Altra x and Wander Lone Peak 9+ Review: 3 Comparisons

As with the LP9, the LP9+W offers a hook within the entrance and a velcro loop within the rear to accommodate gaiters to guard towards particles. 

The additional weight of about 0.35 oz / 9g of the LP9+W over the LP9 was not likely noticeable. 

By and enormous, the LP9+W offered a fairly good experience on my path runs, with good take-off. I didn’t really feel heavy and the shoe gave me a steady feeling on trails. I additionally felt some welcome cushioning after I ran on a couple of miles of pavement. 

On a latest 10 mile hill coaching run, the balls of my ft began to get sore which I attribute to the stiffness of the beefier Vibram sole together with a restricted arch help which has been a difficulty for me with Altra sneakers. 

And on extremely technical uneven path sections the general stiffness and aggressive traction was noticeable, because the shoe tended to “seize” roots or prompted ankle rolling.  However then, I had the identical subject beforehand with the LP9 when it was nonetheless new. 

Midsole & Platform

The midsole has been Altra’s proprietary Altra EGO™ for a number of LP fashions now and it has been reformulated and improved a number of occasions to attain optimum consolation and cushioning with out an extreme stack peak.  

On this case it’s their modest 25mm stack peak with a zero-drop geometry that gives total improved stability on trails over your complete size of the shoe. 

Outsole

The outsole of the LP9+ / LP9+W is a Vibram® Megagrip high-performance sturdy rubber compound sole that’s hailed as offering nice grip on each moist and dry surfaces.  It has a barely sticky really feel to it and comes with multidirectional 5mm lugs that present aggressive traction. 

The entrance half of the shoe’s lugs  have properly outlined acute angles within the entrance and obtuse angles within the rear.  

Within the rear half of the shoe this sample is reversed. Curiously, the sooner LP9 had precisely the identical configuration of lugs, together with an identical association of the reinforcements (right here: in crimson) for the ball of the foot, the mid half and the heel – however after all, the fabric of the LP9’s outsole is MaxTrac. There are very slight variations within the two fashions between the midfoot reinforcement and the entrance water channels which within the LP9+ are strong outsole materials. 

Total, the Vibram sole of the LP9+W is beefier and stiffer than the earlier Maxtrac particularly because it has solely 25 miles of use.  My LP9 then again has seen over 450 miles and I discover that the rear lugs have rounded out fairly a bit. I’ve nevertheless used the LP9 efficiently a number of occasions for largely off-trail orienteering occasions as an alternative of my typical very uncomfortable O-shoes which have metallic spikes. A pleasant comfy different, particularly throughout this yr of drought, the place there’s actually no want for spikes. Each LP9 and LP9+ present strong entrance safety through a substantial entrance wrap-around of the outsole. 

I discovered the model new LP9+W to be considerably clunky resulting from its stiffness, but it felt fairly comfy. Now, after 25 miles of use, that stiffness has lessened considerably leading to a smoother experience, plus I get used to the extra aggressive traction. 

In a latest take a look at of working down a really steep gravely huge dust path, I used to be in a position to management pace completely with out slipping or sliding. 

Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions

Total, just like the earlier Altra Lone Peak 9, the Altra Lone Peak 9+ andWander is a wonderful zero-drop path shoe with modest stack peak offering compromise between cushioning, lightweight and stability.  It offers a safe and comfortable match to runners who want a large toe field. 

The experience is clean, but there’s total good connection to the bottom.  The shoe feels snappier than the Altra Timp 5 which is at an analogous weight. This shoe is a wonderful alternative particularly for lengthy hikes, thru-hikes, and likewise for path working coaching from quick to lengthy. There appears to be no apparent structural distinction between the LP9+ and the LP9+W though there’s a $ 30.- distinction within the value.  

Severe path runners / racers could also be detached to the brand new tree-bark higher design and colour and certain buy the LP9+. Additional, not all runners would possibly just like the stickiness and aggressiveness of the Vibram outsole, thus could favor the usual LP9 to the newer LP9+ fashions. 

Ernst’s Rating: 9.43 / 10

😊😊😊😊😊

Experience (30%) 9.5 :   Match (30%) 9.5:   Worth (10%) 8.5:    Model (5%) 9   Traction (15%) 9.5:  Rock Safety (10%) 10 

3 Comparisons

Altra Lone Peak 9 (RTR Assessment)

As mentioned on this overview, the primary distinction between the LP9 and the LP9+W is the extra strong and likewise considerably stiffer and probably longer lasting Vibram® Megagrip outsole of the LP90+W.  The LP9 has a close to an identical MaxTrac outsole, which, in my case, reveals some put on and tear after 450 miles. In any other case the 2 fashions seem to have an identical options.  The LP9 is by 0.35 oz (10 grams) lighter per shoe for a US males’s dimension 8.5.  

Altra Timp 5  (RTR Assessment)  

The Timp 5 is similar to the LP9+W, however feels stiffer total.  It has the next stack of 29mm. Its outsole is a Vibram sole that has the lugs connected to it through strips. A few of these are likely to peel off over time.  Within the LP99+W, lugs are absolutely built-in into the only and now have a barely extra pronounced profile. Clearly an enchancment. 

Topo Terraventure 4 (RTR Assessment) 

The Terraventure 4 is comparable in weight and stack peak to the LP9+, however has a modest drop of three mm and a rock plate within the forefoot space. Topo’s Vibram Megagrip outsole offers significantly better traction than Altra Timp 5’s Vibram sole.  Probably, LP9’s revised sample and pronounced profile in its MaxTrac outsole is sort of similar to the Terraventure’s wonderful outsole.

All RTR evaluations: HERE

Newest Opinions-Chronological Order HERE

Altra Working

Lone Peak 9+ and Wander

SHOP HERE

Tester Profile

Ernst lives within the New Hampshire Seacoast space and loves with the ability to run “from his doorstep” on a number of linked path networks.  Being the shortest scholar in grade faculty, he discovered nearly all sports activities to be overly difficult, however “distance” working gave the impression to be pure for him. Finally his household steered him in the direction of aggressive orienteering in his teenage years in Switzerland. He moved to the USA at age 25 to attend graduate faculty, and rediscovered orienteering, pursued street, path and mountain working, journey racing, triathlon and nordic snowboarding. He turned in the direction of extra aggressive working when the Loco firm began organizing races within the NH Seacoast space, first half marathons in 2007, and later marathons. His marathon PR is 3:03 at age 59, and he has a number of USA Monitor and Area New Hampshire age group state information. He’s at the moment ranked first in his age group within the 2025 USA Monitor and Area New England Mountain Working Circuit.  He’s 70 years outdated 5 ft 5 inches (165cm) tall and weighs 135 lb (61 kg).

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