Hiking Shoes or Altra Lone Peaks? The Trail Runner vs Hiking Shoe Question
Hiking Shoes or Altra Lone Peaks? The Trail Runner vs Hiking Shoe Question
Trail runners vs hiking shoes: here’s what 100 miles in each taught me, and which one might be the better pick for your hikes.
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I’ve put serious miles on both traditional hiking shoes and popular trail runners, and in this video I break down the key differences you’ll notice out on the trail. I hiked 100 miles in the Oboz Sawtooth II hiking shoes, then switched back to my Altra Lone Peak 6 trail runners—and the contrast was immediate. Instead of reviewing just one shoe, I wanted to share my real-world take on when a hiking shoe makes sense, and when a trail runner is the better choice.
Weight is the first big factor. Hiking shoes like the Oboz typically weigh close to two pounds per pair, while trail runners like the Lone Peak 6 come in closer to one pound. That difference adds up over thousands of steps on a hike, especially on long days. Trail runners are lighter, but the trade-off is durability—they might last 300–500 miles, compared to 800–1,000 miles from a good hiking shoe.
Fit and comfort are the next major difference. Hiking shoes are stiffer, more supportive, and more protective—especially in rocky, technical terrain. They’re like a light hiking boot, locking your foot in and shielding it from trail hazards. Trail runners, on the other hand, fit more like a sock, with a pliable upper and a roomy toe box that allows your foot to expand naturally as you walk. This makes them more comfortable for long days on groomed trails, though they don’t offer quite as much underfoot protection.
If you’re after a long-lasting, tough shoe that handles any terrain, models like the Oboz Sawtooth II or Merrell Moab 2 are excellent choices. But if all-day comfort is your top priority and you don’t mind replacing shoes more often, trail runners like the Altra Lone Peak 6 are hard to beat. I wear mine almost daily, and they still handle most conditions well despite showing some tread wear.
For more details, links to the shoes I’ve tested, and my full gear recommendations, check out my gear page. I keep it updated with the latest footwear and equipment I’m using on my hikes.
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I got 1000km (600 plus miles) out of my LP5s before the soles were too worn to grip properly on trail. Still wear them around town. They still look new despite rough rocky terrain. I won’t wear anything else
Love my Lone Peak 5….I’ll never go back to traditional hiking boots. I wear my Lone Peaks everyday for the past year. Love the wide toe box and breathability
One extra pound on the feet equals 5 extra pounds on your back
This was a great and informative video! I’m considering either the Altra Lone Peak 6, the Topo pursuits, and the Topo Terraventures. Which one would you recommend the most for a day hike?
I honestly can’t see why 99.9 percent of people buy hiking boots
The Altra toe box was a huge game changer for me. I can backpack 15 miles/day with the Altra and my feet feel great. Never get a hiking boot again.
Is pack weight a factor in this choice? I’ve historically worn hiking boots on multi-day backpacking trips with roughly a 27# pack. I’ve seen ppl wearing trail runners but I’m concerned that with such flexible soles the roots and rocks would take a toll on my feet over several days of trekking. What are your thoughts, and also do you find it easier to get blisters with boots or trail runners under pack load?
I have been wearing the exact same OBOZ ( outside Bozeman😁 ) for several years and buy 2 pairs every time they go on sale… one for my every day wear and one for hike a bouts with no pack over 15 pounds. When a pack gets heavier I switched to more support in my LOWA’s. Thanks for the comparison.
Can you add your past recommendations (lone peak) and alternative hiking shoes recommendations (oboz sawtooth) to your website?
I’ve had several pairs of Oboz shoes and trail running shoes (both used for hiking, not running), and you hit the differences exactly. I do a fair bit of sloppy, muddy, technical hiking (in the UK) and for almost all occasions, the Oboz are far more suitable. They are a secure fit, good grip, waterproof, good sole protection. We don’t tend to have that many "developed" paths outside of suburban greenways, so it’s hiking shoes every time for me.
Thanks for this comparison! Are there any hiking style shoe out there that has the nice toe box like Altra shoes? I’ve been using Atra Olympus 4s for hiking and have some Olympus 1s for every day wear. I’ve looked at several other shoe models but none seem to have that toe box I love on the Olympus shoes along with the grippy sole, nice thick stack. Now, I was considering trying the Lone Peak, but didn’t because of the smaller stack height. I hike most of the time in Pennsylvania and experience lots of rocks. Has the tread been improved on the Lone Peak 7? Again, thanks for your information!! I’m subbing…..
Trail runners are awesome for good weather on trails. But if you’re going to be mostly off trail and bushwacking or in cold/snow… then the extra protection of the hiking shoes or boots pays off huge! In deep snow and below zero temps, trail runners are just a bad idea…
I’m interested in buying either hiking boots or shoes. Haven’t hiked yet, but interested in joining my friends who enjoy it and go out on trails rated "hard" by AllTrails. I’m very physically active. I’ve run marathons, ride many cycling centuries and gran fondos, and Cossfit. So although I haven’t hiked before, I’m sure one of my first outings will be on one of the hard trails with my friends. I see that hiking boots are not always necessary. But the trails we will be on are pretty rocky and technical. A couple of trails they frequent are Old Rag and Raven Rocks in VA. The people reviewing those places all seems to say hiking boots are recommended. What is your suggestion/opinion?
I love my Nike Wildhorse 8 for hiking. I really dislike big chunky "boots" that make my feet feel like lead weights. A rugged trail running shoe like the Wildhorse 8 has heaps of tread (6mm lugs I believe) as well as very sturdy heel and arch support while also being relatively light ad breathable and quick drying. They have decent scuff resistance as well.
Altra forever…… Never get a hiking boot again….
I use my trail running shoes salomon speedcross 5 for hiking steep, muddy mountains ( i live in a tropical country so our mountains here are almost always wet from rain ) and man the salomons don’t have any problem with those 6mm lugs and grippy outsole 😂. So yeah. Trail running shoes in my opinion is better that traditional boost. So heavy and they retain heat more so you get sweaty feet. Not good.
Other shoes on my radar
Hoka speedgoat 5
Saucony peregrine 12
Saucony xodus ultra ( coming this year )
Altra LP6
Altra Olympus 5( coming this year )
La Sportiva Akasha II
I’m a very big hiker. I was taken in by the light-weight trail runners, which were extremely comfortable for the first 5 miles. After that, and with the added weight of a pack, the trail runners were like wearing thick socks with minimal support. Something that seems to be missed in many of these videos is that the equipment must fit the hiker. Many pieces of light-weight gear are great if you weigh 165 pounds with an ultra light pack. I will never miss carrying an extra pound in shoe weight at the end of the day if I have to contend with aching feet and ankles and a backache.
If you have greek foot shape, don’t buy Altras, your second toes going to get sore
Do you know the trailrunners from topo-athletic?
I bought a used pair of LP5’s (couldn’t justify the new cost for testing). Amazing slipper-like feel and my feet stay well aired and dry. I walk, not run, so they should last longer. Now that I’ve used them for a while I can justify the new cost next time.
Cris: stumbled across your site last week. Great info! We have a permit for R2R this September. This will be my first big hike so trying to decide if low top hiking boots or mid top hiking boots would be better. Again, I am a novice so need as much support/help as possible. Thank you in advance!
Could you comment on heal to toe issues between the two. I tried A.L.T.s 4.5 and within a week I developed the dreaded plantar fasciitis. Took me Six months to work through it. I wear the Sawtooths now, but they are heavy and my foot is not very comfortable. Heavy wool socks helps with fit, but runs hot.
Nobody ever talks about this, in my experience, but it’s very important for some of us:
Cactus spines and other thorns penetrate some shoes much more easily than others. I can’t count how many times my hikes have been interrupted and the soles of my feet painfully stabbed by cactus thorns, especially from the cholla but others as well.
Some shoes are very susceptible. Most are somewhat susceptible. Others are immune.
The cholla spines can and do penetrate not only the soles, but also the sides of many shoes.
Thank you for this review. These are the exact two pairs of shoes I currently own. Bought the Oboz first because I wanted a lighter weight hiking boot. Loved them for the first 50 miles or so, but out of nowhere, started to develope a really bad hotspot/blister problem on my left heel rendering the Oboz pretty much useless. An associate @ REI had me try on the LP6s & have been wearing them on every trail since. So comfortable & light weight. Only problem is, as you said, not as durable. Much of the hiking I do is off-trail in really rugged country & there are times that the heft & grip of the Oboz are sorely missed. Any thoughts on why the Oboz would suddenly start behaving this way? Thank you!
One other main difference that you should be focusing on is what muscles you need to be strong to use either shoe. In a trail hiker, the foot and ankle is much more stable, causing the work and movement to move up to the hips. Since your ankle and foot is not moving with the terrain, your hips have to adjust for that, and thus have adequate strength to support you. With a trail running shoe (not all but ESPECIALLY the Lone Peak) your ankle and foot have much more pliability in the shoe, meaning you will need more foot and ankle strength.
I recommend Lowa or Zamberlain boots. If you’re carrying a fairly heavy pack, you’ll need a heavier boot that provides arch support and protection. I like Lowa because they offer great low, light hiking boots as well as heavier boots for more serious experiences.🏃
I do too much bushwacking, running shoes are ridiculous for that
Just climbed Mt Kenya with the Lone Peak 5. Very cold wet conditions. My Shoes dried out fast when soaking wet and were surprisingly warm and very grippy on the snow at the top. Others that had traditional "hiking boots" had cold wet feet the rest of the trip because their boots never dried out. I will never use hiking shoes/boots ever again unless I’m on glaciers and must wear crampons.
What boot is better against rattlesnake bites? I’ve seen 8” high hiking boots. Do you have any recommendations on this ? Thanks!
I loved your description of the difference when you put each of these on: with the hiking shoe your foot goes into the shoe, vs with the Altra the shoe goes around your foot. My first barefoot-friendly hiking/running shoes were Lone Peaks 4 or 5 yrs ago and I love how they let my feet function and respond.
For much more durable and terrain-capable trail shoes & boots, I’d say check out Vivobarefoot. They seem costly at the outset, but you get better performance and a few times the mileage out of them.
About a year ago, when I wanted some outdoor work & hiking boots that would be mud/snow-capable, I chose Vivobarefoot Forest ESC boots. I’ve had them out in every situation I bought them for and I love them more every time I use them.
No one who is a tail runner, you know a runner who RUNS on trails considers the Altra a trail runner. Its way to heavy.
I love the fit and initial feel of the lone peaks but I feel every root rock and pebble underfoot. After only 5-6 miles I am dreading the slightest bump on the trail. I don’t need ankle support I think I am just too heavy for the lightweight Peaks. Any recommendation for a trail runner with a thicker sole or a sole more resistant and protective against objects directly under foot?
great video
Thanks. Seems good honest review
I don’t like the LP’s, they beat my feet up badly. The Oboz though were horrible. I had a lot of problems with rolling my ankle in them. I do like using trail runners though, just not the LP version. Groomed trails though, you could get away with just using your favorite running shoes.
My go to hiking shoe is the Arc’teryx Aeoris FL, super light, agile, moves with your foot and best of all the grip is unmatched. I’ve had Lone Peaks and unfortunately the traction wasn’t good for me.
Moab is a joke. Had slipped a few times on wet or muddy terrains
My feet get very uncomfortably sweaty and hot in heavier uppers.
Just found your video and it exactly mimics my dilemma. I have the same Oboz, but don’t love them, and have a pair of Altra Lone Peak 6’s I’m “trying before I buy” from Amazon. I’m 63 and hoping to do more hiking, really want to be comfortable, and your comparison helped a lot. My question: what socks do you wear with you Altras? I have thick wool socks from REI, some thinner ones, some toe socks, and then some cycling socks of nylon; thoughts?
I am using Lone Peaks now. I was a little bit resistant because of 3 twisted ankles over quite a few decades so I wore boots with ankle coverage. I finally picked up my courage and gave up on that. The Lone Peaks are great for trails but I have my doubts about using them for bushwhacking. I have an old pair of leather Zamberlans that I would use for tougher terrain but definitely not for thru hiking.
I took my Lone Peak 5’s to the Camino de Santiago, so 500 miles, with about 100-150 miles of training before the trip. I covered and average of 16 miles per day on them and they never faulted at all and not a single blister in the whole trip. Most of the terrain is simple trails, but with some challenging sections. I’m still wearing them now more as a general day shoe, they didn’t wear out too much and I think they’ve still got 200+ miles remaining. They are incredible and comfortable.
The Lone Peak is far less than 1 lb. It’s about 11.5oz in a size 10.5.
I had gone through several pairs of Moab 2 and just recently discovered LP5 (bought a pair for $63 at REI) and love them to death so far. I’ll alternate between these two depending on seasons but mostly LP5 in summer/dry months
Hi I’ve recently walked approximately 300 miles on the Portuguese Camino using LP 5’s. I added an additional set of Sorbothane sole inserts due to lack of sole padding. Worked a treat. I’m 69 and weigh 100 kg. Far better than my Merrell Moabs. The extra toe box width is brilliant.
The problem with everyone,s review is , it all CHANGES with the weight of the person.
I’ve went through a few Oboz Sawtooths, but my favorite is the Hoka Speed Goat. I rotate between shoes, mainly these two for the most part.
I’m leaning toward something in-between — more protective and durable than the Lone Peaks but not as heavy, clunky, hot, sweaty and unpleasant as the others.
I have the Trabuco Max on order. We’ll see how it pans out.
I have some Mt. Emey hiking shoes that are surprisingly close to what I want. Just not quite.
are the lone peak the yellow version? Looks a bit more like sand wheras the product image is like bright yellow
It might be worth adding that some shoes have light, breathable uppers (a huge plus for me) PLUS protective soles (thick foam, inserts, stabilizers, rock plates, or tough outsole materials, etc.).
SUBSCRIBED.. ! I´ve been humming and hawing about what kind of footwear to invest in for loads of hiking and your video here was a great help; so thanks very much.. ! I´ll go more in direction trail runners because I occasionally like to push it a bit; and like the look of Hokas (maybe the goatspeed 5) because I sometimes have knee problems, I wonder why the altra lone peaks are so popular; I´ll have to check them out too but already don´t like the look of the sole. Vibram might be more durable and grippy. All the best from France; see you in the ALps sometime.. !