Topo Athletic - Vista

I was looking for a shoe that fit my wide for my feet based on my post here : https://www.reddit.com/r/trailrunning/s/3v67j7Heos A quick recap for context: * My Stats: 160cm, 68kg, and wide feet. * My Shoe Graveyard: * Asics Trabuco Max 3: My feet were cramping hard in this during 35k races. Not enough width in the toe box. * Hoka Speedgoat 5: Hoped to use this for a 50k, but the fit was just too unforgiving. * Asics Gel Trabuco 12: Still use it for hikes and short, technical stuff. I was on the hunt and narrowed it down to Altra, Topo, and Inov-8. I was a bit nervous about transitioning to Altra's zero-drop less than a month before a race, and I couldn't find the Inov-8 Trailfly Max in my size anywhere :( So, Topo it was! The Ultraventure 4 was tempting, but the outsole didn't look aggressive enough for me. Then I saw the Topo Vista, which looked like the perfect mashup of the MTN Racer's aggressive grip and the Ultraventure's cushioning. I had to try it. I took them for a 16km spin through a mix of roads, gravel, and rooty trails. Here's how it went: Upper & Fit Wow, the comfort is real. This is easily the most comfortable shoe I own right now. Topo's wide toe box is no joke – my toes could finally splay out and relax. Funny story on sizing: I'm a US 7.5, but the store's smallest size was a US 8.5. I tried it on with my Injinji midweight socks, and it fit perfectly! I did have to use a runner's knot to get a solid heel lockdown, but that's pretty standard for me. Even though it was a hot day, my feet felt great with zero breathability issues. The upper has a nice bit of stretch to it, too. My only tiny nitpick is that the padded tongue could be just a little bit longer. Midsole This is where the magic happens. Straight out of the box, the ZipFoam midsole felt amazing. It’s like a plush pillow but with a really nice, bouncy energy return. It's the feeling I wanted from the Trabuco Max 3, but the Vista feels much more stable and grounded, even with the high 38mm/33mm stack. It's soft, but in a responsive way that doesn't feel mushy. I've read this is the softest version of ZipFoam yet, and I believe it. Outsole The Vibram Megagrip outsole gave me decent grip on wet rocks and really solid traction on loose terrain and downhills. It's not full-coverage, so my main concern is how the exposed midsole foam will wear down over time. We'll see! Final Thoughts I think I might have finally found "the one" for my ultra-distance goals. I'm so happy with these. They nail the balance of stability, grip, and that perfect cushioned-but-responsive feeling. I'll definitely be saving these for my long runs and upcoming races. My only hope is that the pillowy midsole doesn't bottom out too quickly and that the upper holds up well. TL;DR: If you have wide feet and you're looking for a maximalist trail shoe that's comfortable, stable, and bouncy, you should absolutely give the Topo Vista a look!

Topo MTN Racer 3 or 4 are solid options, especially since you're already familiar with Topo. I recently finished a 50K in the Topo Vista—they performed really well, and my legs still felt strong after. I did get some blisters, but that’s on me for being too lazy to change socks after a few river crossings.

I've used Altras for a while,I just recently got a pair of Topo Vista. My next pair will most likely be Brooks cascadia. You've just got to try them on and see. Some places offer thirty days after purchase.

Loved my brand new Topo Athletic Vista pair of max cushioned trail shoes throughout my 26h, 100 mi race at the Vermont 100 this past weekend despite having a plantar fasciitis injury! Size 11.5 Wide, true to size. The shoes arrived two days before the race so I only got 3.5mi as a break-in run. These were absolutely the most comfortable shoes in all of the 5 ultra 100mi races over the last few years! Felt like walking on clouds and the PF never bothered me beyond a 2/10 pain throughout. Only discomfort was on a long & fast downhill stretch on hard asphalt at mile 85 that reminded my forefoot that I was actually running an ultra; the heel area didn’t even feel it. The upper was also very comfy and breathable, did not allow any debris in. The only negative : the shoe is not stable sideways, people prone to twisted ankles should be aware of this. My ankles are rock solid and despite the shoes twisting hard a half dozen times it did not do any damage. Also the toebox is narrow unless you get the wide, at least in my case. REI does not even sell the wide version. The Topo is NOT similar to the Racer of Ultraventure AT ALL at the toe box in the normal size, but the wide size for me was perfect, including much needed room at the midfoot (Racer is narrowest, then Ultraventure is still too narrow - returning to REI) The exchange process with Topo Athletic direct (from the narrow to wide) was horribly slow, 2 and 1/2 weeks were not enough and I had to eventually get the pair rushed from FleetFeet for $25 extra.

Sounds great! The Vista felt light enough and peppy (rocker shape & great rebound) for any distance, honestly. In longer ultras the limiting factor is muscle damage and I think the Vista are the best at solving that. As for grip, I never slipped on loose dirt and packed mud, but hopefully they fare better than the Ultraventure 4 did on mossy rocks and boardwalks (where the only runner in the group who kept slipping was me while wearing the Ultraventure 4 a few weeks ago on with a brand new pair)

I’ve been in these since release. I’m liking them for distance. I find myself in Mountain Racers for particularly scrambly days, where I’m not as secure with a big maxy sole. But for covering long distances they’ve become a favorite.

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.

It seems like Topo has been including wider versions in most models these days (Mtn Racer, Terraventure also have wide). I do think swapping out the insole could help gain me a couple mm of extra height, but unfortunately the Vista was just the wrong shape for my foot aside from that. Thankfully my local trails are mostly dry, so the less-aggressive Ultraventure outsole isn't much of an issue, but for the times I venture up into the mountains I do wish they had a bit more bite.

For me they feel higher in the arch. I have got them for a Ultra this weekend(76 km 2700 D+) but the last 3 hours much pain under my arch…. Not nice. Never had this experience with mtn 3. Such a shame this was my hope for longer ultra distances.

Have a look at ultra shoes that are built for long distance. I've got Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx which are alright, great on road actually but wet grip isn't the best. The Topo Vista is meant to be really comfortable if you're not doing anything too technical.

currently in tears because my new MTN racers didnt arrive before my trip to the NE 😂 I did get a pair of vistas too to try but not sure how I'll feel with full stack on new trails (to me)

I actually really like the Vista for technical terrain in my home region of SW Colorado, and when I saw someone who just finished a local hundred miler through very technical terrain, I asked them their opinion and they said it was their new favorite shoe by far. I will say I loved the Mtn Racer 3 and had several pair. The 4 feels beefier, and maybe less plush, but I am running very technical trails in in regularly and am getting used to it.

I also recently got the shoe and took it on some shorter runs, but I'm planning on using it for an upcoming 50K. It is definitely the softest and responsive trail Topo I have tried (I have the MTN Racer and Ultraventure). I have not had as much issue with rolling my ankles, which I have been prone to with some other shoes, but that could be a case by case issue. The toebox is less spacious than other Topo shoes, but still wider than average, and the midfoot is wider than most Topo shoes imo, which I think helps with the stability for me. Great traction of course with the Vibram Megagrip outsole. Basically a combination of the two other shoes from them I enjoy, but with a much upgraded ZipFoam midsole.

I backpack and trail run. I recently moved into topo vista and wow they are unbelievable comfortable and breathable. The vista are a max cushion shoe that has been the most comfortable out of the box shoe I have worn of the topo series. They’re very comfortable under foot and have a medium to stiff flex -I would say 7.5 out of 10 and you will not feel rocks through the bottom. Even after mountain backpacking a dozen miles over very steep rocky trails my toes are never sore or cramped feeling. Typically at the end of a backpacking day I immediately put my flip-flops on, but I noticed i had no rush to take my shoes off immediately the last 2 trips because my feet have been so comfortable. The shoe does not feel too big or unstable for me size 13 190lbs. My arch and toes are so happy in these shoes. The upper material is on the thinner side and you can see a colored sock through the shoe face fabric which is concerning, but I have not had any issues so far. My other previous favorite shoe was the hokka speed goat. I think these have one of the best grips of any shoe. They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. However, I like how stable they are on rough terrain and they are extremely durable. I feel maybe 20% more confidence on sketchy water crossings or log crossing because the stackstock height is lower and the traction and stability is better. I would trade this for the insane comfort of the topos vista and the critical foam insert. I’ve got well over 1000 miles out of a pair and they still have grip and the uppers are in great shape but after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%.

I’ve noticed topo changed the design of the protective rubber around the toe which exposes more fabric to abrasion . Also the fabrics has changed and looks like a new weak point on some models. I’m worried about my topo vista, good thing I bought them from REI and get free extended returns for up to a year. It seems like the previous generations of topo were designed better. I’ve heard a lot of folks having tears in same place as yours this year. I tried on a lot of different max cushion shoes in the Vista were by far the most comfortable of anything I put on my feet put right now I have less than 200 miles on them so we will see how they hold up. My hoka speedgoats have well over 2000 miles now - some day hiking, trail running, but mostly backpacking. The outer fabric and stitching still looks excellent somehow with only a tiny rip by pinky toe. These things have been all over the desert of Sedona and Escalante. The outsole tread is basically bald in the midsole is flatter than a pancake. I’m surprised how they’re still holding up though especially after tons of hot baths and creek crossings. I only replaced them because there is no tread and the midsole cushion is gone and causing foot pain. The topo vista are definitely a step up for cushion comfort compared to the speedgoats and the uppers are not quite as rigid so they are more comfortable.

The prodigio shoes are supercritical foam top of the line. The cushion is amazing but the toe box was a little too small for me hiking in mountains and also backpacking with long 4000ft downhills over many miles. They would be fine for regular trails, just not 6 hour down climbs. I have got used to larger toe boxes. I love the hokka speedgoat 6 - one of the best shoes I’ve ever owned and I have over 1200 miles on a pair and the uppers are in execelent condition but the cushion is totally flat and my feet hurt after 10 miles.. I would recommend the speed goat 6. It’s extremely stable, bomb proof construction, and probably the best grip of any shoe I’ve ever worn. I have ordered the hokka speedgoat 6 (again) and topo athletic vista which are both max cushion shoes highly rated. The return shipping is typically free so I would recommend ordering a few pairs of shoes and trying them on in your house and choosing one to keep. Everyone’s foot is different!

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.

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!

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.

Both my Topos ripped open in under 400-miles this year. Never had that issue with Altra. One of the Topos didn’t even last 200

Seconding everyone saying Topos. I have short but wide feet (I call them my hobbit feet) to the point where a pair of On Clouds once made my feet bleed on an easy 10-mile jog by compressing them so severely, and Topos are the only shoes I'll wear (tried Altras but the 0-drop thing doesn't work for me).

I also got PF from dabbling in topos after being an Altra user for years. It's too bad because they are so much better in many respects but the arch just doesn't work for me.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 😅

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.