Streetwear meets trail running in a collaboration that signals where outdoor footwear is heading.
Streetwear has been a major influence on outdoor gear for longer than most people realize. From Nike’s ACG line in the 1990s to Supreme’s ongoing partnerships with technical brands, the boundaries between urban style and mountain performance have been blurring for decades. There are a lot of consumers out there hungry for something that feels like it was made for them—gear that works on the trail but doesn’t look out of place in the city.
So when Altra announced their first-ever collaboration on the Lone Peak with Tokyo-based design house and wander, it felt both inevitable and noteworthy. Sure, shoe brands have been doing collaborations for years—HOKA has partnered with everyone from Outdoor Voices to various fashion labels—but this is different. This is Altra, a brand built on biomechanics and function over form, putting graphics on their most sacred silhouette for the first time.
The Altra x and wander Lone Peak 9+ launches globally on August 19, retailing for $185 in two colorways. It’s the first time a graphic has been applied to the Lone Peak, setting a new precedent for the brand’s creative evolution.
The Brands Behind the Partnership
I’ve been testing Altra shoes for almost 15 years, since meeting Golden Harper at a small gathering before the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in 2010 I think it was. The first cushioned Zero Drop foot-shaped running shoes began as a way to fix customers injuries at his running store in the Wasatch Mountains, Harper explained to the crowd. What started as backroom experiments with a toaster oven and scissors would become Altra’s signature technology, a veritable revolution in that moment.
Altra and the Lone Peak — named after one of the brand’s original home peaks in the Wasatch Range — officially launched in the North American market 2011 to much critical acclaim. By September 2013, Altra Footwear was at 300 percent annual growth rate and opening in dozens of new markets. The Lone Peak became their bestselling model, earning a devoted following among trail runners and thru-hikers who appreciated its zero-drop platform and anatomical toe box.
and wander brings a different perspective to the partnership. Founded in 2011 by Keita Ikeuchi and Mihoko Mori, who previously designed for Issey Miyake Men, the brand emerged from a practical problem: frustrated with the struggles for camping trips with friends, Ikeuchi decided to take it upon himself to provide the solution. “We wanted to kindle a desire for nature and the mountains with our collection while also applying the experience we had from working with a Parisian fashion brand, and thus establish a bridge between fashion and outdoor wear,” explains Ikeuchi.
What’s Different About This Collaboration
The collaboration features original graphic overlays created by and wander, layered atop Altra’s time-tested silhouette and augmented with Vibram® Megagrip for sure-footed traction. The Vibram upgrade is significant—Megagrip has proven superior traction on wet rock and loose terrain compared to Altra’s standard MaxTrac rubber. This isn’t just a cosmetic update.
“Working with and wander continues to inspire new ways of thinking about performance design without compromising the standards that characterize Altra,” says Jennifer McLaren, Brand President at Altra. “This shoe reflects our shared belief in the value of versatility. It’s made for people who see movement as a form of self-expression.”
“We love the challenge of reinterpreting proven outdoor tools through a design lens that speaks to both performance and style,” reflects Keita Ikeuchi. The result speaks to consumers who move fluidly between performance, fashion, and the outdoors.
Market Context
This collaboration arrives as the outdoor footwear market is rapidly evolving. The global hiking and trail footwear market size is estimated to grow by USD 8.43 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast period.
Much of this growth is driven by urban-trail hybrids. City-to-trail is no longer a niche, but a permanent fixture in the order. The trail running scene is growing. Models that work both on the trail and in the city are in demand. Department of Commerce data shows over 12 million urban Americans bought hybrid wear products merging fashion and function in Q1 2024.
Integration of High-Fashion Collaborations: Luxury fashion houses are now co-branding with performance gear manufacturers. Brands such as Gucci, Moncler, and Arcteryx have reported multi-season collaborations with record pre-booking levels. The and wander partnership positions Altra in this growing segment.
Since 2018, Altra has been owned by VF Corporation, an American global apparel and footwear company with other brands like North Face, Vans, JanSport, and Timberland, suggesting they understand both lifestyle and performance markets. Is this collaboration a one-off or does it represent VF’s vision for Altra’s future—a brand that maintains technical credibility while expanding into lifestyle segments?
Who Is This For?
At $185, the collaboration commands a premium over the standard Lone Peak 9’s $140 price point. That positions it as a specialty product rather than a volume seller. The pricing suggests Altra is targeting consumers willing to pay for design cachet alongside technical performance.
The unisex colorways—red and black—are safe choices that should appeal to both traditional trail runners and style-conscious urban consumers. The graphics are subtle enough not to alienate function-first buyers while distinctive enough to attract fashion-forward customers.
and wander’s philosophy aligns well with this demographic. They weren’t the type to climb 6,000m peaks every weekend. They were interested in casual outdoor outings. A morning hike, a one-day camping trip, all the things you can do over a weekend and still make it back to Tokyo.
The Technical Story
Beyond aesthetics, the Vibram Megagrip outsole represents a genuine performance upgrade. While the standard Lone Peak uses Altra’s MaxTrac rubber, Megagrip has proven superior across multiple brands and conditions. For trail runners who prioritize traction on technical terrain, this could justify the premium pricing.
The collaboration maintains Altra’s core technologies: FootShape™ Fit allows toes to splay unrestricted, and the Zero Drop platform maintains an even stack height from heel to forefoot. These features have made the Lone Peak a favorite among runners seeking natural movement patterns.
Industry Implications
This collaboration signals broader trends in outdoor footwear. Multifunctionality is indeed becoming the new standard: the boundaries between categories such as running, hiking, urban and travel are becoming blurred. Brands that successfully bridge performance and lifestyle markets are positioned for growth.
One of the most promising opportunities lies in the expansion of trail running shoes into urban and lifestyle use cases, merging performance gear with casual fashion. The modern consumer seeks footwear that transitions seamlessly from trail to town.
For Altra, the collaboration represents both opportunity and risk. Success could open new markets and demographics. Failure could dilute the brand’s technical reputation among core trail runners.
Looking Forward
The Altra x and wander Lone Peak 9+ won’t revolutionize trail running, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a well-executed collaboration that brings together complementary brand strengths. Altra contributes proven biomechanical design and trail credibility. and wander adds aesthetic sophistication and urban appeal.
The real test will be market reception. Will traditional Lone Peak users embrace the graphics and premium pricing? Will urban consumers appreciate the technical features? The collaboration’s success could influence Altra’s future direction under VF ownership.
For now, it represents something new in the trail running world: a technically sound shoe that’s equally comfortable on Gen Z Instagram as it is on singletrack. Whether it’s the future of outdoor footwear or just an experiment remains to be seen.
The collaboration launches globally on August 19, 2025, available through Altra e-commerce platforms in the US and Europe, the Altra brand store in Japan, and wander’s online store, and wander retail stores in Japan, and through a curated selection of retail partners worldwide. At $185, it’s positioned as a premium offering for consumers who value both performance and design.
In a market increasingly hungry for products that work across contexts, the Altra x and wander Lone Peak 9+ arrives at the right moment.
Author Aaron Bible has been writing for outdoor publications for more than two decades, covering footwear, cycling, skiing, gear, adventure travel and mountain life. Follow him on Instagram at @DefinitelyWild.
