The Altra Lone Peak is a tried and true trailblazer, literally, among those who love to run off road. With a durable, lugged outsole and a quick-drying, protective upper, the Lone Peak has been a staple in the trail running and thru-hiking communities since its inception.

Fleet Feet reviewers put the Altra Lone Peak 7 to the test to see how it fits, feels and performs. Here’s everything you need to know.

The latest version of the Altra Lone Peak uses the same midsole foam as the previous version, Altra’s EGO foam, which features a blend of different cushioning compounds. Reviewers noticed that while the shoe felt moderately cushioned and soft, it still provided the necessary ground contact for navigating varying surfaces.

Fleet Feet reviewer Max says the Lone Peak 7 is the softest trail shoe he’s ever run in.

“I did a 10 miler in them, which is on the longer side of my runs these days, and the cushioning really stood out to me,” he says. “The midsole is surprisingly soft for a trail shoe, but didn’t feel too mushy to the point where I felt unstable.”

However, other reviewers thought that the cushioning felt a bit flat after a few miles.

“The EGO cushioning feels springy at first, but then starts to feel a little flat the longer I run in them,” Nate says. “However, the Lone Peak is still my trail shoe of choice because of the amazing grip and traction. It feels like a claw underneath my foot. I have such confidence going up and down steep terrain, even if it’s muddy, snowy or even icy.”

The seventh version of the Lone Peak boasts an updated MaxTrac outsole, featuring extra 5 mm lugs on the lateral heel and medial toe to give you better grip as you tackle tough terrain. A rock plate in the midsole allows you to run confidently over bumpy trails.

“The tread on the Lone Peak 7 feels solid on slippery and muddy terrain, and it didn’t hold on to too much mud during the run or when I bang them together to clean them afterwards,” Alex says. “Plus, there’s enough cushioning to keep the rocks from hurting my feet.”

The latest version of the Lone Peak continues to use Altra’s Balanced Cushioning platform, also known as a zero-drop platform. A shoe’s heel-to-toe drop is the difference in height between your heel and toes. If a shoe has a heel-to-toe drop of zero, that means your heel and toes are sitting at the same height, as is the case with the Lone Peak 7.

The Lone Peak 7 offers a stack height (the height between your foot and the ground) of 25 millimeters, which is considered moderate during a time when shoes seem to be getting taller and taller. Fleet Feet reviewers appreciated the stack height and felt anything more would have felt unstable on the trails.

“When I’m running on technical trails, I want to have a good proprioception and make sure I’m not too high up to where I can’t feel what’s underneath my foot,” says Kate.

Max and Mandy agreed, after an unfortunate number of rolled ankles on the trail in shoes with higher stack heights.

“For someone who has struggled with some bad ankle sprains in the past, I was a bit concerned with the low profile of the ankle collar,” Max says. “But I concluded this was all in my head as I flew down the trail in the Lone Peak 7 with confidence and a smile on my face.”

When you’re running on trails, your feet need more protection from twigs, rocks and debris than when you’re running on the road. That’s why the uppers on trail shoes tend to feel thicker and more rugged than your average road-running shoe.

The Altra Lone Peak 7 features a mesh upper with a protective toe cap. Altra did away with the drainage ports from the previous version, instead placing stitched overlays throughout the upper with the goal of feeling lighter and looking sleeker.

“My key takeaway from the Lone Peak 7 is that it’s slimmed down from the Lone Peak 6,” Max says. “The upper is less bulky in the midfoot, toe, heel and just about everywhere.”

For avid trail runners seeking an extra layer of protection from the elements, the latest Lone Peak has two GaiterTraps, one on the tongue and one on the heel, to attach trail gaiters to.

Reviewers also lauded the cozy feeling of the new upper.

“The step-in feel for the Lone Peak 7 is inviting,” Kate says. “The padded heel collar and cushy tongue give a nice first impression in my book. For me, the fit is true to size. I have a pretty average, flat foot, and the width and overall volume of the shoe are just right for me.”

The shape of the Altra Lone Peak 7 is, like most other Altra shoes, roomier in the forefoot than your average running shoe. But while the toe box offers plenty of space, a redesigned heel counter and a locked-down midfoot hold you securely in place.

“The gusseted tongue helps my feet feel nice and secure inside the shoe,” Max says. “Plus, the heel cup offers some additional stability which comes in handy on technical trails and uneven terrain.”

While the Lone Peak 7 has gotten a few tweaks, fans of the Lone Peak 6 will still enjoy the new model because the shoes feel very similar despite the updates.

The main differences are the updated outsole with added lugs and the streamlined upper. But while the new upper looks and feels lighter, the latest version of the Lone Peak is actually about a half ounce heavier than its predecessor. Nevertheless, reviewers described the Lone Peak 7 as agile and nimble enough to tackle any trail.

“The Lone Peak 7 strikes a perfect balance. It offers the cushion needed to make the shoe comfortable without taking away from the sensory experience that provides control, comfort and protection on the trail,” Kate says.

The Altra Lone Peak 7 offers moderate cushioning and reliable traction for the trails, making it an easy choice for beginner and advanced trail runners alike. Runners with wide feet or those who just enjoy a bit of extra wiggle room will revel in the shape of the Lone Peak 7.

“I have a long love affair with the Altra Lone Peak, and I appreciate the updates and new colorways of the latest version,” Nate says. “Not only is the Lone Peak a go-to, do-it-all trail shoe, it’s been my personal shoe of choice for long hikes in the Alps, including the 113-mile Tour du Mont Blanc and the 75-mile Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites.”

However, runners with calf or achilles problems should be cautious when running in zero-drop shoes. Shoes with lower heel-to-toe drops tend to place more pressure on those areas, which can lead to flare-ups down the road. If you’re trying them for the first time, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to acclimate to the fit and feel before logging long distances.

We took a look at some comparable shoes and how they stack up against the Altra Lone Peak 7. Here’s what we found: