Girls’s Altra Lone Peak 9+ Overview

Backside Line

Altra’s flagship path shoe continues to supply rugged, zero-drop efficiency that retains your toes snug with out crunching your toes. This latest model of the Lone Peak goals to repair sturdiness points that affected earlier fashions by including no-sew overlays to a 100% Ripstop mesh higher.

This is perhaps the primary version because the unique Lone Peak the place the higher’s sturdiness matches the remainder of the shoe. Nevertheless, the brand new higher material left our toes feeling a bit stuffy on sizzling days. 

These in search of ample room within the toe field will discover it right here, although some may discover even the usual width too spacious. We sized down within the 9+ to attain a safe slot in each the heel and midfoot and used lace locking strategies. Nevertheless, we nonetheless felt our toes slide round within the shoe even when carrying thicker socks.

To see many different choices, take a look at our information to the perfect path trainers for girls.

How We Examined

We took the Lone Peak 9+ on coaching runs in New Hampshire’s White Mountains earlier than a bit hike on the Appalachian Path.

They dealt with bike trails, rocks, and singletrack with ease. The Megagrip drastically enhances traction in comparison with earlier fashions. After a sequence of disappointing updates, the 9+ is a powerful selection from Altra Working.

Traction

The most important improve to the Lone Peak 9+ is within the outsole. The MaxTrac outsole of the 8 was largely disappointing, so changing it with Vibram Megagrip has considerably improved the shoe’s efficiency. The 9+ grips moist rocks and slippery surfaces significantly better than the 8, and we felt safe on slabby rocks throughout take a look at runs and hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Moreover, the luggy tread offered strong grip on muddy trails and dust singletrack. 

These enhancements earned the Lone Peak 9+ extra factors in our view and made us really feel safe and assured in a variety of situations as a substitute of hesitating on tough terrain. The Lone Peak 9+ performs properly on rugged trails whether or not moist or dry. Hikers and path runners will discover them supply higher traction than earlier fashions and well worth the increased worth.

consolation

The Lone Peak 9+ gives reasonable cushioning because of Altra’s EGO midsole foam. We discovered this shoe to really feel softer than many others within the class, enhancing consolation with out sacrificing floor really feel. Even with a modest 25mm stack top, we felt ample cushion on roots and rocks. They had been additionally snug on combined runs that included bike paths and gravel roads.

Nevertheless, the shortage of arch assist within the Lone Peak left us feeling flat and wishing for extra assist within the midfoot as we logged miles. This isn’t new to the 9+ and stays an ongoing problem with this shoe. Followers of zero-drop footwear shall be comfortable to see that this characteristic stays unchanged. However in the event you’re not used to the zero-drop platform, be ready for potential changes in your calves and tendons as your physique adapts. We choose the extra minimal drop (4mm) sneakers, and it all the time takes some time to get used to the “flatness” of the Lone Peak once we put on them.

Like earlier fashions, we discovered the common width to be a bit too roomy, despite the fact that we sometimes want huge width in different manufacturers. The upgraded higher reduces among the swimming feeling we skilled with the 8, however we additionally went down half a dimension. Folks with common or narrower toes may discover this a problem and will take into account attempting different choices.

Weight

Regardless of utilizing a lighter foam than in earlier fashions, the Lone Peak 9+ really weighs greater than the 8. Nevertheless, we didn’t discover a lot distinction once we had been operating. Total, the Lone Peak continues to strike a superb stability between consolation and weight, because of a squishy midsole and weights that fall proper in the course of the spectrum for path runners.

Our testers discovered that even throughout lengthy coaching runs, they’d no issues selecting up their toes. The load distinction in these isn’t a major sufficient change to influence their total efficiency. Their reasonable weight gives a decrease fatigue issue, which makes them a good selection for backpacking or thru-hiking the place the load of footwear actually issues.

Sturdiness

Altra has taken steps with each new launch to handle the sturdiness issues within the higher which have plagued the Lone Peak for a number of iterations. On this replace, they could have lastly succeeded. The 9+ has a 100% RPET ripstop mesh higher and upgraded no-sew overlays. Collectively, these appear to have created a sturdy path shoe that gained’t crumble on the perimeters earlier than the midsole begins to interrupt down. 

Throughout our testing, we didn’t discover any vital injury to the uppers, and thankfully, no sturdiness points arose throughout our runs. If Altra has lastly addressed the higher sturdiness issues, the Lone Peak 9+ may present good worth for path runners and backpackers alike, even with the upper worth. 

A possible sturdiness problem stems from extreme lateral motion within the forefoot that some customers might expertise as a result of shoe’s roominess. This motion places additional stress on the perimeters of the higher. Repeated influence may probably trigger issues the place the higher connects to the outsole. Runners who discover the toe field too free however nonetheless need room for his or her toes may need to take into account the Topo Traverse as a substitute.

Breathability

The draw back of upgrading the mesh to spice up sturdiness is that breathability has decreased. Our toes felt stuffy even after quick outings in hotter climate. This isn’t a brand new problem, as we additionally skilled it with the 8. We had hoped the 9+ would offer a extra breathable answer to the sturdiness downside.

Nonetheless, this isn’t a deal breaker. The higher stays fairly breathable, and our toes by no means developed sizzling spots or blisters. Those that prepare in sizzling and humid situations may need to search for an possibility with higher airflow, such because the Saucony Peregrine 14.

Responsiveness

Whereas some wider sneakers can really feel cumbersome, the Lone Peak 9+ feels fairly agile on reasonable trails, although slim trails and technical spots had been tougher to navigate. We felt much less safe on tight turns due to the additional room within the toe field. This added lateral motion within the toe field repeatedly made us really feel unstable within the forefoot, particularly throughout fast turns or rocky sections.

Nonetheless, we preferred with the ability to really feel related to the path throughout our runs, and people in search of that connection shall be pleased with the Lone Peak 9+.

Ought to You Purchase the Girls’s Altra Lone Peak 9+?

If you happen to’re on the lookout for sneakers that simply accommodate wider forefeet or in the event you want a high-volume match, the Lone Peak 9+ could possibly be a good selection. Those that wrestle to seek out sneakers which can be spacious sufficient, battle blisters between their toes, or expertise discomfort from strain factors attributable to bunions will discover these sneakers supply the correct quantity of room. 

The traction and cushion are each reasonable, making them sensible for a variety of path customers. These accustomed to a better drop might need issue adjusting to the zero-drop platform with out damage.

The Lone Peak 9+ is a dependable selection whether or not you’re hitting the paths for a run or occurring a thru-hike. Its versatility gives good worth for these in search of a path shoe that may deal with each operating and mountain climbing.

What Different Girls’s Path Runners Ought to You Think about?

If the Lone Peak 9+ isn’t for you, take a look at these comparable path runners that provide loads of room for the toes.

Saucony Peregrine 15 Overview: Take a look at this Editor’s Choose in the event you’re on the lookout for a minimal drop path shoe that provides room on your toes whereas maintaining a extra conventional profile.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Overview: If you happen to’re on the lookout for a minimal shoe with extra traction and sturdiness, take a look at this former Editor’s Choose. These sneakers are at house on rugged trails and have much more room within the foot field than the Lone Peak 8.

Brooks Cascadia 18 Overview: If you happen to’re on the lookout for loads of toe room, a extra customary drop, and extra sturdiness, these path runners could also be simply the ticket. They’re accessible in two widths.