Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Review | Is it New and Improved?

Overview of the Altra Lone Peak 3.0:

The Altra Lone Peak 3.0 is the latest iteration of the popular Lone Peak line. Utilizing a new, closer fitting last compared to previous iterations of the Lone Peak the Lone Peak 3.0 has a lot to like as well as some suggested improvements. The fit (although fans of the truly wide Altra forefoot fit may disagree), ride, and grip of the shoe are good but perhaps not great. The major issue I have with the shoe is the abundant use of fabric overlays and thick mesh on the upper which leads to a weight penalty and the inability to dry at a reasonable speed when completely soaked.

Specs:

• Weight: 266g / 9.4oz (US women’s 8.0); 295g / 10.4oz (US men’s 9.0)
• Drop: 0mm, 25mm heel/25mm forefoot (includes a 5mm insole)
• Upper: mesh with fabric overlays, well-padded tongue & heel collar
• Midsole: EVA/A-bound combo (feels like pretty standard EVA to me)
• Outsole: TrailClaw outsole uses a sticky rubber multi-directional pattern, combined with lugs under the forefoot and claws under the toes

Presenting the Altra Lone Peak 3.0. A nice 0 drop trail shoe with one significant flaw.

Now for more details. In this review, we’ll break things down in to four areas:

1. What’s good: the new, differentiating, or simply well designed or built features or aspects of the shoe.
2. What could be improved: tweaks or improvements that could be made to make the shoe better.
3. When to use it: the situations or scenarios where the shoe excels.
4. How it compares: my current go-to shoes and how this compares

I’ll try to be as succinct as possible. After all, you’ve probably got more running you can do today!

What’s good?

• The fit. I’m guessing the Lone Peak 3.0 has a polarizing fit for folks. Fans of previous Lone Peaks may believe the fit is not wide enough. Folks who have switched to Altra with this shoe may find the forefoot fit to be nice and wide compared to the shoes they have been running in to-date. I found the heel to be snug, the midfoot to hug well for technical terrain, and the forefoot fit to be plenty wide. And I’m someone who appreciates proper toe splay in an everyday trail shoe.

The Lone Peak 3.0 fit is still wide, perhaps not as wide as previous versions though.

• The ride. The ride of the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 is good. I would not necessarily call it great. The midsole is forgiving yet retains some ground feel. The toe spring and/or a rocker is lacking leading to a flatter toe-off and landing. You definitely have to do the work in this shoe rather than relying on much help from the shoe to initiate toe-off. But I like the ride enough to use it for most everyday situations.

The ride is solid – it’s just not as impressive as the Escalante’s Ego midsole!

• The grip. The outsole is also solid. The midfoot and forefoot hexagonal lugs work pretty well without getting in the way of the ride while the claws around the perimeter of the shoe allow for decent grip when moving laterally as well as providing some uphill and downhill traction.

The Altra Lone Peak 3.0’s outsole is solid.

• The value. At $120 MSRP, and less now that it is on sale in most places, the shoe is a good value.

What could be improved?

• The upper. There is simply too much of it. Between the thicker mesh and the abundance of additional fabric overlays the upper is the major pain point in this shoe for me.

The Lone Peak 3.0 has significant fabric overlays providing structure to the upper.

• The breathability. This is a byproduct of the upper material choices noted above. In my first run in the shoe I went 10 miles. By mile 8 it sounded like I was running in a swamp. The shoe just doesn’t breathe very well or dry adequately. As a result, I really only reach for the shoe now on runs under 10 miles in cooler temps.
• The weight. Again, a byproduct of the upper material choices. While it’s not an overly heavy shoe it’s not exactly lightweight for the amount of cushion it provides. This Lone Peak 3.0 could easily save half an ounce I bet if the upper was more streamlined.

Heavier fabric choices lead to a heavier shoe.

When to use it?

• Everyday trail runs in cooler temperatures. As noted I wouldn’t reach for this shoe in hot weather and/or when you plan on crossing creaks or submerging your feet.
• Up to 20 miles. Folks lighter on their feet may be able to use it for longer than 20 miles but I would want just a touch more cushion for ultras.

The Altra Lone Peak 3.0 is a solid everyday trailer runner in moderate conditions or climates.

Similar shoes to compare with:

Note: I do not have a lot of experience with other 0 drop trail shoes as I have not worn the latest crop of Altra trail shoes (Altra Olympus 2.5, Altra King MT, or Altra Superior 3.0) so I can’t compare it to those specific models. I’m hoping to get my hands on the Altra Timp soon and/or the forthcoming Lone Peak 3.5 to see if the upper breathability has improved. In terms of trail shoes that share common characteristics:

• Nike Wildhorse 3: Similar in weight, level of cushion, fit, and price. Main difference being the Wildhorse is an 8mm drop shoe compared to 0mm of drop in the Lone Peak 3.0. If you are able to run in 8mm of drop the Wildhorse 3 is a better shoe in my opinion due to the value, it’s on-sale now with the Wildhorse 4 available, and breathability.
• Brooks Caldera: With more cushion at a lower weight, the Caldera is a better shoe I believe. Plus, it’s only a 4mm drop so folks who love a 0mm drop may be able to transition to this shoe without too many calf or achilles concerns.
• Salomon Sense Pro Max: Similar in weight, grip, and fit but that’s about where the similarities end. The Sense Pro Max has a lot more cushion, a 6mm drop, and is $30 more. No contest for me – the Sense Pro Max wins this head-to-head battle.

So, the $120 (or less on sale) question – should you purchase the Altra Lone Peak 3.0?

In a word, maybe. If your calves and achilles can handle zero drop, or you have time to transition to zero drop slowly, appreciate a forgiving fit (i.e., don’t have narrow feet), and you run in dry climates and/or don’t plan to get the shoes very wet, the Lone Peak 3.0 may be a nice shoe for you.

Questions, comments, or feedback on this shoe? Please share! And thanks for reading!

Purchasing Information

If you’re interested in purchasing this shoe, please first check availability at your local, independently owned running specialty store. They need your business and are a great resource for the community.

If that’s not an option, please consider usingthis affiliate link for the men’s shoe or this affiliate link for the women’s version for Amazon. The return policy is great, and it’ll drop a few nickels into URP bucket if you decide to keep it. Thank You!

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For comparison, here are our reviews of the Altra Lone Peak 1.5 and Altra Lone Peak 2.0.