Background: A minimalist running footwear is really a shoe that provides little support for your feet and permits you feet to operate how they were meant to as shocks. When you run having a minimalist style shoe you allow you foot to start and absorb a few of the shock while you run. You are also able to gather more feedback in the surface you are running on so that you can improve your running style accordingly.
Review: As pointed out above the Altra Lone Peak is a minimalist shoe but it is a trail minimalist shoe. As a trail running shoe it's designed to take the abuse of running off-road.
Conclusion: Overall these running shoes have been very good to me. I have been running on the consistently for about a month and a half and also have had no issues with them. If you are just beginning to run the trails I would highly recommend this running shoe for you. The construction is excellent and the fit is better still.
These athletic shoes a very perfect for this. The Lone Peaks has a rock guard built into the sole and lots of minimalist shoes don't have that. Jetski from rocks from coming up through the shoe and potentially injuring your feet. The little amount of padding at the base also helps with rock protection. This may make it seem like it isn't a minimalist shoe but don't forget a minimalist shoe lets your foot disseminate naturally, and these shoes do that very nicely. They also have a very aggressive sole to assist with traction around the trail. One unusual feature that they have is a small “mudflap” on the back. It type of seems strange to be but it is supposed to be a throwback towards the athletic shoes of yesteryear. The toe box around the Lone Peaks is very wide. It seems to be wider than a large amount of another minimalist running shoes, however this isn't a problem. The toe box allows your foot to maneuver naturally using your stride and absorb a few of the shock.
These running shoes aren't waterproof like another trail shoes are but when these get wet is doesn't affect your running. The water drains away very quickly so that your foot isn't sloshing around. They dry up extremely fast as well even on overcast days these shoes were dry when I had been done with most of my runs. The snow is also not a problem during these shoes. They do not have any insulation so some thicker socks are needed to keep your feet warm however the shoes perform perfectly around the slippery ice and snow.