editor’s note: He didn’t mess it up).Obviously, the shoe felt the same regardless, but it’s interesting to think about how much of the cushioning in the heel is from harder 84HC Durometer rubber than that softer foam. Disclosure: We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The Good Lone Peak 6 on the left / Lone Peak 5 on the right.Note that the gaiter ring on the Lone Peak 5 has been removed on the Lone Peak 6. Like so many of Altra’s shoes, the Lone Peak has undergone many revisions over the years (and additions; they now offer waterproof and mid-cut versions). However, the current Lone Peak 6 has a few significant updates that may change the feel and appropriate usage of the shoe altogether. The Altra Lone Peak is a classic and this one does more to stay the same than it does to make big changes. That said, we already know Altra has several trail models that DO incorporate more tech, such as the Timp redesign (new upper), the Mont Blanc (new shoe and new upper material for Altra) and the Mont Blanc with a dual Boa system, and the Outroad, which looks to have considerably less tech, but a new-ish approach for the brand.

Dom: The first thing that I noticed was the more modern and stripped-down upper. The lighter upper of the LP6 results in a useful weight reduction compared to the outgoing LP5. (Drop in US M10 was 26 g per shoe, almost exactly an ounce lighter) Finally, the lacing is simply phenomenal, mine looked great in pink, and the flat profile with enough stretch and squish makes for a really solid score of 45.5N in our lace slip testing. Conclusion There are a few notable features we need to touch on. Some of these elements were carried over from past versions, and some are specific to the Lone Peak. Nonetheless, these are what separate the Altra from the rest. Zero Drop (Photo/Josh Kirchner) Dom and Canice: Exhaustively discussed above. But to summarize, LP6 is lighter, more protective, and has better foot hold. From my perspective, there’s not much to debate: the LP6 is a clearly better shoe. It’s also now available in a wide (even wider) variant. This is the best Lone Peak to date.

Dom: Interestingly, I don’t fully agree with Canice here. Midsole springiness is not generally something I look for in a trail shoe, and although I’ve enjoyed it in specific cases (Skechers Razor TRL, for example), springiness is primarily a “road shoe” trait that has more relevance to lighter shoes targeted at smooth terrain, and less at the ‘heavy duty’ end of the market. In any case, I personally have no beef with the Ego midsole used in the Lone Peak 6. So, what is a “zero-drop” trail running shoe? Unlike most shoes that have a slightly elevated heel from the toebox, zero-drop means the heel sits on the same plane as the toes. This creates a more balanced feel when on the trail, and it’s one of the things Altra is best known for. Rounded Toebox (Photo/Josh Kirchner)

We can’t talk about footwear for the trail without talking about traction. On the Lone Peak 6.0, you’ll find Altra’s Grippy Max Trac outsole. Traction is about more than just being grippy. There needs to be a balance of grip, tread, and durability. And that’s exactly what Altra has done with this outsole.It may not look like it, but this is a very cushioned shoe, and it’s because of Altra’s EGO midsole: the real gem of the Lone Peak 6.0. Dom: I’m thrilled to report that the LP6 is a big improvement. The excessive roominess of the LP5 is slightly moderated; the midfoot hold is improved; the floppiness of the sole is improved; the amount of protection is increased; all without regression in any area. All of these small changes add up to a much better shoe. Dom: Even though excessive roominess is slightly moderated, LP6 retains Altra’s ‘classic’ last, which may be too spacio or us for many runners. The same can be said of the wider toebox. It’s just a different feel, and that difference isn’t for everyone.