Right now we’re experiencing a renaissance in the world of trail-runners-as-hiking-shoes. There are more options than ever, and tons of companies are making great shoes for all types of hikers and runners.
One company that often stands out (particularly among thru-hikers) is Altra. The Altra Lone Peak has been a thru-hiker favorite for years, and while it remains a great shoe, Altra (fairly) recently expanded its lineup to include a newer shoe: the Timp (named for Salt Lake City’s Mount Timpanogos).
In many ways, the Timp is similar to the Lone Peak, and tons of hikers (and trail runners) seem to be making the switch. This leaves a lot of people wondering whether they should pick up a pair of Timps, or stick with the trusty Lone Peak.
I’m a long time Lone Peak fan, but I picked up a pair of Timps this year to see what the hype is about. I have some thoughts on them both, and I’ll break them down in this post.
Quick and Dirty Breakdown
If you came here looking for a quick answer, here are the key differences between the two shoes (now the Lone Peak 5 and Timp 3; my thoughts on older models are below, because they are still available):
- Cushioning: Of the two shoes, the Timp is much more cushioned. This comes at the sacrifice of ground feel, but for many people the extra cushioning will outweigh that loss.
- Breathability/Durability: This category has changed significantly with the latest iterations. Both shoes are now almost exactly the same weight, and the Lone Peak 5 is slightly more breathable than its predecessor. The Timp 3 is about as breathable as the Timp 2, but many users have noted that it is far less durable than it used to be. In terms of durability, the Lone Peak 5 is the clear winner.
So if you want a shoe with more cushioning for longer miles, the Timp will likely be your best bet (though the Lone Peak 5's new midsole adds more cushion). And if you value ground feel, stability, and durability, you’ll probably want to go with the Lone Peak.
That said, there are some other differences which may be of importance to some people, and I’ll get into them below.
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Tech Specs
I’ve put a lot of miles on both shoes so I can offer some firsthand experience, but first I’ll start with how they stack up against each other in terms of specs. Here is all the data Altra provides for each.
| Altra Timp 3 | Altra Lone Peak 4.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 11 oz/311 g | 11.1 oz/318 g |
| Insole | 5mm Contour Footbed | 5mm Contour Footbed |
| Midsole | Quantic with InnerFlex | Altra EGO with StoneGuard |
| Outsole | MaxTrac with TrailClaw | MaxTrac with TrailClaw |
| Cushion | High | Moderate |
| Stack Height | 29mm | 25mm |
| Upper | Rolled Mesh | Durable Quick-Dry Air Mesh |
| Price | $140 | $130 |
What This All Means
As is usually the case with footwear, most of the info regarding the construction of these shoes is branding jargon. So I’ll break it all down to explain the real differences between the shoes.
Cushioning
Altra describes the Timp as a “high” cushioned shoe and the Lone Peak as a “moderate” cushioned shoe. This is partially due to the fact that the Timp has a higher stack height (29mm vs 25mm), but also comes from the midsole construction.
The Lone Peak uses Altra EGO with Stoneguard (AKA a rock plate), which is a significant upgrade over the last model. It will provide plenty of support and protection, but maintains some bounce and softness for longer efforts. It feels a little clunky underfoot because of the density (though not as much as it used to), but it’s good for rocky terrain.
The Timp, on the other hand, uses a Quantic with InnerFlex midsole, which feels significantly more plush than the Lone Peak. It’s also more flexible, and despite being thicker is about as protective as the Lone Peak when it comes to rocks (in my experience; likely due to the lack of a dedicated rock plate in the Timp).
A lot of people say (and I tend to agree) that the newer Timps feel like the earliest versions of the Lone Peak in terms of cushioning. If you used the Lone Peak 2.5 or earlier and loved it, but have tried recent versions and found them too stiff, it’s likely that you’ll enjoy the feel of the Timp 3 as well. It's worth noting here that the Lone Peak 5 is much more reminiscent of its original versions than the 4.5; fans of the original Lone Peaks will appreciate this for sure.
Fit
The new Timp 3 comes with a slight upgrade in fit: widening of the toebox. Altra has essentially built its reputation on ultra-wide toeboxes with plenty of room for your feet to splay naturally. Many Timp 2 users complained that it was too tight for an Altra shoe, so Altra fans should appreciate the new fit. A new issue, though, is that it runs a half-size small, so size up if necessary.
The fit of the Lone Peak remains roughly the same; a little tighter than it used to be, but still fairly roomy. The midfoot specifically is much tighter, which may be a benefit to some, but for most will be a drawback. This shoe doesn’t have the volume that it once had, and that was one of the biggest reasons it has the fan base that it does.
One remedy provided by Altra, if you have the right foot for it, is the wide version of the Lone Peak. This is new for the Lone Peak 5, and is a great addition for those with wider feet.
Another note on sizing: The new Lone Peak 5's now fit true to size. The new Timps, however, run a half-size small.
Stability
Stability is another area where these shoes diverge quite a bit. The Lone Peak feels very stable, even for it’s moderately high stack height. I think this is due to the density of the sole and the tighter fit. Though it's slightly clunky, this makes it feel very stable underfoot.
The Timps are noticeably less stable, and on uneven terrain can feel a little bit tippy. This isn’t something I consider a huge drawback, though, and just comes with the territory of being more cushioned. With the updated roomier fit, you should still expect that it won’t be the most stable shoe out there.
If you're looking for an ultra-stable, tighter-fitting shoe, check out my review of the La Sportiva Bushido II.
Outsole/Grip
Both shoes now utilize a MaxTrac outsole with TrailClaw (Altra’s name for their arrow shaped lugs arranged in a “claw” pattern) which does pretty good on most terrain. The lugs aren’t super deep on either shoe, though, and in extra wet conditions neither shoe is a top-of-the-line performer (in terms of raw grippiness or lug depth).
For fairly well maintained and mostly dry trails, both shoes generally perform well, and the outsole is fairly durable (My Lone Peaks are about 400 miles in, and the outsole is still very functional).
Overall Comfort
With the new updates to these shoes, the Timp remains very comfortable. They’ve supported me through high-mileage days and my feet generally feel very good at the end, with no noticeable pain points or chafing.
As predicted, the Lone Peaks got a huge comfort upgrade this time around. They almost match their older versions, and while still not quite as cushy the Timps, are much better for high-mileage days than they were.
Final Thoughts
The Altra Timp and the Lone Peak are a unique pair. They're 2 shoes for roughly the same niche and have been changed significantly over just a few iterations. It's still true though that the Timps are cushier, and remain a better high mileage shoe overall than the current Lone Peak. The Lone Peak is a great shoe for stability and ground-feel, with just enough cushion to go the distance.
I’ve long been a fan of the Lone Peak, but these days when I want a cushy, fairly wide, long-day shoe, I’m wearing the Timps. If I need stability and responsiveness, I'm going with the Lone Peaks.
If you're looking for a burly trail shoe with a little more secure fit, check out my review of the Salomon Speedcross 5.
Timp is the only best one. I just bought them and went for a short hike, it has been amazing and so better than my previous shoes.
I pretty much agree, at this point it’s my go-to hiking shoe.
Hey Brady! I’m currently trying to decide between these two shoes. I’m training for a 30mile hike that happens in one day. I live in CO so I’m hiking a lot of rocky trails and putting in a lot of miles. Based on your final statement I’m not sure which shoes would be best, I need cushion for long days but also need stability and responsiveness. Do you feel like the Lone Peak 5s are good for longer days as well? I’ve also seen reviews of excessive rubbing on both the TIMP 3 and the Lone Peak 5, did you have any issues with that?
In my experience with Altra in general, I’ve personally never had excessive rubbing with any of their shoes, though I have read reports of Achilles blisters with the Lone Peak 4.5’s and the 5.0’s. I should say that Achilles rubbing is something I very rarely experience (except on my left foot with the La Sportiva Bushidos, for whatever reason), so that could be due to the shape of my foot more than anything. As for which shoe you should go with, I would lean towards the Lone Peak 5. The new EGO midsole makes a huge difference in long-distance comfort, so it’ll be pretty close to as comfortable as the Timp for a 30-mile day. And if you need good ground-feel/stability also then the Lone Peak will definitely be the better combo of those two things. Hope that helps!
That helps immensely! Thank you so much, and thanks for putting the review up too. I really appreciate it!
You’re welcome, glad I could help!
you wrote lone peaks at the end, and linked to the timps. :/
Wow that’s embarrassing, thanks for letting me know. Should be fixed now!
I have the Lone Peak 5 and completed a 60 mile (successive days) hike recently and had no problem with them at all. I then bought a pair of the all weather lone peak 5’s for the more wintery months, but they come up much tighter (even in a size up than normal). Are the Timp’s waterproof and would they be a good alternative to the Lone Peak All Weather, as they appear to be wider than the All Weathers?
Thoughts?
I don’t have the LP all weather’s but I’ve heard others complain about the width on them too. Unfortunately I don’t know of a solution in the Altra lineup, because the Timp’s aren’t waterproof and wet through fairly quickly. If you need waterproofing with a wider fit you could try something like the Salomon X Ultra 3 Wide GTX, which is a great shoe with great weather protection. Salomon has other wide Gore-tex shoes too, so any of them would be worth a shot depending on what you’re looking for as far as traction and support go.