Topo Athletic - Terraventure 2

Have you tried topo athletic? It sounds like you're describing the terraventure, which I love for the reasons you described

Hi, I sell shoes at a local gear shop close to the PCT. You need to give me more information about your feet, your size and width. Chances are your shoes are too small. I personally hiked with the Topo Terraventure and love them, and I’ve also hiked over 1000 miles on the Ultraventure. Mainly I like their durability compared to Altra and HOKA. But again, it’s whatever shoe works for your foot and you’ve given zero info on that.

I’ve gotten 500+ miles on several Topo models, though I hear Norda 001 last even longer.

Topos have definitely been more durable in my experience, but they do try to split the difference between a true foot shaped toe box and a traditional pointed toe box, and that can be a bit uncomfortable compared to a true foot shaped shoe. I do still find them more comfortable than traditional trail runners though. They also have better tread than altras imo, especially for mud and loose dirt or dusty ground

Have you looked at the Topo lineup of shoes? Same wide toe box, same 0mm drop options. I have a bunch of them. Some zero drop, some 3 and 5mm drops. The only thing I don't like about Topos is that I hate ortho-lite insoles so I swap in super feet insoles instead. But that is probably an issue in most trail shoes since they try to go lightweight.

Topo does the wide toe box. My Ultraventures have a 5mm drop, Terraventures have a 3mm drop and there is also the mtnracer model as well (haven't tried that one yet).

They are very comfortable and roomy for me with good lugs. They feel a little weird walking on pavement so mud, gravel, rocks, roots, and sand are all good but pavement is a no unless you enjoy suctioning to the pavement. If you need them to do pavement as well, look at the Terraventures which are bomb proof in durability as well. I think my husband has about 800 miles on his Terraventures with the outsole still intact. I have a lot less on mine but it should be well over 300 miles on mine and still waterproof. Terraventures come in waterproof and non-waterproof, fyi. The Ultraventure is a lot cushier than the Terraventure but both do a good job of protecting your foot from the rocks and roots. I can not speak to durability on the Ultraventures yet as I have only put 100 miles on them but so far they are still looking like new other than the inside heel. As to the inside heal, I have to use stickers in all my shoes as my heels always rub through all shoes there so that doesn't count against them in my book (Haglunds deformation is obnoxious but the stickers are a cheap fix).

I just got back from a 150 mile hike in the Terraventures and thought I'd report back. First couple of days same old toepo rub. I decided to remove the insoles that came with the shoe and the toe rub vanished instantly. They became the perfect shoe. My understanding is that the problem is caused by one of two things. The topo has an aggressive toe spring design - this upward curve lifts the big toe. Secondly, while they are wide, the toe box may lack sufficient height - combine this with the toe spring, and voila, toe rub. Removing the insole gave me the extra few mm I needed.

My friend, it was truly excruciating on the trail - I'm so glad someone else has experienced it! Both the MTN Racer and the Terraventure gave me grief. I managed to solve it on The West Highland Way with the toe caps. I've ordered the GOATs half a size up. Did you go wide or standard?

Topo Terraventures and Mtn Racers are also great trail shoes with a wide toe box. Low drop but not zero drop, so an easier transition from Brooks. And Topos last way longer than Altras in my experience. Was only getting 400 miles on Altras and I get close to 600 miles on Topos.

Timps are high cushion. I know it sounds counterintuitive but for many people, it helps to use a less cushioned shoe in order to strengthen the foot. For trail I typically run in Topo Terraventures (wide toe box, low drop, low cushion) and after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine. It might take some getting used to, but it’s worth it!

I recently did a 100k that had a lot of this type of terrain. I was not used to it and it caused a lot of hip pain (I think from all the stabilizing I had to do). My feet were fine and looked like nothing had happened to them the next day. Zero blisters. I swear by Trail Toes foot lube and XO Skin toe socks. Shoes are really personal but for me Topo Terraventures are the best. They actually don’t have a ton of cushion which I think makes my feet stronger. I also do foot strengthening exercises as part of my routine.

These are my go-to. They last me about 575 miles on average.

Really? I’ve worn Topo Terraventures during many ultras at this point, including a few that were very technical. They perform very well! What’s different about the Xodus for you?

Came here to say this! Don’t be scared about the drop, such worries are not nearly as important on the trails, especially with such a significant elevation profile. A larger drop will not even factor in at all for some of those ascents/descents, in terms of foot placement… The Terraventure would be my absolute top pick for anything technical and steep like you are describing. They work great on buffed out single track too. Rock plate on the forefoot, slightly lower than average cushioning, yet stable enough to feel super confident charging downhill. They also have a natural footbed with a narrower mid foot than Altra, which means your foot gets to splay naturally while still being able to get that lockdown feel that you sometimes just can’t get with Altra. Seriously, do not let the drop deter you here. You would be completely shunning some remarkably capable beasts for the exact terrain you describe.

How long are your Traverse lasting? I've had multiple pairs of Terraventures and they consistently last me 700 or more miles.

I really LOVE my Topo Athletic hiking shoes, I believe mine are called the Terraventure. I prefer trail runners over boots because I like hiking shoes that are light and a little more flexible. My Topo shoes have a wider toe box than most other brands which makes them super comparable for me and they've held up great over the past 2 years of heavy use. The outsole has super grip on sheer rock and in wet conditions, and I find them comfortable for long hikes (long for me is 8-10 miles).

In the Topo lineup the Pursuit is not the tough burly shoe. It has a very open airy mesh upper. The Terraventure has a tighter tougher mesh.

Yes the Pursuit is zero drop. The Terraventure is a 3 mm drop.