Facts

  • Discontinued
    Update: Altra Lone Peak 4.0
  • Terrain

    Road

    Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.

    Trail

    Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.

    Good to know

    As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.

  • Arch support

    Neutral / cushion / high arch

    Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.

    Stability / overpronation / normal arch

    Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.

    Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet

    Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.

    Good to know

    - Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
    - More about arch support in this video.
    - Find your arch type by following steps from this video.

  • Use

    Daily running

    Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.

    Competition

    Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.

    Good to know

    If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.

  • Price
    $120
  • Weight
    Men: 10.4oz
    Women: 8.7oz
  • Heel to toe drop
    Men: 0mm
    Women: 0mm

    The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.

    There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.

  • Heel height
    Men: 25mm
    Women: 25mm
  • Forefoot height
    Men: 25mm
    Women: 25mm
  • Release date
    Jul 2017
  • Special editions
    1 special editions
Show more facts

Rankings

Top 33% overall
Best running shoes
Top 29% Altra
Best Altra running shoes
Top 14% most popular
Most popular trail running shoes

Expert Reviews

Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.

Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.

87 / 100 based on 13 expert reviews

  • 89 / 100 | Richard Akol Trailxph

    Altra Lonepeak 3.5: The shoe named after the mountain

    Zero drop and wide toe box? No need to look somewhere but Altra.

    Altra - the shoe brand that encourages and believes that zero drop is effective to promote the natural way of running while having just the right protection. Just make sure to have enough transitioning to avoid injuries.

     

    Transition

    I've been using Altra shoes for more than 3 years now.

    I started with the Superior model which I normally use for shorter distances and then with Lonepeaks when I joined ultramarathon races. I had the transitioning process for a few weeks because I came from 8 mm drop shoes before.

     

     

    I felt pain on my calves and shin when running with zero drop but I eventually became used to it. That is why it is important to transition and to gradually increase your mileage when switching to new shoes, especially when it comes from regular drops to zero drops.

    Looks and the upper

    Altra Lonepeak 3.5 is the latest shoe in Lonepeak family. The look is almost the same from its previous model Lonepeak 3.0.

    In my point of view, 3.5 looks bulkier. The colorway is more like the DC movies, with its dark or grayish tones than Lonepeak 3.0.

     

     

    I also noticed 4 small drainages in the front part which is a good improvement to allow fast drying when the shoe gets wet and also cooling the feet inside.

    There is also an additional gaiter trap on the side just below the ankle to help secure the gaiters.

    The Outsole

    When it comes to grip and outsole, I can say that Lonepeak 3.5 is one of the best.

    The hexagonal and different shapes provide very good traction when running downhill and uphill. With Maxtrac technology, you can also be sure that the outsole is durable enough to tackle even the roughest trails.

     

    The weight and the midsole

    I  can say that it is lighter than it looks. The shoe weighs 295 grams for men’s in size 9 US and 247 grams for women’s of the same shoe size.

    The midsole has A-bound material for shock absorption and it has also a stone guard to protect the feet from pointed rocks and objects on the trails.

    It has an insole for additional comfort as well. The heel height and forefoot height is 25 mm. This stack height is the sweet spot for me, especially for ultra-races.

    Performance

    I used these shoes for recons, training, and ultra-races.

    To fully test the performance of Lonepeak 3.5, I used it during the beach bunch trail challenge 2018 for 100km all the way. The race is a combination of road, forest trail, muddy hills, park, and sandy beach.

     

     

    With that kind of terrain, I can say that I really tested the shoes to its full potential. During the road part, as expected, the shoes didn’t really perform that well, but upon setting my foot on the trails, that's when the Lonepeak 3.5 shined.

    I jogged the uphill and ran the downhill without slipping at all. Thanks to its very dependable grip.

    During the early part of the race, it also rained and the shoes got wet, but because of its drainage, the water drained fast. I finished the race without changing shoes, without blisters and no injuries.

     

    Cons

    There is no perfect shoe and there is always something to improve.

    What I have observed is that the insole or footbed tends to bend or curl inside whenever it gets wet, especially running downhill. This is also what I experienced with the previous models.

    For the sizing, I felt that it is smaller compared to Lonepeaks 2.5 and 3.0. I am usually size 9.5 and have more than enough space but not with Lonepeak 3.5. I recommend to try its fit before ordering your usual size. 

     

    Overall

    With over 200 km in mileage with my Altra Lonepeak 3.5, I can say its perfect for ultra races and daily running, especially on pure trails. 

    This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.

  • 84 / 100 | Rob Andro

    Same great shoe, same great price, same great ride. But please, before you buy it, folks, go try 'em on and make sure that your same size fits the same way and go up half-size if you have to.

  • 85 / 100 | Marathon Cooking

    The 3.5, I've tried on and have worn them bit. No long runs or anything like that, this is an initla guide, is a much better shoe.

  • 87 / 100 | Running Without Injuries

    This is one of my most used trail shoes recently and I think you will like it.

Show moreless reviews
Apply to become an expert

Updates to Altra Lone Peak 3.5

  • While there are no ‘big’ changes to it, the Altra Lone Peak 3.5 certainly boasts a few smart features that aim to improve the runner’s performance on the ground. The stitching on the upper has been updated for more breathability. The efficient drainage system allows for a healthy circulation of air inside the shoe, thereby ensuring instant drying and cooling of the foot during longer runs.
  • The Drilex Lining across the upper gives a smooth in-shoe experience while also making sure to not inhibit breathability.
  • The Stone Guard housed in the heel region provides additional comfort to the runner and keeps the foot in position while running on steep slopes etc.
  • Another update is the Natural Ride System (NRS) in the shoe which results in the increased adaptability and the improved flexibility for the runner. The system allows for a smoother transitioning of foot among various running positions.

Altra Lone Peak 3.5 size and fit

This neutral trail running shoe comes in the standard running length and the standard medium width of D and B for men and women respectively. However, owing to its relatively narrower toe-box, it is advisable to try the shoe first.

Outsole

The shoe boasts the MaxTrac Outsole with a sticky rubber that has the capability of resisting slip and ensuring a firm grip on the challenging surfaces. This material is also very durable; therefore, it keeps this running shoe in a healthy condition for longer durations of time.

Midsole

The shoe’s midsole is made from an environmentally friendly recycled material, the A-Bound technology for maximum underfoot protection and greater resilience to impact forces. This material is also present in the Lone Peak 4.0.

The popular EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) material, which has already proven its mettle in other shoes, takes the Altra Lone Peak 3.5 to higher levels of comfortability and responsiveness.

The Natural Ride System (NRS) design includes the foot-shaped finish, various foot-shaped shapes and a zero millimeter heel-to-toe drop for a more natural, closer-to-ground feel. This system lets the sole unit adapt fully to the shape and movement capacity of the wearer’s foot.

The Natural Foot Design follows the natural structure and curve of the human foot, thus giving a secure and agreeable underfoot experience.

The Stone Guard is a flexible thermoplastic urethane material that shields the toes from debris and disperses impact shock, thereby providing protection on the trails.

The 5 mm-Contour FootBed provides additional cushioning for the foot.

Upper

The Quick Dry Trail Mesh material keeps the runner’s foot cool and dry. Its highly breathable design and updated stitching provide a healthy environment inside the shoe and a better fit to improve the shoe’s efficiency.

The Drilex lining further increases the breathability by improving air circulation inside the shoe.

The Heel Claw around the back of the shoe provides additional support to the runner while also preventing accidental shoe removals.

The shoe also has the 4-point GaiterTrap for easy donning of a gaiter through a hook and loop tab.

The Gusseted Tongue effectively prevents the small rocks and dirt from entering the shoe.

Finally, the lace-up closure locks down the foot in position and prevents it from wobbling inside the shoe during the running session.

Comparison