Topo Athletic - Ultraventure 4

This, have used them for years and have been great. Most of my shoes are Topo because I have big wide feet and I like zero to minimal drop

Topo Ultraventure 4 does a great job on traprock in Connecticut. A great alternative to Altra Lone peaks if you don’t like the latest version and want something to last a bit longer.

I’m hoping to get some suggestions from other runners with wider feet. I absolutely loved the original Saucony Xodus Ultras, but I’ve finally run through my stockpile and need to find a new go-to trail shoe.  About me: I’m a heavier runner (200lbs) with wider feet, so I need a good toe box and enough room in the midfoot (too snug and I end up with pain after longer runs.)  Here’s what I’ve tried recently: * Altra Experience Wild - Good fit, enjoying these so far. * Topo Ultraventure 4 - Also a solid fit, no complaints. * Topo MNT Racer 3 - Too narrow in the midfoot, caused discomfort after a 10-miler. * Saucony Xodus Ultra 3 - Unfortunately too narrow overall for me. * Peregrine 12's (wide) - Good for technical routes and quicker paces.  I’m open to rotating a few models for different distances and terrain. I’m curious about the following shoes but am open to other suggestions. Not a big fan of zero drops. Have caused calf issues in the past. * Brooks Catamount / Caldera / Cascadia * North Face Altamesa 500 * Norda 001 * NNormal Tomir 2.0  Would love to hear from anyone with similar need, especially if you’ve found a solid Xodus Ultra alternative that works for wider feet. Bonus points for shoes that can handle longer miles or varied terrain.

I have two pairs of Ultraventure 4s for a mix of road/trail and I love them.

I went with New Balance Hierro 7 for trails runners and Keen Targhee for trail boots. I just walk or hike no jogging. The NB has a somewhat wide toe box for me and I wear 13 wide. Just bought my first pair of Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4. That shoe feels almost perfect and the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box. I hated feel of Altra. I bought the NB for value at the time and will replace with Topo for the next pair.

I'm a big fan of Altra & Topo Athletic. Last year's Camino I wore the Altra Olympus 5 and I finished the Portuguese 2 weeks ago wearing the Topo Atletic Ultraventure 4. Both work great for me and are worth a look.

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4. Took them out for the first time this morning. Ran just like my MTN Racer 3's, just more forgiving. I LOVE THESE SHOES.

I love my MTN Racers! I ran an [R3](https://trailtopeak.com/2023/11/20/a-guide-to-running-the-grand-canyon-from-rim-to-rim-to-rim-r3/), the Javelina Jundred 100M, and the Anza Borrego 50 Mile in a pair. Bomb-proof and graceful. I just got the new Ultraventure 4's hoping for a bit more cushion with the same ergonomics as the Racers. I put a few treadmill miles just to check 'em out and, so far, they have the feel I was looking for with more cushion. Promising!

I'm still on-board. But I agree, they could use more bounce. I don't think I've noticed much of a degradation from new to now (maybe a dozen big runs). That's just how they are built, I reckon. More stiff than others. I'm sticking with them for the summer. And will be wearing them for most of the upcoming OM 100K in Washington. May switch to the Racer 3's for the final 20 miles.

I’ve put about 100 miles on the Ultraventure 4s and have had an overall poor experience. On dry, compact trail they are pretty comfortable and responsive. The second there is any moisture or mud they are like banana peels. The outsole pattern holds on to mud clumps something fierce as well. My previous shoes were Challenger 7s and had zero traction issues.

Another for Topo. I got a pair of Ultraventure 4 and they are amazing! I bought another pair as a backup. I also have a pair of ST-5 and Cyclone 2 and those are great as well but I basically live in the Ultraventures.

I have been using the Topo Ultraventure 4 as my everything shoe. Good for trail and road running, walking, etc. That said, I don't mind how they look but Topo shoes have a wide toe box which some folks (my wife) think look a bit weird if you're wearing them casually (I do it anyways). You could also check out the Skecher go-run line up. I have a few pairs of the Razer 5 and they are a good do-it-all shoe and look a bit more normal. The grip is pretty good too for trail although they aren't marketed for that use. My only issue with the Skechers is I get blisters if I use them for long runs because the toe box is slightly too narrow for me. That said, I often take these on family vacations because I am not typically doing long runs during those weeks.

I recently picked up a pair of Topo Ultraventure 4's for my upcoming 50k race. I have put 250 miles on a pair of Zegama 2's and just under 100 miles on a pair of Brooks Caldera 7's. So far, after 25 miles, the Topo's are really great. They are cushioned, wide, have very comfortable laces and no heel slip. I have some conerns about the stability of the shoe running downhill. The heel is narrower than both the Zegama and Caldera. I also find the outsole heel is much more rounded, and less flat. But I plan to run the race in these Topo's. My other caution would be that the lugs and grip are fairly mild compared to those other 2 shoes. If your race will be technical, muddy, etc. then the Ultraventure 4 isn't for you.

I’m 275lbs so take this advice as my own personal experience. I own 3 pairs of trail shoes: 1. Nike Zegama 2: great shoe, moderate stack, wide toe box, and great grip. ZoomX foam is really fun. My lowest stack shoe. 2. Brooks Caldera 7: very cushioned, wide toe box as well, but I find that I collapse inwardly. If you don’t over pronate, this is the shoe for you. The foam is fairly bouncy and the rocker is aggressive enough to keep you moving forward. 3. Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4: my newest shoe for trails. Ergonomic toe box, great cushion, aggressive insole and support, and ok grip. This is my favorite shoe right now and I plan to use it for my 50k race.

Good overview. I would highly recommend the Topo Atmos, Ultraventure 4, and Specter 2. All 3 have worked very well for me.

I hated the UV2’s and i am LOVING the 4’s!

I wanted to love the traverse but they were too narrow in the front and I got some heel slippage with the low heel. Ultraventure 4 has a wider front and taller heel so fixed both these issues for me! I do like how Topo makes a variety of shoes to fit everyone, even though the shoes are similar to each other. they are awesome

Topo Athletic Women's Ultraventure 4 Comfortable Cushioned Durable 5MM Drop Trail Running Shoes

I'm another fan of the Topo Ultraventure 4s. I got them in regular and wide and like them both. It's cold where I live and I like being able to fit thicker socks in the wides. My foot (as measured by Fleet Feet's scanners) is D width (women's wide) at the forefoot and my heels are really narrow so Topo's shape works well for me. I also have a pair of men's (for a little extra width) Hoka Stinson ATR 7s that I really love. Ooh and a pair of Mtn racers that I love the fit of but my arthritic feet can only handle about 3 miles in.

Stiff and pokes you in the arch

I have wide feet and recently developed a metatarsal issue so got new custom orthotics and then got these amazing Topo ultraventure 4 trail shoes (mens) which I can wear comfortably with and without the Orthotics. They have a wide toe box which is super comfy. https://www.rei.com/product/242384/topo-athletic-ultraventure-4-trail-running-shoes-mens?sku=2423840017&store=80&CAWELAID=120217890019148592&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=110260851105&CATCI=pla-908167082339&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2423840017%7C908167082339%7CNB%7C71700000074093073&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12x5SU2iudSDXEZ2PMu5aBsJ8XL6UahLBlsBBQVKMOdUeTzlQTsHUGgaAktNEALw_wcB

Second for the Topo Ultraventure 4

Third on the ultraventure 4

I also liked the UV in same size as my MtnRacer.   I do use the heel lock lacing and did replace laces for waxed sl longer laces.  

Stop. Look up Topo shoes. Just moved over from Altra Experience Wild to Topo Ultraventure 4 and couldn’t be happier.

Topo Ultraventure 4 Edit: name correction

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.

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.

Wow thank you did, I have been looking for someone to do exactly this for a while now!!! So my experience with them started with the Terraventure 4. I have tailors bunions and the TV4 murdered my foot lmao, it has this rigid structure around the midfoot that was absurdly painful. Other than that i loved everything about them. I went to the UV4. It has a significantly wider fit than the terraventure, but so much so that I had problems with my foot slipping towards the end of the shoe. The terraventure was of course so tight around my foot that I hadn't experienced any issues like that. It seemed like to get the Ultraventures to keep my foot in place I had to tie them so tight that you guessed it, I also would experience pain that murdered my foot lol I ended up seeing the Mountain Racer 3 on sale and ordered a pair of those to try them out. The color scheme I got was super goofy, the blue and orange, but it was like 40% off lol. My least favorite visually of the 3. They fit just right. For some reason my foot stays in place with them significantly easier than the ultraventure, I don't have to lace them anywhere near as tight. They do not cause me unbearable pain. So I actually emailed Topo and told them basically all this and asked them which of their shoes fit most similarly to the Mtn racer, got no response. What you posted is basically exactly what I was looking for

I got the same big toe rub in the MTN Racer but 1/2 sized up and added Sole active medium insoles for the support and toe room I needed. I did need to use a heel lock lacing method for stability, but only on really choppy trail sections. I went to Topos after the Speedgoat 5s gave me width and arch stress problems. I tried the Ultraventure 4s in my regular size and didn’t get the toe rub experienced in the same sized Racers. I’ll be testing the fit and durability of those with a spring purchase and hope to get the 700+ miles I got from the MTN Racers.

Oh interesting I just picked up the ultraventure 4s for a road to trail shoe and really enjoy it on the road. If it’s packed dirt without steep climbs, a regular road shoe would be fine

I’ve done 95% of my trail running over the last couple years in Topo Ultraventures in wide (V3 and V4). Some of the other Topo models I’ve tried on (Mtn Racer and Phantom road off the top of my head) are still unfortunately too narrow in the mid foot, but the wide Ultraventures saved me from Altra’s increasing trend toward narrower shoes, at least for the time being.

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

Go with Topo or Altra. Ultraventure 4 is my current go to. Great cushion and stability. Terraventure or Lone Peak are good picks if you want a more grounded feel.

HOKA Bond Wide(maintained single track like the AT & PCT) and Stinson. So far I like the two pr of TOPO Ultradventure wides. I've splayed Squatch feet 14 EE -EEE

I can only compare Altra Olympus 5 in 14 with current version Topo Ultra Adventure 4 14 w. They are somewhat sole shaped alike. I had issue finding well fitting aftermarket size 14 insoles that supported my high arch that properly fit that Olympus model or else I would have continued with them. Now, I know of after market high arch Olympus 5 size 14 fitting orthotics available. I need arch supporting trail runners as an UL long distance backpacker and trail runner doing 30+ mile days. The other shoe that fits my feet and is arch supporting is the Hoka Bondi 14 w which are a pavement running shoes but I use them for UL backpacking on established single track with mindful foot placement in good weather.

That’s my favorite shoe! The regular version is fairly wide, too, but it’s nice they offer a wide for folks like me (bad tailor’s bunion). Topo offers a few options in wide, including the Mtn Racer 4, but it’s not as wide as the wide Lone Peak.

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.

I’ve been rocking lone peaks since 2.0 after switching from some la sportiva. I have gone through at least 7 versions of lone peak including a pair of high top water proof ones. I enjoyed them so much. This season I got a pair of topo UA4 to try and I’m in love all over again. It’s not a lone peak at all but wow are they comfy.

I like my ultraventures on road as well

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.

I prefer ultraventure. I have used both, but it comes down to personal preference. The Ultraventure have a bit more padding, but I am heavier than your average hiker and live in a rocky area. I loved Altra back around Lone Peak 3 and 4. But they ended up shrinking the toe box, and they just don't hold up well, particularly in somewhat rocky ground.

I tried the Ultraventure after hearing this but have had terrible blisters with them.

Non waterproof vibram sole topo athletic ultraventures. I routinely backpack off trail over rocky, scree laden passes in the Canadian Rockies. Best change to my backpacking loadout yet.

What’s your fav? I’m looking at speedland…just haven’t pulled the trigger! Took out my topo ultraventures in the snow for the first time the other day and it was real sloppy, pretty disappointed. Also, hope you’re tomir do in longer runs? Like anything over 12 miles?

Ultraventures have 5mm drop though, not 0. I use them for a similar purpose as OP and love them for it. After 600km they’re still looking great, whereas the Hoka challengers I was using before were falling apart so badly after 400k I had to tape them together just to finish a run.

Topo are roomier for sure ill say for me the t1 toe box feel like a wide hoka but certainly not as roomier than the ultraventure or mtn racer. But I’m 2E and they’re enough wide for me.

Pretty much everyone on long-distance trails hikes in trail runners for a reason - they're just way comfier than boots and work just as well. You'll probably like them a lot if you're already a runner. I wear Topo Ultraventures myself and I like them a lot. More minimally cushioned shoes are popular too and can help with stability and foot strengthening.

I have a pair of Topo Ultraventures that I used on the Te Araroa. They were great but I found the heel counter too stiff and I ended up with a Haglund’s Deformity at the back of my right heel. Can anyone recommend a similar shoe but with a squashable heel counter? I need a decent drop and cushioning too.

Man, you got me all excited by listing additional models under "Wide." Then I went to the Topo site and saw that they still only offer one trail running model in Wide (at least for my size). :( I bought the Ultraventures. Like you mentioned, they're very cushioned. They're comfortable for regular road shoes, but after doing a non-trivial amount of hiking and scrambling in them, I'll say that the cushion makes them feel unstable on rougher terrain unless you use trekking poles. I'd rather something with less cushion and a proper rock plate, but as mentioned, Ultraventures are the only trail runners they offer in proper Wide width right now. (They still beat the shit out of the latest Lone Peaks in terms of durability and quality though, IMO.)

I love my Altra Lone Peaks and Topo Ultraventures. I’ve been doing most of my hikes in the Topos. Not completely zero drop but wide toe box and vibram soles. 

Request for rock plate cuts so many options! Topo Ultraventures have been solid on technical trails... Worth checking out!

Hey folks. Looking for the perfect training shoe for wet days and I haven't been having a ton of luck. Here's what I'm looking for: - wide toebox. My feet have gotten wider over the years and I'm pretty much limited to Altra or Topo. - light and runs like a road shoe. - lugs that can handle wet clay mud. The trails I run daily have been wet for the last 2 months. They're mild trails that road shoes work great on them dry, but when they're wet road shoes make it feel like I'm running on ice. - comfortable on road - I have to run 3 miles to and from the trails I run in the mornings. - low drop preferable, but I can live with zero drop. No high drop - it kills my hips (I have hip impingement) I've tried Altra Lone Peaks (ok, but pretty clunky - especially on road), Altra Experience Wilds (best so far, but didn't hold up. Upper separated from the lower at 350mi), and Topo Ultraventures (really wanted to love these, but they feel heavy and clunky and my feet actually bruise if I wear them on much road). I also tried Craft Nordlite Ultras, but had to return them because they were not only too short, but incredibly narrow. Anything out there that runs like a light and responsive road shoe, but has lugs that will work in wet mud?

Nike is a trash company that supports sweatshops. There are a multitude of other companies making running shoes and trail running shoes that have been outperforming Nike for years because they make better products (see Nike's declining stock price as a reference). People often post photos on Camino forums of the shoe racks at albergues, so you can get an idea of what shoes most pilgrims are wearing. Hokas seem to be the most popular now, but any of the running brands (La Sportiva, Saucony, Brooks, New Balance, Topo, Altra, ON, Salomon) would be good options if they fit your feet. I personally love Asics for short hikes (>8 miles), but most models don't have enough soft foam to cushion my feet/legs for 30 days of walking the Camino with a heavy pack. I previously bought several pairs of used shoes to get an idea of what works best for my feet before spending a lot of money on a new pair. I prefer Topo Ultraventures and also use Brooks Cascadia for long hikes.

I have really wide feet and the 14 wide worked for me similar to the Altras. I tried Topo Ultraventures first and had issues with the toe box

I hiked the PCT in both topo ultraventures and hoka speedgoats. I hated my topos, I bought them after realizing zero drop shoes were not for me and were one of the only other options available. They fell apart quickly and I still pronated fairly bad in them (causing me to have post tib tendinitis). I wore them for 300ish miles before they had fallen apart. after working with blaze physio I switched into hoka speedgoats and it changed my hike! The pain in my ankles was gone and the hokas lasted 500-700 miles.

I just got on the Topo train and did a 15k yesterday in a pair of Ultraventures basically right out of the box. Zero blisters, no pains, semi clean feet when I was done. Highly impressed. And I road run in Topo Specters

Hey! I hiked the PCT last year - also started in the Altra Lone peaks and ended up with plantar fasciitis. Then, also switched to Topo Ultraventures, which improved the PF but didn’t quite cure it, and I got some blisters. I ended up in the Hoka Stinsons. Wider toe box than the Speedgoats. I now swear by them. Shoes are highly individual though as everyone’s feet are different. Based on our similar experience, maybe these would work for you. As for blisters, try adding injini toe sock liners under your socks. This helps to decrease friction. If you don’t have gaiters, they can help keep out debris (which also causes friction). Keeping your feet as clean as you can will also help w blisters. If you have more than one pair of socks, give the pair you aren’t using a rinse and hang dry them on your pack during the day so they have less dirt in them (also a friction culprit).

6-1 225. I run in the topo ultraventures. Went through a lot of pairs to find em. If you get em at rei and they don’t work then take em back.

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 just switched to Topo. I went with a 5mm drop but it checks the other boxes. I have not put much time on them but out of the box I'm happy. Altra shoes started wearing out way to fast.

I've got a couple Topos as well and I love the fit, but the arch is too high for me, and the midsole is very 'meh' and seems to break down a lot faster than other brands.

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

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

I'll put another vote in for Topo

Topos if you need arch support, altras if you don’t. I was planning on making the switch from altras to topos but the arch support in topos would make my feet hurt. I don’t have wide feet, but love the roomy toe box. The midfoot and heel fit almost perfect after using the runners knot. Lone peaks for the trail and escalantes for the road.

I recently switched to Topos after similar issues with the newer lone peak models. They have some more bounce, which took some adjustment, but now I like them lot!

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.

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.

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.

Only my Altras have done this even the same spot. I’ve written off Altra until i don’t hear another story about this for a while. I can’t believe they’ve let this issue persist for years. They’ve got to know. My Topos have lasted forever. My TNF shoes and Salomons are well built as well, typically I retire a pair after the foam goes flat (loses its bounce) for me after 500 miles. Uppers should outlast the foam IMHO.

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.

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

I’m around the same size and really like Topo and Alrtra. Trail is the way to go, much easier on the joints.

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.

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…

Topo is your answer. Norda also great buy spendy

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.

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.

Trail runners all the way, trail runner technology has come a long way! They’ll be more breathable and lighter than boots. Altras are a classic thru hiking shoe but don’t have great longevity. Topo, Saucony, and Brooks I’ve had good experience with all of them. There’s also Salomon and Merrell, but I’ve never tried them. I’d recommend ordering a few pairs off of REI to try them out. You can return them even after using them.

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

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

+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 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.

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

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.

Topos for me are "Altras that actually fit my feet properly" and I love them. (I do have a narrow midfoot)

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.

Topos!! I love them. Vibram soles, great toe box, well-made.

I run in Topos. They're wide toe box, Vibram soles, and either zero or 5mm drop.

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.

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 👍

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 😅

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.

Another vote for Topo.

Width on the mountain racers is great, I have low arches and it took a good 30 miles or so before the arch support flattened out enough to feel good. LP7s felt great out of the box (as did experience wild). Otherwise fit and traction is pretty similar. Both drain well. After runs with more than like 3,000ft of climbing my Achilles used to be sore, I don't notice that with the topos (5mm drop). Admittedly last year was my first full year as a CO resident so I'm climbing much more these days. Totally possible I'm just more fit and the show has nothing to do with it. I also prefer topos gaiter system over altras. Not that altras gaiters are bad, I just find topos system a little easier to take on and off. The MT4s I think would've been better had I sized up, but they had the same issue with the arch support. The MT4s failed at like 150 miles. Sole separated from the shoe. The MT4 failure spurred my revisiting Altra. The mountain racers are still going strong at 270 miles. I like to keep two trail shoes and two road shoes in my rotation. If my mountain racers make it to 500 miles I *MAY* buy a second pair depending on how long the Experience Wilds last.

Topo. I run in the for road and trail.

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 🤷

As far as anatomically foot shaped trail running shoes go, there aren't many options: Altra (0mm drop), the new Inov-8 shoes (4-6mm drop), Topo (0-5mm drop), Ronhill maybe (5mm drop). There are many other brands that offer certain models in 2E or 4E width options, but those won't be anatomically foot shaped. Of course there are the barefoot shoe brands, but as you mentioned you wan't probably more stack hight underfoot.

I'm big on my lone peaks, they're pretty awesome, though the width threw me off at first. Now I have all of my shoes as wides and my foot has expanded to fill them which they tell me is healthier. The 0 drop stuff is supposed to be good too, but you have to ease into it to avoid achillies issues. Altra sold out to corporate at some point semi-recently so quality seems to be dropping, but Topos are a solid competitor. Topos offers shoes with varying drop and widths ranging from 'accessible' to 'very wide'. Wide-ish is great for hiking, but too wide and you'll slip around. As far as ankle support, I can't be much help as I'm pretty stable as-is. I haven't had any issues, but I'm not likely to regardless of what I wear. I'm usually taking a <30 pound pack over passes in the rockies, and no issues yet. I did do one pass in my Xero sandals and that felt like an injury waiting to happen in the snowy talus.

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.

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

Thanks, I have not. I bought some Ultraventures today and took them on a moderate incline and decline 3 mile hike to break them in. Felt really great. Soooo much cushier than Lone Peaks. And a little more arch support too. Felt like walking on a cloud. I enjoyed the slight amount of drop also, coming from a totally flat zero drop Lone Peak. The shoe store guy said Altra makes one with a slight drop now, so I tried those on but there was too much going on inside the heel cup for me, so I went with the Topos. It's my first pair, pumped :) He said podiatrists are recommending Topos a lot now.

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

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

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.