Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 - Women's Review
Our Verdict
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Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 - Women's | |||||
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Price | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $98.83 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $130.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $120.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $90 List $67.49 at Amazon |
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Bottom Line | These hikers offer incredible traction, stability underfoot, and a roomy toe box that those with wider feet will especially appreciate | While less supportive than a traditional leather hiker, these boots excel in comfort and agility while saving weight | This well-priced boot offers excellent traction and ample support within a lightweight design | A great choice for day hikes and moderate backpacking trips, these boots lack support and padding for shouldering heavier loads on extended trips | This hiking boot offers impressive performance in exchange for a modest price tag |
Rating Categories | Altra Lone Peak ALL... | La Sportiva Ultra R... | Salomon X Ultra 4 M... | Merrell Moab 3 Mid... | Columbia Crestwood... |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Support (25%) | |||||
Traction (15%) | |||||
Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
Weight (10%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Altra Lone Peak ALL... | La Sportiva Ultra R... | Salomon X Ultra 4 M... | Merrell Moab 3 Mid... | Columbia Crestwood... |
Measured Weight (per pair) | 1.48 lbs (size 8.5) | 1.68 lbs (size EU 40) | 1.72 lbs (size 8.5) | 2.06 lbs (size 8) | 1.80 lbs (size 8.5) |
Upper | eVent fabric | AirMesh, microfiber, TPU | Synthetic, textile, rubber toecap | Leather, mesh | Leather, mesh and webbing |
Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular, wide | Regular, wide |
Waterproof Lining | Water-resistant bootie | Gore-Tex | Gore-Tex | Waterproof membrane | Omni-Tech |
Heel Height | 1.5" | 1.8" | 1.5" | 2.0" | 1.5" |
Shaft Height | 5.0" | 5.0" | 6.25" | 4.9" | 5.0" |
Midsole | Altra Ego | MEMlex | Molded OrthoLite sockliner | Super Rebound Compound | TechLite |
Sole | MaxTrac rubber | FriXion XF 2.0 Rubber | Contagrip rubber, chevron lugs | Vibram TC5+ | Omni-Grip |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 is our first choice for those with wider feet. Between the Fit4Her design and the original Altra Footshape, your toes will appreciate spreading out in a spacious toe box. This modern hiking boot is what we refer to as a hybrid design, meaning it is versatile enough to take on wintry trail runs and also offers enough support and performance for extended backpacking trips with a heavy pack. The ALL-WTHR Mid 2 sheds the weight without sacrificing comfort, support, water resistance, and durability, making it an excellent consideration for thru-hikers. And let's not forget about the traction provided by the Duratread rubber. Whether you're stoked to push your pace on the trails or simply take in the beauty of nature, we're confident that this boot won't let you down.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
Our testers were immediately impressed with the unique comfort the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 provides right out of the box. This boot features Altra's original Footshape, which provides spacious and roomy protection for your toes to spread out in their natural position instead of being crammed into a narrow and oppressive toe box prone to blisters and hot spots. The boot also has a 5mm cushioned footbed for added comfort underfoot and a 25mm stack height for moderate cushioning.
Not your average design, the ALL-WTHR Mid 2 offers what Altra refers to as Balanced Cushioning, which essentially means your heel and forefoot are at the exact same height, also known as a zero drop. This unique design is meant to encourage low-impact landings and a natural body position, but it does take some getting used to. With that in mind, we recommend slowly increasing your miles and the weight you carry on your back through a slow build-up to prevent fatigue and discomfort in your calves and Achilles. While some Altra boots and shoes require sizing up to ensure a thumb's width distance between your big toe and the edge of the boot, our testers found the ALL-WTHR Mid 2 to fit true to size. Once you adjust to the distinct design, we know your toes will appreciate the added wiggle room and moderate cushioning.
Support
The Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 provides a ton of added support within its lightweight hybrid design. The Altra Ego midsole is responsive with every stride, yet not as springy as other boots in our review. The over-the-ankle support is top-notch, with a lace closure that crosses twice above the ankle to lock it into place without losing that responsive feel nor reducing lateral range of motion. The cuff rises 5 inches above the sole to provide a mid-cut support that we appreciate when navigating more technical and slippery terrain.
We love that Altra recognizes the different physiology between men and women and responded by creating the Fit4Her foot shape to promote natural foot positioning specific to a woman's stride. This boot provides a ton of flexion within the design, so we do not recommend it for those looking for the rigid and firm ankle support typically provided by a heavier traditional hiking boot.
Traction
Altra definitely designed the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 with high performance on trails in mind. The boot features a burly Duratread rubber outsole and a flexible midsole that allows your feet to perfectly grip rocky and uneven terrain with full confidence underfoot. With this updated version, Altra included its patented TrailClaw canted lugs with strategic placement under the metatarsals and forefoot meant to enhance traction with every stride. We were happy to have selected this high-performing boot when moving over the slippery and polished granite found on the hiking trails in and around Yosemite National Park.
Altra also boasts about a Stoneguard protection feature meant to safeguard the feet from any debris encountered on the trails. However, because this is a boot focused on high performance without the added weight and bulk of a leather hiker, the protection is moderate, especially when compared to other boots with more burly toe caps and Vibram rubber. That said, we highly recommend this lightweight design for buffed-out and technical terrain.
Water Resistance
The Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 features an eVent bootie construction meant to keep your feet dry and warm in soggy, wet conditions. The mid-cut design rises 5" above the sole to protect your feet against water penetrating the upper when crossing swollen creeks or moving through melting snow patches. Whether performing our submersion tests or scoping out early spring trail conditions, which could mean the difference between completing your favorite loop or turning around due to soggy conditions, we're happy to report this technology kept our feet dry as a bone.
While we are grateful for the water-resistant design and have experienced absolutely no issues with the eVent bootie, we can't say that this is a “breathable” construction. During the hotter months of the year, the eVent bootie does such a great job keeping water out that many hours in the boot can also result in “pruny” toes from sweat build-up. This detail is definitely something to consider based on where you plan to hike, making it an excellent choice for shoulder seasons in the mountains when the weather becomes unpredictable, but also not the best choice for pushing miles in a dry desert at the peak of those hot summer months.
Weight
It was easy for our testers to give the Lone Peak ALL-WTHR 2 high marks in this objective testing metric due to its lightweight and rugged design.
From long winter training runs to extended summer hikes in the backcountry, you'll be grateful to leave the extra weight and added fatigue of a traditional hiking boot behind. This lightweight hiker will impress you with its support and stability without the excessive bulk and added weight of a leather-bound hiking boot.
Durability
Our testers are pleased to report that our initial skepticism regarding the durability of this boot has proven false after multiple seasons and many diligent miles on the trail. We love the high-quality lace closure system with a crossover pattern through durable metal hooks and eyelets for increased stability and support. We're also impressed that the tread and lugs only showed signs of normal wear and tear after really putting these boots to the test.
That being said, the ALL-WTHR Mid 2 is constructed from a very flexible synthetic upper that could get snagged on a sharp boulder or downed tree. This boot is incredibly lightweight as well, so we don't imagine it will last as long as a heavier, fully leather, traditional hiker. We recommend limiting your time with this boot if navigating cross-country, mountainous terrain. That said, this is one of our go-tos when pushing it on buffed-out trails or when the weather turns foul. We couldn't find any defects in this model or the previous version after over one year of solid testing. The bootie remained intact, and the only visible change was on the bottom of the sole from all the miles.
Should You Buy the Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2?
The Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Mid 2 is for those interested in trying a new and modern take on a traditional hiking boot. Unique features like the 0mm drop and Altra's original Footshape may take some getting used to, but we're confident you'll appreciate the performance and versatility of this lightweight design. While a little more expensive than other hybrid hiking boots meant to function as both a trail runner and hiker, the investment pays off in the increased support and stability underfoot.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
If you're interested in a boot that performs well on trail runs and extended backpacking trips with a little extra cushion underfoot, check out the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX. Or if you like the idea of a little more rigid design with extra protection for rocky terrain, consider the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX. If you have wide feet and are interested in another boot that offers the added comfort of a more spacious toe box, check out the Keen Targhee III Mid.