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Post by cweston on Jan 15, 2022 11:27:01 GMT -8
Anyone tried them for rough-terrain BPing?
My biggest concern is durability. I have a pair of Lone Peak standard trail-runners that I DON'T use for BPing. They fit me really well (nice wide toe box), but these would not be nearly durable enough for terrain I generally BP in. I love the fit, but they haven't held up particularly well to the much gentler way that I use them: dayhikes, walking the dogs, occasional street wear.
I've worn heavier GTX boots for my high-country BPing for years. My current choice are Salomon Quest 4s, which are wide in the toe box, but not as wide as Altras fit. The Altras would be lighter, probably fit better, and would cost a little less, but I'm skeptical that they'd even survive one season.
Thoughts?
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 15, 2022 11:40:06 GMT -8
I used what is best matched to the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 trail runner model for bp'ing about 10 yrs ago, and would say 1 season in your terrain would be max. My issue was the tread didn't hold up well, and the lightweight sides just barely lasted 1 season.
ETA: now, I BP in trail runners all the time, and I only expect to get one season out of them. Back when I worked, and wore boots on the trail, I also only expected one season because I wore those same boots to work every day, standing on concrete while doing electrical construction. I found $130 a year acceptable for what I used them for.
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 15, 2022 12:26:43 GMT -8
I've been looking for a new pair of hiking boots and have done a lot of perusing online. GearLab and Switchback Travel have done some very thorough comparisons and testing review. The latter has an in depth review of the Altra Lone Peak Mid. The boot I have my eye on is the Salomon Ultra X3 Mid which ranked 1st in Switchback Travel and 5th in Gearlab. There is also a newer and slightly lighter Ultra, the X4. If you don't want a Goretex lining, the Salomon X3 also has the Aero. Unlike the others, the Aero doesn't seem to be offered in wide sizes.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 16, 2022 7:07:15 GMT -8
I can't respond to the Altra's in question, but I have to say, my wife and I are both Salomon fans. They do a nice blend of lightweight and durability.
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Post by cweston on Jan 16, 2022 7:25:32 GMT -8
...but I have to say, my wife and I are both Salomon fans. They do a nice blend of lightweight and durability Yep. I'm not unhappy with the Salomon Quest 4 GTX: it's just time for a new pair, and I'm doing my due diligence. The Quest 4 GTX is probably the ideal boot for my BPing style.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 16, 2022 7:35:52 GMT -8
The Quest 4 GTX is probably the ideal boot for my BPing style. I don't have any experience with the newest version, my wife and I each have the older Quest 4D 3 GTX for Spring snowshoeing. We both moved away from these for backpacking to low shoes some years back, but I do understand not everyone likes low hikers.
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Post by cweston on Jan 16, 2022 7:42:30 GMT -8
my wife and I each have the older Quest 4D 3 GTX for Spring snowshoeing. Right: that's what my current pair is, too.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 16, 2022 20:42:22 GMT -8
If you are talking about the waterproof version, this is what happened to mine in 2019. The photos are from the end of our NZ hiking,just before I dumpsterized them. But the cracks in the outer layer came very quickly, so that the boots let in water most of the time I was there (and then didn't drain or dry well). As far as I can tell, they are still using this exterior membrane.
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Post by cweston on Jan 16, 2022 20:48:32 GMT -8
Oh, that’s good info for sure.
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Post by cweston on Jan 17, 2022 7:10:13 GMT -8
I just researched and was surprised to find that my Lone Peak low trail-runners are only exactly a year old. They look like this: No rough BPing--just dayhiking and street wear. Some of my local hiking is along our rocky lakeshore. That's probably what did them in. But still pretty disappointing overall
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 17, 2022 7:41:01 GMT -8
cweston I'm glad you put up this thread. I'd been tempted to buy a pair of Altra's to try, now I think I'll pass.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 17, 2022 7:52:32 GMT -8
There is another consideration. While I truly love the fit of the Altras—I wish other shoe makers would figure out that the toes are the widest part of the foot—their much-vaunted “zero drop” (i.e., no heel lift) is not for everyone. After several years, I finally figured out that zero drop was part of why my plantar fasciitis kept flaring and wouldn’t really go away.
I do still have a pair of their trail runners—I wear them when the *other* foot issues flare up and I need the extra toe space. But I can’t hike in them or even wear them all day.
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 17, 2022 8:08:19 GMT -8
I've had the Lone Peak 4 lows for nearly 3 years. I like the zero drop and wide forefoot, but I haven't used them for backpacking and probably less than 50 miles of day hikes. They've held up well over the occasionally rugged terrain. I mostly use them in my softball games.
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Feb 22, 2022 15:45:56 GMT -8
I’ve used regular Altra Lone Peaks and Timps for lightweight trail backpacking … they lasted 500 miles give or take. They aren’t really designed to last forever. Mine have blown out like cweston picture shows too. Also I’ve read where some used Lone Peaks were taken out of a hiker box and the second hiker got an additional several hundred miles out of them. Total weight probably has something to do with it. There’s some competition in the trail runner arena.
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Post by leadbelly on Feb 23, 2022 13:04:18 GMT -8
Not familiar with the Altra boot, but the Salomon Quest 4 is a great choice for rough trails. Why mess with something that works? i just replaced Salomon X Ultra 3 low gtx shoes with the same shoe. They feel so much better than a mashed three year old pair.
i tend to shy away from lighter weight & less support/foot protection for backpacking, especially on the more jagged & rocky trails, & go the other way - Limmer Standards and Lightweights. Plotting a week with my brother in the Adirondacks this summer, i'll very likely wear all-leather boots.
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