Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Mountain Racer

I have been so impressed with the customer service provided at Topo. I initially purchased the Terraventure 2, which I loved for its lower profile, but the material (like others noted) deteriorated very quickly. Topo replaced them immediately, but when it happened again to the second pair, they offered another replacement or 50% off of up to 3 other pairs. I am super pleased with my replacements and the material on these MTN Racers seem a lot more durable for the tough trail terrain here in Flagstaff! Thank you Topo for excellent customer service.

Love these running shoes!

This shoe may be the best trail shoe I've used. So the great topo fit is there. 5 mm drop is perfect as it really gives the Achilles a break compared to 0 drop. I feel like this shoe is more secure with downhills overall when compared to other wide shoes. The traction is very good. I have been on wet limestone and it did much better than other shoes I've used. It's really comfortable at easy paces and when running up/down fast. I have no doubt I would race 10-30 trail miles in this shoe. (I don't go beyond 50k but expect it would work great for longer efforts). Another thought, if you prefer high drop shoes (IE traditional 8-12 mm) but always wanted to try wider fits. This shoe still functions very nicely with 2mm heel lift. So that gives an option of 5-7mm drop.

The mountain racer is a dream on the road and on the trail. The wide toebox gives me plenty of room, there is just the right amount of cushion, and I could still feel the ground. Great job Topo!

Great shoe for trail. 35 mile Average weekly runs. Terrain is rocky, wet areas, grass covered, mud, along with soft silty dirt. Several elevation changes as well. First time topo customer and I'm very impressed with this shoe! Very Comfortable. Now we will see how long they last in this environment.

Great combination of light, sturdy, cushion and support.

trail running, hiking

This is my third pair of Topos. These shoes are great. They offer plenty of room in the toe box. The Vibram sole is durable for hiking trails as well as pavement. It's better to get fitted but if you order online you might go up a half size.

Based on other reviews, I sized up, which was no problem and they fit perfectly. I have troublesome feet, shaped like a duck's foot with a wide forefoot and narrow heel, high arch. I have problems with foot pain and have struggled to find a hiking shoe that fits, gives my forefoot as much room as it needs, and provides cushioning and stability on rough and uneven terrain. I've tried Altras, and while they get the forefoot part right, their shoes are too floppy for me (and they're the worst on off-camber trails and off-trail). I just got back from a 17 mile hike in these Topos and my feet felt, well, not great because they'll never feel great after that many miles, but so much better than they ever have in other shoes. They have excellent traction on loose and slippery surfaces and felt very stable on all sorts of terrain. The only thing I'd change is to make them a little more compatible with a range of gaiter types (both at the heel and at the connection at the front of the foot). But for real you guys, don't change this shoe! It's my unicorn!

No clunky boots required for hiking In Nevada's rocky desert with the MTN Racer! These grippy shoes seem to stick to rocks! They were sturdy, yet comfortable right out of the box. This is my second pair due to sizing. I'm an 8.5 & ordered a 9 the first time and they were a little small. But they are great looking, so I wear just kicking around. Went up to a 9.5, so I could wear good socks to protect my beat up feet. Great job. Topo!

test

I purchased these just a week before my Tahoe 200 endurance run and found them ideal out on the trails for a few reasons. First, it was incredibly dusty out there, and these (along with gators) kept the fine dust out. This really helped with blister prevention. Secondly, they feel like they mold to my feet and grip the trails so well. I felt so comfortable in them I actually wore them 40 miles longer than anticipated (I went in with 4 different pairs of Topo's for my 200-miler, but ended up in these nearly double the distance of any others). They look pretty beat up after only a few wears - the upper forefoot area got really creased and pushed down after only the second time wearing them (to be fair, the second time was for nearly 100 miles, but they look and feel fine once on my feet again. I'm a Topo ambassador - but I only leave reviews where I honestly believe in the product and these fit the bill!!

I am a big fan of the all my Topo shoes so far, but these are my favorite. They have a nice wide toe box that doesn't aggravate my big toe joint. The vibram sole is a big improvement over some of the other models for preventing spines and other sharp objects from stabbing through the sole. Love them!

I did have to send them back order a half size up (10), I wear a size 9.5 in all the other Topos I have had.

Topo really hit the mark with these shoes! They have plenty of cushion and protection for big distance on the most technical trails, but are still fairly light and nimble. Flexible, but a bit of snap for faster paces. The classic wide toe box and secure mid-foot never disappoint. And the material on the upper keeps the dirt out. :-D Please don't ever change these shoes!!

Topo really hit the mark with these shoes! They have plenty of cushion and protection for big distance on the most technical trails, but are still fairly light and nimble. Flexible, but a bit of snap for faster paces. The classic wide toe box and secure mid-foot never disappoint. And the material on the upper keeps the dirt out. :-D Please don't ever change these shoes!!

After a few weeks of wearing these shoes I've decided that they'll be my next trail racing shoe (next race coming up in September). I'm a Topo ambassador, but that's not the only reason I love this shoe. They're fantastic for technical trail- power hiking uphill, fast running downhill, scrambling, and anything else in between.

I was initially concerned when I put these on as they fit tighter in the toe box than I have become accustomed to with TOPO. I wore them on a shorter run and was pleasantly surprised! They where great. Good grip but not enough to cause me to trip. Super comfortable and the toe box was not a problem. ( I used the TOPO Gaiters too and really liked the ease of attaching them with out having to glue on extra velcro. ) The shoe is lightweight but still has cushion. I liked the vibram sole on the Ultra Venture and it was a great addition here too. I have taken them on several long runs now and am a convert. I have no complaints about rubbing or getting uncomfortable on the longer runs. Full disclosure I am a TOPO Ambassador but I am one because I am so happy with their shoes! I plan on wearing these during my 100 mile run in September.

I absolutely LOVE these shoes! They are super lightweight and incredibly grippy. They're a great, fast shoe for racing, as well as long days in the mountains. Water drains very well from these, as I can attest after submerging my feet in both mud and water. Very grippy on downhill, especially on rock. These have quickly become my favorite trail shoes. My only complaint is that the laces come untied quite a bit, but heel locking the laces took care of that problem. Full disclosure, I am a Topo Ambassador, but I can assure you I would buy these shoes no matter what!

I've been an Ultraventure fan for the last year or so but the MTN Racer has really opened my eyes. The shoe is significantly lighter than the Ultraventure and while there is no rock plate in the MTN Racer, the Vibram bottoms are super protective over even the pointiest of rocks. The sizing does seem a tad smaller than the Ultraventure (heel to toe) and it seemed to shrink even more when fully engulfed in water but not enough that I would require a larger size. I am a Topo Ambassador but this review is all mine own opinion. These are definitely my new go-to shoe on the trails.

Did a 12 mile hike with these. Nice to have the vibram soles which did a great job gripping. My feet felt a little more stuffed in the toes than the wider road/running topos. And I was surprised how much fine dirt from the trail made it into my shoes and permeated my socks. Wasn't expecting that.

Casual wear

I have 3 pairs of the original Ultraventure, and they are hands-down the best running shoes I have had in 40 years. My first pair has been retired with well over 500 miles on them. The two additional pairs have 200 & 320 miles and still look and feel almost new. I purchased a pair of Ultraventure 2 and am a little disappointed. They have less than 100 miles and the inside of the heel is already starting to rub a hole. Two friends with the same shoe (and also fans of the prior model) are seeing the same thing. Also, the toe on the new model does not have as much protection for the toes as the original, which had little rubber/plastic strips that were just enough to offer a bit more protection when catching toes on rocks or roots. The cushioning is good.

Honestly, I don't wear shoes most of the year because I live in Florida so I spend most of my time in sandals. However, I have problem feet and need a good pair of athletic shoes when we go on vacation and such and would be in need of a good, supportive shoe. My favorite athletic brand up until now starts with a "H" but they've made some changes to their most cushioned styles that don't agree with my feet anymore. I read about TOPO Athletic on a blog for people with "problem" feet. Recently, I have also been diagnosed with arthritis in my big toe so it's important for me to wear shoes with plenty of wiggle-room for my toes. So far, I really like this pair of shoes but I probably haven't had a chance to wear them long enough at this point to make a really informed recommendation.

After multiple foot surgeries and gait problems these are the best athletic shoes I have found and can rarely wear any other shoes- which is why I would love it if they made some more neutral colors to go with more outfits- please make some skin tone varieties and muted earth tones so I can pair these with ALL my outfits and not just running/athletic wear