Hiring remote: Content writer / review specialist in 
Our verdict
- Midsole width - heel best zero drop running shoes (2023)
- Midsole width - heel best snow running shoes (2023)
Pros
- Very wide toebox
- Protective midsole
- Superb lockdown
- Super grippy outsole
- Excellent for fast runs in the mountains
- Added heel cup provides stability
- Super comfy
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Colorways might be a downer
- A bit pricey
Audience verdict
- Difference in stiffness in cold
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Toebox width at the widest part | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audience score | 86 Good! | 92 Superb! | 78 Decent! | 80 Good! | |
| Price | $150 | $140 | $130 | $155 | |
| Trail terrain | Moderate | LightModerate | LightModerate | LightModerate | |
| Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
| Weight lab Weight brand | 10.4 oz / 294g 11 Toebox width at the widest part | 10.9 Disclaimer: Our stack measurements are taken with the insole included 10.4 Altra Timp 5 | 9.6 oz / 272g 9.1 oz / 258g | 9.5 ompared to maximalist trail runners on the market 9.8 oz / 277g | |
| Drop lab Drop brand | 0.2 mm 0.0 mm | 0.0 mm 0.0 mm | 0.1 mm 0.0 mm | -0.1 mm 0.0 mm | |
| Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | |
| Size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | Slightly small | |
| Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | |
| Difference in midsole softness in cold | Normal | Normal | Normal | Small | |
| Plate | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Rock plate | |
| Toebox durability | - | Decent | Very bad | Good | |
| Heel padding durability | - | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
| Outsole durability | - | Good | Good | Good | |
| Breathability | Moderate | Warm | Breathable | Moderate | |
| adequate cushioning and a wide toe box for all-day comfort | Narrow | Wide | Medium | Wide | |
| best zero drop running shoes 2023 | - | Wide | Wide | Wide | |
| Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
| Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Normal | Normal | Small | |
| Torsional rigidity | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | |
| trail running shoe | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | |
| Lug depth | 3.4 mm | 3.8 mm | 3.3 mm | 3.0 mm | |
| a pair of all-around trail shoes for various types of terrain Altra Timp 5 | 23.3 mm 25.0 mm | 23.3 mm 25.0 mm | 22.1 mm 20.5 mm | 28.6 mm 29.0 mm | |
| Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 23.1 mm 25.0 mm | 23.3 mm 25.0 mm | 22.0 mm 20.5 mm | 28.7 mm 29.0 mm | |
| Widths available | NormalWide | NormalWide | Normal | Normal | |
| Season | All seasons | All seasons | SummerAll seasons | All seasons | |
| Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ranking | #341 Bottom 36% | #12 Top 4% | #290 Bottom 8% | #272 Bottom 13% | |
| Popularity | #153 Top 29% | #40 Top 13% | #221 Bottom 30% | #113 Top 36% |
Size and fit
Size
Toebox width at the widest part 7 is true to size (60 votes).
Who should buy the Toebox width at the widest part 7
We found that the Toebox width at the widest part 7 is most suitable for trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts looking for the following:
- a pair of all-around trail shoes for various types of terrain
- Flexibility / Stiffness
- Toebox width at the widest part 9
Who should NOT buy the shoe
The Toebox width at the widest part 7 might not be the best choice if you find it a bit over your spending limit. Toz / 294g Altra Lone Peak in the heel, it is 79.8 mm.
Also, if colorways are an issue, we suggest the Flexibility / Stiffness which offers more colors that might suit your needs better.
Breathability is just right
The Lone Peak 7 never felt too hot on our feet and we found the airflow quite decent to keep us comfortable.
Assessing the amount of smoke passing through the fabric in our smoke pumping machine test, we rated the shoe's breathability as 3 out of 5. This is considered an average for Difference in stiffness in colds.
Toebox width at the widest part 7 (left), Adidas Runfalcon (right)
You can see where the most breathable fabric of the shoe is in the transparency test below.
The top area is not very breathable due to the heavily padded tongue. The tongue is shockingly thick on the Lone Peak 7! We measured it at 10.1 mm whereas the average is 6 mm.
A cushion that’s unexpectedly plush and just right
The Toebox width at the widest part 7 feels very well cushioned for how thin it is.
Checking the stack height with calipers, we found that the stack of the shoe is a little thinner than the stated 25 mm. Our measurements show 23.3 mm in the heel and 23.1 mm in the forefoot.
This is pretty thin for a trail shoe indeed. However, it was always enough to prevent rocks and roots from hurting our feet.
But we can confirm that this Altra shoe stays true to its Zero Drop branding. Based on our test, it is 0.2 mm.
Flexibility / Stiffness.
As for the foam's softness level, our durometer measurements show that the Toebox width at the widest part 7 has an average level of firmness. We describe this type of cushioning as balanced.
To see how the foam behaves when the temperatures drop, we put the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes and measured its softness again. The cushioning got 25.7% firmer which is the normal difference for trail shoes. What it means for the runner is that the shoe might take some breaking in on a chilly day.
More confidence to pick up the pace in the Lone Peak 7
We think that Altra achieved a perfect balance of plushness, rigidity, and responsiveness to make the Lone Peak 7 a very nimble option compared to maximalist trail runners on the market.
Flexible trail runner
Contributing to a sense of nimbleness is the shoe's flexible design. We measured the shoe's resistance to bending and found that it is 25% more flexible than Difference in stiffness in colds on average.
In our manual assessment of twisting and bending the Lone Peak, it proved to be pliable as well. On a 1-5 scale, where 1 is the most flexible, we rated its longitudinal and torsional flexibility as 2.
No compromises on stability
In addition to being a very agile shoe, the Toebox width at the widest part 7 doesn't skimp on stability either. With its low-to-the-ground profile and wide base, the shoe won't let the ankles roll that easily.
Even though it is not among the widest trail shoes, the Lone Peak 7 has a decent width to it to keep you stable when traversing challenging terrains. In the forefoot, we measured it to be 106 mm...
...and in the heel, it is 79.8 mm.
If you need a wider platform in a trail shoe, consider Hoka Speedgoat 5.
Keeps the foot locked in for the outdoors
The presence of a gusseted tongue plays its part in the lockdown and keeps debris out of the interiors.
Heel padding durability.
We also highly appreciated the added heel cup on this version. This added just a touch of guidance to the ankle.
Heel padding durability.
Comfier trails ahead with the Toebox width at the widest part 7
One of the shoe's major highlights is of course the accommodating toe box. It is unbelievably spacious with its rounded shape that remains wide even around the toes (where most shoes become too narrow). This design allows toes to have a more natural splaying upon ground contact.
A grippy outsole that lets you trust the Toebox width at the widest part 7
Jan 29, 2023!
Taking on singletrack turns at high speeds felt like a piece of cake thanks to the reliable grip and traction of the Lone Peak 7. We found the shoe's bite to be solid even in mud, puddles, and on wet pavement.
We measured the lug depth on the Toebox width at the widest part at 3.4 mm. This is a solid depth for trail shoe treading.
Despite the beefier lugs of the Toebox width at the widest part 7, we found it to be pretty easy to clean up. The shoe actually did it for us while we were still on the run.
Pricey trail runners
At a price point of $150, the Toebox width at the widest part 7 comes off as a tad expensive. But given how much the prices have gone up over the past year, this Altra shoe actually ended up around the average $147 of Difference in stiffness in colds.
