ERIN: There have been a few updates to the Lone Peak, few enough that in this case, I completely understand why this is the Lone Peak 4.5.
It’s a half update, mostly to the upper (half). The upper has been trimmed down and the lacing has been simplified. According to Altra, the midsole has also been finished with a new foam formula.
I reviewed the Lone Peak 4.0 a little over a year ago, and I can confidently say that this shoe sees some solid improvements that Lone Peak fans will love.
ERIN: The Lone Peak 4.5, aside from the new colorways, looks pretty similar to the 4.0. I had the 4.0 in an all-gray colorway that was very…meh. I got the 4.5 in a sort of eggplant color, and I really dig it.
I liked the 4.0, but not enough for them to become part of my regular rotation. They were just a little too heavy and a little too wide, and I’d find myself reaching for my Superior 3 again and again, even though they had far too many miles on them.
The upper on the Lone Peak 4.5 is an improvement on the 4.0. The fit is just a bit snugger and gives me the foothold I felt was lacking in the 4.0. One of the things that makes the Lone Peak superior (ha) to some of the other Altra trail shoes is the outsole: rugged, multidirectional lugs. Something you’d want to take on a more technical trail. Unless, of course, the fit is sloppy and your foot is sliding around and you’re not really interested in breaking an ankle. The 4.5 addresses what ended up being a deal-breaker for me in the 4.0.
The midsole has been tweaked a bit in this version of the Lone Peak as well, and my guess is that most people won’t notice much of a difference there. I feel like they have a bit more cushion underfoot, but that could be my imagination. At any rate, it won’t jump out at you. The 4.5 is still on the heavier side, at 8.7 oz. for a women’s size 8 (10.5 oz./ 298g for a US M9.0). But they do feel lighter.
Another improvement? The laces are of a normal length! Actually, I can’t remember if they were too long on the 4.0 or not, but they’ve been too long on pretty much every other pair of Altra shoes I’ve had in the past few years. The tongue also has a pull tab on it for easy readjustment if it starts sliding, which is really nice.
Shop Altra Lone Peak 4.5
ERIN: I can’t say that there’s anything bad about the Lone Peak, per se, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it just doesn’t work for me. I can absolutely see why so many people love this shoe, and if you’re a Lone Peak fan, I’m confident that you’ll love this update.
There isn’t enough cushioning in the forefoot for me, which ends up exacerbating my bunion pain (even though there’s plenty of room in the toebox). And, for some reason, I always end up with very sore and tight calves after running in the Lone Peak, even though I don’t have this issue with other Altras (and yes, I frequently run in zero drop shoes).
Shop Altra Lone Peak 4.5
If you liked the Lone Peak 4.0, don’t worry – this is a solid update. You won’t be disappointed.
You can pick up the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 for $119.95 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) by using the link below.
Shop Altra Lone Peak 4.5
Have something to say? Leave a Comment
