Topo Athletic - MTN Racer Series

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

I can imagine that the MTN Racers would be a good ultra shoe, I do own them but I've never ran an ultra, full disclaimer. But they are a wide and stable shoe with plenty of cushion, but not so much that they lack any ground feeling. The vibram is super versatile too and they are surprisingly fine on less technical segments of trail or even the odd road link up.

I have the MTN Racer 3 and overall I like the shoe, compared to other stuff I have they are a little softer and higher stack but despite this they have quite good ground feel and they are surprisingly usable on link up road and hardpack sections. I really like the Vibram soles, good for varied mixed terrain without feeling overkill. If i ordered a Topo trail shoe again, i would likely go half a size down, I find them a little wide for my feet which I don't think are the widest in the heel and midfoot. I've just ordered the Cyclone 2 and ordered half a size down but I will have to see. I am not a massive fan of the insoles with big arch support that Topo use, although very well made, the obvious flaw is that they just won't fit every different foot. Is anyone able to recommend a decent aftermarket insole for Topos?

Topo Athletic MTN Racer - 5mm drop, foot shaped with a huge toebox, vibram, mid-high stack, not the lightest but very durable and versatile. They also have 3 and 0mm drop shoes in the lineup. Otherwise would look at Inov8, Scarpa, Salomon. Scarpa Ribelle Run or similar could be good although I haven't tried them. Or Salomon Thundercross. If you get on with zero drop then Inov8, maybe Altra.

I had the Inov8 Trailfly 270s (I think they still make but renamed to something else) which are 0mm drop and pretty anatomical, maybe not as much as Altra/Topo. I probably didn't appreciate just how good these shoes were until I tried several others. Very nice fit and forget trail shoes that just worked on most surfaces. They don't have big lugs though so not a mud specialist. I also have the X-talon 212 - probably a better tool for the job being more of a fell/bog shoe with big lugs. They have excellent ground feel. I don't think that they are as wide or foot-shaped as other Inov-8s though you would maybe have to size up. They aren't particularly cushioned which I like but depending on what you are used to maybe not for long distances - you'll maybe feel beat up coming from Hokas. I haven't tried myself yet, but I think that on paper the new Inov-8 Mud Talons could fit the bill really well? Scarpa also have some stuff that could work well. I now have the Topo MTN Racer 3s also. Again a pretty good all-rounder, they aren't actually very racey, more of a plod shoe. Good vibram sole (possibly the same as your Topos). I like them but don't love them as much as I thought that I would. I could see them working for long mixed surface runs though.

I have Topo Mountain racer 3. Light weight, cushion, arch support and Vibram soles

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 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).

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

As a former Altra fanboy, which included several pairs of LPs, I can vouch for the Mtn Racer 3. Much more durable, the sole/traction is infinitely better, wide toe box, and just an overall more secure feeling shoe. I am much more confident running/racing on the trails in my Topo’s than I was in Altra’s, and they’ve lasted much longer.

My friend, it was truly excruciating on the trail - I'm so glad someone else has experienced it! Both the MTN Racer and the Terraventure gave me grief. I managed to solve it on The West Highland Way with the toe caps. I've ordered the GOATs half a size up. Did you go wide or standard?

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

Topo Terraventures and Mtn Racers are also great trail shoes with a wide toe box. Low drop but not zero drop, so an easier transition from Brooks. And Topos last way longer than Altras in my experience. Was only getting 400 miles on Altras and I get close to 600 miles on Topos.

Based on your likes/dislikes I’d recommend Topo Mtn Racers. Great shoe. Wide toe box, grippy on terrain, and more cushion than Altras while still maintaining some feel of the ground.

I’m a big fan of the Topo MTN Racer 3. I haven’t tried the MTN Racer 4 yet. Just did a 20 mile trail race on similar terrain and the shoes were fantastic. They have similar drop and a similar toe box and mid foot to the Altra Experience Wild.

The 4s already came out! Got them during REI’s anniversary sale and they’ve been fantastic. Just wish the cushioning was a little softer for extremely long rocky trails

You might have luck with Brooks Catamount or Cascadias! They both are fairly narrow and have a protective rock plate. I also love Topo Mtn Racers- they have a wider toe box but are narrower everywhere else, and they have vibram soles with great traction. As a general heads up, I have narrow feet too and swear by heel lock lacing- it’s been a game changer and prevents a lot of heel slipping!

My podiatriast recommended I try Topo shoes because I have bunions and other forefoot issuss. I bought the Mountain Racer. They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. My feet haven't felt so good in years.

I have no idea where you’re hearing that altra are the gold standard, they’re usually recommended only if you need one or more of 0 drop, minimal, or wide toe box bc there are few options in those spaces. Durability issues are usually listed as their main draw back.  Personally I feel theyre somewhat overblown, as I’d always get 350-400 miles out of mine before the sides blew out.  However, that still makes them worse than all other brands I use; which almost all get 500 and I’ll stop using bc of comfort or bounce, not bc the sides explode. The newer timps have much better vibram outsoles, they’re super grippy.  Or you can try the topo mountain racer 3 if you’re not stuck on 0 drop, they’re a great shoe and durable too.

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

I've used both, Speedgoats for about 4000 miles, Topos (Ultraventure Pro and Mtn Racer) for over 1000. Each of them have their up and down sides. Speedgoats are a lot narrower at the front, so even a wide isn't as wide in the footbox as a Topo, and the heel is wider for the (wide) Speedgoats, so some have issues with slipping. I've given up on Topos though because of toe and arch issues. I guess my feet don't bend like the makers of Topo expect them to, so I end up in pain after 150 miles. Speedgoats roll easier and are softer where the balls of the feet are, which takes a lot of strain off my feet (though that is, unfortunately, not as pronounced anymore as is used to be with older models). Speedgoats are probably going to counteract the lifting of your toe, but you'll have to try if it really works for you, or if the footbox is still too low.

Hoka Speedgoat are pretty squishy. I just switched to topo mtn and they hard af, miss the Hokas.

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.

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

Yeah, you sound like a perfect candidate for topo, Mtn racer specifically. They have good lockdown around the heel and forefoot and roomier in the toe box. Also someone else mentioned the Altra experience wild (low drop, not zero drop). I have the road version of that shoe and I’m pretty happy with it

That is awesome! I am glad it helped with your hip pain. I really liked the LP7. I went through 8 or 9 pairs before I couldn’t find them anymore. 😭 it’s what started my shoe spiral. I really struggled to transition to the LP9. I ended up in Topos. I like the ultraventure for less technical stuff and the MTN racer for more technical stuff. Turns out 4-5 mm of drop was what I needed. Switched about 5 months ago and it seemingly resolved all lingering issues.

I love them because they are grippy but they hold SO MUCH WATER. They are not waterproof, but they don’t drain very well. I wish they drained better. I also like the topo ultraventure for less technical terrain.

Currently IMO: Tarkine Trail Devil 2 > Topo MNTN Racer 3 > Altra Lone Peak The Tarkines feel a lot like SpeedGoats with a wider toe box and the grip isn't as good in the wet, not bad, just not as sticky as the Vibram sole on the Hokas. I did 100km race in the Topos, and they're fine in a rotation, just prefer the Tarkines. The Altras are just a bit lifeless, but I don't get blisters in them because of the toebox, so better than a standard shoe if I run long.

I've pretty much followed the same path as you and for over 100km: Tarkine Trail Devil 2 > Topo Mtn Racer 3 > Lone Peaks Although I think the LPs have the most forgiving shape and just this week, I got a pair of **Altra Experience Wild**, which are the standard Altra shape (LP are Original shape shape) but much bigger stack height and 4mm offset. They also take the Altra gaiter system, which I really like, so these may get to the top of the list- just need to get some runs in them. So, if you kinda like the LPs but want a bit more, these might be an option for you.

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 😂

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!

Topo mountain racers have some stability elements and wide. Probably worth a try. I personally love them as someone with duck feet and some arch issues from a previous injury

La sportiva prodigios. Spacious toe box, deep heel cup, plenty of cushion but a firm ride, and great traction like all la sportiva shoes. My holy grail. The topo mtn racers are nice too

I’m seeing the topo suggestions and maybe they’re your best bet.. but. I hate topo. I just had some cyclones that ripped across the side and didn’t fit my midfoot (likely caused the rip) yet were sloppy at the same time on road downhills. Mtn racer 2’s were foot friendly, but sloppy on tech stuff. Kept my toes safe if I really tied them down tight. Have read the 3’s are even wider and sloppier and refused to try them, but I would have purchased the 2’s again if they didn’t change. I have wide feet, especially the mid foot, but my toes aren’t as wide. This year I’ve used the Zegama 1 and 2, the 2 fit better and were decent, but not my favorite shoes. Also have scarpa ribelle runs and spin ultras that are ok. If I had to grab a shoe tomorrow and do 100K, I would break down and cry ha. My feet suck for every shoe. Need wide, but need secure. Agree that Salomon in wide do work well for me though! They just don’t have models I like. Edit to add: everyone’s idea of technical is different. For me, it’s hopping across rocks, loose gravel, and having to literally “tiptoe” across some sections. When I lived in a less technical area, every shoe worked great!

Topo Athletic [https://www.topoathletic.com/activities/go-trail](https://www.topoathletic.com/activities/go-trail) are worth considering if you like Altra, and I've had 6 pair of Altra.

Topo MTN racer 3!

My Topo MTN racer 3’s felt very good. Widest toe box on any shoe I have, but no issues with the fit. Just a roomy toe box for happy toes

I had a couple pairs of the old lone peaks that lasted forever but never really had adequate traction, then I had the Olympus which I still have but they’re yardwork shoes after 250ish miles. They also never had the traction I was looking for. Then I went through 2 pairs of Timp 5s which had the traction but the first pair fell apart at 80 miles and the second pair at 140. 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. Returned them and got Lone Peak 9+ and I’m praying they last 300 miles.

I prefer relatively light weight low to medium stack shoes with cushioning on the medium-firm side like the Peregrine, Torrent, and Topo MT. There are lower stack and lighter shoes out there but the above are just the ones I've used and liked. Most snow in my area is soft even when packed so shoe cushioning isn't needed. Lower stack for better balance, firmer cushioning for less energy loss to the ground so it doesn't feel like I'm slowing down too much. Light weight to partially offset the penalty of spikes/traction device for snow that is hard frozen and slippery.

Topos are slightly less disappointing in terms of durability. 

Not a fan of the swallow tail heel design, but definitely excited to hear that it’s fairly similar to previous models. MTN Racers have kept my feet in incredible condition for every ultra I’ve done. I just wish they’d use TPU for the *midsole* (like Triumph 20s) since, in my experience, it compresses way more gracefully than any other material. Cause my only complaint about Topos is that I can feel my footprint already smashed into the shoe after a long race with little expansion afterward.

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.

I wear the TOPO mountain racer - it is waterproof which I love and hate. Your feet will heat up quicker but stay dry. When I’m wearing my HOKA Speedgoats, I always wear wool socks - preferring Darn Tough these days.

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

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

Just got some Topo Mtn Racers and can confirm they are wide and very grippy. Work as well as my UltraRaptors (wide) on steep slabs, but actually run-able with a bit less stability. My Speedgoat 5s were also really grippy and plenty wide for me in normal but sized up .5 (I always do this).

Hoka Speedgoat 5 and Topo Mtn Racer 2

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.

+1 for topo mtn racers

Not necessarily. My first pair of Topo Mountain Racer 2s had issues with the uppers separating from the midsole after less than 100 miles. Got reimbursed from Topo, but I’ve had issues with the shoelace eyelets tearing in my pair of the 3s. Seems few shoes are durable anymore.

Not necessarily. My first pair of Topo Mountain Racer 2s had issues with the uppers separating from the midsole after less than 100 miles. Got reimbursed from Topo, but I’ve had issues with the shoelace eyelets tearing in my pair of the 3s. Seems few shoes are durable anymore.

I'm heavier and the SG5s are my go-tos. Also been liking the Topo MTN racer 3 of late

I’m 280 miles in on my MTN Racer 3 and probably 40% of those miles with a 25-40lb pack/ruck weight. Sharp granite and volcanic trails with death marbles galore. Quite a bit of talus scramble and 3/4 class chose. Pretty sure they’ll make it to 350, maybe 400. The 5mm lugs are amazing. Kinda looking hard at Topo Vista for the stack height and those 8+ hour days.

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.

South Sister is pretty mild technically, just recommend some gaiters to keep the scree out. Ive been a huge fan of the Salomon Genesis, Topo Mountain Racer, but what fits your foot is the individual question.

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 Athletic MTN Racers are the best I’ve found for running on tech trails so far. It’s like they took the best qualities of the Altra Lone Peak and Hoka Speedgoat and made a well cushioned, Vibram soled, wide toe box, minimal drop trail runner with decent toe bumpers and breathable upper

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 love Topo but agree the ultra venture doesn't have a lot "life" in it's cushion - it lasts but isn't boing-y . The topo phantom is my go to for long road runs and I've been happy with the Altra Olympus 5 for trail and road long runs. The topo mountain racer is pretty sweet, I've mileaged my last pair out and am waiting for sales - it's light weight and decent cushion : ))

I’d second the Topo recommendation. I ran in Cascadias and had what sounds like exactly the same issues you mentioned. After looking at Run Repeat’s lab analysis of the Topo Mtn Racer 3 and finding that they are actually about a 7mm drop I decided to try them. Great so far!

I have the Mtn Racer and it's great. 5mm drop and very comfortable. I only have a couple hundred miles on them so I'm not able to speak to durability, but I did do a really rocky, messy 30 K in them and they held up really well for that.

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 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.

Another Topo guy, here. I've had three pairs of MNT Racer 3's and the Ultraventure 4's. I have very wide feet and a very high arch. I get what people are saying about the arch support being a little too much, but, man...they fit me perfectly. I LOVE the arch. And the toe room is luxurious! 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. I'm running the OM 100K in Washington State (14,300' miles of elevation gain) in a few weeks in a new pair of Racer 3's and a broken-in pair of Ultraventure 4s) Point is: I love these shoes and I think they are worth a look. Tough as nails; I feel very protected and more confident in my footing. And there's something about how they lace that I just love. Hard to explain, just feel secure. Personally, I'd try the Racer 4's (but you can get a good deal on the 3's and you probably won't know the difference). *(FWIW: I was a die-hard Altra guy until they got too narrow in the toe box.)*

Another Topo guy, here. I've had three pairs of MNT Racer 3's and the Ultraventure 4's. I have very wide feet and a very high arch. I get what people are saying about the arch support being a little too much, but, man...they fit me perfectly. I LOVE the arch. And the toe room is luxurious! 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. I'm running the OM 100K in Washington State (14,300' miles of elevation gain) in a few weeks in a new pair of Racer 3's and a broken-in pair of Ultraventure 4s) Point is: I love these shoes and I think they are worth a look. Tough as nails; I feel very protected and more confident in my footing. And there's something about how they lace that I just love. Hard to explain, just feel secure. Personally, I'd try the Racer 4's (but you can get a good deal on the 3's and you probably won't know the difference). *(FWIW: I was a die-hard Altra guy until they got too narrow in the toe box.)*

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!

Former Boulderite relocated to southeast. Couldn't make Sportivas work with my foot shape and switched to Topo Mtn Racer 3, works great.

Have you ran in the early MTN racers? I have had issues with rolled ankles other than the MTN racer 1 which I has so so so many with, and have steered clear of TOPO since. Wondering if there has been been a change in stability since then

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

The Topo Mtn is a bit rough for sure on road but I love them so much I will wear them for a 50/50 trail/road long run. I can’t run at all with good form in my 1080s after using Topo and Altra for so long.

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 use Mt Racer too, have two pair. Love them.

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

Huge fan of the Topo Athletic Mountian Racer 3’s. Did a Grand Canyon rim2rim2rim with a pair that had maybe 120miles on em before and not a blister in sight! Ymmv but I love em. Edit: I also came from runnin in the speedgoats

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.

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.

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.

I use Topo MTN Racer shoes. In Australia they're not cheap, but no more than all the other brands. Uphill running is just hard work. Don't try to race it (yet) just short steps and grind your way up. Yes your legs and lungs will burn, but that's the overload that is necessary to get the strength and fitness. Downhill running needs care and technique to avoid injury from falling. Run with short quick steps. Try not to put the brakes on to slow yourself because that actually needs MORE traction, which is in limited supply on steep hills. You have to run with gravity a bit. It's scary. You need the short steps so you can change direction to dodge bad spots or find the less slippery spots. Good luck! Enjoy your trail running, it's worth it!

Topo Mountain Racer ftw

I get 1200km out of Topo Mountain Racers before the Vibram has lost most of its grip

I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form). I haven't tried the Vistas yet. What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?

I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form). I haven't tried the Vistas yet. What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?

I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form). I haven't tried the Vistas yet. What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?

I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form). I haven't tried the Vistas yet. What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?

Check out Topo Athletic's MTN Racer v4 - great grip, good cushioning, 33mm heel height/5mm drop, long life, neutral/supportive.

Topo Mtn Racer v4 for the win!

Topo Mtn Racer v4 for the win!

It really depends on the model. I’ve got the MTN Racer 2 and it’s stiff but plentiful. Works really well on trail but is a bit harsh on paved roads. I’ve tried a pair of Phantom 2 as well and they were really nice. Firmer than my Clifton 8 but with plenty of cushion. 

Norda 001s for everything. I have a wide forefoot and they are comfortable even with double layer socks for ultras. If you’re looking for wide toe box but not 0 drop look at Topo Athletic. The Mtn Racer is an excellent shoe with a 5 mm drop for racing and if you’re looking for a long distance cruiser the Ultraventure is excellent. I use their road shoes and the fit is fantastic.

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.

Topo is your answer. Norda also great buy spendy

Hows the durability on the front top and inside arch? I've got Mountain Racer 3s because I can do rope climbs during Spartan races and not shred them to bits.

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.

I had a pair of the MTN racer a long time ago, and I found that my heels slipped unbearably, very different than the other Topos which I really liked. Have not tried the terraventure but I've definitely been eyeing them, along with the Norda 001.

The original Mtn Racer (2018-2019) was so clutch. Then they changed the soles and I lost interest...

Have you looked at S/LAB Genesis, or the new La Sportiva Prodigio Pro? I've got 497 miles in my first S/LAB Genesis pair and still have them. Prodigio Pro is one of my top picks so far in 2025. Kjerag is very minimal underfoot - don't expect anywhere near Speedgoat level of cushion or protection with those. That's a completely different type of shoe. I just tested the MTN Racer 4 and I don't think it's a great update. There's a lot of protection underfoot but it got heavier and lost a lot of flexibility.

I would try them on because everyone has a different foot but I have a pretty large Haglund's on one foot (and likely a little less extreme one on the other - never x-rayed though) and really like the Salomon Ultra Glide (wide), Topo Mtn Racer, just got a pair of the Nike Zegama. I don't know if I would call the heel counter soft (certainly not a shoe expert) but there is padding in the heel which in my case keeps the bump from getting too irritated. YMMV.

Topo mtn racer 3, by far my favourite and I have quite a feeling to choose from

Yeah last count was over 20 pairs As for my favourite, that would be a use case scenario For PB's it'll be my Puma nitro fast r or takumi sen 8 For a road to trail shoe Topo ultraventure 3, very comfy and supportive whilst not being slow just a good all rounder As for a daily it was the og prime x, didn't love the X2 but either way they rarely come out as I have injury issues, which keep me from using them much as I love them Topo mtn racer 3 for trails, or inov8 g270 trailfly when is a short run and I feel the need for speed Anything else?

I switched from Altras LPs to Topo Mountain Runner 3s this year. Quality seems better (don’t get those blow out like I did with almost every pair of LPs I ever had) and the fit is just as good. They do have a little drop, but I didn’t really notice it.

Wore LP8 for a Hundo last year…wore them through like mile 75 and made the mistake of putting on a pair of hoka mafate for the last part. Trashed my feet. I switched to Topo MR3 this year and so far like them. Did 50k and 100k so far…hundred miler coming up in early August and I’ve also been looking at something with some additional cushion. Lot of my friends use the speedlands…maybe I’ll give them a shot.

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.

Hoka mafate speed 4, topo mtn racer

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.

Trail: Saucony Xodus Ultra, Topo Mt Racer, Brooks Cascadia Road: Saucony Speed, Brooks Ghost, Hilma Anywhere

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

Ive been using the new topo mtn racer. Definitely feels like a pretty cushioned shoe even if its not. I like the firmness of my old topo traverse better. But imo topo make amazing shoes and their durability is crazy. Have 1000km+ on my old topos and they still feel great

I use Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3. But they do have a drop, but with a wide toe box.

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.

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

Topo Athletic - i prefer MTN Racer 3s (4s are coming out soon) and they have other models that are solid too. As for your ankles if you have a balance board use it if youre not. You can go barefoot and place one foot in front of the other (or sorta overlapping if this is too hard) and close your eyes, put your hands out so they can touch a wall or a piece of furniture and move your head side to side. how unstable are you? Just switch your feet out and do that regularly and thatll help all the tiny balance muscles in your feet/ankle as well.

Topos are the better Altras. Try those. MTN Racer 3s are good all around shoes for trails.

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

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 used to be an Altra guy, just ran a trail 50k in the Topo Mtn Runner 3s. Really quite nice. Better grip than my Ultraventures for sure.

I have been absolutely loving my Nnormal Kjerag, including long days on rugged mountain terrain. They’re amazing. Moving even further in that direction, the Tomir 2.0 looks like a really strong contender. Others to look at would be something like a La Sportiva cyclon, Salomon Genesis (but I don’t love Salomon’s rubber), etc. What part of your Speedgoats are trashed? The upper? Outsole? Something else? My other favorite outsole for mountain terrain is a Topo Athletic MTN Racer. I still have a pair of the first version with the ripstop nylon and those are awesome. But for uppers, you want something ideally with a Matryx or similar material.

Wait for the Topo Vista. The mountain racer is the closest thing to the Atmos right now, but it's lower stack height and more firm (it's what I use by the way). The Vista is purposefully similar to the Atmos in terms of cushioning. Topo > Altra unless you want zero drop. Norda won't have the cushioning you're looking for.

+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

Trail: Norda 001 x2 Nike Zegama 1 Nike Zegama 2 Nike Ultrafly Topo MTN Racer 2 Saucony Endorphin Edge Salomon Ultra Glide Road: Hoka Clifton 9 Topo Atmos Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

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.

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

I tried out topo mtn racers which can be found around $100. They are low drop, wide ball/toe box. They were super comfortable, I think my foot was just in a weird zone between sizes which was the only reason I didn't go for them. I did go with Brooks Cascadias which aren't as low to the ground and have an 8mm drop. but I found the toe box pleasantly wide, and I did 40+ miles over a couple days in them with no issue. If you order from Brooks ReStart you can get used ones for half the price of new ones, mine were $70. Just sort by "Like New" and you'll get ones people did nothing more than try on before returning. I see a lot of people recommend xero for their hiking shoes if you are accustomed to barefoot/zero drop, they have a couple pairs of trail shoes on sale for around $75 right now.

Topo Mtn Racer 3 have worked well for me.

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

Topo MTN Racer 3 or La Sportiva Jackal 2 would be my personal choices for cushioned mountain running. Lots of good choices out there - try before you buy.

I used to run in speedgoats. I have a pair of topo ultraventures and topo mtn racers. I like both. The ultraventure is squishier but not as much traction for steep wet trails. Mtn racer has been great. My runs are 10-13 miles 3-5000’ of gain on trail. So far pretty durable compared to the hoka. I always ripped the upper on the hokas. The topos have a Wider toe box.

I went with the Mtn Racer 4 and love them for summer hiking in the Rocky Mountains. I felt the Ultraventure didn’t provide the feel of stability which I seek. Ultraventure had great cushion but didn’t quite cup my foot so that I felt secure. For reference before these ToPo Mtn racers I hike a lot in Salomon XA Pro 3D for very difficult hikes (according to my old knees and bones).

ToPo brand Mtn Racer 4 model are my go to hiking trail shoes in the summer If super rugged terrain Salomon XA Pro 3D

ToPo yes! Mtn Racer 4 for me. Phantom for my daily gym shoe and walks.

Totally echo Salomon XA Pro 3D wear them on the more technical trails in the Rocky Mountains Wasatch Mountain Range ToPo brand Mtn Racer 4 hiking shoes are my faves as well.

As a wide footer... Try an Ellis Brigham or Up& Running for some Inov8 Trailfly, they're pretty wide apparently but weren't wide enough for me. After that try Altra, but they're zero drop. I didn't really get on with them on the treadmill. I'd recommend Topo MTN Racer 3. They've got a wide forefront and are the best fitting running shoe I've had for my feet.

Definitely check out Topo, who have a similar toe box to Altra. I've been using the MTN Racer 3 which have been great, they're 5mm drop though.

What are you doing? Just getting started, or really long runs? I'd say the Topo MTN Racer 3 (which might be getting discounted due to 4 coming out) or they're about to release the Topo Vista which is a cushioned one. The MTN Racer is my main one, I think it's a good option for you if you're starting out.

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.

This is what I do all of my races in, however you have to lock the heal in so that foot doesn’t slide. In super technical stuff I get a bit of lateral sliding but that will happen with almost all shoes.

Or Topo Mtn Racers. Went from SG to these and loving the Topos

The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro sounds like it'll fit what you want (but perhaps size up 1/2 size). It's a fun shoe that's well made, bouncy, and good for easy or faster trail efforts across all distances. The Hoka Speedgoat 6 is OK, but nothing standout either. I've also enjoyed the Topo MTN Racer 3 and Arc'teryx Norvan LD 4.

They’re not exciting, but no shoes have protected my feet as well as my wide Brooks Cascadias. I have the new ones now after previously owning the 16s. My main issue with the 16s was they felt flat after about 150 miles. I haven’t hit that many miles in the new ones yet. I loved wearing my Topo Mtn Racer 3 but I’m pretty sure I need a smaller size because my pair gave me a lot of issues at my ultra. Cascadias have never given me a single foot issue.

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.

Topo mtn racer might scratch that itc h if you've got wide feet like me

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.

The feeling of your heel "hanging off the edge of the insole" was to the medial or lateral side? For me the v3 always felt like it was pushing my heel toward the medial side, and do this day it's the only shoe that I've ever overpronated in. My solution was to take the heel of the insole and literally move it so it would be almost half of its width off-center, medially, to push my heel outward. It was super awkward and never made sense to me how the shoe fit like that.

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.

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.

Topo Mtn Racer. I had a very narrow shoes before, but this was very comfy. Ran a few ultras in them. Lasted like 1200km.

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

I’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

Topo mtn racer ! They have a wide toe box and a reasonable drop … I find them perfect for dry or mountain races (if it’s very muddy then the saucony peregrine but not durable at all)

This is amazing to hear from a fellow TBI survivor and kudos to you for continuing your running. For your trail feedback a shoe with a minimal stack of cushion underfoot typically gives the best feedback. But you also should consider that most thin or minimal shoes might also have a rock plate in them but also if the cushioning is soft or firm it will influence the feedback with firmer usually being better feedback. Zero drop being the answer for feedback is flat out wrong. Zero drop does not equal less foam underfoot, case in point is the Altra Olympus. Very high stack and stiff shoe with zero drop. Also the minimal shoe won’t offer you protection so be mindful of how long you might be able to run in the shoe even while you are slowly getting used to the minimal protection. Consider that even if there is a great option for the minimal shoe that fits the bill for your ground feedback but doesn’t allow you to run even 50% of the length of runs you’d like to be running, well than that is kind of a useless option. I think having a shoe that fits your foot better and better communicates where the shoe is on your foot also outweighs the pure ground feedback as it is more predictable of shoe. Totally my bias but I have fit shoes at Running stores for 15+ years so I’m going to be at least a little biased. Most trail shoes now have Vibram outsole which is really the benchmark for other brands to match. I have personally had multiple pairs of Saucony trail shoes with their Powertrack outsole have every bit as good as traction as Vibram. From Saucony, I believe the Peregrine to have great trail feedback in addition to the Powertrack outsole. Also the traction from Salomon Contagrip is widely regarded as equitable to Vibram. From Salomon, their S-lab pulsar 3 is a fantastic shoe with fairly minimal cushioning, and a firmer cushion that also relays feedback well. I know Inov8 is well regarded for their grip with incredibly tall lugs, sometimes 6-8mm lugs, but those super tall lugs feel like shit on anything but very soft ground that they can dig into. Think about what kind of dirt you have and that will also play a part in the lugs that will grip better. Inov8 definitely fits the category for tall lugs and minimal cushioning for several of their shoes. Altra Maxtrack outsole has been fine but I’ve found it to be not quite up to par with Vibram/Contragrip/Powertrak. Altra with Vibram outsoles has been good but definitely shoot for a lower stack that you can run with and put the mileage you would like to run in. Topo Mtn Racer with Vibram outsole is great grip but might leave trail feedback be desired. I find Topo to fit more locked in overall than Altra. Hoka Zinal is a great minimal trail shoe but leaves traction to be desired unless you have quite hard pack dirt. Hope this helps. Thank you for reading my novel. I apologize

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 👍

Try em all on. I didn’t like the Lone Peaks (NorthEast USA) cause of all the rocks/boulders; I like more cushion. If trail isn’t too bad, you should be good fine. For the breathability aspect, just do not get ones that say GTX, those are waterproof and don’t breathe. I just went through a pair of Topo MNTN Racer 4’s and the material near my big toe and pinky toe were ripping at the creases after only 125 miles. Good luck and happy hiking!

My preferred Topo shoe is the Mtn Racer 3. Just bought a new pair on closeout for $100.

Topo UltraVenture 4 for long runs (not great grip for mud though!) and Mountain Racer 3 for shorter / technical or muddy runs.

How do you find the Mtn Racer 3 on rock and root filled technical trails? I see it doesn't have a rock plate.

After hours of exhaustive research, I did end up ordering a pair of Topo Mtn Racer 3s. I had a list of requirements, and didn't find one single shoe among 16 brands that filled all of them. So I had to give a little bit, and ordered the Topos and the Inov8 Trailtalon. Thanks for the input!

After hours of exhaustive research, I did end up ordering a pair of Topo Mtn Racer 3s. I had a list of requirements, and didn't find one single shoe among 18 brands that filled all of them. So I had to give a little bit, and ordered the Topos and the Inov8 Trailtalon. Thanks for the input!

After hours of exhaustive research, I did end up ordering a pair of Topo Mtn Racer 3s. I had a list of requirements, and didn't find one single shoe among 18 brands that filled all of them. So I had to give a little bit, and ordered the Topos and the Inov8 Trailtalon. Thanks for the input!

I like the Topo Mtn Racer on rugged terrain.

This season I changed from the Brooks Cascadia - 33mm/25mm stack height to the Topo MTN Racer 3 - 33mm/28mm stack height. I've been very happy with the change. I have about 160 trail miles on the first pair including back to back 20 mile runs on very technical trail, and all was well. This last weekend I raced a trail half marathon in them - and again all very good. I plan to wear a lightly-broken-in new pair for Superior 100 in a month. In my shoe change research, my requirements were wide toe box, mid-stack, not zero drop, capable of technical terrain, and a rock plate. I settled on three finalists, and ended up with the MTN Racer - which does not have a rock plate but it's been fine thus far. Edit: changed 32 to 33 in the MTN Racer 3 stack height.

My other two finalists were Norda 001 and Inov8 Trailtalon. I ordered all three shoes, and ran a few circles around my house. My initial favorite was the Topos. The Nordas I wasn't sold on the upper, and was nervous about the ankle rub reviews. The Trailtalons, to me, didn't feel like as wide of a toebox as advertised, and the outer sole felt very narrow. Then I had a professional gait analysis and I brought all three shoes for her to watch me run in. I put on the Topos first, she watched me run, and she said "that's the shoe for you - we don't even need to try the other two." I had a list of requirements, and studying up on about 17 brands and \~50 models of trail shoes, I couldn't find one pair that checked all my boxes. I filled four pages in my journal on my studies, and scrubbed [runrepeat.com](http://runrepeat.com) until I decided that what I wanted didn't exist. So I settled on giving up the rock plate. FWIW, I did also buy a pair of Topo Traverse - which adds a rock plate and has a lower stack than the MTN Racer - but I haven't ran in them yet. Plan to use them on a mountain hiking trip in a couple weeks. Also, Topo changed up the shape of the heel cup from the MTN Racer 3 to 4. I haven't tried the 4s yet, but with a new pair of 3s on the shelf, I'm good for the 2025 fall season.

I switched to Topo Mtn Racer 3 early this summer, and just ran Superior 100 in them. They performed great on the endless roots and rocks, which were mostly wet. Awesome grip. Yea, my feet are sore 2 days later, but no blisters, not going to lose any toenails. I'm so glad I moved to these shoes. Given your requirements, I'd suggest giving these a try. ETA: I also used them for a trail half marathon, and pushing the speed in them was very comfortable as well.

Maybe Topo Mtn Racer 4 wide? (Mtn Racer 3 doesn’t come in a wide, but the 4 does).

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.

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

Which Topo? I like my MTN Racer 3s but I feel like they give me absolutely NOTHING back.

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've just moved to wider toe boxes. I was a Salomon Speedcross 6 Wide fan, but really they aren't that wide, they just allow stretching and don't restrict your feet like others. Durability has been great through, I've hit 666km and there's some wear on the inside of the heel where my sock rubs. It's rubbed off the first layer and left a wee hole, but I don't notice it while running so I still occasionally use them. What I've done is screenshot my retired gear in Garmin so you can see the distances I got to on the shoes. I've either retired them because of lack of tread or a tear inside or out that's compromised the shoe. Hey, I like getting my money's worth! Here's the screenshot: [https://flic.kr/p/2qTBaV7](https://flic.kr/p/2qTBaV7) Brooks and Salomon have done me well, but as I say I'm trying out wide toe boxes in an effort to help with the heel pain I've been getting for years. I've recently bought Altra Experience Wild and Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3. Both feel great, although the Topo has some great arch support in there, but haven't cranked up the distances yet.

Take a look at topo athletic. I haven’t put miles on the trail running shoes I bought from them yet (MTN racer 3, 5mm drop), but I switched to them for road running because I needed a wide toe box but needed more cushion and arch support than the Altras I used to run with. I have 200+ running miles each on two of their road running shoes (Fli-lyte 3mm drop and Magnifly (zero drop) ) as well as 200+ mixed walking/running miles on the 5mm drop Phantom 3s. Started with the phantom 3s and Walkhero insoles from amazon for extra arch support to help me recover from Plantar fasciitis. Your preferences in terms of width (wide feet, but not enough for wide sizes) and arch support sound somewhat similar to mine. So if you order a bunch of shoes to try on from amazon, they maybe worth a look. Worth noting if you find a shoe that suits you in all aspects aside from arch support you may be able to address that issue with aftermarket insoles.

On streets, I go with the Saucony Endorphin line. On trails, Topo MTN Racers or Hoka Speedgoat.

Topo MTN Racer 3 and Salomon Adv Skin.

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 😅

Have you tried any other Topos since having this issue? What do you normally run in? I seem to be having a very similar issue where my MTN Racer 3s push my foot to the inside, and this causes me to overpronate more than other shoes I’ve tried.

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

Recently used Topo Mtn Racer 3 worked great

Am running it to. Just finished Zion 100M using Topo Mtn Racer and will be doing same for Kodiak

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

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

Topo Mtn Racer and Topo Ultraventure are good trail options

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

LS Prodigio, Merrell Agility Peak and Topo MTN Racer as my go-tos. LS Bushido for techy shorter stuff. Saucony Peregrine ST for mud. Old pair of Cascadias with screws for the snow and ice.

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.

I really like my Topo MTN racers! Switched to them from Altra lone peaks and I find the toe box to be larger + way more comfy for my wide feet.

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).

Why not look for lighter options within Topo like the Mtn Racer or the Pursuit?

Another vote for Topo Athletic trail runners!! I have the women’s MTN Racer 3s, which I love, but the lack of a rock plate eventually started to bother me on long days of backpacking on rocky trails, so I added an aftermarket rock plate, and now they’re perfect!

Another vote for Topo.

Interesting. My mtn racer 3 ripped in 3 months. I'll try again. I like the feel of them so much and I dont want to give up

Topo athletic has a big toe box.

Love my topos too. Wide tow box is great

I have the Mtn Racer 3

Topo Ultraventure for cruising on smoother trails and Topo MTN Racer for a firmer ride and better grip on more technical terrain.

You will sacrifice speed with approach shoes so it depends if you want to hike or also do some running. I do everything in trail runners. I know people who bring climbing shoes for some objectives, but not the ones you mention. As long as your scrambling, I don't think you will need to bring more than 1 pair of shoes (bar if you do a snow/ice/glacier objective and want to bring mountaineering boots). Shoes I've worn: Salomon Sense Ride, Salomon Slab Genesis, Norda 001, Topo Mountain Racer. All give more more than enough grip and confidence on hard scrambles.

Topos could work for you. Or maybe they don't. Yes it's true they cater to wider feet. To be honest, for scrambling I do prefer a slightly more snug feel around my foot. Even if that gives me a slightly pinchy feeling. Too wide and your foot can slide around a bit in the shoes which you want to avoid. I got a pair of Altras this spring and while very comfortable, they absolutely suck on technical terrain. There are lots of shoes that are not narrow nor wide and that mould well to your specific foot. I have really enjoyed the Salomon Slab Genesis in that regard, but they're rather pricey and not super durable when you scramble a lot with them.

I had that problem too with my MTN Racer 3s, but what I did was just take the laces out and then begin the lacing on the second set of holes instead of the bottom. That worked like a charm. Might be worth a shot if it gets you into the outsole you want.

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

My Topo MTN Racer 2's are still going strong, tho I suspect they'll be due for retirement at some point in the not too distant future. Will probably go with another pair of Topo when the time comes.

Agree that Topo shoes are a good alternative. I got the Mtn Racer when switching from Altras.

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

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.

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 🤷

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

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 want to love mine but really struggle with them. The arch is so high, it took me 3-4 runs to lace them so the bottoms of my feet stopped going numb. The toe box seemed nice but even with a solid heel lock, my toenails are falling off for the first time from downhills. Just my 0.02 for anyone who might have had these issues and be looking into these shoes! They’ve got great grip and cushion for super technical and rocky stuff. I was wearing them mostly on dirt and gravel and recently took them to the mountains which definitely helped me like them more.

I’ve tried on a few shoes with higher stacks while looking for a softer and foamier ride and it feels really unstable to me. I’ve been rocking the ASICS Fuji Lite Trails and Topo Mtn Racer 3s which have nice cushion but not the aggressive drop and I like that middle ground. I tried on the Salomon “GRVL” shoe recently (idk the model) and I’m feeling like this style is going to get more popular. The stack was massive. It was kinda fun but I only tested it out of the door on the road and can’t imagine it working for me. Even the two-track I regularly run is steeper and rockier than they feel stable on.

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’ve taken my Topo MTN racer’s up Longs, Capitol, and multiple laps up Freeway on the 2nd flatiron. The wide toe box isn’t great for the class 5 moves on freeway but 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. I also use them as my primary on any technical trail run less than 8 miles and they’re great.

I already replied to the OP but yes I think that must have happened here. Take a look at your title- that's what people are responding to, because there aren't trail shoes that compensate for weak ankles. it sounds like you just need shoe recs and have had ankle concerns before though? You're right that better shoes will make a difference. Can you go somewhere and try on different pairs? my personal favorite for gnarly terrain are topo mountain racers.

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 have both. Mountain Racer 3 has a little more cushion and a 5mm drop IIRC. The Mountain Racer doesn't drain very well. The Pursuit 2 fits me a little better and seems to cause less rubbing on my heel. It drains better and is 0 drop. Both solid shoes, I'd probably give the Pursuit 2 a slight edge. Ultraventure 3 is solid as well. High cushion and 5mm drop.

I have both. Mountain Racer 3 has a little more cushion and a 5mm drop IIRC. The Mountain Racer doesn't drain very well. The Pursuit 2 fits me a little better and seems to cause less rubbing on my heel. It drains better and is 0 drop. Both solid shoes, I'd probably give the Pursuit 2 a slight edge. Ultraventure 3 is solid as well. High cushion and 5mm drop.

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.

MTN Racer is a good option as well. I have both. They are similar, but MTN Racer has more stack height and more aggressive lugs.

Try topo mountain racer 3.

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.

Just hit R3 in april with [these Topos](https://amzn.to/44VhBkg). Game changer for foot fatigue (compared to softer and/or thinner soled shoes). Put them on the day after and still felt great.

I have both the mtn racer 3 and ultraventure 3, i find them to have different applications mostly due to the outsole design. The ultraventure rubber has less coverage, shorter wider lugs, and is less tacky. Mtn racer 4 is coming out in May 2025, so there will be sweet discounts on the mtn racer 3 when that happens.

Took these out over the weekend for a 9 mile/1100 ft trail run here in Colorado. Typical CO hiking trails consisting mostly of dirt and rocks with the occasional root and sand section. Fit: This is my first topo and people are not lying about the shape of these. Shaped like a piece of pie. Narrow in the heel and rear midfoot and then just a voluminous palatial toe box. Reading the changes they made to the 4, it sounds like there was some heel slop in the 3 and that's certainly been fixed here. If anything, my heel feels like it could be hanging off the edge of the insole but it leads to a fit where my foot is locked in and never moved even with the wide toe box. Upper feels built out and solid and gave plenty of protection on toe strikes. Midsole: It's a 5mm drop shoe but oddly feels like a high drop shoe when just standing around on flat ground (similar feeling I had with the Triumph 20). This feeling goes away during the run. The midsole is fairly firm but responsive. Essentially what I'm looking for in a trail runner. No instability and the ground feel is better than something with a rock plate but not going to give you the princess and the pea either. It's a 33mm/28mm stack and that's essentially how this feels underfoot. Outsole: Apparently this is the tried and true Vibram megagrip outsole topo loves to use. No complaints and this is probably a "if it aint broke" situation. Grip felt great springing off rocks, kept grip in sandy sections, and the big lugs were able to keep everything locked down on fast downhill sprint sections. Misc Thoughts: This is not a light shoe. Weighed in right around 313g for a US 10 on my scale so I doubt it's going to be something racers would be reaching for. It's a shoe that feels like it's built for cruising longer distances and that's how I plan to use it. Their FKT TPU insole is interesting. With thin socks, you definitely feel the textured tpu beads underfoot. Legs and feet felt great after the run with no hotspots developing anywhere.

As far as construction, materials, drop/ footbed contour, and most impressively, da foam is just peak return energy.

Neither would I if they made road version Vibram soled shoes that fit with as much toebox width and vertical volume. But, alas, I'm wearing Mountain Racer 3s and Lone Peak 9+ wide on concrete. My bunion foot does not fit into any other shoe with a decent level of cushion. I've not tried Escalates. If they'd make the Torin 2.5 again, with Vibram soles, my feet would be very happy.

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

The topo MTN racer 3 (not 4) has a wider toebox than the lone peak 9 wides in my opinion. 

Asics gel-cumulus in 4e and Topo MTN racer 3s are my current shoes of choice. 

I've been running in the Topo Mountain Racer 3 since September and love them. I've used mostly Lone Peaks for 5ish years but I could never get the fit right on newer LPs

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

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

I switched to trail runners after years of wearing boots for two main reasons: comfort and quick drying. Hiking Boots and Hiking Shoes made my feet ache and sweat after just a couple of hours of hiking; therefore, I looked for an alternative. I heard about hikers wearing trail shoes, and since I was a runner, I thought I'd give it a try, so I did, and I never went back. I wear Altra Lone Peak (flexible, comfy), Topo Mtn Racer (stiff), and Hoka Speed Goat (comfy, bouncy), depending on my mood in that order. My go-to is the Altra Lone Peak as they have a rock-plate and are zero-drop. I just find them to be like a glove, allowing me to "feel" the ground when I hike. I have hiked extensively in Pennsylvania, a place that I believe is one of the rockiest places on earth. Rocky as in, the trail is rocks where every rock is pointy and the points all face upward ready to pierce your foot. For reference: I've hiked all over the West and consider the Rocky Mountains to be comfortable by comparison. If you want to really protect your feet, then Topo Mtn Racer or Hoka Speed Goats will give you that added bit of protection, and a bit of bounce. As far as grip goes, all three are excellent. It's truly amazing how good they are at gripping scree, sand, and unstable terrain. I do caution when it comes to wet and slick rock though - for that, I have no answer, but good luck. My Altra Lone Peaks saved me from nearly sliding off a cliff on sandy terrain in Arizona, kept my footing bouldering up a mountain in Pennsylvania, and across a ridgeline of scree along Mount Hood in Oregon.

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.

Topo Mountain Racer!

Just picked up a pair of mountain racers, snug fit with a wide toe box and they feel great

Get the Topo Mountain Racer 3 and thank me later

+1 for MTN Racers 3. But given it's aggressive lugs, I wouldn't say I enjoyed the feel of it in tarmac.

Topo Pursuit. I own a pair of Topo MTN Racer 3 because I needed the deeper lugged outsole. Fits perfectly for my wide feet. Man, now I feel I should've bought a Pursuit as well for shoe rotation 🤣

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 say this with an active request to be buried in my altar LP 6s (which now have the equivalent traction of a house slipper) but it's Topo mountain racers. 100%

I use speedgoat for road and topo mtn racer 3 for trail. I’m on my second pair.

I have loose ankle ligaments. My lowest drop trail shoe, the MTN Racer, is what what I’ve rolled my ankle in the most. My highest stack, Trabuco Max, I’ve rolled it the least. Not saying lower = more rolls, but I don’t think you’ll a big improvement with lower drop. Ankle strength work, ankle brace or wrap

oddly, I find the Topo MTN Racer very unstable as an overpronator. I collapse more in that shoe than any other trail shoe I've owned (other than the FujiSpeed).

I really liked the 3 for the most part, other than the upper holding a ton of water. It was also surprisingly not very protective. Used it for first 50 of a 100 miler and my feet have never hurt so much at the end of race. I just don't think Topo's foam with any plate is enough protection for me without more stack. I'm tempted by the Vista but the Prodigio Ultra is similar stats and lighter.

I really like my Topo MTN Racers!

Don’t know, as I haven’t tried the other ones. Mtn racer has some drop, iirc. I’ve mostly been running in the topo mt-series (1-4) and some runventures and terraventures, and compared to all of those, the pursuits have less ground feel and more cushion, which i appreciate on longer runs.

I really like my Topo MTN racer! On the road my easy day shoe is New Balance 1080 so I like a cushioned shoe too..

I just got Topo MountainRacer 3 and they are awesome. 5mm drop, foot shaped toe box, I found them super grippy on tough terrain. My feet were very happy.

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.

As someone who used to love those shoes but my last two pairs barely lastest 200 miles, try Topo shoes out. More secure heel and very wide toe box. I got the Mtn Racer 3s. My buddies have said the Ultraventure are great too

Totally feel you when a shoe hits just right and then disappears, it’s the worst. Maybe check out Altra Lone Peak or Topo Athletic MTN Racer? Both have that comfy, low-drop, grippy vibe.

Altra’s proprietary outsole isn’t as good as Vibram Megagrip or (I assume) La Sportiva’s. So if you go Altra I’d only wear pairs that have Vibram Megagrip outsoles, like the Olympus. Better idea is just to get Topo. Wide toe box, variety of drops (including zero drop if you like), more durable, and all their trail shoes use Vibram Megagrip outsoles. I use Mtn Racer 3 myself, which are a direct competitor to the ever-popular Hoka Speedgoat (which also uses a Vibram Megagrip outsole).

Topo crew checking in. Mtn Racer 3 for me, with Currex insoles.

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

Salomon (Ultra Glide and Speedcross) and Topo Mountain Racer here.

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.

If the trail is local to you then I’d ask some local running shops what shoes they like best for the terrain around you. I personally like to have a rotation of shoes for different conditions, but a few that I think are decent all rounders (cushioned enough that you won’t be in pain if you’re running on road, deep enough lugs that you’re not going to slide around the second there’s a little bit of mud, stack height not so high you’re likely to break your ankles as soon as there’s rocks and roots, etc) are the Salomon Ultraglide, On Cloudultra, North Face Flight Vectiv, Topo Mtn Racer, New Balance Hierro. Hoka Speedgoats probably fall under there too but I found them a bit clunky on anything technical and they only lasted 400km (I can usually get double that from a shoe).

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.

I picked up some Gel Trabucos here recently and love them. Other shoes I have been wearing are xodus ultras, mtn racers and brooks catamount. Fit wise I love them, they feel stable and enough cushion while not being clunky like my catamounts.

You hit the nail on the head. The rain started really coming down when I was descending to Callahan Run (mile 55ish). I literally slid down Hemlock Mountain to the Pine Creek crossing. The NB More Trail V3 have 5mm lugs but they're big and flat, don't grip well. Great on buffed out, not great in mud/loose rocks. They also have Vibram outsoles but it's some recycled version that isn't nearly as sticky as Megagrip. I was going to say "Please only shoes with Megagrip" but I didn't want to limit the convo. Saucony, Altra, Nike propietary outsoles are so inferior compared to Megagrip. On those descents I was really wishing I was wearing Topo MTN Racer 3's or Pursuits, but the MTN Racer 3's rub my achilles terribly. I'm tempted to give the Mafate Speeds a try, but $180 is about $80 more than I usually spend on shoes. I always buy prior years models because I go through about 3 pair a year.

My question isn't should I change shoes for this specific event. Rather, should I change shoes from what I'm currently using because they're not really working. Essentially change my strategy. I wore the New Balance FF More Trail V3 during Eastern States 100 in 2023 and they definitely held me back. I kept feeling like I was "going over the top" after the 65 mile mark. The further into the race, the more it felt like I was trying to keep them from rolling. A 37 mm stack was just too tippy when navigating loose rocks and off cambre terrain. They're also 11 ounces in a size 9. I run/feel much faster in my Topo Pursuit's that are 28mm but I prefer a bit of drop if I'm running more than 25 miles or so. Unfortunately the Topo MTN Racer 3's don't work for me. They rub my achilles terribly and cause (tendon?) swelling in my ankle.

+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.

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.