Altra Lone Peak Hiker 3 Review

The most notable design element of the Altra Lone Peak Hiker 3 is the ultra-wide toe box. While we don't all love the look, we can't argue with the comfort: We had no idea we'd appreciate so much room for our toes. That said, the flat footbed might be the key that makes or breaks your buying decision: If you like to run around the house barefoot, you'll likely appreciate this hiking boot.

Comfort

These lightweight boots feel more like a cushiony wrap than an actual boot! The duck-like forefoot looks disconcertingly wide at first, but when you put them on, your toes go off exploring the expansive insole with childlike delight. You might think you'll end up banging around in there on rough ground, but Altra's upper does an awesome job of locking your foot to the footbed without extra pressure points. Pretty amazing, really.

For non-Altra fans, the fit is long. In fact, our lead tester sized down from a typical 14 to a 13 and felt as if he had plenty of room to spare. As a company, Altra clearly makes shoes and boots that are designed, intentionally, to give your feet more room than most other shoe manufacturers provide. Altra designs its shoes so that your toes can splay out as you walk, while also giving you enough room for your feet to swell, as many do throughout the day.

Despite not having the thickest of midsoles, the Altra EGO foam gave us a springy feel that feels almost as plush as boots with much thicker midsoles. These boots don't require a break-in period — they are incredibly comfortable right out of the box.

Support

The low sole is about a 1/2" lower at the heel compared to most other hikers we've tested, giving you extra stability by putting your foot much closer to the ground. The downside is that it's a zero-drop sole, which means your heel is at the same height as your forefoot and toes, which can result in a different feel than some hikers likely expect. Most boots have a heel-to-toe drop of around 8mm.

The upper wraps around your ankle very well, nearly hugging it with total coverage, but it's quite flexible. This gave us good tactile feedback, but it didn't stop our ankles from flexing on uneven ground. If you have weak or injured ankles, this lack of structure might not be supportive enough to reduce motion or prevent stressed ankles from flexing more than you want. (If you need extra support for a backpack, these are not the boots for you.)

We must say, the zero-drop design is a huge benefit for barefoot fans who want more natural foot strikes and strides, but it could put extra stress on calves and Achilles tendons for those who don't run around barefoot and who usually wear typical shoes and boots with higher stack heights. Newbies to flat soles might need to acclimate to the design before zooming off on epic adventures.

Traction

The traction on the Lone Peak Hiker 3 is very good, seemingly because the super flexible sole conforms to all sorts of shapes and materials. We could cruise up hills easily, but that flexibility is a con for side-hill traverses in soft forest dirt and duff because the sole isn't stiff enough to bite into soft surfaces. We learned to deal with this by flattening the entire sole over the angles we were traversing. If your ankles are strong and flexible, it works.

These did seem to grip slightly better on wet rock than most boots we tested, but not enough to make us feel extra stable. We suspect the extra flexible sole helped a bit more than the composition of the MaxTrac rubber outsoles. Having our feet closer to the ground also seems makes us feel a bit more surefooted in these boots than those with tall heels.

Water Resistance

The Altra Lone Peak Hiker 3 boots are not waterproof — and not designed to be waterproof or even water resistant. It does take a couple of minutes for the water to seep through the mesh, but once it does, it opens the floodgates to massive interior flooding. Our flood height was a paltry 1.37 inches, making these boots a poor choice for smaller stream crossings or rainy day hikes.

We could quick-step it through streams with little problem, but once saturated, the water flows freely. Our lead testers' feet quickly got wet from morning dew on one hike through a grassy area. Interestingly, these airy boots had a tendency to let fine dust pass through the mesh, which was annoying on dusty trails. We're not sure we'd overreact by choosing a fully waterproof boot, but for high-dust environments, you'll get some passthrough.

Weight

At just 1.98 pounds per pair in a size 13, the Lone Peak Hiker 3 is very lightweight, making them feel more like a light shoe than a hiking boot. We loved how agile these boots made us feel, making it easy to cruise trails, hop over logs, climb onto boulders, and explore granite slabs.

The upper is made from a soft synthetic mesh with some suede overlays for additional support — and by “additional” we mean “just a little extra support.” It's hard to overstate the flexibility of the uppers.

Durability

We don't have any major durability concerns or complaints. While ultralight boots tend to wear much faster than heavier boots, the traditional lacing eyelets should last longer than competitive fabric eyelets. Much of the stitching on the suede overlays is just a single line of stitching rather than double, so these stitches could separate if you wear these in brushy forested environments often.

Still, we're pleased with the great build quality throughout.

Should You Buy the Altra Lone Peak Hiker 3?

The Altra Lone Peak Hiker 3 is a winner for barefoot enthusiasts who want zero-drop footbeds and roomy toe boxes. It's ultralight and super comfortable but its overall support relies more on the health of your own feet and ankles than it does on stiff materials, making it most suitable for use on established trails.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a wide, roomy, high-volume fit, the On Cloudrock Mid Waterproof delivers outstanding cushion in a more traditional hiking boot design. Similarly, the Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX shares an accommodating fit, as well as comes in a wide version, but it also brings extra durability with its leather upper and metal eyelets.