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Reddit Reviews
I'm on my 7th pair of Terraventures and they consistently last me 700 miles and I generally retire them due to a hole in the side. I don't think I've ever experienced more than an inch tear though. To be honest I don't take anyone who refers to things as bombproof seriously.
I had 5 pairs of the 3s and then 2 pairs of the 4s. I just get the current model, but I went through 4 pairs on the PCT and Topo hasn't been updating them yearly.
How long are your Traverse lasting? I've had multiple pairs of Terraventures and they consistently last me 700 or more miles.
This is my experience with Topo as well. I have tried the Terraventure 3, Ultraventure 4, and MTN Racer 2. The Terraventure held up the best but are a very low cushion shoe compared to the others. But the others both fell apart too quickly.
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.
Terraventures have better grip and stability. They are less cushy but have a rock plate so it balances out, unless you need the extra cushion.
Topo Terraventures. But I’d avoid the WP version unless you’re running in snow.
In general, not specific to that shoe. As the other commenter said, they fill with water and don’t drain. They also make your feet hot. I only use them in snow since the warmth is a bonus at that point and snow melt will freeze your feet.
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
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).
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 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.
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?
I’m definitely a person who passes people on the descents, so hopefully I can help! Some ideas: 1. Are your shoes wide enough in the toe box? And do they have a rock plate? Also maybe you need to go a half size up? 2. What socks are you wearing? Toe socks might help. 3. On downhills, I usually push my hips forward slightly, and think about having quick feet that are sort of prancing over technical terrain. If my feet are quick enough I can stumble with one foot and easily catch myself with the other one, basically preventing the stumble.
Nikes are way too narrow for me. If you’re getting blisters on downhills, I might consider trying on a shoe that’s wider in the toe box. I personally love Topo Terraventures, but other options would be Altra Lone Peaks, Topo Ultraventures, and Topo Mtn Racers. You might not like them, but it could be worth a shot!
I have put 500+ miles on Topo Vistas, Topo Mtn Racers, and Topo Terraventures without running into that issue whatsoever
Weird! I have flat feet and Topos don’t bother me at all. I’ve definitely experienced that high arch feeling in other shoes, but never Topos (and I have 6 different models of them!)
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