Intro
When considering a new running shoe, there are so many similar-looking shoes on the market being made by so many different companies, it is virtually impossible to (1) know where to begin; (2) quickly figure out which one or two products from a given brand might work well for you; and (3) determine what products from other brands might be the most similar and also worth considering.
So in our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we provide an overview of the entire product lineup of a brand; highlight how each product stands out from the rest of that brand’s lineup; and help you figure out quickly and easily which shoe might work best for you.
In our individual product reviews, we go very deep into the details of particular products. With these Brand Guides, the goal is not Depth, but Breadth. Our Brand Guides and full reviews are designed to complement each other — provide a broad overview of entire company lineups, and then also very detailed reviews of individual products.
Topo Athletic: Brand Background
Topo Athletic was founded in 2013 with the goal of combining the features of minimal, foot-shaped shoes with some of the elements of more traditional shoes. Nine years later, they have a wide range of road and trail shoes that are still built with this goal in mind.
You can expect Topo shoes to have a wide, rounded toe box similar to that found in Altra’s shoes. Unlike Altra, however, Topo makes shoes with a variety of heel-to-toe drops, ranging from 0–5 mm (though that’s still on the lower end compared to the market as a whole). Topo’s shoes also tend to have a slightly narrower fit through the midfoot and heel than Altra shoes. This makes them a good option for runners who love Altra’s wide toe boxes but want a tighter fit throughout the rest of the shoe, and/or don’t want a zero-drop platform. Some of Topo’s higher-cushion shoes might also be a good alternative for people who enjoy the cushioning of Hoka’s shoes but find Hoka’s fit too narrow and / or their heel-to-toe drops too high.
Topo offers shoes with a range of stack heights and heel-to-toe drops for both road and trail running. In this brand guide, we’ll go through the road and trail models separately, with each category ordered from highest to lowest stack height.
ROAD SHOES
(Most Cushioned to Least Cushioned)
Most Cushion
The Specter is Topo’s first foray into the “super shoe” category and is intended to serve as a race-day option for fast efforts on the road, including marathons. It has the highest stack height of any shoe in Topo’s road line at 35 mm / 30 mm, and is the only one of their models to incorporate a Pebax midsole wrapped in EVA (instead of their customary “Zipfoam”). Unlike the modest geometry of the Ultrafly 4, the Specter has an aggressive heel and forefoot rocker designed to accelerate footstrike for faster-paced running. At 230 g in a US Men’s size 9, it’s slightly heavier than the Cyclone but has an impressive 7 mm taller stack height, making it ideal for longer distances. The Specter’s leanness can be partially attributed to the single-layer engineered mesh used for its upper and its lightweight die-cut rubber outsole. Runners with high-volume feet looking for an affordable super shoe for their next marathon should consider checking out the Specter.
Stack Height
- Heel: 35 mm
- Toe: 30 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 230 g
- Women's: 196 g
MSRP: $150.00
The Phantom 2 is Topo’s second most cushioned road shoe, behind the Specter. It has a new engineered mesh upper designed to provide structure and hold the midfoot in place, a departure from the previous version’s welded overlays. The updated midsole — which gained 3 mm of stack height — uses Topo’s “Zipfoam” material to provide cushion for long road miles, while the rubber outsole pods increase durability without adding too much weight. An external TPU heel counter sits off the shoe’s improved midsole to provide stability. The Phantom 2 has a slightly more cushioned ride than the Ultrafly 4. It’s not a particularly light model, but it should be a comfortable option for those looking for a max-cushioned shoe for longer days on the road.
Stack Height
- Heel: 33 mm
- Toe: 28 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 292 g
- Women's: 241 g
MSRP: $140.00
Like the previous version of the shoe, the Ultrafly 4 provides extra stability for runners who need more support. Topo continues to highlight their popular “Zipfoam” midsole material in the Ultrafly 4, which they pair with a recycled engineered mesh upper, a TPU heel counter, and an EVA medial post. All of these features result in improved motion control while running, but make the Ultrafly 4 a bit less flexible than other Topo models. With a stack height of 28 mm / 23 mm, the Ultrafly 4 is slightly less plush than the Phantom 2 — though it still has plenty of cushioning for long runs. If you’re in the market for a moderately cushioned shoe that offers some extra support and pronation control, the Ultrafly 4 could be worth checking out.
Stack Height
- Heel: 28 mm
- Toe: 23 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 272 g
- Women's: 218 g
MSRP: $135.00
The Cyclone is Topo’s lightweight, medium-cushioned trainer that can be worn daily but is equally as comfortable racing anything up to roughly a half marathon. An EVA midsole centered around a “ZipFoam” core gives the shoe an energetic ride, and with a moderate stack height of 28 mm / 23 mm, the Cyclone should have plenty of cushioning to accommodate medium-distance runs. The shoe is also exceedingly trim at just 224 g in a US Men’s size 9, a weight Topo achieves by going with a seamless engineered mesh upper and by thoughtfully placing rubber in only high-use areas on the outsole. Weight-saving measures like these might impact the long-term durability of the Cyclone, but for runners with high-volume feet in need of a shoe built for faster-paced efforts, it could be a good option.
Stack Height
- Heel: 28 mm
- Toe: 23 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 224 g
- Women's: 181 g
MSRP: $120.00
The Magnifly 4 caters to runners who want a shoe that promotes a forefoot-striking stride while still providing fairly high cushioning. It’s slightly lighter than the Ultrafly 4 and offers a similar amount of cushioning, but in the form of a neutral, zero-drop platform. The Magnifly 4’s dual-density midsole has been upgraded with “Zipfoam” and is designed to provide a cushioned yet efficient ride, which should make the Magnifly 4 feel a little faster than the Phantom 2. The Magnifly 4 has a new engineered mesh upper and new lace stays for a supposedly improved fit as well as minimal rubber outsole pods in high-wear areas for added durability. If you’re looking for a wide, medium-cushion, zero-drop road shoe, the Magnifly 4 might be a good fit.
Stack Height
- Heel: 25 mm
- Toe: 25 mm
Drop: 0 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 255 g
- Women's: 204 g
MSRP: $130.00
Stack Height
- Heel: 23 mm
- Toe: 20 mm
Drop: 3 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 235 g
- Women's: 196 g
MSRP: $120.00
Least Cushion
Stack Height
- Heel: 16 mm
- Toe: 16 mm
Drop: 0 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 235 g
- Women's: 173 g
MSRP: $110.00
TRAIL SHOES
(Most Cushioned to Least Cushioned)
Most Cushion
Stack Height
- Heel: 30 mm
- Toe: 25 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 295 g
- Women's: 232 g
MSRP: $150.00
Stack Height
- Heel: 30 mm
- Toe: 25 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 295 g
- Women's: 235 g
MSRP: $135.00
The Mtn Racer 2 is still surprisingly light for how much cushion and protection it offers. In spite of its low weight, the Mtn Racer 2 offers an impressive feature set with an aggressive and sticky Vibram MegaGrip outsole, an external TPU heel counter, and a new mesh upper with increased breathability. The stickier MegaGrip outsole should provide better traction on wet terrain than the Ultraventure 2’s harder outsole compound, but it might not be quite as durable. Topo also updated the shoe’s midsole, which is now made from reactive “ZipFoam”. The Mtn Racer 2 could be a good option for runners who want something more cushioned than the Terraventure 3 or MT-4, but lighter than the Ultraventure 2. Check out our full review of the Mtn Racer 2
Stack Height
- Heel: 30 mm
- Toe: 25 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 284 g
- Women's: 227 g
MSRP: $145.00
Stack Height
- Heel: 25 mm
- Toe: 22 mm
Drop: 3 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 289 g
- Women's: 230 g
MSRP: $130.00
Stack Height
- Heel: 25 mm
- Toe: 22 mm
Drop: 3 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 303 g
- Women's: 244 g
MSRP: $125.00
Stack Height
- Heel: 20 mm
- Toe: 20 mm
Drop: 0 mm
Stated Weight
- Men's: 258 g
- Women's: 213 g