Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 3

I have now run about 150 miles in these shoes. Good shoe. Great heel, good padding, comfortable, light-weight. I would also qualify all this by saying these shoes are for running and not because I have foot or joint problems. Running shoes. When choosing a running shoe obscure things become important. The weight. The size of the toe box so your toes don't rub and blister. The amount of drop and stability so it doesn't tweak your joints when running long distances (over 8). I would say again, if you have a large, wide foot (I am size 15 D), and want a zero or low drop running shoe with little or no stability built into it - these shoes are your only choice anymore as near as I can tell and I have looked. Altra ruined the toe box, Hoka wide shoes have too much stability (angled insole) and everyone else has at least 5mm of drop (more commonly 10 or 12mm).

I have now run about 150 miles in these shoes. Good shoe. Great heel, good padding, comfortable, light-weight. I would also qualify all this by saying these shoes are for running and not because I have foot or joint problems. Running shoes. When choosing a running shoe obscure things become important. The weight. The size of the toe box so your toes don't rub and blister. The amount of drop and stability so it doesn't tweak your joints when running long distances (over 8). I would say again, if you have a large, wide foot (I am size 15 D), and want a zero or low drop running shoe with little or no stability built into it - these shoes are your only choice anymore as near as I can tell and I have looked. Altra ruined the toe box, Hoka wide shoes have too much stability (angled insole) and everyone else has at least 5mm of drop (more commonly 10 or 12mm).

A very impressive shoe. I thought this was only going to be for shorter runs but the midsole is fantastic and find myself using it for longer runs too. I really enjoy the feel of the midsole and find it to be very soft, but still allowing for good feel. The upper is very nice and breathable. I haven't found many faults with this shoe and always look forward to putting it on. I'm not associated with Topo in any way.

The FL-3 are a pleasant update to the FL-2. There was nothing wrong with the FL-2, but I'm happy with the newer features. All in all, both shoes are very, very similar. The minor updates to the EVA cushioning make them feel like I could run a bit longer in them. And with them being so light, I feel like I could run a bit faster in them. The socklike upper is amazing! It's so breathable I don't think my feet have sweat in them yet. I think the new Ortholite insole helps with that as well. The toe box does feel a smidge wider, and a hair shorter. Would I advise a larger size? Only if you have longer toes. I bought mine true to size, and have felt great in them. The heel counter is plush and broke in a little after 100 miles, and I think they are pretty great now. I am a TOPO Athletic ambassador.

The FL-3 are a pleasant update to the FL-2. There was nothing wrong with the FL-2, but I'm happy with the newer features. All in all, both shoes are very, very similar. The minor updates to the EVA cushioning make them feel like I could run a bit longer in them. And with them being so light, I feel like I could run a bit faster in them. The socklike upper is amazing! It's so breathable I don't think my feet have sweat in them yet. I think the new Ortholite insole helps with that as well. The toe box does feel a smidge wider, and a hair shorter. Would I advise a larger size? Only if you have longer toes. I bought mine true to size, and have felt great in them. The heel counter is plush and broke in a little after 100 miles, and I think they are pretty great now. I am a TOPO Athletic ambassador.

Right now I'm using this as my runner on short road runs and around town. Really love the comfort, fit and breathability on this shoe. It is very lightweight and wearing it all day doesn't leave my feet fatigued at all. I usually wear a size 10 and this one was not different. Highly recommend!

Great update to the Fly-lite line. Feels a little bouncier than the 2 and the new upper is really nice. I'd recommend this shoe for everyone.

Comfortable shoe o wear but a bit too much padding. I prefer zero drop less cushion for a better road feel.

Daily running shoe. Love the fit, and shape. Just the right amount of cushion for me. I like just enough to soften my foot strike but still feel the road.

These are pretty comfy and responsive road shoes. The cushioning is quite minimal on these and you really have to rely on technique; definitely not for a heel strike runner! Toe box is obviously roomy and the fit in the mid-foot and upper is fine.

Has perfect balance of responsiveness and cushion. Wide toe box is great as well. Only gave 4 stars as they seem to wear quick, at least with my bad running form. Not sure this would be a good high mileage shoe but for me great for 4-6 milers.

Road running. I run about 15 miles a week when not training. I tried this shoe for 30 days. The try before you buy policy is great. For me the shoe was just too soft. I'm used to running in Newtons so I returned the shoes. However, the company's service and build quality of the shoe was great so I wanted to give them a good review. You shouldn't hesitate to try them. If you like Nike or New Balance, they will probably work for you.

Pinky toe rubs a bit but would still buy the shoes again. They break in easy and have nice responsiveness.

Been a Topo fan for a while running in the Fli-Lytes and the MT's. This version is a bit short in the toe or is roomy shape not quit the same... The arch support feels too far back towards the heel. They are a bit stiffer than the other models. Still can put some good miles in!

The only negative thing I have to say about this show is that while the upper is exceptionally comfortable, it is not very durable. Mine predictably start ripping between 100-150 miles and develop an actual hole between 150-200 miles. Other than that, this show is an all around great ride.

I needed a new shoe for road ultras. Tried the Phantom, but it was a bit too stiff for me - return process was a breeze - thanks! The Fli-Lyte3 was my next try and I was not disappointed. It took a bit of break-in, but once my feet seated into the insoles, all was well. Did a bunch of training runs, then a road 50K, followed by a 50K hill ultra. No problems with heat or blisters. The shoes have held up well. I would prefer a slightly more flexible feel and just a bit more cushion, but all in all, the Fly-Lyte 3 is a very good shoe!

Feel good so far, nice blend of cushion and firmness

I bought the women's version because Topo doesn't make a men's 7.5 (hint hint), and I love these shoes. They get out of the way and work with my stride, with just enough cushioning for longer runs. My one real gripe is with the upper. It's comfortable, but not very breathable. On mildly warm days I wind up with some hotspots because the upper gets damp.

Good shoe. I notice the review by the PT. She says she recommends Topos before making the jump to other brands? Assuming these are running shoes, what other brands are those? Altra was sold and the new owners eliminated the "foot shaped toe box" even though they still advertise it. Hoka wide sizes have too much stability even in their "neutral" shoe and everything else has at least 8 mm of drop often 10 or 12. I had been running in the Altra Torin 3.5. When I ordered the Torin 4.0 and felt what they did to the toe box I was bummed. Looking for new neutral stability, low or no drop shoes with a roomy toe box I tried Sacuony, AICIS, Hoka, Brooks, etc. If you need a low drop, wide toe box running shoe in a size 15, your ONLY choice is Topo. On a comparison the old Altra toe box was roomier but the heel padding was poor. The Topos have a better overall fit in the heel and midsole. I like the but have only run about 60 miles in them. By far my best option (size 15).

Good shoe. I notice the review by the PT. She says she recommends Topos before making the jump to other brands? Assuming these are running shoes, what other brands are those? Altra was sold and the new owners eliminated the "foot shaped toe box" even though they still advertise it. Hoka wide sizes have too much stability even in their "neutral" shoe and everything else has at least 8 mm of drop often 10 or 12. I had been running in the Altra Torin 3.5. When I ordered the Torin 4.0 and felt what they did to the toe box I was bummed. Looking for new neutral stability, low or no drop shoes with a roomy toe box I tried Sacuony, AICIS, Hoka, Brooks, etc. If you need a low drop, wide toe box running shoe in a size 15, your ONLY choice is Topo. On a comparison the old Altra toe box was roomier but the heel padding was poor. The Topos have a better overall fit in the heel and midsole. I like the but have only run about 60 miles in them. By far my best option (size 15).

I'm a PT and have been recommending Topos for quite some time due to the low drops and ample toe box, but this is my first pair of my own. Pros - Sufficient cushion without getting marshmallow-y - Moderate toe box width - is an easier transition for those who would like a more foot-shaped design without making the big jump to other brands with really big toe boxes Cons - Insole is too thick and poorly fitted for the shoe, making the shoe feel much smaller than it is and causing pressure along the fat pad of the heel in particular. I trimmed mine all the way around a couple of millimeters for a better fit. - The upper is very thick/heavy with way too much padding around the heel. Just makes for a whole lot of shoe and is hot, even here in the northeast. - Long break-in. It took me at least 75 miles before they felt broken in. I think some of that is because of the thick upper. Overall, a good shoe. Definitely swap out the insole to improve the fit before trading up a size.

I'm a PT and have been recommending Topos for quite some time due to the low drops and ample toe box, but this is my first pair of my own. Pros - Sufficient cushion without getting marshmallow-y - Moderate toe box width - is an easier transition for those who would like a more foot-shaped design without making the big jump to other brands with really big toe boxes Cons - Insole is too thick and poorly fitted for the shoe, making the shoe feel much smaller than it is and causing pressure along the fat pad of the heel in particular. I trimmed mine all the way around a couple of millimeters for a better fit. - The upper is very thick/heavy with way too much padding around the heel. Just makes for a whole lot of shoe and is hot, even here in the northeast. - Long break-in. It took me at least 75 miles before they felt broken in. I think some of that is because of the thick upper. Overall, a good shoe. Definitely swap out the insole to improve the fit before trading up a size.

I am a big fan of Topo shoes and the Topo fit. These are the 8th pair of Topo shoes I've purchased and Topo is the only brand of running shoes I'm using. My favorites have been Runventure for non-technical trail running and ST for road, but I was looking for something for road with a bit more substance than the ST (and hopefully longer lifetime of the sole). These seem close: reasonably firm, lightweight, only a slight heal rise. I've run in these 6 times (~30 km) so far. On a couple of occasions the tip of a toe has caught on the edge of the stiff form that shapes the inside of the front end of the toe box. It's only happened with a change in terrain or stride (e.g. jumping into or out of a roadside ditch to avoid oncoming traffic), but it is unpleasant when it happens. The toe box on these is a bit more squared then the other Topos I've had. Maybe just a bad match for the shape of my feet. I'll give them a bit more time to see if it gets better or worse, but at this point I'm unlikely to buy Fli-Lytes again and will probably go back to the ST.

The shoes look great. Solid feel around the foot. The sole rocks a bit when walking. It's not a solid flat feeling on the ground.

After a couple years of loving the Terraventure, I wanted to try running pavement in a proper shoe for the job. In flies Fli-Lyte. It's essentially the road version of the Terraventure with the same drop. It's super lightweight, by comparison and the softer upper feels almost slipper-like, relatively. I bought it as a more secure fitting day-wear option than the Rekovr. It works great for that and is not entirely uncomfortable for running pavement either. However, I would not buy this again as I prefer the more rugged fit and feel of the Terraventure. And those work better on mixed terrain and fine on pavement. This shoe feels a bit like one flat hump along the sole without allowing much for your foot to feel the Earth. They feel a good bit more flimsy and don't seem like they will hold as many miles as Topo's trail shoes. But I will wear them out and switch back over to the trail options.