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r/AppalachianTrail

r/AppalachianTrail

23

Posted by5 months ago

Altra Lone Peak slippery on trail?

Aspiring thru hiker here. First time using trail runners, and I was slipping and sliding over wet rocks like crazy. I feel like it would be a bit foolish for me to attempt a long distance hike with shoes like that. When I was at REI I checked the soles of all their trail runners and the lone peaks seemed to be more rugged and I thought they would have the best grip. What kind of things should I look for in shoes/boots, that aren’t going to be so slippery? I loved how light trail runners were, but I feel like I would feel much safer in boots.

59 comments

93% Upvoted

level 1

2018 GA -> ME "Day Hiker"

Altra Lone Peaks do not have great traction and wear down quickly making them even more slick. I wore two pairs to start my AT thru hike and slid all over the place. I still have a couple of pairs that I got at REI garage sales because they are very comfortable shoes, but don't use them as backpacking shoes anymore.

For that, I go with Saucony Peregrine shoes. The tread is amazing and has wonderful grip on wet rock. I wore them for the second half of my thru hike and the difference was astounding comparing them to the Lone Peaks. Everything lasted longer on them as well. They are more narrow than Lone Peaks, but the wide version fits very similar to Lone Peaks. They are great options.

22

level 2

I can totally second this opinion.. I work at an outfitter on trail in the white mountains and the peregrines are what I put 90% of people fed up with lone peaks into. Only a 4mm stack height so they almost feel zero drop but not quite

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level 2

MEGA 2022

I like peregrine's, but I was slipping and sliding all over the place through Maine in them.

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level 1

Thirsty

Altra was sold years ago to a "brand group" and I'm surprised the recommendations have lasted as long as they have here. That company owns Timberland, Wrangler, Vans, basically a who's who of brands that suck now. (Though to be fair they own North Face as well who does still make quality stuff in a more premium market - can't speak to any decline, maybe it has?)

Generally the death knell for any quality, niche outdoor product or company. It always becomes about cutting costs, even if that's not an intentional worsening of the product - eventually someone will need to make a quarterly # or they'll acquire a company that makes rubber compounds & switch for reasons of vertical integration.

15

level 2

Wow. There was a very steep and distinct decline in the quality of Altras about 3 or 4 years ago and, yup, they sold in 2018. Had no idea why they had suddenly become so unreliable, but that explains it.

5

level 2

What’s wrong with the quality of Vans?

My pair have held up great for like 3 years now, only now replacing them because rubber soles and campfires don’t mix very well.

8

level 2

On one hand I agree, on the other hand I don't know of a good trail runner with a wide forefoot (or wide sizes) to suggest in it's place.

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level 1

Stickier rubber! Vibram and the various high end proprietary rubbers (Salomon Contagrip, La Sportiva, etc.). These rubbers tend to wear faster, so I save my good wet weather shoes for only wet weather.

8

level 2

Salomon GTX is really the way to go.

Some people claim they're uncomfortable, but I'm honestly on my 13th pair.

I trail run and hike in them.

I have one pair of Altras, and I wear them for the gym, and honestly I hate them.

3

level 2

ALSO - boots are not inherently grippier. Some are, some aren’t - the sole determines that. So if you like the feel of trail runners, some stiffer and grippier options include La Sportiva Bushido, Salomon XA series, Saucony peregrine (they make a mud version). These are all 8mm drop or under, giving them a balance between a heel boot and your zero- drop Altras (which I do love). Hoka also makes great lightweight shoes with excellent traction - the Speedgoat in particular have great grip and can do what most boots are meant for. 5mm drop.

1

level 1

I also had some issues with Altra Lone Peaks on slick rock whether it was from a rain, or a mist/fog. Personally I think it's the proprietary compound they use to make the Egomax sole, that makes the shoes so comfortable. I tried the Olympus, but besides being too thick for me, the Vibram sole they have is what I feel is not a standard Vibram sole, but one made for Altra that pushes comfort over utility.

I jumped to Topo Terraventure 3's because they use what I feel is a standard Vibram sole that you'd see on the bottom of any shoe/boot, and I slip so much less, and they last so much longer. Definitely not as comfortable as the Altra's though.

6

level 2

I also just made the switch from many years in Lone Peaks to now trying my first pair of Topos. So far so good. They are definitely stickier. My one complaint so far is that there are some forefoot pressure spots but nothing that has caused any issues yet.

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level 1

If you don't need that wide forefoot, the Hoka Speedgoat is the stickiest shoe I've ever used. I couldn't stay with it though because even using a wide version, there was not enough forefoot width.

3

level 2

I started with Hoka Speedgoats but decided to try out the Altra Lone Peaks when they began to wear out. I have slipped with the Lone Peaks (5) and never with my Hokas.

4

level 2

Can confirm speed goats are sticky as all hell OP

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level 2

Yeah my friend has Speedgoats and loves them, her only complaint is the material doesn’t hold up well over time, but said the vibram soles do very well even on wet rock in the Whites.

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level 1

SOBO 2022

All the Lone Peakers have been jealous of the Olympians out here. Vibram is just the best

2

level 2

Olympus’s suck because they lack any sole over the foam for the heal. They also condense on the heal making them negative drop over a few hundred miles. That causes tendinitis in the heal

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level 1

Wet rock is wet rock. I’ve been sliding up and down the White Mountains for the past two years in the highest rated hiking boots.

4

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r/AppalachianTrail

NOBO? SOBO? Flip-Flopper? Section hiker? Aspiring hiker? If you've hiked or are planning on hiking the "AT", this is the place for you.

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