Training shoes / Altra Lone Peak 5 durability?
I recently got the Lone Peak 5s, and I like them so far (only 8 miles in). I'm thinking of taking them on my thru-hike of the JMT sometime in August this year. I'm pretty out of shape as far as hiking goes, so I'm planning on doing a lot of training hikes (e.g. walks around my hilly neighborhood with a full pack on), which will likely exceed 100 miles (or perhaps 200) total over the next few months.
I'd like to train with the shoes I'm going to hike with so there aren't surprises later, but I know that Altra shoes aren't exactly known for their longevity. I've also heard Lone Peak 5's were more durable than previous iterations. Is that true? Would I probably be okay with training and doing the thru-hike with my current pair, or would it be better to train with a different pair now so my current pair is in better condition when I start the thru-hike?
Mine will only be used for hiking with a pack on, probably 20-35 lbs. Maybe more than half of my training will be on sidewalks, unfortunately, with the rest being on a flat dirt road/trail and actual hiking trails through rocky hills.
I'm interested to hear if the 5s have seen a difference. I had been wearing Lone Peaks, both the normal and mids, for several years. My last pair of mids I wore for 30 miles last summer and they were already losing stability and basically falling apart. My recent experiences have resulted in me refusing to buy more Altras at this point because I haven't gotten more than 250 miles out of a pair of Altras in the last 5 years. That first pair is still going strong (but not good enough for heavy miles/rugged use anymore). But everything else has been a disappointment, especially for the cost.
I was in the same boat as you and just got the LP 5's and can say they are probably the best Altra's to date since the 2.5 (my first pair of Altras) and I have had every model since then. I had the Timp 1.5s that came close to those OG Lone peaks though. I have my gripes with Altras as most people but I have not found a shoe that comes close to that immediate comfort/stability/foot box shape. The 5s seem a lot more durable. I only hike and do not run in mine though.
Be cautious with the Lone Peaks because they’re zero drop shoes. If you’ve never used a zero drop before, they can cause Achilles’ tendon issues. I loved them when I first got them, but after about four or five weeks my Achilles started getting really inflamed and sore. I went back to a more traditional shoe and all was good.
With this much time before your hike, you should have time to put up enough miles to know whether they’re right for you or not. Just be mindful, they aren’t for everyone.
Thanks for the heads up, and it's too bad you had a bad experience. I've had other Altras for previous hikes, so I'm not worried about acclimation to zero drop shoes. It's just that I've never hike more than probably 150 miles on either of my other shoes. The superior 3.5s made my feet ache more than I'd like, and the timps 1.5 were okay, but I was never really thrilled about them. I decided to try out the Lone Peak 5s since they were on sale, and they happened to feel very comfortable the instant I put them on. Here's hoping that feeling lasts (long enough)!
Altras are the only shoes I have had in the past 30 years that just fell apart on me.
I got in less than 100 miles on the SHT before the side blew out on the left shoe. The right shoe would NOT retain the insole any time it got wet. The thing would shift around and eventually start inching its way up my heel until it was flopping on the ground no matter how tight I tied my laces. Quite annoying.
But gawd, they were comfy despite all that. I never once had a sore foot or blister wearing them in the worst conditions. That toebox is King!
The tread will definitely be worn down some, but should still be adequate. If you are walking on concrete sidewalks, they will wear out faster than if you are hiking in the woods. I have a couple hundred miles on a pair that are what I wear when I take a walk around the neighborhood and the tread is basically non-existent anymore. That is the issue I've always had with Altra. The shoe is supremely comfortable but the tread is not great to start out with and wears too quickly. I just found out my favorite shoe, Saucony Peregrine, comes in a wide version directly from their website so I will be going back to them after my current trail shoes wear out.
I just got my first pair of Altras, my first zero drop too, lone peak 5's. Planning to take them on my CT thru in July. I've got 130 miles on them so far and they're super comfy, my favorite trail shoes I've had. So far the only wear I have is on the soles, which is mostly my fault doing some training on concrete and asphalt. The uppers show no signs of wear so far. I've been super happy with them.
Edit: I think the majority of wear on the sole is from about 30-40mi of concrete. If you can, train on dirt or at least try and walk in the grass next to the sidewalk. It'll help build your ankles up too. I bought a second pair to start my thru hike in and am expecting them to last the entire 500mi of the CT.
Lone Peaks have a much softer rubber on the bottom than a lot of trail shoes (at least, the ones I like to use). My 4.5s were seemingly made of tissue paper. Yes, very comfy, but they just started disintegrating after 150 miles or so, about 90% of that on trail. It's a very comfy shoe, I still wear them to work, but in terms of support there is just nothing there after a while. I think a lot of people fall in love with the shaping, because for the first time in their life their toes are not crammed into a box, and some folks have the strength in their feet to make them work for 500 miles, some don't.
If you really love that shoe but are going to be training on pavement a lot, I'd suggest finding a road Altra that has a rubber on the bottom made for that surface, otherwise you could easily creep into the range of your Lone Peaks being near the end of their life by the time you are completing the JMT.
I'll also add in my thoughts on my LP5's which I've used this season so far. Since they are soft, they flex very well on uneven terrain. The whole feeling the trail with your feet kind of thing is great. However, this means that walking on pavement SUCKS in LP5's. I tried to "train" with walks in my neighborhood and they just felt awful. I do like my LP5's although they are somewhat loose. Thick (or double) socks are essential.
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I've been running in Altra for a while now, and have had bad experience with Lone Peak. I had the LP 3.5 RSM's and went through three pairs, each blowing up before 150 mi. The material of the upper is just not good, and gets really brittle and blows out on the sides where the toes flex. Thankfully Altra replaced the first two pair under warranty, but I need something that will last longer. I am going back and forth between LP 5 and the new Superiors. I had Superior before the LP, and got pretty good mileage out of them before they blew up during a really muddy 50k.
I use the Escalante for road running, and have been through several pair that lasted me over 1300 miles... so not all Altras wear thru quick!
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