UPDATE 8/2/2016: I’ve now completed the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail in the Lone Peak 2.5’s and their outsole rubber is superior to the Lone Peak 2.0’s. The tread no longer tears off in chunks–not even one chipped lug. The 2.0 NeoShell doesn’t have issues with the sole either. Only the 2.0.
Last summer I hiked the John Muir Trail (JMT) and, though very selective in my choice of shoes, was still plagued by blisters and had numbness in my left big toe for months after the hike (due to downhills with shoes that were too narrow). On the hike I encountered many folks on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) who had various recommendations for footwear, but most of those who were moving light and fast were wearing Altra’s. I’d heard about them from a Bishop / Yosemite trail running friend prior to my trip, but was unable to find them in my local REI. I wanted to be able to try on the shoes I’d be wearing on the trail before committing to the trip, so Altra’s were out due to lack of availability. Upon returning from the JMT, with my feet in sad shape, I promptly ordered a pair of Altra Lone Peak 2.0s.

Two pairs of black hightop sneakers from young web-based brands trying to break off a piece of the industry. Greats Brand focuses on Italian leather and production, while Oliberte uses Ethiopian leathers and Fair Trade Certified production.
Both pairs of shoes appear to be free of manufacturing defects (the crinkly look to the leather on the instep of the right Greats shoes is nothing, it’s very soft and supple and has already disappeared as the wear creases have begun). The Greats obviously have a cleaner aesthetic both in the all-black look, as well as the smooth leather, flat waxed laces, high stitch count, and partially hidden stitching on the tongue and cuff. They’re also a bit narrower, which creates a sleeker look, but might not be as comfortable in the long term. The Oliberte’s have a more rugged aesthetic with the exposed edges at the cuff, zigzag stitching, and pebble grain leather, but are still one of the simplest pairs of shoes offered by the brand. Thus far I’ve worn them more than the Greats, and find them to be super comfortable and durable as I beat them up doing yard work and biking around town.
Ethical Note: While I have written this post objectively, both pairs of shoes were purchased at a discount and I stand to benefit if Oliberte succeeds.

UPDATE Oct, 28, 2016 – Turns out my friend only wears sneakers, so I really haven’t gleaned any insights into these shoes since my initial thoughts.
Full post coming soon. Initial thoughts are generally positive: beautiful leather, great upper detail with full lining, leather sole is a Blake welt, which isn’t ideal for rainy locales, but is OK for dry climates or fair weather days. The edge of the sole has what appears to be a fake welt for decorative purposes, theoretically riding on the tide of Goodyear and Blake/Rapid’s good perception and style. This is deceptive and thus frowned upon, but they do mention it in their product description as an “Added layer of stitching between upper and leather sole for a slightly more rustic look.” I’ve gifted these to a friend, so I’ll report back on wear updates.

Constructed in the worlds first Fair Trade Certified Shoe Factory, these Oliberte Mogado Hi’s are socially responsible and helping to shape the future of ethical shoe production. They have a rugged aesthetic, but are very comfortable, with a thin, nearly flat sole and a soft pliable leather upper. After about 2 months of wear I decided to punch a few more lace holes and clean them up in the same method I outlined in How To Clean Desert Boots post using saddle soap and leather preservative. The results can be seen in a side-by-side below.
I then strapped them on my feet as my sole pair of shoes on a road trip from Austin, TX to San Francisco, CA that included hikes in Big Bend, Grand Canyon (shown), and Sequoia National Parks. They were actually great for camping since they can be easily slipped on and off and used as slippers when untied or laced up and day hiked in (I wouldn’t use these for real hiking, as their thin soles don’t have enough support or rock protection). Through all the abuse they have held up great, looking better with use than they did new, and I’m still wearing them daily. They’re very informal, so probably best used on weekends or in casual office environments.
Ethical Note: While I have written this post objectively, these shoes were purchased at a discount and I stand to benefit if Oliberte succeeds.

I’ve had these boots for a year and have worn them hard; daily in NYC, as well as on short hikes in Austin, TX and Portland, OR. They’re not the ideal hiking boot, but when traveling, they are so light and versatile it’s too easy to wear them to work, the airport, and have them as the only shoe on a trip. During this year of abuse, the only care they’ve received was a new pair of laces after the original pair gave out on my walk to the office. With winter approaching, it was time to clean and restore them before the salt water puddles resume their assault on the dried, porous leather. The technique used here is quite simple and successfully brought my boots back to life. As visible in the photos they were thoroughly scuffed, but after a quick clean are, once again, presentable. Saddle soap was used because of the amount of dirt caked onto the shoes and the length of time gone without cleaning. However, it mostly cleans, so always use a conditioner after cleaning with soap. These boots have been worn frequently in the rain, which pulls oils from the leather, so they were pretty dry going in. I’ve selected Allen Edmonds Leather Lotion as the conditioner to add oils back into the leather and prevent drying or cracking. All it takes is a damp cloth, saddle soap, a dry cloth, leather lotion, and a bit of elbow grease.

Step 1.
Remove laces and use a damp cloth to gently wipe off surface debris. Gently, because you don’t want to scratch the surface of the leather with the dirt currently on the shoe. This is the same concept as when you’re washing a car, so wipe in a direction where the small scratches that inevitably do occur won’t be noticeable (this is usually parallel with the existing scratches).

Step 2.
Thoroughly rinse the cloth of debris and give a good squeeze to return to damp status. Rub the rag in saddle soap and apply a thin film to the leather uppers. The saddle soap is a translucent whitish color, you want to put on enough to let the leather soak up some of the soap, but not so much as to have clumps of the translucent soap visible. It won’t hurt if you over do it, but it’s wasteful. Let it soak in for a few minutes and wipe off any excess along with this second round of surface debris.

Step 3.
Apply more saddle soap as needed and buff it into the shoe. This is also the time to scrub away any serious build up of dirt or dye. I’d worn a new pair of dark blue chinos, which deposited dye onto the leather, but with a bit of scrubbing it was possible to remove the blue from the shoe.

Step 4.
With your shoe clean and lightly oiled from the saddle soap, it’s time to add the lotion that will condition and penetrate into the leather to maintain the leather’s flexibility and prevent water from being able to soak into the leather. Do this with a clean, dry, cotton cloth. Lightly buff the shoe to a dull sheen, aware that the color will be darker than it was originally.