 This Product
Altra Lone Peak 9 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best Wide Toe Box Option |  Best Bang for Your Buck | Best for Rough Terrain | |
| Price | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $185.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $111.93 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $142.78 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
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| Bottom Line | With a 1 mm drop, wide toe box, and reliable traction, this popular trail shoe remains a go-to for zero-drop fans, though recent updates make it feel heavier and less nimble | Offering exceptional traction, comfort, and versatility, this shoe combines a nimble build with rugged protection, making it ideal for trail runners of all levels | Though not the most agile, this shoe shines in comfort, traction, and all-day trail durability | With a reliable build, lightened weight, and road-shoe fit, this shoe remains a go-to for trail runners who value consistency over flashy upgrades | If a well-tractioned powerhouse of a shoe is what you're after, this 7mm-drop, stacked-with-tech shoe is the one for you |
| Rating Categories | Altra Lone Peak 9 -... | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | La Sportiva Bushido... |
| Comfort and Fit (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Foot Protection (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Altra Lone Peak 9 -... | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | La Sportiva Bushido... |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 24 mm | 36 mm | 32 mm | 30 mm | 28 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 1 mm | 3 mm | 6 mm | 4 mm | 7 mm |
| Rock Plate | StoneGuard plate | No | No | Yes | 1.5 mm dual-density compressed EVA rock-guard in forefoot |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.7 mm | 5.3 mm | 4.3 mm | 5.6 mm | 3.8 mm |
| Measured Weight | 8.60 oz | 7.96 oz | 7.80 oz | 7.80 oz | 9.11 oz |
| Upper | RPET ripstop mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Air mesh / thermal adhesive microfiber / high frequency welded ripstop overlays |
| Midsole | Altra EGO | ProFly+ | ZipFoam | PWRRUN foam | 4 mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex |
| Outsole | MaxTrac | Vibram Megagrip with Litebase | Vibram | PWRTRAC | Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 V-Groove3 |
| Sizes Available | 5.5 - 12, US regular and wide | 5 - 11 US | 6 - 12 US | 5 - 12 US regular, wide, GTX | 5.5 - 11 US regular, wide |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | Finger loop |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 0 mm | 4 mm | 5 mm | 4 mm | 6 mm |
Though the Altra Lone Peak 9 is listed as a zero-drop shoe, our in-house testing team measured a 1 mm total drop. This is still quite low in the world of running, allowing the heel to ride nearly in line with the forefoot. At 8.60 ounces, the updated Lone Peak is heavier than its predecessor, adding bulk to its overall profile.
In the words of the Spice Girls, “Too much of something is bad enough.” That refrain echoed in my head as I repeatedly tried to make peace with the Lone Peak 9's monster toe box. I've long appreciated Altra's roomy forefoot for daily miles, but this version overdid it. The excessive width compromises midfoot lock, forcing me to cinch the laces like a Victorian woman tightening her corset just to feel stable. The toe box isn't the only letdown. The updated midsole feels dull, more “meh” than minimalistic. Low-drop shoes aren't known for bounce, but this one feels especially flat underfoot. Altra's new ripstop upper is durable and smooth, thanks to its no-sew overlays, but it runs hot and sacrifices breathability for debris protection.
That said, not everything missed the mark. The heel collar is low-profile yet plush, delivering solid comfort even if the rest of the upper lacks cohesion. Despite my aggressive tie-downs, the padded, dual-gusseted tongue also gets a thumbs-up, preventing lace bite. Overall, the Lone Peak 9 is a firm, roomy trail shoe that favors ground feel and toe splay over responsiveness and ride.
As mentioned, I tested the standard version of the Lone Peak 9. This version offers the tried-and-true MaxTrac outsole with multidirectional lugs of varying shapes and sizes. The Vibram outsole version of the shoe seems to be the standard European model, but is available to customers in the United States. The MaxTrac rubber outsole is similar to that of versions past. It has U-shaped and chevron-shaped lugs of multiple sizes adorning the outsole. The sharp edges cover 360 degrees of the outsole, adding a significant amount of underfoot security. The rear fin-like lugs add an element of rear driving and control, which is something I have also loved on past versions of the shoe. Though this rear outsole is super functional, I still hesitate to recommend the Lone Peak to heel strikers because of how low and firm the ride is. The 3.7 mm lugs and their well-engineered spacing offer solid traction on most terrain types.
One of the benefits of low-drop, low-riding shoes is that they tend to be super stable, and the new Lone Peak is no exception. There isn't a ton of midsole or arch support to be found here, but the rest of the elements come together nicely to create a stable ride. Even though the extra-wide toe box feels overblown, it certainly offers plenty of space for toes to splay. Overall, the Lone Peak 9 offers a comfortably wide base of support that makes for a stable ride across varying terrain types.
The total heel stack of the Lone Peak 9 is 24 mm, which is 4 mm higher than the Lone Peak 8. The additional rigidity offers some protection underfoot without sacrificing comfort. The new Lone Peak features a StoneGuard insert, not a full rock plate, but a structure that offers decent underfoot protection. The toe bumper is solid, shielding toes from trail hazards, and the ripstop upper blocks debris, even if it sacrifices breathability. As usual, the rear gaiter trap is secure and gaiter-ready. Overall, foot protection remains a strong point, and that's something I'm glad to report.
This iteration of the Altra Lone Peak is actually heavier than the last version — 8.60 ounces vs. 8.14 ounces. Though a few updates have been made, the additional weight seems rather needless. The whole design of this version seems to be less balanced, emphasizing its weight underfoot. While an extra half-an-ounce or so may not seem like much, the bulk and dull midsole culminate to create a heavy, blah-feeling trail experience.
The 24 mm heel stack of the Lone Peak keeps your feet low to the ground. This allows for a certain level of sensitivity that some runners may enjoy and others may find burdensome. Since the Lone Peak doesn't have a true rock plate, you can feel unforgiving trail features beneath you. In versions past, the midsole flexibility and levity have allowed this to be comfortable, but the updated midsole stiffness doesn't offer the same kind of soft sensitivity that Lone Peak fans may be used to.
In the past, we've loved the Lone Peak as a true do-it-all adventure shoe. Its generous toe box has carried us through countless comfortable miles across a range of activities, from backpacking, biking, running, and hiking, all with that signature comfort-first feel. But this latest version finds itself falling behind. The Lone Peak struggles to keep up with higher-performing, low-drop options now on the market. If you're after an ultra-wide toe box and can live with limited breathability and a somewhat uninspired midsole, this shoe may still deliver what you need. For some trail runners, it might even be the holy grail. For us, though, this iteration lands squarely in the middle of the pack.
