Article by Ernst Linder
Lone Peak 9+ and Wander ($185)
Introduction
Among Altra’s newest trail shoes this year is an updated version of their Lone Peak 9 ($140) see our review here, the Lone Peak 9+ ($ 155) and the Lone Peak 9+ andWander ($185). Henceforth I will use the acronyms: LP9, LP9+, and LP9+W, respectively. These are currently sold by Altra as part of the “Lone Peak Family”
The Lone Peak family also includes a significant number of hiking shoes, such as “medium-top” and waterproof models. Interesting is also the list of the suggested activities for the LP9 models: Trail Running, Hiking, Thru Hiking , which, to me, indicates a broadening of Altra’s target clientele towards more hiking.
It also represents a further development to improve stability and durability in the LP line. For the LP9+ and LP9+W in particular, it indicates an attempt to market a light-weight, low-top trail running shoe to serious hikers and to long-distance thru-hikers as an alternative to more substantial hiking shoes.
The Lone Peak has always been a very popular, if not the most popular choice for long distance thru hikers on the Appalachian Trail. A potentially more durable choice with superior Vibram traction such as the LP9+, LP9+ andWander here and the boots likely will be appealing to thru hikers
LP9 to LP9+W: The major update to the LP9 here is the use of a Vibram® Megagrip outsole to improve traction and particularly on wet surfaces. The LP9 has a MaxTrac™ outsole that has the same geometry as the LP9+W's.
LP9+ to LP9+ x Wander: I have only had a chance to test run the LP9+W. Based on the information and data given for the LP9+ models, the only difference I can make out between the LP 9+ and the LP 9+ W is the upper color and pattern design of the shoe.
The LP9+’s outer has a modern visual design that comes in a myriad of two-colors for women and men’s shoes to choose from: White, light gray, dark gray, navy, maroon, lime, etc.- some colors are quite flashy and might appeal to the more serious trail racers.
The LP9+W on the other hand suggests a tree bark - a 2-color outer graphic “fashion forward” design and comes in black or red only.
After all and Wander is a well known Japanese fashion forward outdoor brand with the designs probably more pleasing to hikers and "sneaker" enthusiasts .
Since there is a significant price difference between the two models, one could expect perhaps additional differences, such as in the midsole foam weight, stability, and density and possibly also a variation in the Vibram outsole. But such differences are not indicated in the Details data, which for both models are provided as follows:
Details (from the Altra Website)
Best For Trail running, hiking, thru hiking
Heel-to-Toe Drop 0mm
Upper 100% RPET ripstop mesh upper
Midsole Altra EGO™
Outsole Vibram® Megagrip
Weight 11.55 oz / 327.4 g (men)
9.3 oz / 263.7 g (women)
Cushion Mid
Stack Height 25mm/25mm
Support Neutral
FootShape Original
Pros:
zero-drop;
stability;
Altra’s “original” wide toe box,;
Altra Ego midsole foam - supposedly updated;
soft ripstop mesh upper with all no-sew overlays for foot protection;
traction
traction
Cons:
for trail running: The shoe is noticeably stiffer than the earlier LP9 model, which reduces ground connection on technical uneven trails;
for trail racing: The stickiness of the Vibram Sole’s rubber may result in catching on protruding roots and rocks on technical trails
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 11.55 oz / 327.4 g (men) US9 women’s 9.3 oz / 263.7 g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s right: 11.0 oz / 311.8 g ; left: 10.7 oz / 303.3 g US: Men size 8.5
Stack Height: 25 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot
Platform 80mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
Altra Lone Peak 9 (Ernst)
Altra Timp 5 (Ernst)
Topo Terraventure 4 (Ernst)
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
The fit is snug and true to size like I am used to from the LP9. Out of the box, I immediately noticed the shoe’s stiffness and its more solid and stable feel as compared to the LP9, which I had sufficiently “broken in” with 450 miles.
In spite of its stiffness, I found the Wander to be comfortable especially when running on dirt roads and gravelly trails but also when stepping on rocks. I could also feel that this could be a owinner for long distance hiking and trekking (noting the LP heritage as a favorite on the Appalachian Trail. I have not had a chance to test the shoe for a long distance hike or run. But on a shorter run, the LP9+W provided smooth traveling over a trail section that consists of crushed large rock pieces similar to railroad ballast, and that has bothered me much with other shoes.
The lacing reinforcements and the first lacing loop being further up in the foot than in previous models contributes to excellent stabilization of the foot within the shoe in spite of the large “original” fit of the roomy toe box..
The upper has been reformulated starting with the LP8 with a “no-sew RPET ripstop mesh” that is soft and breathable for coolness, and yet is durable and keeps grit out. There are enlarged toe protectors in the upper but they do not compromise the soft feel of the RPET ripstop mesh.
As with the LP9, the LP9+W provides a hook in the front and a velcro loop in the rear to accommodate gaiters to protect against debris.
The extra weight of about 0.35 oz / 9g of the LP9+W over the LP9 was not really noticeable.
By and large, the LP9+W provided a reasonably good ride on my trail runs, with good take-off. I did not feel heavy and the shoe gave me a stable feeling on trails. I also felt some welcome cushioning when I ran on a few miles of pavement.
On a recent 10 mile hill training run, the balls of my feet started to get sore which I attribute to the stiffness of the beefier Vibram sole in combination with a limited arch support which has been an issue for me with Altra shoes.
And on highly technical uneven trail sections the overall stiffness and aggressive traction was noticeable, as the shoe tended to “grab” roots or prompted ankle rolling. But then, I had the same issue previously with the LP9 when it was still new.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole has been Altra’s proprietary Altra EGO™ for several LP models now and it has been reformulated and improved several times to achieve optimal comfort and cushioning without an excessive stack height.
In this case it is their modest 25mm stack height with a zero-drop geometry that provides overall improved stability on trails over the entire length of the shoe.
Outsole
The outsole of the LP9+ / LP9+W is a Vibram® Megagrip high-performance durable rubber compound sole that is hailed as providing great grip on both wet and dry surfaces. It has a slightly sticky feel to it and comes with multidirectional 5mm lugs that provide aggressive traction.
The front half of the shoe’s lugs have well defined acute angles in the front and obtuse angles in the rear.
In the rear half of the shoe this pattern is reversed. Interestingly, the earlier LP9 had exactly the same configuration of lugs, including identical arrangement of the reinforcements (here: in red) for the ball of the foot, the mid part and the heel - but of course, the material of the LP9’s outsole is MaxTrac. There are very slight differences in the two models between the midfoot reinforcement and the front water channels which in the LP9+ are solid outsole material.
Overall, the Vibram sole of the LP9+W is beefier and stiffer than the previous Maxtrac especially since it has only 25 miles of use. My LP9 on the other hand has seen over 450 miles and I find that the rear lugs have rounded out quite a bit. I have however used the LP9 successfully several times for mostly off-trail orienteering events instead of my usual very uncomfortable O-shoes that have metal spikes. A nice comfortable alternative, especially during this year of drought, where there is really no need for spikes. Both LP9 and LP9+ provide solid front protection via a considerable front wrap-around of the outsole.
I found the brand new LP9+W to be somewhat clunky due to its stiffness, yet it felt reasonably comfortable. Now, after 25 miles of use, that stiffness has lessened somewhat resulting in a smoother ride, plus I am getting used to the more aggressive traction.
In a recent test of running down a very steep gravely wide dirt trail, I was able to control speed perfectly without slipping or sliding.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Overall, similar to the previous Altra Lone Peak 9, the Altra Lone Peak 9+ andWander is an excellent zero-drop trail shoe with modest stack height providing a good compromise between cushioning, light-weight and stability. It provides a secure and snug fit to runners who need a wide toe box.
The ride is smooth, yet there is overall good connection to the ground. The shoe feels snappier than the Altra Timp 5 which is at a similar weight. This shoe is an excellent choice especially for long hikes, thru-hikes, and also for trail running training from short to long. There seems to be no obvious structural difference between the LP9+ and the LP9+W although there is a $ 30.- difference in the price.
Serious trail runners / racers may be indifferent to the new tree-bark upper design and color and likely purchase the LP9+. Further, not all runners might like the stickiness and aggressiveness of the Vibram outsole, thus may prefer the standard LP9 to the newer LP9+ models.
Ernst’s Score: 9.43 / 10
😊😊😊😊😊
Ride (30%) 9.5 : Fit (30%) 9.5: Value (10%) 8.5: Style (5%) 9 Traction (15%) 9.5: Rock Protection (10%) 10
3 Comparisons
Altra Lone Peak 9 (RTR Review)
As discussed in this review, the main difference between the LP9 and the LP9+W is the more solid and also somewhat stiffer and possibly longer lasting Vibram® Megagrip outsole of the LP90+W. The LP9 has a near identical MaxTrac outsole, which, in my case, shows some wear and tear after 450 miles. Otherwise the two models appear to have identical features. The LP9 is by 0.35 oz (10 grams) lighter per shoe for a US men’s size 8.5.
Altra Timp 5 (RTR Review)
The Timp 5 is very similar to the LP9+W, but feels stiffer overall. 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 LP99+W, 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.
All RTR reviews: HERE
Latest Reviews-Chronological Order HERE
Altra Running
Lone Peak 9+ and Wander
Tester Profile
Ernst lives in the New Hampshire Seacoast area and loves being able to run "from his doorstep" on several connected trail networks. 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. He moved to the USA at age 25 to attend graduate school, and rediscovered orienteering, pursued road, trail and mountain running, adventure racing, triathlon and nordic skiing. He turned towards more competitive running when the Loco company started organizing races in the NH Seacoast area, first half marathons in 2007, and later marathons. His marathon PR is 3:03 at age 59, and he has several USA Track and Field New Hampshire age group state records. He is currently ranked first in his age group in the 2025 USA Track and Field New England Mountain Running Circuit. He is 70 years old 5 ft 5 inches (165cm) tall and weighs 135 lb (61 kg).
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