Altra Lone Peak WP – RECORD!

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As a long, long time runner (45 years of half-marathons), shoes and socks have become critical gear for happy feet, happy hiking. I track miles on specific shoes and have made gear changes because of this discipline, e.g., I swapped out all my shoes from Topo Athletic to Altra. I loved my Topos and they made my feet happy, but they just didn’t last – they wore out around 250 miles, every time. I switched. Which means: WP boots, WP lows, mesh lows and cement walker lows – 4 different pairs of shoes.

If you add up the miles I’ve walked and run – a boatload; and my feet are pretty messed up with bunions and hammer toes (genetic). I need good, healthy and feet-happy shoes. Altra’s are my new ‘happy feet’ shoes with big toe-boxes and low toe-heel drop! When added with Darn Tough socks … I can tackle just about any hike or bad conditions with happy feet.

Altra Lone Peaks are my chosen hikers and Paradigm my cement walkers. A bit more on where / when I wear which.

  • WP Boots – shoulder season with terrible conditions and rough trails
  • WP Lows – two usages
    • Shoulder season for less demanding footwear – less water, better trails, etc
    • Summer with volcanic ash or high temp fire ash – e.g., Mt Jefferson – keeps the dust out of shoes and blisters off my feet
  • Mesh Lows – summer season on most trails (not on volcanic or hight temp fire ash)
  • Paradigm – urban hikes and rambling around town

I love my Altras, too. I wear insoles on my high-use shoes after first 100 miles when the original insole is trash. Technical plastic on hiking shoes and cork on cement shoes.

My Lone Peak 7 WP low shoes just set a record for number of miles at >500.

They are starting to show their miles with a sloped sole and uppers that are just starting to show wear at the big toe. The velcro (I added it) is also past its time. They have kept my feet warm, dry and ash-free the entire 520 miles, and now it’s time for a new pair (in the closet).

To zoom in on that big toe where the crease is for damage

I also have mesh and cement walkers in the closet, and will buy WP boots the next time REI gives me a good coupon 🙂

Highly recommended!