On the Appalachian Trail, gear is always a popular topic of conversation between hikers. “Which sleep system do you use?” or “What’s your baseweight?” are common questions you’ll hear. Hikers will ask these questions to learn what gear is the best, and look for places to upgrade their gear to make it lighter or more efficient. My first purchase after leaving the trail is ’21 was a foldable sandal a hiker told me about when I met him in Glencliff, NH.

There is one piece of gear that’s personal to every hiker, something that needs to be specially selected to match the need of the hiker: footwear. I struggled initially to find a shoe that worked for me. In 2019 I was using a basic trail running shoe I found online, selected only for its low price. I also added a hiking shoe later the next year for more “rugged” trails. (Side note on the difference between trail runners and hiking shoes: Trail running shoes are essentially sneakers that have been slightly beefed up with added traction and durability. Hiking shoes are just hiking boots without ankle support, allowing for full range of motion.)

This system was working well during 2020, but in early 2021 I started having knee and foot pain, unable to hike more than a few miles without issue. My search for a new shoe was a long journey, and I discovered many brands that actually hurt my foot more.

The Merrell Moab, with its grippy Vibram sole, had incredible traction, but after 2 miles the side of my foot was beet-red with a massive blister.

The Salomon Speedcross had a great tread, but its arch support left my foot screaming for air.

I even tried Nike’s Wildhorse, with it’s colorful and unique design, but was narrower than Harriman’s Lemon Squeezer.

I had one more idea for a shoe, a shoe that I’d heard about many time before, but was anxious to try due to its muscular requirements.

Enter: Altra Lone Peak 5

My first hike in Lone Peaks was so refreshing. The feeling of walking pain-free, gliding over rocks, trees whizzing by – there’s no match!

So why did Altras work so well for me compared to the other shoes? Altra as a brand focuses on two features of the shoe that are often overlooked by other brands: Toe box and Drop. The toe box is an easy comparison against other shoes. Most brands design their shoes to look like how we think of a shoe to look. They seem to forget that feet go in shoes, and shoe-shaped doesn’t match foot-shaped. Just look at the images below and you can understand why I was in so much discomfort!

A more extreme example can be seen with traditional dress shoes vs Vivobarefoot’s RA III.

The other aspect of Altra shoes is a bit more difficult to grasp. Imagine a pair of heels, with the front of the foot on the ground, and the heel elevated off the ground. The “drop” is measured by the difference in height from the back to the front. With high heel dress shoes, this reaches inches. In a typical athletic sneaker, the range is about 8-15 millimeters. Altra shoes have 0. “Zero drop”, as they say.

For me, my knee pain completely subsided after switching to zero drop. This was likely due to a more natural foot strike I was experiencing, vs the heel strike from traditional shoes. Zero drop shoes do require more muscle to prevent injury, as work is transferred from the shoe back to the foot where it belongs. Notable, a strong Achilles is necessary when using zero drop. I may be way off base with this, but the heel of a shoe can act as an extension of the Achilles, but not so with an even stack height. TLDR: Footwear is personal, and the Lone Peak works for me.

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With my shoe found, I began racking up the miles quickly, nearly 150 before starting the AT. Day 1 on trail marked day 1 for my second pair on Lone Peaks, as I wanted to start with a fresh pair. After 46 days and 625 miles later, my 3rd pair was ordered and promptly broken in, with a stream crossing not 50 steps down the trail.

I have since acquired a total of 9 pairs of the Lone Peak 5’s, now discontinued and unable to be found for purchase. 4 pairs are brand new, designated for the AT.

I will start with one of these pairs, and after about 700 miles ship myself the next. 700 miles is currently my limit for Altras – I have 3 pairs at that distance – but I know I can push that further. My feet actually appreciate a very worn-in shoe much more than a fresh pair, probably due to less cushioning and more flexibility. I’m interested to see just how far I can take them, and which pair will end up being the new fleet leader. Stay tuned!