I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form).
I haven't tried the Vistas yet.
What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?
I am still a baby trail runner. I have worn through asics Trabuco max 4. I sized up to get the width, but I'm having the issue of when my foot slides forward the laces cut off circulation and my feet go numb. I have gotten my feet scanned, but my issue is most stores don't carry wide or Extra wide sizes and my feet are too small to try on men's shoes in store.
The Trabuco Max's don't have extended sizes. I ordered new balance hierros and the toe protection is too firm and rubs my big toes.
I've tried topo athetics and I loved the toe box, but the wide were still too narrow in the mid sole.
I feel like I'm stuck the nightmare of Cinderella.
At this point I think my size is 8 or 8.5 Extra wide. Please help 🙏
I love their return policy! I think brooks are going to be the next try. According to the interwebs there are some in-stock at my local fleet feet. I'm thinking I'll try on in store and order from brooks directly so I can test them. I'm able to pinpoint when I typically have issues but it's not until after mile 2.
I tried the ultraventure standard in store and I was hopeful. I was curious how well the tread on them lasted on roads, because they're supposed to be a hybrid. I might order the wide from topo directly. They were great with my recent trials.
I also want to look into altra wides. I bought a pair of altras and ended up returning them. They were standard width, so I'll look at altra directly.
Road shoes or a road to trail shoe. I rain a similar timed event with similar terrain wearing Topo Ultraventures a couple weeks ago and they were great.
I alternate between Topo's Ultraventure for less technical trails and the Vista for anything more technical or muddy. I like them both, but the Ultraventure with the same outsole as the Vista would be the perfect shoe.
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).
Top Trail Running Shoes on Reddit
1
Mount to Coast
H1
85% positive of 177 users
Versatile road-to-trail, but struggles on wet, technical downhills.
Gummmbeee
