Topo Athletic - Terraventure 4 WP

I am about the same size as you and wore the same Salomons for years — bought several pairs in a row. Now I am fully converted to a cushiony trail runner and wear Topos for most hikes, except where there’s likely to be mud, snow, wet or off-trail walking, in which case I reach for my GTX boots.  My feet are much cooler and happier in cushioned trail runners. I’m about the same size as you and can carry a similar load in trail runners no problem. In fact, the cushiony soles save me from the metatarsal joint inflammation I sometimes got when carrying a full pack in Salomons.  For the best of both worlds, you can also get something that looks more like a boot and has waterproofing with cushiony soles — I have the Topo Trailventure and Salomon Elixir. Both look a little like clown shoes but the ride is so squishy and nice!

All you need is one pair of trail runners. People get way too caught up in the consumer/marketing mentality and it’s all mostly bullshit or at least only minimally worth it. If you are a marathon runner or hiking technical mountaineering trails, maybe get separate shoes for both. But you certainly don’t need 4 pairs of shoes for walking, hiking, running and trail running. I have a pair of topo terradventures that are goretex. I use them for running on pavement & trail, hiking, walking through the airport, mushroom hunting in the woods, comfy work shoes, the casual bike ride… Ive even climbed peaks with them. Just get something that fits your foot and has good grip. Waterproof is an added bonus for me.

Topo Terraventure 4

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.

TV4 isn't quite as good as TV3, but still way better than comparable options I've tried. TV4 does have a bit more upper protection and drainage in the back.

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

Same. On my 3rd pair of Terraventure 4s right now. Each pair lasted for 550+ miles (885kms) and they’ve been great for me in all conditions. Snow, mud, technical trails in the forest and the desert. They are the best

I have low arches and haven’t had any issues with Topo Terraventures or Mtn Racers. Haven’t tried the Ultraventures since I don’t need a stability shoe.

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.

I switched to zero drop less so because of the drop but more so because of how much room the toe boxes usually have on such shoes. My feet can actually do the work they are supposed to and splay the way they are meant to. I added them to the rotation about a year ago and now I run almost exclusively in them. And when I don’t, the models I use tend to be on the wider side. At this point it really annoys me how so many of the top brands still shape their toe boxes like they do. The vast majority of people’s feet are not shaped like cones. It is also annoying how brands I otherwise used to love haven’t at least tried to make a naturally-shaped toe box, even just to compete with Altra and others. I really love so much of what saucony is doing but their toe boxes just seem to get thinner and thinner and I really can’t get my head around why. For the record, the shoes I have that are zero or very low drop are: - Altra Timp 5 (did a 50k recently in these) - Altra Lone Peak 7 (lower energy return but comfy as hell) - Topo Terraventure (3mm drop, solid energy return, wicked on technical terrain) - Altra Escalante 3 (these are just everyday shoes I find comfy, I don’t run in them much but they do that job fine too, just not anything special ride-wise

Both those shoes are much higher stack and I would not recommend either for technical terrain. MTN Racer 3 *could* be a good option if you can get a good midfoot lockdown, but it lacks in that department in my opinion. But its stack is still fairly high, and you lose a ton of ground feel vs Terraventure. Not sure about the new 4 version. Vista’s stack is much too high to ever be considered suitable for technical terrain. I know of the terrain you are referring to in the NE and I would not recommend either for it, personally.

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

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.

Topo athletic, great toe box too. Unfortunately their website sucks so it’s hard to filter the features you want (e.g. a rock plate). I have the ultraventure 4 pros and the terraventure 4’s, both awesome for the mountains where I live.

I actually wear topo athletic terra ventures as my regular shoes around town here in Calgary. When I was away for a few years I had the same issue and thus wore my topo ultra ventures on the plane. They were so comfortable for travelling they became my go to travel shoes and hiking shoes. So now I run two sets at a time, one gtx for shoulder season and one non gtx for my regular backpacking.

I just bought the Topo Terraventure 4 and love them Wide toe box, Vibram outsole, all around superb Before them I was using Topo Ultraventure 2 and they were also fantastic (also Vibram outsoles and wide toe box)

Got some new topo terraventure 4 shoes. Got my first run in this morning just over two miles on pavement, just over two miles on trails. Trails are wooded/brushy hilly and a bjt rocky in places on my property. Really like them so far weren’t bad on pavement and were great for me on the trail. Have used new balance in the past a fair bit as I try to buy usa made stuff. Want to try a pair of Carson’s would like to the get the standard issues ones. Wish they made half sizes 8.5 usually fits me best. Have also used brooks, and Asics too. Not a big fan of the newer 990’s trying to transition to zero drop shoes. Before the topos I tried some Merrill Moab flights I got on clearance. The felt good trying them on but rubbed my arches wrong while running. Toughed it out with them since I already bought them and took them with me on a deployment for pt shoes. Anyways sorry for the ramble pics of the trail area and terraventures. https://preview.redd.it/fm6l8swb9h9f1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=67cca5826cf6123d7232e21677801b1a37c1cc75

Topo terraventure 4 and that BD distance 8 vest been on all my hikes and runs.

Yeah same on the terraventure here. I think I'm on my 6th pair? 4 is even more durable than the 3. I can scramble and solo in them as well as hike and run. I'm not one to usually get all stoked up about a shoe but this one got me.

Terraventure is bombproof I wore out the upper before the tread wore slick. I've gone through 5 pairs in the last 4 years. And I do a lot of 4th and low 5th class scrambling in them in addition to long runs. I will always chime in to confirm when someone mentions the Terraventure here.

I had the exact same problem with my Lone Peaks, big hole appeared after about 270 miles. Switched to Topo Athletic Terraventure 4. There is noticeable wear on the tread after 250 miles (mostly on trail but with a bit of tarmac which won't have helped), but the upper is surviving. I've got the waterproof and normal versions. Waterproof version doesn't fit great around my heel for some reason so I mostly use it for hiking.

I just got a pair of these and took them out this morning. Compared to the Salomon Sense Ride 5, the toe box is much roomier, but I felt less agile in them. Guess I got to break them in more.

They’re not, imo. I ran out of my stock of 3’s on the AT last year. However, the 4’s are working fine for me.

Topos. Absolutely wonderful shoes. Altra is my second brand I go to but Topo quality is better IMO.

I have both of these shoes and switch back and forth. Completed a 50K with my Ultraventures and had zero blisters or issues. Great shoes that will last many, many miles.

Topo Terraventures are awesome. My go to shoe.

Have you considered the Topo Terraventure? It reminds me of my Lone Peaks but feels more stable with better traction.

Yep. Also have a very wide forefoot but a narrow heel. Topos fit great. They're low drop but not zero drop, not hard to get used to especially for trail.

Topo Terraventure. Huge toebox, great sole, just enough cushion. Great for trail running, hiking, travel.

Daily trainers/hiking: Topo Terraventure 4 Topo Terraventure 3 Racer: Saucony Peregrine (2020) Rough terrain: Salomon XA Pro 3D Road trainer: Topo Phantom 3 Road racer: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

I love Topos (I have \~ 5 pairs) including a pair of Phantoms for road training, but FWIW I don't use them as my road race shoes. I have a pair of Saucony Endorphin Speeds for that, the carbon plate makes them feel faster (dunno if they are, may be entirely psychological, but it's fun).

My Superiors and Lone Peaks would start to fall apart at 200 miles. The outsole was ok, but the uppers get shredded. I see mixed reviews on Topo. The most durable of theirs I’ve found is the Terraventure 4. It’s low stack and uses traditional EVA instead of their Zipfoam proprietary midsole blend. Zipfoam feels soft but wears strangely as if the foam directly underfoot compacts a lot after a couple hundred miles, but the foam in front of your toes doesn’t compress creating this sort of steep slope directly in front of toes that almost make the shoes feel too small. The EVA in the Terraventures has worn consistently without these symptoms. I just wish they sold that model in a wide. Nothing has matched the width of the Altra Superior 3 and 3.5. Even the latest superiors have been slimmed down and are lower volume.

>*seems the market forces divergence to one or the other.* Understood and agreed: Running companies generally don’t want to be known for “hiking shoes,” and vice versa (though to a lesser extent). I used to love the Salomon Ultra X 3s. The 4s shifted more toward the hiking shoe side of things. I tried them and found them mediocre. Not terrible, just… *“meh.”* *EDIT - Looks like Ultra X 5s came out. In GTX only! Jeeezus...* [*https://www.salomon.com/en-us/c/shoes/icons/x-ultra*](https://www.salomon.com/en-us/c/shoes/icons/x-ultra) Of course, the benchmark for the type of shoe you’re talking about was the classic Montrail Hardrock. Many people swore by that “heavier running shoe,” but it got discontinued shortly after Columbia bought the brand. Now it’s just a fond memory for many. Behind a paywall, but the opening paragraph tells the tale: [https://backpackinglight.com/montrail\_hardrock\_trail\_shoe\_spotlite\_review/](https://backpackinglight.com/montrail_hardrock_trail_shoe_spotlite_review/) > >***Designed for the grueling Hardrock 100 endurance race – and that’s no exaggeration!*** >*"Montrail makes a number of lightweight trail running shoes that are well suited for ultralight backpacking, and one of the most popular is the Hardrock. For good reason. They come in the classical “Montrail fit” (wide toe box, snug heel cup), as well as a wide version (EE width). I tested the wide version. The Hardrock may not be the absolute lightest trail shoe out there, but it’s an excellent balance of light weight, fit, comfort, support, and durability.* The market for this niche type of shoe is small, and that doesn’t help. FWIW, once my Salomon X 3 stash dried up, I’ve been using the Topo Terraventure 4s and have liked them. Still… I miss the Hardrocks.

Topo runner here, I think it depends on the model - I use the terraventure for trail and only managed like 150 miles before the uppers went on the 3s, but on the 4s I’ve got about 650 and they still feel great.

Hope this is the proper place to post this review(and minor question). Be great if anyone else with experiences of Topo Athletic shoes(particularly road models) could mention how fit/sizing was for them. # TLDR Topo Athletic sizing consistent among trail runners(for fitting length/width), nuances in actual width along entire shoe. Road shoe sizing seems a bit narrower(ST-5 SIZE UP), and drastically different from trail runners. Trail runners using Vibram Megagrip outsoles have fanastic grip/traction. Uppers/midsoles/outsole pretty good overall. **Does anyone have Topo Athletic Magnifly 5/Fly-Lyte 5(or previous versions), should I size up half a size? And people who own ST-5, did any of you size up half or full size?** # INTRO Currently I own several models of Topo Athletic trail runners and road shoes. What I have(**THIS IS ALSO IN ORDER OF WIDEST FIT TO NARROWEST**) : 1. MTN Racer 3 (TRAIL) 2. Terraventure 4 (TRAIL) 3. Traverse(Wide size) (TRAIL) 4. Cyclone (ROAD) 5. ST-5 (ROAD) I came from running in mainly Saucony, Hoka, Salomon. I eventually moved towards lower drop and wide shoes such as Altra and some other brands. I found Topo Athletic as a solution for running shoes that offer some lower/mid cushioned models with low drop(0mm, 3mm, 5mm). My main goal is finding wide toebox shoes. Perferably firmer cushion with a lower stack. Drop doesn't matter as much, but preferably zero to low. # SIZING I sized US 12 Men's for all models. Traverse I got in a wide version as reviews said they run narrow. # USE/MILAGE I have used the MTN Racer 3 for over 320km+ of running/hiking, Cyclone for 100km+ of running, Terraventure 4(Trail/Hike) for 36km trail runing, and Traverse(Trail/hike) and ST-5(Daily/Run) for less than 10km each at this time. Most of my shoes I run distances of \~1km-26km, majority of runs between 2km - 10km. # FIT Amongst all shoes, volume was good. Would say it is average volume, and my foot has a low-medium instep and low arch. Compared to something like a Lone Peak 9(tested fit in store), they have more volume in the toebox. TRAIL : Between the three trail runners, there is a noticeable difference in fit. Mainly with the heel lockdown. I would recommend staying true to size, sizing up half size may be viable if you have wide heel, otherwise you risk improving toebox/midfoot and/or width/length but having heel lift. All trail runners have basically same length internally, and it is plenty(0.5-1cm extra TTS). * **MTN Racer 3** * Widest Toebox, Slightly narrower midfoot, and narrow heel. * Very secure fit, no issues with pressure. * Inner heel fabric tore, perhaps due to my own wear. Repaired with Tenacious Tape. * **Terraventure 4** * Wide Toebox, narrower midfoot, wide heel. * Heel lift would occur even with thick socks and lock lacing techniques. * Harder to find good lacing that doesn't pinch my instep but also doesn't have heel lift. * **Traverse** * Wide Toebox(Narrowest out of all trail shoes), in a wide size. Slightly narrower midfoot, slightly narrower heel. * Width is approximately same/slighly narrower than normal width Terraventure 4. **ROAD :** Road shoes seem to be really different in fit. Problem is that most stores do not carry the models I want to try on(if any), and there is limited reviews for me to properly gauge which size I should order. * Cyclone * Wide toebox, slightly narrower midfoot, slightly narrower heel. * Width is between MTN Racer 3 and Terraventure 4, probably closer to latter. * ST-5 * Narrow toebox, same width midfoot, slightly narrower heel. * Fit would probably be same as trail shoes if sized up half or full size. * Significantly shorter internal length/width, at size 12 the inside of toebox has slight taper which bothers my big toe. # UPPERS **TRAIL :** All uppers are practically the same. Very nice flexible mesh that is tight and kind of breathable. I haven't tested the drainage/drying of Traverse and Terraventure. But the MTN Racer 3 faired well in drying/drainage during a long run I did where my feet got soaked several times. Traverse does come with a water resistant/quick drying insole, but I have to see how that compares to the normal insole later on. Tounges on MTN Racer 3 and Terraventure 4 are nice and padded. Traverse is also padded but a bit shorter. All pretty comfortable. **ROAD :** Cyclone had a very breathable yet tight upper with not much stretch, but due to its shape and sizing it doesn't cause discomfort. Heel is not padded and thin, but has a more grippy material. ST-5 Upper is nice, not as breathable but stretchier on the main part. Has a stiffer mesh on the lower upper around the toebox. Cyclone tounge thin, but comfortable. ST-5 is lightly padded tounge and comfortable. # MIDSOLE **TRAIL :** All midsoles are pretty similar, moderate firmness. MTN Racer 3 was pretty good responsiveness for a shoe that is 28/33 stack and no rock plate. When moving to Terraventure, it has a rock plate and 22/25 stack. It is a bit more rigid but still pretty nice for running. Traverse is 25/30 stack and has a rock plate as well, but also includes stability features which make it noticeably more rigid than the MTN Racer 3 and Terraventure 4. I'd keep the Traverse mainly for hiking use, rather than trail running. **ROAD :** The Cyclone midsole(23/28) is pretty firm, which I like and find it very responsive. For the short time I have used the ST-5(14/14) I find the midsole is firm, but not as firm as the Cyclone. Both I would probably reserve more for short/faster runs, but the Cyclone I would use for racing(as I only have those two Topos in my road shoe rotation right now). I have used the Cyclone for a half marathon and it was great. # OUTSOLE **TRAIL :** All outsoles for these trail runners are the same. Same tread and same vibram megagrip. Super stuff, really good traction and grip on dirt, snow, rocks, asphalt. I am bit more confident on wet rock, but still cautious. I aimed to get only trail runners with the vibram megagrip as it seems pretty reliable in reviews compared to the Vibram XS Trek EVO offered on some less aggressive trail runners. Additionally as I have worn the MTN Racer 3 for over 320km, It barely has worn down on the lugs and still provides more or less the same amount of grip from the rubber. **ROAD :** Cyclone and ST-5 both have decent outsoles that grip pretty well on the road. I have ran in dry/wet/snowy conditions and I didn't have any issues with grip. For 100km it seems the Cyclone is barely worn and seem promising for many more hundreds of kilometers. # WEIGHT **TRAIL :** All shoes are pretty decent weight all in the 300-400g range. Terraventure 4 and Traverse are only slightly heavier but feel a bit more bottom heavy probably with the added rock plate. **ROAD :** Cyclone is pretty light, ST-5 is super light. Weight of one shoe(left) : * MTN Racer 3 : \~327g * Terraventure 4 : \~335g * Traverse : \~350g * Cyclone : \~262g * ST-5 : \~221g [MTN Racer 3, Terraventure 4, Traverse, Cyclone, ST-5](https://preview.redd.it/26l8aqnx7sfe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57b8a22069934c89ca4c0f5f52073886442d3216) [Wear of outsole on MTN Racer 3\(\~320km\) VS Outsole on Traverse\(\~4km\)](https://preview.redd.it/346dvpnx7sfe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d252501be8ffae05a5a19c8b9f9bd42e41769120) [ST-5, Cyclone, MTN Racer 3, Terraventure 4, Traverse](https://preview.redd.it/opo50qnx7sfe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0049df1fda4503cc5d04be3a919832112de6e95c)

I found the Terraventure 4 to have a wider heel(compared to MTN Racer 3 and Traverse) and substantially tighter midfoot, unless that is just a consequence of my attempts to mitigate heel lift by tying it tighter at the top lace. Traverse was more even in width throughout the shoe but narrower in toebox than both MTN Racer and Terraventure 4(those are normal width and my Traverse is wide width). I'd honestly say that whichever is better fitting/comfortable will be better to keep. Either will be a great hiking shoe. Beyond fit, only difference would be Traverse has the better insole(drying/water resistance), more rigid(from stability stuff), and has more cushion and 2mm higher offset. Those features maybe better/worse depending on your needs/preferences.

For me, the midfoot is definitely more snug in Topos than Altras, but not necessarily a problem if it doesn't put pressure on your feet when swollen. In only the Terraventure 4, the midfoot was so tight in regular lacing that I had to stop running after a few miles due to intense pressure. Even with around 65km of running, I still finding myself stop halfway into a run to do a major relace, unlike the MTN Racer 3 which I could do much longer runs with having to stop at all. I relaced the left foot of the Terraventure 4 to have the middle section of lacing go straight up instead of across to relieve the pressure.

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

I used to use New Balance 4E Hierro which fit well, but I was really disappointed in their grip. I was sliding all over the place on anything remotely slick which isn't really good for a trail runner. I switched to the Topo Pursuit shoes and they are wide, comfortable, and very grippy. The Terraventure get great reviews but they were substantially narrower. They were similar in width as the Hoka Speedgoat so wouldn't work for me. Altra had wide shoes at some point, but they progressively narrowed them to the point that I could no longer fit into the Lone Peaks. Supposedly, they are making them wider again and migrating to a Vibram sole which hopefully will be a vast improvement with their shoddy proprietary sole. Their quality control in generally has been poor. Brooks were always too narrow. I could never fit into the Cascadia.

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 absolutely love my pair of Brooks Ghost for running in town and even just daily wear sneakers, but the Cascadia just had a weird fit that wasn’t right for me. Off-road, I wear Nike Pegasus Trail GTX or Topo Terraventure.

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?

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.

I find the higher the stack leads to more rolling ankles. Shoes that have not worked for me: Brooks Cascadia, New Balance Hierro Shoes that have worked for me: La Sportiva Bushido, Topo Terraventure. Also would like to find a more cushioned shoe but they have been directly correlated to rolled ankles for me and I'm sick of spending money on shoes for now. I'll see how far I can go in the Bushidos, I did a 50 miler in them and it was good, although I was definitely hurting at the end!! The more you do the more you adapt though!

I'm really prone to rolling my ankle. I like Topo Terraventures for their low height, excellent grip, and great hard rock performance - they definitely reduced ankle sprains for me. That said, they don't have a ton of cushioning. Almost by definition, a lot of cushion means a higher stack height which means a tippier shoe..

I wore alta lone peaks for years and switched to topo terraventures recently, I like them more than the altras. Altra is a 0mm drop while the topo terra have a 3mm drop. I feel like the topos are generally better built.

True but most running shoes have an 8-12mm drop. Everyone just goes from that to 0mm which probably is a bit aggressive of a change. I found the 3mm drop to be better for my tendinitis and my gait in general.

It is worthwhile traveling to a large store to try them on. Nothing beats seeing and wearing them. I like the Lone Peaks more than Terraventures. LPs fit my wide feet better, and are more comfortable when not walking. I appreciate the rock plates on the rocky/root-covered trails in the NorthEastern US. It is true that LPs dry quicker than many other shoes, due to materials throughout (including the insoles). Overall success. Next time I may try the Altra Olympus or Brooks Cascadia, both of which have thicker soles. So far, I have not needed them. In the end, footwear is so specific to YOUR feet that other people's recommendations are only starting points. You'll have to figure out what works for YOU. Sadly, that probably requires trying several different shoes over a period of time.

Brooks Cascadia and Topo Terraventure.

I'm only on my 2nd pair of terraventures, but I also got 700 miles on the first pair. Had no issues with the upper the entire time.

Topo terraventure

I love my topos. Altras are nice but I found they didn’t have as much room as I needed to accommodate arch support.

+2 for Topos. I have the Terraventure. Usually need to look for wide sizes, but their regular fit is the most comfortable toe box I’ve experienced of any shoe in my life. Have not tried Altras.

Yes, Speedgoat is a perfect example of this to me (still a fine shoe). Compared to say a Topo Terraventure MUCH less stable especially at speed.

Topo is your answer. Norda also great buy spendy

I like Topos, esp Terraventure and Pursuit. Low or zero drop. Otherwise, NB or Under Armour, neither of whose trail shoes have good specs to my eyes

Check out Topo Athletic Terraventure. Very durable upper, Vibram trail running outsoles, rock plates. The stack isn't too high so you have stability, and Topo does a good job blending wide toe box with a narrower midfoot and heel.

It looks to me that the Pursuits use a different upper than the Terraventures, which I also have and like very much. I normally prefer zero drop, but passed over the Pursuits for this reason.

I have the Terraventures for reason of upper durability. If they put the Terraventure uppers on a Pursuit lower, I would buy that next time.

So mid stack / mid cushion lol. Altra Lone Peaks, Topo Terraventure, Inov8 Trailfly (or Trailfly Max, but that's possibly too high stack). These are all shoes I've liked which have enough cush and balance for long rocky runs but aren't stacked high.

Anyone else prefer zero drop due to ball of foot pain? I’ve have much less pain on this area switching to Zero drop. I have been trailing running in topo terraventure and roadrunning in Topo Magnifly

Topo has road and trail shoes with wide toe box, good cushioning, and 4mm drop.

Have you tried Topo Terraventure or Mtn racer? May not be as cushioned but could manage the terrain.

Eh I’ve pushed two pairs or speedgoats 1000+ miles so it depends on how much you care about comfort. One pair almost made it 1500. That being said I still think the Topo teraventure is the perfect trail shoes for me. I’ve made it 1000 comfortably with those

I'd say just whichever of Altra and Topo fit your feet better Topos fit me like a glove, Altras are the most awkward shoes I've ever worn for my foot shape

I love my last (3) pairs of Terraventures, but really wish they would improve their shoe color choices 

I was really excited for this one, but the shape was too narrow/tapered for my feet, even in the wide version. I figured I'd give them a go nonetheless, but I ran into the same issue with other Topos (Terraventure, Mtn Racer) where the part at the base of the laces digs sharply into the top of my foot/toes, even when fully untied. Ultraventure 4s in wide are the only shoes on the market I've found so far that fit my wide mid-forefoot/high volume feet, but unfortunately the Vista was pretty much dissimilar in every way in my experience. Still on the lookout for a shoe with the mid-forefoot fit of the Ultraventure but with a bit more aggressive outsole.

I hike in trail runners. I love my Topo TerraVentures and Altra LonePeaks.

I can also vouch for terraventure or any of Topo's shoes.

It’s nice they offer the Mtn Racer 4 in wide. The 3 wasn’t available in wide. Unfortunately, it’s still too narrow for me. Same with the Terraventure. The Ultraventure in wide fits me, quite similar to the wide Lone Peak, but I don’t think it has enough grip. I really wish Altra offered a Lone Peak with a 30 mm stack height for a little more cushion on rocky terrain (and had it available in wide). But that’s probably an uber niche market.

Topo Mtn Racer would be at the top of my list. Terraventure was a little stiff and hard for me, but might be up your alley.

Another for Topa. I got the Terraventures recently as I wanted a wider toebox than my Hoka Mafates. Toebox is now great, but the rest of the Topo fit js a bit too wide for me 😅

Another for Topa. I got the Terraventures recently as I wanted a wider toebox than my Hoka Mafates. Toebox is now great, but the rest of the Topo fit js a bit too wide for me 😅

Topo pursuit for zero drop, I love a lot of the other ones tho. Like mtn racer or terraventure 

**Absolutely!** I’ve got wide/voluminous feet too and know the struggle. A few trail shoes that have worked really well for me (or others in the same boat): * **Altra Lone Peak** – Foot-shaped toe box, zero drop, super roomy. Great for comfort and natural splay. * **Topo Athletic Ultraventure or Terraventure** – Similar to Altra with a wide fit, but with a slight drop and more structure. * **HOKA Speedgoat (Wide version)** – Surprisingly comfy once broken in. The wide version gives more volume than you’d expect from HOKA. * **New Balance Hierro v7 (2E width)** – Cushioned, roomy, and solid grip for trails. * **Brooks Cascadia (Wide)** – Good all-rounder with trail stability and comes in wide sizes. Make sure to try them on if you can—volume fit can vary a lot even among “wide” shoes. Good luck out there! 👟🌲

Altra LP, Saucony Perigrine, Topo MT or Terraventures, Brooks Cascadia, and the list goes on. I am biased for Altra Lone Peaks for its ultimate comfort. The Olympus are a bit chunky for trails in my opinion but it is up to you to try them on and decide. Altra LP are comfortable out of the box. The outsole is durable and work well for most conditions. If you run on wet trails, find a shoe with Vibram outsole (Olympus for Altra). IMO, on trails the lower the drop the better. The zero drop is very unnoticeable. Most moderate and harder trails are constantly changing under foot, having a drop of greater than 4mm for me is detrimental for stability. If you are running easy trails or gravel paths a regular road shoe will be fine. The advantages of a trail shoe are foot protection, water drainage and grip. Otherwise a pair of road shoe can handle flat paths of gravel or packed dirt just fine. Go to a specialty store and try try, try. Remember sales associates can give good advice......but they can also be misinformed or biased. They can recommend but you need to make the decision based on your preferences.

Altra Superior is great but suffers from the same issues that many Altra shoes do, the outsole doesn't have amazing traction and the uppers can wear prematurely for a lot of people. I like the topo Terraventure as well for more technical and rocky runs, the traction is great and the rock plate helps with rocky terrain, at the cost of some ground feel. I use both of these shoes in my rotation.

What kind of terrain? Ultimately, the trails you're looking to run will really dictate the features you need beyond cushioning, density and fit. I'm mostly a fan of Topo due to the roomy toe boxes, lower drops (0-5mm), and nice variety of moderate to highly cushioned shoes for both trail and road. The trail shoes have a really nice gaiter system and most have Vibram outsoles. Some have forefoot rock plates and other don't. They sit in the $130 to $150 USD range in terms of pricing. If you want a lot of cushion and aren't on too technical of trails, the Topo Ultraventure is a great option. It's a high cushion, plush 5mm drop trail shoe with Vibram outsoles. It does not have a forefoot rock plate so it's best for more medium terrain, but is incredibly comfortable over longer distances. It works great from trail to road and on trails that are mostly dirt, but may not be the best for environments with a lot of rocks and roots. For more technical trails I really like the Topo Terraventure. It's a moderate cushion, balanced 5mm drop trail shoe with a forefoot rock plate and fairly aggressive Vibram outsole great for technical terrain. It comes in a standard and a weatherproof version. They are quite durable. I know a few trail runners who have put over 600 miles on them and they still had quite noticeable tread. I find them comfortable, but I'm not an ultra runner and haven't worn them over really long distances. Both shoes are in the drop range you're looking for and have wide to boxes with the option for Topo's performance gaiters. They're worth checking out. Good luck!

I think I have a similar foot to you - front is wide due to bunions but the rest of my foot is regular width. I absolutely love my Topos - I discovered them last year and am currently on my second pair of the Ultraventures (my pick for easy/mild trails) and first pair of Terraventures (good for muddy/rooty/technical trails). I still use some of my other shoes but the Topos quickly became the ones that I always reach for. I think the mtn racer is supposed to be a good all rounder - I found it wasn’t quite wide enough in the toe box for me, but I think they might be bringing out/have brought out a wide version.

I’ve also found some of the Salomons to be too narrow… absolutely LOVE the Topos though! I like the Ultraventures for being more cushioned or the Terraventures for more technical runs. Edit to add: I also have a few pairs of On shoes and like them, but definitely only marginally wider than Salomon, and not as wide as Topo.

I was a fan of the Lone Peaks, but the durability is an issue. I'm also missing the weep holes in the "nose" of the toe box. I've moved over to Topo Athletic Terraventures. Minimal drop at 3mm. Wide toe box. Stiffer than Lone Peaks, with a much longer life span. Both shoes work for my feet.

I just go the non-waterproof trail runner route. I really appreciated the Altra Lone Peak 4, 4.5, and 5 because they shedded the water with every step. Coupled with merino wool socks, on a warm day, I could wade across a river and within about 30 minutes have mostly dry feet. I'm not sure if the 7's on are as good. I have moved over to Topo Athletic Terraventures for their durability, but they do not dry quite as fast.

Hiked the AT in topo athletics. Altra and hokas are also very popular/common.

I have wide feet and went from Hoka to Topo because the Hokas were narrow and with the extra cushion I rolled my ankle occasionally. About 300 miles on the Topos and so far so good. Holding up better than my Altras did (shoe before the Hoka). I do miss the cushion. I got some inserts for them to get some cushion and they changed where the heels rubs and I could starts feeling a hot spot inside the first ten miles. Sinai took them out and just live with the reduced cushion. And that has been OK. I’ve kind of tuned out my feet hurting after like ten or so. I was talking to a guy once and said that your feet stop hurting. I decided after that is not entirely true. I think it is you just stop caring that your feet hurt…

I’ve switched almost entirely to trail runners including on a lot,of rugged terrain. I did find that when I was using Hokas that I had an increased tendency to roll my ankle after about ten miles. I like the padding, but have found lower drop shoes to be better for this. Altras are good, but I destroy them in about 300 miles. Trying Topos right now. Not as padded, but low drop with a wide toe box and they seem to be holding up better.

Trail runner will be fine. I was talking to a guy recently that said the AT requires real boots. But even by his argument, trail runners will be fine. The thing with trail runners is when you are tired, it is easier to roll your ankle. I have only found this to be a concern when I was using Hoka. Altras and Topos have less to zero drop and they don’t have this occur for me. Though Altras kind of suck for durability (expect 300 miles unless they fixed things). And Topos have less padding and are not as comfortable.

Topo is the correct answer. Go with Altras if you dont mind your achilles blowing up

Durability aside, try on both shoes. If you’re not thru-hiking then durability doesn’t matter much. Yeah, it’ll be annoying if they give out sooner than you expected, but the comfort can be worth the money. For me, Altras are the most comfortable by far. I wanted to switch to Topos due to the rave reviews and the vibram sole, but I had to immediately return them due to their pronounced arch support. My feet hated them and my altra trail runners and road shoes are the most comfortable shoes for my feet I’ve ever worn. I was late to the game so I’m sure I missed out on the glory days, but until another company comes out with a wide toe box and no arch support trail runner it’s altra all the way for me.

Like u/Responsible-Walrus-5 said, fit is the most important thing. That being said I used to hike with Altras, but on my first thru hike a friend and I both bought pairs of Altra LPs in a trail town, and in about a week both our pairs of shoes fell apart, and we weren't even hiking long days or in crazy terrain. Earlier models were much better (which is why I used them before that). If both fit you well, go with Topo, I switched to them a couple years ago and I've been very happy, but ultimately if they don't fit your foot, you're better off with Altras.

+1 for anything Topo. Wide toe box and zero drop. They’re my go to for road and trail now

I highly recommend Topo Trail runners. I have wide feet and they are fantastic. I use them for all of my running now, road and trail. My current pair is the Runventure 4's and theyre fantastic. vibram sole and lightweight. roomy toe box. They are definitely worth checking out

I love Topo trail runners. Every person has a different foot & will likely find comfort in different shoes, but the wide toe box concept was a life altering discovery for me. I think several companies make shoes with wide toe box, but I like the fact that Topo makes durable shoes with wide toe box that are not all zero drop. I know many that love Altra as well, but most of their shoes are zero drop. To each their own 🤷

+1 for Topos. I have wide feet and they are great

Non goretex trail runners Topo are my jam. Big wide toe box. Altra is my second choice

If you as me Altra is terrible. The quality over the years has went down the drain. Topo Athletic has now passed them as the most popular shoe for thru hikers.

Topo for sure. I made the move from New Balance to Topo and haven't looked back

One more YES for Lone Peak. Are you used to shoes with a bigger toe box? If so, they'll be great and you should be fine on rocky terrain. I find the Topo more smurf-like than the Lone Peaks. Too marshmallow-ey for my taste. I think the switch to 0 drop is minimal. I wouldn't over think it, but you'll know.

The ones that fit you. The problem with shoe/pack recommendations is that everyone's fit needs are different. By all means, try the Altras and the Topos! But I suggest trying as many shoes on as you can, preferably from a retailer with a great return policy so you can wear them around your house. Of course it's pretty well impossible to mimic the conditions of actual hiking while keeping the shoes returnable, especially for several days or weeks in a row. I personally have a really hard foot to fit. I have narrow, low volume feet and I tend to get some degree of heel slippage in pretty much any type of "athletic" shoe ( I always lace with a heel-lock). So I usually have to try on several pairs and am the most annoying person at the store. I personally find European brands like La Sportiva, Salomon, or Scarpa to be the safest bet - but I rarely ever see those brands recommended compared to Altra or Topo.

I went to Topo from Alta and I’m very happy.

I'll put another vote in for Topo

Topo Athletic. I’ve heard the Pursuits aren’t as durable but the models I’ve tried hold up really well to abuse.

New Balance Hierro comes as wide as 4E for men and 2E for women. Topo is also legit wide. I wear a women's D width and their wide shoes are TOO wide for me. That never happens with my hobbit feet 😂

Topos are slightly less disappointing in terms of durability. 

I’ve found the TOPO to be an amazing shoe. Also not under $100 but the HOKA Speedgoat has an amazing sole for Rocky terrain. I wish there were quality trail shoes under $100 - seems an impossible task these days.

+1 for Topo, I go between the ultra adventure and mtn racer depending on tread needs for the trail.

I keep trying other shoes and keep coming running back to Topo. They make the perfect shoes for my feet.

TOPO’s fall apart. We called them Tape-o’s in my tramily and they were hell for one of our guys. Hoka’s are good but you can’t really feel the trail/ground because they’re moon boots, but comfy.

Topo athletic is worth looking into if you liked the wide toe box of Altras. They typically have minimal drop (0-5mm depending on the model), and so far durability has been good for me. The ones I've tried seem to have slightly more volume in the shoe, so on steeper grades it's been tougher for me to get my foot locked in well without over tightening, but that's the only negative I've got for them with my feet.

My Topos gave up after <400 mi…

Topo are standard wide toe box... and everyone I know that wore altra have now gone to Topo here in the UK.

Mm ditto. Currently four pairs. Speed cross, and a topo. i dont remember which one. Theyre minimalistish and a race prize. (Total brag).. I have plenty fine arches and their inserts or whatever hurt my feet without a super plush sock. But also a pair of torins and asics, gel contented? Idk. They were on sale $60. Good shoe though. New balance has, or had at least a less expensive trail shoe. I thought they were great and transitioned from trail to road on them regularly. Also I wear my torins on steep trail all the time.

I've been having good luck with the Nike Pegasus Trail 4, with the caveat that at 240# they felt too mushy/squishy in stock form. I dug out my Superfeet insoles and put them in, and that combo is working well. I've also had good luck with Topo Athletic trail shoes in stock form, but they're typically lower drop than I'm looking for these days. My shoes do tend to poop out around 250 miles, but whatcha gonna do.

Another former Altra guy that switched to Topo!

Altra makes shoes that are more that zero drop now but I've already been using Topo (a shoe with a similarly wide to box) for years. They both have a great foot shape for so many people, but it's advisable to change your drop gradually. Standard American tennis shoes have a drop of 12mm The Topos I run in have 5mm Altra has options for 0mm, 3mm, and 5mm if I remember correctly

I also switched from hoka SG to topo (green ones I forget) 300 miles into the PCT and it actually removed the knee pain I had had for years that was ironically caused by hokas

IME, Topo is wider farther back in the foot compared to Altra, plus give a little more support back further along the arch. This suits my wide feet well as Altra can sometimes rub where my lateral metatarsal joints are. Hope that helps.

Im a former altra guy. Topo is it for me. Fully worth a try. I also like the norda 002, but they are not quiiiiiite as wide, but I have ~1800 k on my first pair, and 600+ on my second pair.

Seventy fifth vote for Topos.

I wore Altra for a few years and switched to Topo... they seem better quality and last longer. I do wear the trail runner (Pursuit) as an everyday shoe and it has held up really well even on concrete. I know it won't last as long because of this, but I just found them so comfortable I don't care. I just purchased the Ultraventure as well but haven't worn them yet.

Topos are super comfy but I couldn't imagine running an ultra in them. I loved my topos but started using the xodus ultra 4 when I needed a technical shoe and my topos got demoted to my road shoe haha. I mostly run on rocky terrain in the mountains so not trying to say anyone else would have the same experience as me especially if you run on more frequented trails.

I can't speak for everyone's experience, but topos for me are better for groomed trails. I have used them in the mountains but much prefer my sauconys over topos on rocky technical terrain.

Agreed. That’s why topo>altra. Altra is so sloppy at the heel where topo really starts narrowing the upper from the midfoot to the heel. Merrell could also have some really good shoes but are so sloppy at the heel.

The Topo big toe rub! Finally, someone else with the same issue as me! It was such an annoyance for me on the PCT in '22, and to my surprise, even their newer models do it to me. It's a tragedy, bc I love the way their shoes feel on me smh Yes actually, I'm currently trying out the Hoka Speedgoat 5s and love them. I never saw myself as a high-cushion shoe person, but they're greattt, just absolutely eat whatever surface you throw @ them. Feels like you have a rock-plate almost. **Just make sure to size up!**

Hey honestly would recommend your comfortable trail shoes with some good vibram sole and a deep cleat. Altra is a good option. I’ve also enjoyed topo. Something more oriented to climbing isn’t going to have good running hiking support. And in both it’s best to be comfortable in your gear

I’ve been really happy with my topo. Before that used only Altra

Topo athletic, stared using them about two years ago and they have the same roomy toe box altra has but with better durability imo

I'm a huge Topo fan. I've been wearing them for years, but lately, I've been going through them like candy. I'm considering switching brands - considering I've been brand loyal for years, this says a lot coming from me. Hopefully, you have better luck, because imo, they are the most comfortable shoe, and I like how they have different mm drops.

Hoka speedgoats were recommended via a place that goes Gait testing etc. I love the speedgoats for comfort they are great to hike in. Unfortunately their souls and the desert are very incompatible and they will wear out fast, so if you are expecting 500 miles per shoe, the hokas will not hit that, especially in the first 700 miles. Disappointed that I barely made the 260 mark on no tread, I switched to topos. Comfortable, love the toe box, and I got to say they designed a really intelligent shoe. I really really liked them, and they were very durable. Unfortunately by Wrightwood I was having knee issues I've never had before. I saw blaze Physio and she showed me how I was walking in those shoes. The solution according to her? Where Hoka speedgoats. I continued to wear them to hikertown, and gave someone they very good condition topos for my new rei ordered speedgoats and she was right. So how you walk really matters for the shoes you wear and these two different a lot. I really wish topos made a sole more like the speed goat or that hoka made a more durable shoe. At home I'm getting closer to 400 miles with the speed goats in pnw hiking but that desert Sands them down fast

I wear minimalist/barefoot/zero drop shoes day to day. I also hiked 1300 miles of PCT including all of JMT (well, the large part that overlaps) wearing a mix of Altras and Topos. I much prefer the Topos as simply much more durable and a bit more supportive, well worth the small weight penalty. Currently rocking the Traverse model. The year after my big hike, I attempted to hike a pretty tough 120-mile section "off the couch" using Vivo barefoot shoes instead of tried-and-true Topos. It was a total disaster. By mile 13, the soles of my feet were two giant blister cushions. I hobbled out the next day nearly crying from pain and hitched home, utterly defeated. Turns out padding and isolation from scorching hot jagged/sloped black basalt surfaces is important. So yeah, as u/_m2thet says, barefoot is good for maintenance of foot strength and gentle tread in normal, less demanding life conditions. Then when you put your feet to a hard test, you still want all the protection you can get.

The real answer is they can be awesome if they work for YOUR feet. People with narrow feet and a high arch tend to hate them and they can even cause a high arch to collapse from lack of support. My feet, on the other hand, are wide and flat so Altra has always felt great for me. Recently I have switched over to Topo. My problem with Altra is that anything with more cushion than the Lone Peaks loses too much foot volume with the increased padding. The Topos give me the extra padding, more inline with an Altra Timp, but don't squish my mid foot like the Timps do. I still wear Lone Peaks 9's from time to time, but I have less fatigue in my feet with the Topos.

I definitely rolled my ankles more in Speedgoats than I do in my topos or lone peaks. But I don’t think it’s as much about stack height as it is about forefoot width. Just having a wider base helps a lot for the stability, for me at least

Topo’s. Altra grip sucks whereas Topo use Vibram so you don’t fall over as soon as it rains. The new Inov-8 fits in wide are pretty good too - less toe room but good width through the midfoot. Topo are pretty standard fit in the midfoot (I’ve not tried a wide fit of theirs) so depends where your foot is wide.

I'm a hiker, but also a singer (amateur, but singing with competent choral groups). The singing group did a tour of Ireland one year, and France another. I bought a pair of black on black trail runners, and used them throughout the trip (concert dress was all black). Worked great. Similarly, our family did an ecotour in Brazil a year ago. I picked dark-colored Topa trail runners for that trip as well. Another good choice.

Dozens- hoka, altra, topo, speedland and mount to coast. Rotate them all kinda. Two different sizes. I am a big guy and don’t cheap on my shoes. Whatever it takes to get the miles in.

I have been in zero drop shoes for about 10 years. Altras have always been the most comfortable for me, but they just don’t last very long. I’m 6’3” 215 pounds, so your results may be better. I’ve pretty much settle on Topos for their decent durability. Since you have narrow feet, you might look at something from Astral. The compound they use for their sole (G rubber) is amazing. Like walk over wet, moss covered rocks with zero shits given type of amazing. I have a wide, high volume forefoot so they just aren’t great for me overall. My Goldilocks would be Altra comfort/Topo quality and durability/Astral sole

I’m a pretty big fan of Topo Athletic trail shoes. Very wide toe box and their durability beats Altra IMO.

I also have an unusually wide foot and I have a love hate relationship with Topos. Love how wide they are but hate that the highest drop shoe they offer is 5mm. Not everyone is into the low drop trend. So basically for me it’s either a shoe that’s not quite wide enough but has a higher drop or a shoe that is wide enough but lower drop. Not to mention that Topo is just a newer brand is definitely still just figuring it out. The durability / quality of the shoes isn’t quite top notch despite $150+ price tags. Disappointing shoes but unfortunately the best compromise for me right now

I have been running in TOPO for a few years and I find them very reliable :) it’s not zero drop but not very high maybe 4mm

Your best bet is to find one of the prior generation of current shoes (Speedgoat 5, Topo, Altra, Salomon etc). Anything is going to be light years ahead of chucks in terms of traction and support. Head to your local run shop , let them know your budget and try on as many as you can - every make/model fits differently and everyone has different feet , trying on in person is the best way to make sure you get the most value for your dollars. Good luck 👍

I like Topo. I have similar feet and they have a great heel to toe ratio. I went up a size from my normal. Although, they don't wear as well as the Hokas in my experience. The front of the soles are peeling off after around 300 miles.

I did the AT this year. I would say 80% of us were Topos and 20% in Altras. Altras have a zero drop which is bad if you have calf/Achilles/plantar fascia tightness. I used to hike in Hoka Speedgoats until they made the toe box more narrow.

Altra Olympus or Topo brand shoes. They’re the best out there. I live in Altras and recently discovered Topo. They’re just as comfortable. I haven’t worn hiking boots in 6+ years now for backpacking, hiking, scrambling, nothing, and I’m better for it

Every shoe will work for people differently. I did the first half in Topos and got terrible Achilles tendinitis and planter fasciitis. Made the switch to speedgoats at Shasta per the recommendation of the shoe guy and all symptoms started to get better. Though I had planter fasciitis until February the following year haha

I would also consider Topo. I find the fit of Altras a bit sloppy but Topo was much better in the midfoot.

Just got back from there on Saturday. I used my carbon trekking poles and Topo Designs trail runners I use for backpacking. Didn't regret either choice. I did store the second trekking pole after about 45 minutes of walking, since I found that one was enough and I liked having a free hand for grabbing the walls or whatever from time to time. The only regret I had was wearing Sealskinz "water socks" -- the kind that have a plastic layer inside two fabric layers. I would have preferred just using my wool hiking socks since my feet were drenched on the first step in the water anyway and the water was warm enough I didn't need the insulation effect. They were completely comfortable for 10 miles over nearly 5 hours in the water, but they were not needed.

Topo has zero drop. I went through xero trail shoes they were alright. Altras tend to fall apart these days.

Altra has the widest toe box out there. I think the ONLY possible other option to consider is LEMs. But that is why your toes are tight in others and Altra's are so comfy- best toe box. LEMs I tried on recently were also great! I have been a die hard Altra for more than a decade for all activities. But tried TOPO recently- and they are ok- but not as good on toe box. Lems were the same as I am used to with Altra- and seem to have a better lug (better on rocky terrain).

Another vote for Topo.

Topo athletic has a big toe box.

Topo makes great shoes Edit: I had Altras that were trash, but I love my topos

Altras are junk (I’ve tried two pairs) Topo Athletic are much better

If they're less than a year old, submit a warranty claim with Topo. They replaced a pair of my Topo's, no problem, when some fabric in the lining failed prematurely.

Topo. I run in the for road and trail.

Topo. I’ve backpacked everywhere in them. I prefer trailventure 4. Traverse is a mid narrow in the last, so they decided to sell it in a wide. Met a retired topo sales rep on the Colorado trail and he swears by the mountain racer. That’s going to be my next shoe.

Altras or topos....stable, but not sure they are "affordable". Agreed with others, no such thing as ankle support, but stability for sure. I had a pair of Saucony that felt great, but were ankle sprainers beyond a doubt. Running in Topos and Inov-8s now.

I don't have a pair of Lone Peaks, but I have some other Altras (Escalante/Paradigm), and they don't seem as wide in the toe box as my Topo Athletic shoes. If you like the Lone Peak, check out the Pursuit 2. Some other shoes, such as the Ultraventure, also come in wide.

Ever give Topo’s a try? I grabbed a pair that was on clearance at REI a few years ago, and alternated them with my Cascadias, and really liked them, but now they’re mainly my gravel cycling shoe

I love a wide toe box but can’t do zero drop. I don’t like the lack of push off and I’ve had plantar fasciitis in the past which is not suited for zero drop. I use Topo and Altra low heal to toe drop but not zero.

I had Ultra LP then changed to Topo, but have gone back to Altra LPs. I know the quality has been an issue, but my Topos also started showing signs of wear and tear early on.

I have 3 pairs. 1 each for trail, road, and treadmill. Currently all Topo shoes though I also use Altras on occasion.

Moved 2 years ago. Escalate and Timp feel apart. Ordered another timp and the build was sick low quality only 1 made it into my foot and returned. Topo is my brand now. Done with Altra

I wanted to like them - love the toe box and zero drop. But the mid foot is too narrow for me.

I’ve owned a few pies of topos over the years and my foot always spills over the outside of the sole

I bought some topos before my altras for running. I can't vouch for the material build quality but the midfoot was way too narrow, the toe box was a bit pathetic and the strange feeling of a structured insole with a very cushioned midsole was disconcerting. The worst part was the awful midfoot. Some "normal" shoes have a wider midfoot. I returned them and was relatively happy with my altras 9+ wide instead.

Topo, Altra and recently Inov-8 have adopted ‘Foot-shape’ style shoes that are wider een less pointy in the front.

Google will never get you there. And even individual reviews can be biased. You’re gonna have to try them on and see what works for you. “These run narrow” or “these run wide” is BS. It’s all relative to the individual. Sounds like you want a “low” and not a “mid”. And we’re immediately going to rule out Oboz and Keen and Merril. Try Solomon, try Topo, try even a bushido by La Sportiva.

My buddy had a pair of topo’s on his GR11 thru hike. I was with him for the first 18 days of it and by the end the top of the shoes by the tongue was completely worn through, so that the plastic-y interior material was coming through. They also had a hole in the side that I had to sew up for him. The soles were in reasonably good nick tbf, and the GR11 is a pretty tough trail, but the shoes were brand new at the start or the hike

Norda’s definitely worth it IMO. £250 in the UK, and I’m on my second pair. The first pair is still wearable, but the tread is nearly gone under the ball of my foot, but they have done about 800 miles of hiking and probably 4-500 of running. My first trail runners were a pair of Lone Peaks, which cost me about £130 in the UK, and lasted about 150 miles before they got their first hole… Norda’s are an up-front-investment but they do just last sooo much longer than any other pair. I made a comment higher up about Topo’s. My buddy who I hiked with for 18 days on the GR11 in the Pyrenees had a hole in one shoe, and both were split next to the tongue. My Norda’s were a little worn down on the sole, but aside from that were in good condition.