Topo Athletic - Ultraventure 4
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
1898
551
"I even washed them accidentally and still worked perfectly fine afterwards."
"Been using them for about four years working out in my gym, and cycling daily (45+ minutes on a bicycle outdoors)."
"They last absolutely forever (I know 1980s models still in daily use)"
292
59
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"Even after mountain backpacking a dozen miles over very steep rocky trails my toes are never sore or cramped feeling."
561
131
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"The Trabuco 12 have been the best trail shoes I’ve ever owned. ... I’m 6”4 and charge hard over serious rocky terrain…and I feel completely safe in them."
225
76
"super comfy (my knees ache so much less on descents with them) ... I can’t stress enough how much they’ve helped my bad left knee on descents."
"I ran the R2R2R in a pair of Racer 3's. Flawless. ... I ran the 100-mile Javelina Jundred in three different pairs (Pursuit 2, older Racer 3's, and a new pair of Racer 3's). Flawless."
"The most striking aspect of the shoe was how much it protected my legs. ... At no point throughout the run did I feel fatigued. ... This is EXACTLY what I was looking for."
140
119
"they are extremely durable. ... I’ve got well over 1000 miles out of a pair and they still have grip and the uppers are in great shape"
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
"But I got 900 miles out of one pair of Lone Peaks on the PCT, and 750 from another pair."
480
156
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
24
4
"I can’t do zero drop. ... I don’t like the lack of push off ... 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’ve taken my Topo MTN racer’s up Longs, Capitol, and multiple laps up Freeway on the 2nd flatiron. ... I’d say they’re the perfect scrambling shoe if you’re looking for something for class 3/4. ... I like a lower drop shoe for scrambling because I feel more centered/connected to the ground."
"Agree that Topo shoes are a good alternative. I got the Mtn Racer when switching from Altras. ... I switched from zero drop and that was a big help. ... Don’t push too hard. I did and ended up with a 6-month achilles injury before finally switching away from 0 drop."
113
19
"the shoes felt great, had no slippage whatsoever, were cushioned, responsive, and comfortable. I ran up and down the mountain without much concern about where my feet were placed... the shoes handled it wonderfully."
"If you're a bigger guy and are looking for a road-to-trail, groomed trail, gravel shoe.... Buy with confidence!"
"slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats ... Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole ... nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them."
Disliked most:
178
165
"all of them developed a double click problem (i play alot of games that require alot of clicking)"
"none of them lasted more than a year."
"Logitech has double click issues ... I’ve had g102 Worst mouse ever"
22
62
"Also, the grip was really crap, particularly when it’s a purpose built trail shoe."
"Sections of the trail were fairly muddy this time. ... It was there the shoe washed out over and over again. ... The experience was similar to trail running in road shoes. ... There was a total loss of grip. ... We also need to see a shoe with longer lugs and a better lug pattern to give confidence in wet conditions."
"Tried my Ultraventures on a recent high route in wet weather and fell twice on slick rock/moss, they are relegated to cutting the grass now."
9
22
"For me the Terraventure 4 had the worst pronounced arch. Paired with the narrower midfoot and need to tighten the top of the laces for better heel hold, it caused me to commonly have more pressure(on the arch) and pain during runs with that model."
"For me the Terraventure 4 had the worst pronounced arch. Paired with the narrower midfoot and need to tighten the top of the laces for better heel hold, it caused me to commonly have more pressure(on the arch) and pain during runs with that model."
"I tried Topo mtn racer3s last week and they had the traction I want but they blistered my arches on all 3 of the runs I did in them."
2
33
"I’m not convinced the Zegama is suitable for terrains that are moderate and up in terms of technicality. ... And I’m not convinced they can hold up on slippery surfaces. ... If I’m going to go for a mountain run with small rocks and tree roots, where there might be some damp/water, I’m going to reach for another shoe."
"I’m not convinced the Zegama is suitable for terrains that are moderate and up in terms of technicality. ... And I’m not convinced they can hold up on slippery surfaces. ... If I’m going to go for a mountain run with small rocks and tree roots, where there might be some damp/water, I’m going to reach for another shoe."
"Tried my Ultraventures on a recent high route in wet weather and fell twice on slick rock/moss, they are relegated to cutting the grass now."
14
6
"I also ordered the Ultraventure in a regular and wide width and the actual outsole was identical on both shoes, so I suspect their “wide” are built on the same platform as the regular width, and they just add extra material in the upper to try to accommodate a wider foot. This is cheaper for them, but not going to give a good fit if you have actual wide feet."
"I also ordered the Ultraventure in a regular and wide width and the actual outsole was identical on both shoes, so I suspect their “wide” are built on the same platform as the regular width, and they just add extra material in the upper to try to accommodate a wider foot. This is cheaper for them, but not going to give a good fit if you have actual wide feet."
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
11
38
"Ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time in my life that I really think is related to the high arch support."
"Ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time in my life that I really think is related to the high arch support."
"The toe boxes on caldera are hard as fuck. ... I really feel it running downhill so I can only use them for short runs."
18
17
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
"the midfoot was way too narrow ... The worst part was the awful midfoot. ... Some "normal" shoes have a wider midfoot."
33
18
"They fell apart quickly ... I wore them for 300ish miles before they had fallen apart."
"the top of the shoes by the tongue was completely worn through, so that the plastic-y interior material was coming through ... both were split next to the tongue"
"They also had a hole in the side that I had to sew up for him ... had a hole in one shoe"
0
3
"I also ordered the Ultraventure in a regular and wide width and the actual outsole was identical on both shoes, so I suspect their “wide” are built on the same platform as the regular width, and they just add extra material in the upper to try to accommodate a wider foot. This is cheaper for them, but not going to give a good fit if you have actual wide feet."
"I also ordered the Ultraventure in a regular and wide width and the actual outsole was identical on both shoes, so I suspect their “wide” are built on the same platform as the regular width, and they just add extra material in the upper to try to accommodate a wider foot. This is cheaper for them, but not going to give a good fit if you have actual wide feet."
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
Non goretex trail runners Topo are my jam. Big wide toe box. Altra is my second choice
r/bikepacking • Good shoes for bikepacking? ->I like my ultraventures on road as well
r/ultrarunning • Shoes for combined trail and road ->Topo Ultraventure is a solid alternative. Nike Zegama also similar.
r/ultrarunning • Hoka Speedgoat - more durable, wider toe box alternative? ->I’ve worn Altras and Topos. My wife has some Hokas. It really depends on what fits your feet.
r/AppalachianTrail • Shoes ->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.
r/PacificCrestTrail • Trail Running Shoes Opinion ->I’ve gotten 500+ miles on several Topo models, though I hear Norda 001 last even longer.
r/Ultralight • More durable/longevity trail runner and hiking shoe options? ->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
r/Ultramarathon • Alternatives to Hoka Speed Goats ->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.
r/WildernessBackpacking • Trail shoe for long, NOT ultralight trips ->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.
r/WildernessBackpacking • Trail shoe for long, NOT ultralight trips ->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.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoe recommendations? ->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).
r/trailrunning • New shoe recommendation request… ->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).
r/trailrunning • New shoe recommendation request… ->Topo for sure. I made the move from New Balance to Topo and haven't looked back
r/trailrunning • Trail running shoes with a wide toe box ? ->Also have wide feet with low arches. I’ve never been able to get a good fit with Topo. The wide toe box is great, but I find the arch and midfoot too narrow. I also ordered the Ultraventure in a regular and wide width and the actual outsole was identical on both shoes, so I suspect their “wide” are built on the same platform as the regular width, and they just add extra material in the upper to try to accommodate a wider foot. This is cheaper for them, but not going to give a good fit if you have actual wide feet. I’m currently using Altra Experience Wild and Lone Peak 8’s. They have both been fine for me and they fit my feet much better than the Topo’s. They are both pretty minimally cushioned shoes though, so if you’re running on harder surfaces you may need a higher stack
r/trailrunning • Trail shoe advice ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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