Altra Lone Peak 3.0 - 5 Month Review

Buy these shoes here: amzn.to/2G1pRSk
In this video I talk aobut my experience's and thoughts about my Altra Lone Peak 3.0 shoes after wearing them for pretty much everything for the past 5+ months!
Check out this post on my blog, here:
Disclaimer: I am not being paid to share this video/blog post. The thoughts are my own, which I formed after wearing these shoes for the past 5+ months. However, the link at the top of the page is connected to my Amazon Affiliate page, and if you buy something through it, I could make a little money for that.

[@Ericidryfly]

Chad also have a good plan for dealing with blisters. Good chance you and your boy will get them on your Jmt hike.

[@SticksBlog]

We will definitely be carrying some blister pads and an extra pair of socks if needed.

[@TrailAndMountain]

I have the 3.5’s and love them! I wish I would’ve had them for my JMT hike but went with my Trekstas instead. I will never use waterproof boots again on a long hike as they just take forever to dry even exposed in the sun strapped to the outside of my pack all day. Great video and thoughts on the Altras Stick and keep up the good work. I know you are getting excited about your JMT hike this summer and I am stoked for you and can’t wait to see your videos

[@SticksBlog]

I hear ya... I stopped wearing waterproof boots a long time ago and went to non waterproof trail runners... it was a breath of fresh air! And yeah, I can't wait for the JMT... you know how it was! Enjoyed your videos too! :)

[@TrailAndMountain]

I can't wait to get back...Having major trail withdrawals right now

[@patrickhikes5730]

I came to the same conclusion until I glued the insoles, Chad. That helped so much with instability, especially when they're wet. Also, I think I missed it but, when are you doing the JMT? I just turned in my request for a SoBo permit myself, hopefully it goes through with the shutdown going on

[@SticksBlog]

So far I haven't had issues with the insoles, but they haven't really been given the proper chance (good and wet and big inclines/declines). After the use with them so far, I really just think that they are the wrong shoes for me when it comes to walking long distances... for everything else, even in the slightly larger size, they are awesome! I think (hope) the 3.5's make up for this though... We will be doing the JMT in July this year! We are going NOBO... no worries with the lottery system, and it includes permits for Half Dome! SOBO would have been neat, but I think now if I had the choice I would stick with NOBO just because it is what I have prepared for and talked myself up for... lol! Good luck on your permits!

[@KuntryRD]

I have the 3.0 (low top) and 3.5 (mesh mid height). I really like both of them. The insole in the 3.5's is definitely different than the 3.0's and has stayed in place. The mids feel more substantial, which makes sense, but they are still light (11.5 oz per shoe with my custom orthotic in them). I did change the laces in the 3.5's; they were the large round laces at 54" long; I switched to oval laces at 45" long, works so much better. Men seem to find the 3.5's feeling a bit shorter than the 3.0's, while most women seem to feel that the 3.5's fit true to size. The 3.5's look like the uppers should be more durable and drain better (they do have drain ports in the toe area). It took me about 4 weeks to adapt my lower legs/Achilles to them, but I love them. I do have foot slippage and squeeking in the right shoe, but that happens with all my shoes, so not an issue with the Altra's. I have noticed that my foot strike is pretty much mid-foot and not the heel, like my other shoes; which I do like.

[@SticksBlog]

Thanks for the reply! I had read that the insoles on the 3.5's were improved over the 3.0's, however so far it hasn't been an issue for me though. And if I do end up with another pair of these, I will be swapping the laces on them before heading out for the hike. I don't want to have to be dealing with slipping knots all day! That is a good point on the length too, and is the reason why I think the 12.5's will be better for me in the 3.5's.

[@bretthikez6567]

Got the same ones,color and all...the soles move around when they get wet and come up the side of my heel..folks complain about the zero drop but, i wore mine for a month all around and they were fine..i like my brooks also..

[@SticksBlog]

Yeah it took me several weeks to get used to the Zero Drop too. I'm all good now though! :)

[@danteke4720]

Great review. You've changed my mind on up sizing so I'll be ordering a set of 12 instead of 12.5's. Not to sound like a jerk, but you're probably tying your shoes wrong. Google proper shoe tying to find out what's going on. I actually threw out several pairs of shoes because no matter what laces I used they came undone. No longer the issue after I started tying the correct way. I know what you're thinking, it's a shoe, how many different ways could there be. Trust me.

[@SticksBlog]

I would still suggest to try a few sizes to see what works for you better... my buddy Jeff Benefield sized up a full size and a half or 2 if I am not mistaken.... :0 As for tying my shoes... maybe? I have been tying them the way I most always tie my shoes. I know there are different ways for lacing them, I have even laced some others a little different, but not for any real reason other than just taking up a bit of shoe string length... I will say that I have not had troubles when typing any of my other shoes the same way. And actually the shoestrings on both pair of my Altra's will not hold... even the pair that I wear at work won't stay tied tight... it just comes lose. I will check out some other methods though...

[@danteke4720]

I emailed Altra today figuring I'd get the best advice from the manufacturer. There response "Thanks for reaching out. The Lone Peak 3.5 has tested slightly short. I would suggest sizing up to the 12.5 to assure fit and allow for foot swelling." Also, good luck on your JMT with your son. That would be an awesome trip alone, doing it with your son, EPIC.

[@SticksBlog]

I'm sorry.... I thought you were talking about the 3.0's that I talked about in the video. I cannot comment on how the 3.5's fit since I have never tried on a pair, but as I mentioned, many folks say that the 3.5's run smaller than the 3.0's. It sounds like Altra is saying the same. I will add that I noticed last night that the 3.5's were marked down from $120 to $84 on Amazon last night, so I picked up a pair in 3.5's (which is half a size larger than what I normally wear). I should get them in Thursday so I am looking forward to sliding them on and seeing how they fit compared to the 3.0's for me!

[@SticksBlog]

I wanted to follow up... I picked up a pair of the 3.5's and in my findings. the shoe bed is exactly the same size as the 3.0's. When placing the insoles on top of one another from each model they are exactly the same. However, the upper does feel like it fits a little closer on the 3.5's than the upper on the 3.0.

[@NatAnnSch]

Just bought a brand new pair at a thrift store for 13 bucks! 😁💕

[@DonMilligan]

Great review Chad, like you I have been following the talk about Altra's but I am still on the fence, Brooks Cascadia's have worked fine for me. have you considered putting a half size larger in a bounce box and just rocking the 12's?

[@SticksBlog]

The Cascadia's were on my list too, but for the most part, as reviews came along as they continued to change them they seemed to be overall worse. I would like to try a pair on though to see how they fit me... And being that this hike is only going to be 270 miles I wouldn't want to worry about an extra pair of shoes. More money on the front end, more money for shipping them (they charge a lot to pick up a resupply bucket at MTR and RM) and then having to carry them on the rest of the hike.

[@McNuggetEh]

Just wondering if you had any long term thoughts on the INOV-8's? I have just picked up a pair(trailtalons 290) and hoping they will work out well but going to see what the feet think. Excited but cautiously so.. Do you or have you ever used insoles?

[@SticksBlog]

I love my Inov-8's... the problem is, both he models and the lasts that they use to build the shoes on change often. My suggestion is that if you find a pair you like, buy several pairs! It won't be long before they are gone!

[@McNuggetEh]

Good to know! The factory insole seems to be chewing up the bottom of my foot for some reason. It felt nice and cushy until my front foot started to warm up! Just experimenting with alternate insoles now. Been having some heel issues prior to this (worried it might be plantar fasciitis and not used to the almost skin tight feeling of the heel cup). It seems to be improving the heel ache (so long as it's not blister causing). Before this I had not considered a loose heel cup could cause this problem. Time & miles will tell.. Grip is grrreat though.. coming from the comfy cozy Altra Lone Peak 2.0 slip & slides hahaa. 3.5's look very promising!

[@humantiger72]

Good review. Thanks

[@SticksBlog]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ericidryfly]

Chad with the big elevation gains and losses on the Jmt you'll be so happy you're going to go with the 12.5's.

[@SticksBlog]

That is what I was thinking, but based on the much simpler Florida Trail hike I recently did, I don't think they larger size is what I need. Besides losing a toenail and getting a blister, the fit at my forefoot was too sloppy. I can only imagine that on more technical hikes it would be worse... The 12's on the other hand seem to have a closer fit, still while not applying any pressure/squeeze to my forefoot. I am thinking that the size 12.5's in the 3.5's will be a better fit for this hike and is what I am leaning towards...

[@patrickhikes5730]

I agree with you. I've been using 3.0's for about a long as you and I've seen on longer hikes that the fabric does have bit of a stretch so when my feet swell/flatten out it does give a bit.