Great news: These hiking boots are also available in a women’s version.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Very light
- Extremely comfortable
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Some long-term durability concerns
- Not well suited for more technical terrain
These lightweight, mid-high boots are intended for trail running, but they also make a great choice for those who like to hike quick and light too. We think they certainly look good and aside from great comfort, they offer a good degree of water resistance too.
Whilst some may like the runner-like flexibility they offer, this can work against you when the terrain gets more technical and the lightweight build presents some concerns with long-term durability too. Many hikers will surely love these boots, but as they are a more specialized product, we are hesitant to say they could be the only pair of hiking footwear you need.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking boots, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
Compare to Similar Products:
Salewa Men's Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX Boots | Hoka Trail Code GTX | Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid | Asolo Fugitive GTX | Scarpa Rush TRK GTX | Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 | Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry | Skechers Relment-Pelmo | Teva Grandview GORE-TEX | Timberland White Ledge Mid Waterproof | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||
Our Ratings | Best Overall Men's | Most Stylish | Best for Long Distance Trails | Most Breathable | Best for Winter/Cold Weather | Best Lightweight | Best for Backpacking | |||
Pros | Excellent comfort. Great combo of breathability and water-resistance. | Excellent Grip. Excellent water resistance | Excellent comfort. Great durability | Tough and durable. Great water resistance. | Excellent durability (including ability to be resoled). Excellent ankle support | Very light. Extremely comfortable | Tough build. Great fit and comfort | Very comfortable. Reasonably priced. | Comfortable. Looks good | Often very inexpensive. Offered in a wide range of sizes. |
Cons | Can be pricey. May be a little tight if you have very wide feet | The styling is not to everybody's taste. Some durability concerns | The loos are a little dated. Are relatively expensive outside of the USA | Some may find the upper too flexible. Can be expensive. | Can be pricey. A little heavy | Long term durability concerns. Not well suited to more technical terrain | A little heavy. Not the most breathable | Not suited to technical hiking. Styling is a little dull. | Some durability concerns. Not suited for more extreme trails | Low water resistance. Less ankle support than others. |
Traction | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Good |
Breathability | Excellent | Good | Very Good | Good | Low | Excellent | Low | Low | Good | Low |
Ankle Support | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Very good | Excellent | Good | Very Good | Good | Good | Average |
Arch support | Regular to good | Regular | Regular | Minimal | Minimal | Regular | Good | Good | Regular | Regular |
Fit | Fits true to size available in a single width | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Fit true to size. Available in normal and wide fit and with a wide range of sizes | Fits true to size. Available in standard and wide fit. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Fit is true ot size. Available ins standard and wide versions. | Available in a wide range of sizes with several width options. sizing may run large. | Fits true to size. Available in a single width | Runs small. Available in regular and wide fit. |
Materials | Suede leather upper and synthetic | Full synthetic | Leather upper and synthetic | Suede leather and synthetic | Suede leather upper with synthetics | Full synthetic | Leather upper with synthetics | Suede leather upper with synthetics | Leather and synthetic upper | Leather and synthetic upper |
Appearance | Modern hiking boot | Modern sports shoe inspired hiking boot | The design is a little dated | The design is a little dated | Modern hiking boot | Modern sports shoe | The design is a little dated | Regular hiking boot | Retro inspired modern hiking trainer | Traditional hiking boot |
Durability | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Good |
Water Resistance | Gore Tex membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | Keen.Dry' breathable waterproof membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | Gore Tex Membrane | In-house waterproof membrane | B-Dry Membrane | Water-resistant treatment and possibly a water-resistant membrane | Gore Tex membrane and water resistant treatment | Water resistant treatment and sealed seems |
Weight (pair) | 1.04kg/2lb 05oz | 868g/1lb 14.6oz | 970g/2lb 2oz | 1.39kg/3lb 1oz | 1.19kg/2lb 10oz | 856g/1lb 14oz | 1.08kg/2lb 06oz | 964g/2lb 02oz | ||
Insoles | Modular insole system to fine-tune fit | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole | Shaped 'O-FIT' insole
| Air Cooled Memory Foam Insole | Padded removable insole | Padded removable insole |
Break-in Period | Minimal | Minimal | Very minimal | Minimal | Short break in required | Very minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal |
Lacing system | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces | Regular laces |
Toe Protection | Reinforced rubber rand on toe | Reinforced toe section | Leather reinforced with rubber toecap | Reinforced toe section with rubber rand | Reinforced rubber toe cap | Rubber reinforced toe | Reinforced rubber toe cap
| Rubber rand at toe | Reinforced rand and rubber toe cap
| Sole extended up to form a small toe cap
|
Analysis and Test Results
We’d consider the Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 to be a specialized product in our best hiking boots round up. Intended for trail running, it’s very light weight, and excellent comfort will certainly make it appeal to a lot of hikers. But, if you are used to more robust hiking boots, these may well leave you feeling disappointed as they lack rigidity and support – and many of the benefits they offer can quickly start to work against you if you venture onto more technical terrain.
So, if you tend to only hike on more even terrain or developed trails, or if you’re looking to supplement a more conventional pair of hiking boots you already own for days when you want to hike fast and light, then these are well worth a look. However, if you’re after an all-rounder – a single pair of boots that can do it all – then we’d be hesitant to recommend these.
Performance Comparison
Traction
The Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 are intended for trail running, so it’s no surprise that their flexible sole offers excellent grip on a range of surfaces. It’s worth underlining here that these boots are softer and more flexible than many other hiking boots and this can actually help in terms of traction as the sole tends to mold more around objects you step on.
The flip side of this is that you are more aware of the surface you’re travelling over and, if you’re used to more rigid hiking boots, you may find this a little disconcerting. Whilst the soles do offer excellent grip, remember that there are conditions where even the best grip will fail and mud, slick rock and especially ice and all overwhelm the grip on these boots.
Breathability
These boots are built for running, so it’s should come as no surprise to learn that they are well ventilated. Outwardly, the boots do not appear to have much by way of visible ventilation, but the synthetic fabric that comprises most of the upper is breathable and does a good job of preventing your feet from getting overly sweaty on intense hikes.
Ankle Support
These are mid high boots, so, they do offer better ankle support than a hiking shoe. But, when compared against other mid-high hiking boots, the story changes. These Altra boots are built for flexibility and a lighter weight and the trade off with this is that they are noticeably less rigid than most other hiking boots we’ve assessed – and that’s absolutely noticeable with the ankle support they offer.
Now, it’s worth bearing in mind that these boots are intended for trail running, so in many ways it’s not fair to directly compare the support they offer to a more rigid boot intended for technical hiking. None the less, trail running shoes are a popular choice for those looking for lightweight hiking or walking shoes, so, if this is you, bear in mind that the rigidity and support offered by these Altra boots is not in the same league as most other hiking boots.
Arch Support
These boots offer fairly neutral arch support – largely in line with their competition. It’s worth noting that they do have a very heavily cushioned interior which does – to an extent – shape itself around your foot and provides some arch support.
For most hikers, this will all be absolutely fine, but, if you need extra arch support in your footwear (and this can make a massive difference to comfort, even on short walks if you need it), then you can easily add in some third-part, or even custom-made insoles to provide just this.
See the Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 in more detail:
Fit
Altra offers these boots in sizes ranging from US 7/UK6/EU 40 up to US 16/UK 15/EU 51.5. They are offered in a single width and, whilst they may generally be considered best suited for narrow to norma width feet, the toe box is wider – so those with slightly wider feet should not discount them either. The boots are soft and flexible – closer to what you’d expect from a trainer than a hiking boot.
Materials
The Altra Lone Peak ALL_WTHR Mid 2 is made entirely from synthetic materials. The use of lightweight synthetics certainly plays a big part in these boots achieving their low weight and excellent flexibility.
Appearance
These are thoroughly modern looking shoes that, as you might expect, borrow heavily from the design language of running and sports shoes. Altra offers these in a few different color ways and, whilst there are a few brighter options, the colors are generally a lot more restrained than what’s offered by some other manufacturers (for example, Adidas Terrex and La Sportiva). We like the styling of these boots and it puts us in mind of some of the models in the Adidas Terrex range.
Durability
It’s often said that durability comes hand in hand with high weight. That statement is not always true, but these boots are very light, and they do not feel as solid as some of the other boots we’ve assessed. That said, appearances can be deceptive and lightweight gear can be tougher than it seems.
We certainly don’t think these Altra Lone Peaks are poorly made and, whilst they probably – in fact almost certainly – won’t last as long as a more robust, rigid and heavy pair of hiking boots, we think that many potential buyers of these will be more than happy to make that trade-off for the low weight and increased flexibility they offer.
Sustainability
As you’d expect, Altra have a sustainability statement on their website. But it’s very sparse. They are committed to making all the materials they use either from recycled material or recyclable by 2030 and they also want to cut their carbon emissions by 30% relative to their 2018 figures in the same timeframe. Unfortunately, they do not publish sustainability data on individual products.
Water Resistance
The Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 uses Altra’s in-house water-resistant, breathable fabric. This does a great job of keeping your feet dry in the rain and even if you need to cross shallow streams. Gusseting on the tongue further helps to keep water out – though, of course, water can still enter the shoe through the ankle cuff, so be aware of just how deep the stream you cross are!
There are more water-resistant options out there, but they don’t do what the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR does in other respects, and we think that the hikers these boots will appeal to the most will be happy to forego some water resistance for the boot’s other compelling features such as their low weight and comfort.
Weight
Weighing in at 856g/1lb 14oz for a pair, these are at the lighter end of boots we have tested. We think that this weight figure will be enough on its own to sway many purchase decisions for these boots. If you are used to wearing light shoes whilst hiking, these boots make a lot of sense if you need that little bit extra support and foot protection.
As we’ve discussed, however, the low weight does come with a penalty: whilst these are more supportive than shoes, they are not in the same league as most, more conventional (and heavier!) hiking boots.
Insoles
The Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR comes with a fairly generic pair of cushioned insoles. These will be fine for most buyers, but, if you want to fine-tune the fit of you boots or add extra arch support, these can easily be swapped out for third party or even custom-made alternatives. Swapping the insoles is a small change that can, for some wearers, make a massive difference to their comfort on the trail.
Break-in Period
These boots are comfortable straight out of the box and whilst we always say that no footwear is completely without a break-in period, these Altra boots really take this to a new level of minimalism. Whilst we did play it safe and wear them on a few shorter walks to start with, we genuinely believe that most people absolutely could wear these out on a long hike straight from the box. That isn’t something we say very often.
Lacing System
The Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 uses regular laces. This might not seem very exciting, but laces are actually a versatile way to not just close your boots but also to fine-tune their fit. You can also experiment with different lacing patterns if you want to further adjust the fit of your boots.
Toe Protection
These boots have a thick, extended rubber band at the toe and the sole does extend up the front to provide a (very!) small toe cap. Whilst this does provide some toe protection, the lightweight, flexible build of these shoes means that the toe protection is not at the same level you’d find in other, heavier hiking boots. None the less, accepting this, the toe protection that is there will still do the job of absorbing a good dela of the knocks and bumps you’ll likely encounter on the trail.
Conclusion
As we’ve mentioned throughout this review, these boots are intended for trail running and, with this in mind, it seems unfair to judge them by the same criteria we use for dedicated hiking boots. However, there is considerable cross over between the two activities, so here we are! It would be all to easy to point out how these Altra boots fail as hiking boots: they lack rigidity, they are not as water-resistant as some alternatives and there are some durability concerns.
But this misses the point! These boots are ultra-light and give a flexible, comfortable fit. If you want to hike fast, light or both on relatively even terrain, then these boots are a very compelling option. If you often find yourself navigating more technical terrain, venturing into mountaineering, or carrying heavy packs, then a more rugged and heavier boots may be a better choice.
Within their niche these are excellent boots, and we could well imagine that many hikers would gladly add a pair of these to their kit to supplement a more conventional pair of hiking boots for those days when they want to move fast. However, we would be less inclined to recommend these as an only pair of boots. Ultimately, it comes down to how you like to hike, and we can well imagine that there are plenty of hikers out there who’d love these boots just as much as we did.
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