Article by Ernst Linder
Altra Lone Peak 9 ($140)
Introduction
Altra released the newest version of its Lone Peak, the Lone Peak 9 early this year. It is the latest in the evolution of this model that has not changed substantially since the Lone Peak 6 from 2022, and noticeable also, the price of the shoe has not changed either.
Rather, Altra tweaked or added small features while staying true to the main formula of a light-weight trail shoe using its Altra EGO™ midsole foam, a zero-drop modest 25 mm stack height, a soft but strong mesh upper, and a MaxTrac™ outsole.
The Lone Peak 9's updates over the previous version (Lone Peak 8) seem to be targeted to improve stability around the heel, and to improve durability. Also, the ring hook over the forefoot was reintroduced to accommodate gaters.
Pros:
light weight;
good stability;
Altra’s “original” wide toe box, zero-drop;
Altra Ego midsole foam - supposedly updated;
reinforcements around the heel;
soft ripstop mesh upper with all no-sew overlays for foot protection;
good traction.
new features are likely to improve durability and prolong the life of the shoe and to provide stability over a longer time especially in the ankle area.
Cons:
updated midsole and the heel reinforcement made the shoe slightly stiffer which tends to reduce ground connection on technical uneven trails.
new design of the heel padding could be irritating on long runs - needs a good break-in.
Most comparable shoes
Altra Lone Peak 8 (Ernst)
Altra Timp 5 (Ernst)
Topo Terraventure 4 (Ernst)
Stats
Sample Weight: men’s 10.48 oz / 297g US8.5 (v8:US 8.5: 10.25 oz / 291g)
Stack Height: men’s 25mm heel / 25 mm forefoot ( 0mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 80mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Putting on the LP9 the first time, It felt just like I was used to from running in the Altra Lone Peak 8 (dark shoe in picture).
The fit was snug and true to size and even slightly improved over the LP8 in which my big toe tended to slightly push towards the front.
The redesigned lacing reinforcements and the first lacing loop being further up in the foot may contribute to better stabilization of the foot within the shoe. There are enlarged toe protectors in the LP9 and yet the upper has that same flexibility as the LP8’s, providing comfort to foot and toes.
From the get-go, there was no clearly noticeable difference, and also in a later run, when I wore the two models, one on each foot. I just barely noticed a slight stiffness in the LP9, which is typical of a new shoe.
The extra weight of about ¼ to ½ ounce of the LP9 over the LP8 due to reinforcements was also barely if at all noticeable.
By and large the LP9 provided a reasonably good ride, with good take-off, did not feel heavy, yet gave me a stable feeling on the single-track trails. I also felt some welcome cushioning when I ran on a few miles of pavement.
Midsole & Platform
Altra reports an “Updated Altra EGO™ midsole foam, made for comfort and ground connection”.
I noticed that LP9’s midsole is less pliable than LP8’s which may indicate a reinforced platform and may perhaps also be due to a slightly different geometry as appears to be visible from the outside. Yet the footbeds inside appear identical. But then again, the overall effect seems to be very subtle. Comparison after higher mileage might be more revealing.
More noticeable are the reinforcements around the heel: First, a slanted stabilizer on the hind sides of the upper. Second, a slightly changed geometry of the upper around the ankle:(1) lower horizontal “cut out” to avoid rubbing against the ankle bone; (2) a smaller rear heel padding piece. These combine with the new outsole reinforcements which prevent fast wear-down of the sole under the ankle. These new features point to better ankle stability with longer lasting outsole.
Outsole
The Maxtrac outsole of the LP9 compared to that of the LP8 shows a slight modification of the pattern of lugs and the fortifications (in yellow).
Most notable is the large continuous piece in the midfoot area, but more so the two protruding rear side pieces to counter wear and tear around the heel but also to provide better heel / ankle stability.
………….
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Overall, the Altra Lone Peak 9 is an excellent zero-drop trail shoe with modest stack height providing a good compromise between cushioning, light-weight and stability. It provides a snug fit to runners who need a wide toe box. The ride is smooth yet there is connection to the ground. The shoe feels snappier than say the Altra Timp 5. yet they both are the same weight.. I will use the LP9 frequently for training and possibly also for longer distance trail races on technical trails.
Altra also promotes this model for hiking, which I would endorse. For very uneven technical trails with lots of roots and rocks, I - being a lightweight person - slightly prefer LP8 for shorter runs because of its softness and flexibility. However on very long runs, and as the LP8 incurs more wear, I may eventually prefer the comfort provided by the protective additions in the LP9 including the updated Ego foam.
The context should be a combination of your preferences and overall shoe design and performance. Some shoes are not the best for you but may be great for others and both aspects have to be considered in
Your Score out of 10 with points off and comments for what could use improvements. The scoring context should be a combination of your preferences and overall shoe design and performance.
If you choose to use the weighted by category scoring rubrics they are here:
Score: 9 / 10 (slight concern about shoe stiffness / bounciness
😊😊😊😊😊
Comparisons
Altra Timp 5 (RTR Review)
The Timp 5 is very similar to the LP9, but feels overall stiffer. It has a higher stack of 29mm. Its outsole is a Vibram sole that has the lugs attached to it via strips. Some of these tend to peel off over time. In the LP9, lugs are fully integrated into the sole and also have a slightly more pronounced profile. Clearly an improvement.
Topo Terraventure 4 (RTR Review)
The Terraventure 4 is comparable in weight and stack height to the LP9, but has a modest drop of 3 mm and a rock plate in the forefoot area. Topo’s Vibram Megagrip outsole provides much better traction than Altra Timp 5’s Vibram sole. Possibly, LP9’s revised pattern and pronounced profile in its MaxTrac outsole is almost comparable to the Terraventure’s excellent outsole.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Ernst lives in the New Hampshire Seacoast area and loves being able to run "from his doorstep" on several connected trail networks. While being the shortest student in grade school, he found almost all sports to be overly challenging, but "distance" running seemed to be natural for him. Eventually his family steered him towards competitive orienteering in his teenage years in Switzerland. This all stopped when he became an exchange student and moved to the USA.
But the seed was sown, and eventually the running spirit reemerged. Throughout the years he has rediscovered orienteering, pursued road, trail and mountain running, adventure racing, triathlon and nordic skiing. He turned towards more competitive running when Loco started organizing races in the Seacoast area, first half marathons in 2007, and later marathons. His marathon PR is 3:03 at age 59, and he has numerous USA Track and Field New Hampshire age group state records. He is 70 years old 5ft 5 inches (165cm) tall and weighs 135 lb (61 kg).
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading Road Trail Run! We also welcome comments in French. See our page with links to all shoe and gear reviews HERE. You can also follow RoadTrailRun on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram where we publish interesting run related content more frequently as well as links to our latest reviews. Shopping through links on articles help support RoadTrail Run and is much appreciated