ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+ Review: The brand's leading trail running shoes have undergone a full model change in Vibram® MegaGrip! [Practical review]
written by Yosuke.C
The classic ALTRA hiking shoe "LONE PEAK," popular among trail runners and hikers, has been remodeled.
The new " LONE PEAK 9+ " is a representative model of ALTRA, and I have been using LONE PEAK for about two years. (I use 7) As I love the old model, I had the opportunity to try it out when the new model was released, so I'd like to introduce some impressions of walking and running along the trail.
table of contents
- Main features of ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+
- Main Specifications and ratings
- Impressions of walking the trail on ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+
- Comfort and fit without feeling oppressive
- The foot shape is spacious, but it is less likely to cause "skew" while walking
- Vibram Megagrip Outsole for excellent grip
- The stack height of the sole is not too thick, giving you a sense of unity with the earth
- It's easy to get tired even when walking for long periods of time, and the EGO midsole foam is highly cushioned even with thin soles.
- Excellent quick drying and breathable, drying quickly even when wet
- Protection and durability
- Summary: Comfort, fit, stability, durability. A pair of shoes that you can't say
- Details and purchase of "ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+"
Main features of ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+
The ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+, which was updated in February 2025 , is an outdoor adventure shoe that has attracted many users, both hikers and trail runners since its release in 2011.
The MaxTrac™, which was used in the outsole of the previous model, is revamped, and the Vibram Megagrip is equipped to provide excellent grip in all conditions, while the improved lug pattern on the sole provides high grip performance that is different from the previous model.
The ripstop mesh upper part not only uses seamless overlay parts to enhance durability, but also provides excellent ventilation while improving fit around the midfoot and heel.
The spacious foot shape allows you to move your toes freely, allowing for natural walking as a person when walking, giving it a natural feel that has been inherited from past LONE PEAKs. The double-layered toe guard protects your toes over a wide area and provides good protection from troubles on the trail.
It uses the same Altra EGO midsole foam as before, but the stack height, which is unified at 25mm from the heel to the toe, allows you to walk like the sole of your feet. It reduces the strain on your feet and provides a comfortable fit even when used for long periods of time.
Recommended points
- Comfort and fit without feeling oppressive
- The foot shape is spacious, but it is less likely to cause "skew" while walking
- Vibram Megagrip Outsole for excellent grip
- The stack height of the sole is not too thick, giving you a sense of unity with the earth
- Highly cushioned, not easy to wear even after walking for long periods of time
- Excellent quick drying and breathable, drying quickly even when wet
Points that interest me
- Stability when carrying heavy equipment
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+ |
|---|---|
| Official weight | Weight: 327.7g (Mens US10.5/28.5cm) |
| drop | 0mm |
| Stack height*1 | 25mm |
| upper | Ripstop mesh upper |
| Midsole | Altra EGO™ |
| Outsole | Vibram® Megagrip |
| Foot shape | original |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| grip | ★★★★★ |
| Cushioning | ★★★★★ |
| protection | ★★★☆☆ |
| Stability | ★★★☆☆ |
*1: Stack height is a number that refers to the distance from the sole of the foot to the ground.
Impressions of walking the trail on ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+
In the old LONE PEAK 7, I walked around the Northern Alps, which was during the snowless season, from Mt. Yatsugatake to low mountains over two years. Based on this experience, I will share what I felt after walking through various fields wearing the LONE PEAK 9+.
During my test, I tried wearing one pair of LONE PEAK 7 and LONE PEAK 9+ and compared them, so please take a look.
Compare the LONE PEAK 7 and 9+ one foot in one pair
Comfort and fit without feeling oppressive
It may not be surprising to anyone who already knows Altra shoes, but they are comfortable to wear, and the LONE PEAK 9+ is no exception.
As you can see from the shape of the shoes, the LONE PEAK 9+ has a sturdy shape that spreads towards the tips of your fingers, and the foot shape, which is naturally shaped, covers your feet, so you won't feel any sense of pressure. Comparing the shape of the insole with other shoes makes it easier to understand, and you can see that the Altra insole has the longest thumb and the widest finger position.
It's clear when you compare the sole shape with other companies' shoes.
Altra shoes are designed to accommodate a variety of feet with different widths from heel to toe, and each model has three different foot shape patterns to ensure a natural fit and provide a more comfortable ride. Each one has the original, standard, and slim, but the LONE PEAK 9+ uses the original shape, which has the widest space, and there is room to move your toes inside the shoes, so the foot shape doesn't feel oppressive even when you tighten the shoelaces.
By making the right size, it is comfortable and comfortable to wear, allowing you to avoid troublesome problems that can cause foot problems.
The hold force of the heel has been greatly improved
LONE PEAK 9+ has a stiffer heel and improved hold strength compared to the LONE PEAK 7
The LONE PEAK 7 felt shallow and soft, and the hold strength was somewhat unreliable, but the LONE PEAK 9+ significantly improved the hold strength in the heel, and the stiffer it gives a better fit.
About the size
I chose the US12.5cm measurements when wearing socks, and the LONE PEAK 9+ was about 29.5cm, but the size was just right. The phrase "just right" here means that there is some room in the toes when worn, allowing you to move your toes freely. In that state, the heels hold them without slipping.
By making it slightly larger than the perfect size, you can prevent your toes from interfering with your shoes when you descend, and there is space to move your fingers, so you can walk firmly with force on your toes.
The foot shape is spacious, but it is less likely to cause "skew" while walking
For those who have been used to wearing mountaineering shoes up until now, you may feel uneasy about the foot shape that is easy to wear for the first time. (Because I was the case) However, the LONE PEAK 9+ has room toes but is not easily slipped, and holds your feet and shoes firmly even when descending on the trail.
This is achieved by the shoelaces structure. The shoes are positioned to prevent the feet and shoes from slipping, making them less likely to slip.
Tighten tight around the ankles to prevent them from slipping
I am not an expert, so I will skip the detailed explanation, but the LONE PEAK 9+ is designed to hold the talus (the bone at the base of the ankle) firmly, so it has a low cut yet high hold and fit, and even if you feel anxious about walking on the trail in a low cut, you will be able to reduce your anxiety by experiencing the holding and fit of the LONE PEAK 9+.
Vibram Megagrip Outsole for excellent grip
The rubber used in the outsole is a Vibram Megagrip. From wet rocks and roads to muddy, everyone recognizes its strength on rough roads. With its highly reliable sole, this is the first time that Vibram Megagrip has been used in the LONE PEAK series.
It offers amazing grip everywhere, and the deep groove lug pattern and ground contact surface, which is shaped considerably wider than the size of your feet, improves stability, allowing you to walk with peace of mind, not affected by road conditions.
It showed outstanding grip even in Tanzawa in early spring when snow remained in places.
While testing in the field, I walked in conditions of bran and snowy roads, but although it could slip on winter roads or places with severe brans (which can slip with any shoe), it gripped well in situations where it had just accumulated, tight snow, and soil with a little moisture, making me feel much more comfortable and walked hard, less worried.
Basically, the grip is undeniable, but what caught my eye was the stability when the equipment gets heavy. The LONE PEAK 9+ is low-cut and lightweight, so when you are carrying a few days' worth of food, you can rest assured that if you are hiking a mountain hiking with even heavier luggage on your back, mid-cut or high-cut shoes are more secure on your feet.
A cut in the heel of the sole prevents it from getting caught while walking
The difference from the old model is that there is a notch in the outsole on the heel. This is a shape that has already been used in the OLYMPUS series and other parts, and the wider contact area prevents stability and the heel from being caught.
While walking along the trail, the heels could get caught, but the incised parts have significantly reduced the number of snags.
The stack height of the sole is not too thick, giving you a sense of unity with the earth
The LONE PEAK 9+'s stack height (a value that refers to the distance from the sole of the foot to the ground) is 25mm, making it the thinnest sole after the SUPERIOR series, which has the thinnest sole among Altra shoes.
In addition, the zero-drop structure allows you to walk like the sole of your feet, allowing you to feel as if you were walking barefoot, as if you were walking freely inside your shoes.
You can directly feel the unevenness and softness of the ground, and the hardness of the frozen ground, allowing you to feel a sense of unity with the earth as you walk through the great outdoors.
It's easy to get tired even when walking for long periods of time, and the EGO midsole foam is highly cushioned even with thin soles.
Among the Altra shoes in the lineup, the LONE PEAK 9+ has a thin sole, but the EGO midsole foam used in the midsole ensures high cushioning and absorbs impact, making it less likely to tire even when walking for long periods of time.
Not only does it walk for long periods of time, but it also absorbs and relieves the impact of landing when you are looking for speed, and reduces the strain on your body even in situations where you are looking for speed.
The EGO midsole foam absorbs shock, and the last shape that does not put more pressure on your feet than necessary reduces the strain on your feet during long periods of action or running. Since I started to use LONE PEAK, I no longer feel the sense of freedom when I take off my climbing boots after descending the mountain.
A compatible gaiter can be attached to prevent pebbles and other items from entering.
A weakness of low-cut shoes is that pebbles or other items can get inside the shoe while you are still in the action, but the LONE PEAK 9+ has attachments for attaching gaiters both front and back, making it easy to wear with a compatible gaiter.
The LONE PEAK 7 had a structure that allowed hooks to be hooked onto the shoelaces, but the LONE PEAK 9+ has a dedicated hole.
Excellent quick drying and breathable, drying quickly even when wet
The ripstop mesh upper is excellent for breathability. Even if you go for long periods of time, you won't feel stuffy inside your shoes. Even in situations where you continue to sweat, the highly breathable releases the sweat without stopping, and the inside of your shoes is always stress-free.
There is still a benefit from high breathability. The inside of the shoes is less likely to get stuffy, making the skin on your feet less likely to become soggy and it's less likely to cause problems. In fact, I have been wearing LONE PEAK before and have never had any problems such as blisters.
The LONE PEAK 9+ is highly breathable, but it is not waterproof (and also has waterproof models), so your feet will get directly wet if they get into rain or puddles. However, it dries quickly and drains water inside so there is no discomfort (though it's not a zero)
Since many climbing shoes are waterproof, there are probably some pros and cons to using non-waterproof shoes for mountain climbing, but waterproof shoes are highly protected against wetting, but once they get wet, they are difficult to dry out and always get wet, so depending on the situation and environment, non-waterproof shoes often have the advantage, so it's hard to say which is better. How to approach wetting will depend on your individual's way of thinking. In my case, I actively incorporate non-waterproof shoes in situations where the risk of frostbite and other things can be avoided.
With LONE PEAK 9+, which boasts excellent breathability and is quick-drying, it dries quickly even if it gets wet, allowing you to continue walking comfortably without feeling uncomfortable, so if you get used to non-waterproof shoes, you will end up getting dirty.
Protection and durability
The toe guard, which is covered in a full toe, is double-layered and protected, minimizing damage even if you let your guard down and come into contact with it. Not only does it reduce damage, but the durability of the shoes themselves also gives you a great sense of security as an outdoor adventure shoe.
However, compared to robust climbing boots made for walking along rocky ridges in full-scale mountainous areas, the toes and body are less protective, so you will need to use them according to the location and environment you are visiting.
Eyelets (holes) and flat strings that can be added as needed to prevent loosening
The LONE PEAK 9+ uses flat strings, and the eyelets (holes for passing shoelaces) are also shaped to suit flat strings.
Underwrap (a method of passing a shoe string from the bottom of the hole up), which is said to be suitable for long-distance runners, makes it easier to pass shoelaces, and underwrap is a way of passing shoelaces that reduces the feeling of pressure. Furthermore, for those who want to increase their hold force, additional eyelets placed at a slightly wider position can be used to increase hold force from the outside, allowing them to be adjusted by using them at a fast speed or in environments with many steep slopes.
Additional eyelets. By passing the shoelaces, you can improve the fit
The LONE PEAK 9+ also has a sub-hole around the base of the ankle, so if you have a narrow heel and it's difficult to fit your shoes, you can increase the hold power by tying it in a "heel lock." However, if you try to tie the heel lock using an additional eyelet, the length of the shoelaces will be shorter, so you may want to change the shoelaces.
*If you look up how to tie with a heel lock, you will find an easy-to-understand explanation .
Summary: Comfort, fit, stability, durability. A pair of shoes that you can't say
The comfortable toes are comfortable and have a comfortable fit and soft, yet have high stability when grounded and are not slippery. The remodeled LONE PEAK 9+ has improved its natural walking experience, making it the best shoe for those who want to walk longer. Because of this high functionality, it will be useful not only in the natural field but also in everyday life.
For those who want to improve waterproofness rather than breathability, we offer WP (waterproof specification) If you choose that, you'll be fine.
Excellent grip performance, protection, cushioning, and high breathability should reduce foot problems and fatigue in outdoor adventures. Go hiking or running in the remodeled LONE PEAK 9+!
Details and purchase of "ALTRA LONE PEAK 9+"
For information on the latest models' arrival information and product details, please check the official online store
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Yosuke
People who act with just one backpack with the motto of "as light as possible" so that they don't get inconvenient.
From spring to autumn, I chase after char deep in the mountains and go fishing in the mountain stream. We walked the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. Camping to be healed by the bonfire. Snowboarding is a floating mountain with a mountain of silver.
A freelance writer who has been enjoying the outdoors for over 20 years and enjoying the outdoors in his own way all year round. Based on my experience writing articles for more than dozens of outdoor web media, I will be sharing my own experiences and tools that I have been using.
