By Joe Nuss
Several years ago I took a Chi Running class to learn to be a mid-foot striker. I wanted to justify buying the cool new minimalist footwear just as much as I wanted to become a more efficient runner, perhaps even more so! A mid-foot strike is pretty much required for minimalist footwear – shoes that approach zero heel-to-toe drop and zero cushioning. But my feet objected strenuously to zero cushioning because, well, they love cushioning. I think our “barefoot” ancestors would have loved cushioning, too, if only they knew how to make it.
Fast forward to this year when, on a whim, I entered the lottery for the Mount Mitchell Challenge. I didn’t get into the challenge, but still plan to get back into trail running this winter. As I was considering a new pair of trail shoes, I got the opportunity to review the Altra Lone Peak 1.5s. What better time to revisit a category of footwear I had previously sworn off? I was excited to try the Lone Peaks for three primary reasons: They offer a wide toe box; they offer a 23mm stack height; and it’s just about time to start training for my favorite trail races.
The wide toe box was more of a driving factor in my desire to test out the Lone Peak’s than anything else. I was pleasantly surprised at just how wide it was. The roominess made the shoe feel a little big until I opted to wear socks with them; I typically don’t wear socks when running. If you’re also a sockless runner, I would recommend wearing socks with these shoes to help your toes get used to the wide toe box. One reason Altra recommends gradually incorporating Altras into your running routine is that they claim the wide toe box allows your toes to splay out with each foot strike. I found this to be true, which does take some getting used to even if you are already a mid-foot striker.
One of the things I didn’t like about the minimalist footwear I tried previously was the “feel” of the road. While I guess this is something that barefoot runners strive for, I find my feet aren’t really interested in feeling all the debris on a trail or road. The 23mm stack height of the Lone Peak 1.5s – basically the amount of material between your foot and the ground – was enough to cushion my feet from all the sticks, stones and pebbles that exist on the trails and roads yet still felt firmer than most shoes.
What surprised me most about the Lone Peaks were the lugs on the outsole. I’ve run in trail (and road) shoes with bigger lugs, but none with quite the same grip as these. Perhaps because there are no cutouts on the outsole, more of these triangular lugs could grab and grip the trail than the lugs of other shoes. Whatever the reason, I found amazing traction with the Lone Peaks’ aptly named “TrailClaw Outsole.” The footprint-shaped design is a cool added bonus and great conversation piece as well.
My overall impression of Altra’s Lone Peak 1.5 is that it’s a great trail shoe with amazing grip. It’s also a great shoe to transition to if you are converting to a mid-foot strike, or already have a mid-foot strike and are looking for a non-minimal running shoe. If you are simply looking for a great shoe for your wide feet, I would recommend learning to run in any model of Altras, including the Lone Peaks. They retail for $115, which is a good price these days. For ultra runners, the shoe includes a Velcro tab on the heel for gaiters. It also includes a “trail rudder,” which is simply a tab that extends from the heel and is aimed at providing stability. I can’t say the trail rudder gave me a greater sense of stability, but it did provide a nice tab to step on with my other foot to help me remove my shoes without bending over – a nice bonus when you’re tired from a long trail run!
