Nuestra conclusión

The Altra Lone Peak 9 is a solid evolution, but not without some setbacks. We found in the lab that it gained weight, became noticeably stiffer, and still struggles with breathability. For our feet, those are clear and concerning issues. However, it remains a go-to pick for zero-drop lovers thanks to its flat midsole, ultra-generous toebox, and low-stack profile—all paired with a fantastic Vibram Megagrip outsole, though it’s a paid upgrade not sold everywhere.

Pros

  • True zero-drop geometry
  • Extra-roomy, foot-shaped toebox
  • Vibram option finally available
  • Improved forefoot stability
  • Flat-profile, natural ride
  • Secure lacing system
  • Still a low-stack shoe!
  • Standard and wide versions
  • Good durability

Contras

  • Feels really heavy for its size
  • Stiffer than previous versions
  • Lacks airflow
  • Having two outsole versions adds confusion

Veredicto de los usuarios

92
Excelentes

Who should buy

From our perspective, the Altra Lone Peak 9 is an ideal option for:

  • Lone Peak fans who want the latest upgrades while still enjoying the same grounded feel and familiar roomy toebox.
  • Anyone with wide feet seeking a trail shoe for hiking and running without breaking the bank.  
  • Zero-drop enthusiasts wanting a low-stack midsole that skips the overbuilt, max-cushion trend.

Altra Lone Peak 9

Who should NOT buy

We think the Lone Peak 9 isn’t the best option for heel strikers. Its zero-drop platform doesn’t complement that kind of stride at all. From our point of view, the Altra Experience Wild is a smarter pick, offering a 4.3 mm drop for a similar retail price. And if you're open to exploring outside Altra, we recommend the Topo Traverse.

We’re also convinced that the Lone Peak 9 might not satisfy runners seeking top joint protection. Its low-to-the-ground midsole may feel undercushioned for anything beyond moderate distances. In our assessment, the Altra Olympus 6 or the Nike Zegama 2 are better options for those wanting a max-cushion trail experience.

Altra Lone Peak 9 parts

Amortiguación

Altura de la suela en la zona del talón

Disclaimer: We tested the Altra Lone Peak 9+, the version that features a Vibram outsole. In this review, we refer to the shoe as the Altra Lone Peak 9, since it’s the standard version in Altra’s home market.

The Lone Peak 9 stays true to its roots with a low-profile midsole that feels grounded and agile—something increasingly rare in today’s running shoe market.

After testing, we discovered a 23.3 mm stack in our first measurement. It falls slightly below the 25 mm official spec, but from our perspective, this result isn’t a drawback at all—if anything, it’s an edge!

Altra Lone Peak 9 Heel stack
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 23.3 mm
Media 32.0 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
19.6 mm
Altura de la suela en la zona del talón
42.4 mm

Altura de la suela en el antepié

The forefoot gave us the exact same stack height, and don’t worry as we triple-checked everything, just like we always do. Again, 23.3 mm with the same nimble-and-minimal vibe—just enough foam for longer outings without overdoing it.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Forefoot stack
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 23.3 mm
Media 24.5 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
13.4 mm
Altura de la suela en el antepié
33.9 mm

Drop

No need for us to be math wizards here—23.3 minus 23.3 gives a crystal-clear 0.0 mm drop. That’s exactly what Altra promises with the Lone Peak 9, and that’s exactly what we discovered in the lab.

Of course, this geometry brings some clear implications. As a zero-drop shoe, it’s naturally better suited for midfoot or forefoot striking. Runners dealing with calf tightness or Achilles sensitivity might want to consider a moderate or high drop instead.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Drop
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 0.0 mm
Media 7.5 mm
En comparación con 133 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
-0.1 mm
Drop
17.3 mm

Suavidad de la mediasuela

The midsole uses Altra EGO, which is their basic EVA foam, so we're still not getting EGO Max or a newer compound. That said, expecting an upgrade at this price felt too hopeful, but we’ll keep an eye on future releases.

Sticking with EGO means it’s still a slightly-firmer setup that we measured at 23.6 HA. From our testing, it offers moderate bounce and long-lasting protection, especially important in a rock-plate-free, low-stack trail shoe like this one.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Midsole softness
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 23.6 HA
Media 22.6 HA
Utilizamos la media de cuatro pruebas. La foto muestra una de esas pruebas.
En comparación con 110 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
9.1 HA
Suavidad de la mediasuela (de blanda a firme)
39.0 HA

Rigidez de la mediasuela en frío (%)

We put the Lone Peak 9 in the freezer for 20 minutes and measured a 25% increase in firmness.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Midsole softness in cold (%)
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 25%
Media 26%
En comparación con 110 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
5%
Rigidez de la mediasuela en frío
68%

Grosor de la plantilla

According to our measurements, the insole of the Lone Peak 9 comes in at 4.4 mm. For those who want to go as low-stack as possible, removing it shaves off that amount of cushioning and also creates a bit more room inside the toebox.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Insole thickness
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 4.4 mm
Media 4.7 mm
En comparación con 133 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
2.1 mm
Grosor de la plantilla
7.3 mm

Rocker

One of our biggest concerns with the Lone Peak 9 was that Altra might introduce an aggressive rockered shape. But to our relief, they didn’t.

Altra Lone Peak 9 flat rocker

That’s great news, as this trail shoe still delivers its signature natural-feel ride. In our view, it keeps its place as a non-rockered trail shoe that delivers a more natural running experience.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Rocker

Tallaje y ajuste

Talla

Altra Lone Peak 9 tallan bien (14 votos).

Si tienes estas zapatillas, ¿qué opinas de su talla?

1 talla más pequeñas ½ talla más pequeñas Tallan bien ½ talla más grandes 1 talla más grandes
En comparación con 114 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
½ talla más pequeñas
Tallan un poquito pequeño
Tallan bien
Tallan un poquito grande
½ talla más grandes

Anchura de la parte delantera - zona más ancha

And how’s the fit? That’s the big question for many runners buying Altra shoes—especially those expecting a generous toebox from models built with the brand’s Original Footshape design. To check that, we made a precise gel mold and got to work doing what we love—measuring stuff about running shoes.

Starting with the widest part of the upper, we found 98.5 mm. That’s definitely on the wide-friendly side, but let’s hold judgment until we see the next two measurements.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Toebox width - widest part
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 98.5 mm
Media 95.9 mm
En comparación con 55 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
89.8 mm
Anchura de la parte delantera - zona más ancha
99.9 mm

Anchura de la parte delantera - dedo gordo

Those chasing exceptional toe splay will find exactly that in the Lone Peak 9. It carries over the signature roomy fit from its predecessor and even feels slightly roomier.

Altra Lone Peak 9 pov

We measured 85.3 mm at the big toe, which is wild. The shape of the gel mold also confirms a non-tapered silhouette. And for even more options, Altra offers this model in both standard and wide versions.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Toebox width - big toe
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 85.3 mm
Media 74.8 mm
En comparación con 55 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
69.8 mm
Anchura de la parte delantera - dedo gordo
85.3 mm

Altura de la parte delantera

Where the shoe feels slightly more limited is in vertical space—though nothing major at all.

After enjoying such generous horizontal room, the average 26.8 mm of toe height maybe felt a bit snug.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Toebox height
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 26.8 mm
Media 27.0 mm
En comparación con 55 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
22.0 mm
Altura de la parte delantera
31.8 mm

Estabilidad

Prueba de estabilidad lateral

We found that the shoe delivers a really confidence-boosting ride that feels stable underfoot—though to be honest, that's something we expected from its low-stack geometry.

Altra kept the midsole sidewalls similar to the previous version—these offer extra guidance for midfoot strikers and add a touch of support. While they may feel slightly intrusive for some, we believe the trade-off is absolutely worthwhile.

Rigidez torsional

While the Lone Peak 9 isn’t taller than earlier versions, we found it getting slightly more rigid. Last year it scored a 2/5 in this test—this time it jumps to 3/5, which may bother natural-ride fans.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 3
Media 3.6
En comparación con 128 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1
Rigidez torsional
5

Rigidez del contrafuerte del talón

On the other hand, the heel counter stays extra-flexible and comfortable, wrapping the foot with ease. It also keeps the low-cut ankle collar which not everyone loves. We rated it 2/5 again, and we're glad Altra kept it like this.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 2
Media 3.1
En comparación con 126 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1
Rigidez del contrafuerte del talón
5

Anchura de la mediasuela - antepié

The LP8 came with just 108.3 mm of max width in the forefoot, and this time we’re getting a bit more. That’s the key reason it felt slightly more stable—now measuring 112.2 mm and aligning better with average trail shoes.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Midsole width - forefoot
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 112.2 mm
Media 112.4 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
102.1 mm
Anchura de la mediasuela - antepié
124.3 mm

Anchura de la mediasuela - talón

The heel remains impressively narrow at 82.1 mm, and we fully support that move.

In a 0.0 mm drop shoe designed for agile movement, a wide-and-clunky heel would only take away from the nimble ride that the Lone Peak 9 aims to deliver.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Midsole width - heel
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 82.1 mm
Media 89.6 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
77.2 mm
Anchura de la mediasuela - talón
106.0 mm

Flexibilidad / Rigidez

The Lone Peak has always been a highly-flexible trail shoe, but that’s clearly shifting with every update. We tested it again with our 90-degree bend protocol and needed 28.3N—up from the 21.3N we recorded in the LP8.

That’s a steep 33% jump in stiffness, and from our perspective, it feels like a downgrade, we can't hide our feelings. We believe that Lone Peak’s essence lies in its flex feel, and that's something this extra rigidity starts to compromise.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 28.3N
Media 27.3N
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
10.5N
Flexibilidad <> Rigidez
54.5N

Peso

More disappointing news here, as we found the Lone Peak 9 tipping our scale at 10.9 oz or 309g—a weight that feels out of place for a low-stack trail shoe with a grounded profile.

That’s also a noticeable jump from its predecessor, which we measured at 10.15 oz or 288g. Even that felt slightly heavy, but at least it landed within a tolerable range. Come on Altra, this shoe deserves to drop below 10 oz for version 10!

Altra Lone Peak 9 Weight
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 10.90 oz (309g)
Media 10.23 oz (290g)
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
7.51 oz (213g)
Peso
12.66 oz (359g)

Transpirabilidad

For those eyeing the Altra Lone Peak 9 for hot summer trail adventures, it's worth noting that this version's breathability is quite limited.

To assess this, we connected our smoke machine to a 3D-printed piece and directed it into the toebox. The smoke remained trapped inside, leading us to assign the LP9 a modest 2/5 rating. In our view, that's adequate for cooler days but less ideal for warmer conditions.

Further inspection involved moving the upper over our LED light. The fabric blocked the light entirely, reinforcing our earlier findings.

Altra Lone Peak 9 microscope

Curious about the material, we examined the mesh under our microscope. The results were clear—there are simply no pathways for air or moisture to escape!

Altra Lone Peak 9 fabric

The upper's sturdy, non-stretch design suggests it's built for rugged adventures. Moreover, the lack of ventilation holes could enhance durability—a factor we'll also check in this review. 

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 2
Media 3.2
En comparación con 111 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1
Transpirabilidad
5

Durabilidad

Durabilidad de la parte delantera

We figured that the lack of ventilation holes might give this shoe a rugged edge, so we grabbed our Dremel and went straight into testing mode to find out how it holds up under pressure.

After testing, we discovered a middle-of-the-road score of 3/5. In our view, that’s not entirely disappointing—but it’s also not what we expected from such a reinforced upper with almost zero breathability.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 3
Media 3.1
En comparación con 91 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1
Durabilidad de la parte delantera
5

Durabilidad del acolchado del talón

After testing the heel padding durability, we discovered a moderate score of 3/5. Based on our findings, that’s not too bad—it’s unlikely the Altra Lone Peak 9 will show early wear with average use.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 3
Media 2.8
En comparación con 89 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1
Durabilidad del acolchado del talón
5

Dureza de la suela

As you’ve probably already noticed, we tested the Vibram version of the Lone Peak 9—and as expected, the traction was outstanding thanks to the awesome Megagrip rubber. It clings to dry ground like claws and performs reliably on wet surfaces too.

We discovered a hardness of 86.1 HC, which matches the usual Vibram result and suggests above-average durability in long-term use.

Altra Lone Peak 9 outsole

From our experience, this is a huge jump in grip compared to the MaxTrac version!

Altra Lone Peak 9 Outsole hardness
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 86.1 HC
Media 85.7 HC
Utilizamos la media de cuatro pruebas. La foto muestra una de esas pruebas.
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
75.5 HC
Dureza de la suela
96.1 HC

Durabilidad de la suela

We were satisfied with the results here too—once again showing how Vibram blends trail-gripping traction with durability. After testing, we discovered a minimal wear of just 0.8 mm during our abrasion test.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 0.8 mm
Media 1.0 mm
En comparación con 84 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
0.0 mm
Desgaste de la suela
2.0 mm

Grosor de la suela

The outsole features a moderate 2.0 mm thickness, which makes sense to us—since there's no rock plate, that extra bit of underfoot protection is appreciated. However, flexibility takes a hit due to the absence of large cutouts.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Outsole thickness
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 2.0 mm
Media 2.3 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
0.9 mm
Grosor de la suela
5.5 mm

Lone Peak 9 vs 9+

Altra released two different versions, and you might be wondering why. We know that for many, the logical move would've been a single Vibram-only release, but that likely wasn’t possible at the usual Lone Peak price. Plus, it would have come with trade-offs.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Vibram Megagrip

That’s why Altra launched both versions, and here’s how to pick the right one for you:

  • Lone Peak 9: same price as before, MaxTrac outsole, more natural flex and a bit more of ground feel.  
  • Lone Peak 9+: €20 more, super-grippy Vibram outsole, slightly stiffer underfoot.  

Availability adds another twist. In Europe, the standard option is the Lone Peak 9+, and it’s hard to find the cheaper MaxTrac version. Meanwhile, across the U.S. and most global markets, the Lone Peak 9 is more common—but the 9+ can still be found at select retailers and Altra’s site.

Varios

Profundidad del dibujo de la suela

The Altra Lone Peak 9+ features aggressive 3.8 mm lugs that deliver confident grip across a wide range of trail conditions. Their arrow-shaped layout ensures good traction during climbs and controlled braking on descents, and we think it's better suited for easy and moderate trails.

Altra Lone Peak 9 lugs
While the 9+ version uses Vibram Megagrip, it still skips the Traction Lug tech.

We found that the multi-directional pattern works especially well on loose gravel and dry dirt, but still holds up when transitioning to wet roots or muddy stretches.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Lug depth
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 3.8 mm
Media 3.5 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1.5 mm
Profundidad del dibujo de la suela
5.0 mm

Precio

The standard Lone Peak keeps the usual price, so no complaints from our side. On the other hand, the Vibram version adds a slight bump, which seems justified for such a top-tier outsole.

Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 $140
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
€65
Precio
€250

Elementos reflectantes

Unfortunately, the Lone Peak 9 lacks any reflective elements—a small but disappointing miss.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Reflective elements
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 No

Acolchado de la lengüeta

Altra took a play-it-safe approach with the lacing and tongue setup. We discovered flat, trail-ready laces paired with reinforced punched eyelets—creating a super-strong, long-lasting combo. There's also an extra eyelet for runner's knot lacing if needed.

Altra Lone Peak 9 laces

The tongue is nicely padded with 6.0 mm of foam. That's a comfortable, low-bulk setup that works great for trail use. We think it delivers enough plushness across the instep without making the shoe feel overly thick, which also matters here given its already weighty build for its size.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Tongue padding
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 6.0 mm
Media 6.4 mm
En comparación con 134 zapatillas de trail
Número de zapatillas
1.3 mm
Acolchado de la lengüeta
12.3 mm

Lengüeta: tipo de refuerzo

We discovered that the tongue is completely attached to the sides, and that’s an ideal setup many pricier trail shoes still overlook.

It's also worth noting that, during our test runs, the Altra Lone Peak 9 blocked all debris in the tongue area—though the low ankle collar may still be a concern in this regard.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Tongue: gusset type
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 Ambos lados (completo)

Tirador del talón

We found the familiar finger-loop heel tab from past Lone Peak models, staying consistent and giving off a nice trail-ready vibe.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Heel tab
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9 Tirador de dedo

Plantilla extraíble

No issues for us removing the Lone Peak 9’s insole, though fitting a third-party one can be tricky due to the uniquely-shaped, foot-friendly toebox.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Removable insole
Resultados de las pruebas
Lone Peak 9

GaiterTrap

There’s a built-in GaiterTrap hook on the heel for Altra’s strapless gaiters, which are quick to attach and ideal for debris-filled trails—especially helpful given the Lone Peak’s heel collar design.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Ankle gaiter