Customer Reviews Topo Athletic MTN Racer

This is my perfect all-around trail running shoe for the widest range of trail conditions. I love the anatomically-shaped last. I love the firm, stable ride. I love the upper material: durable, mud-resistant, and wraps the midfoot securely. Traction is excellent with the Vibram Megagrip outsole. I feel more locked-in and stable when bombing down steep, technical terrain in these than any of your previous offerings I've owned. The durability of both the tread and the upper have also surpassed your previous offerings that I've owned: Ultraventure and Terraventure 1 -- both of which had issues with the uppers blowing out before the tread was done. These have been my go-to backpacking footwear as well, with just the right amount of cushion vs. firmness. I look forward to trying out the Trailventure too. **Topo Athletic shoe designers: I would love to see a winter trail shoe offering built for running on snowy trails: an eVent upper with integrated ankle-high gaiter, outsole with both Vibram Megagrip and Vibram ArcticGrip, and an overall stable, firm and locked-in platform. I find too many winter running shoes with an integrated gaiter have uppers that are too unstructured so they are too soft and floppy on slushy/powdery snow. Either that, or they have a drop height of 8mm or more, creating an unstable platform not well-suited to riding the inherent instability of powder/slush. A shoe with a 3mm drop, firm midsole cushion, and a structured, locked-in upper would provide a secure ride to cut through the wobble and instability of powder and slush. The upper should also be able to withstand the abrasion from running with trail-crampons attached. That is the shoe I need that no company currently offers.

First off, I do not usually write reviews but I am loving these shoes so much I had to. I took these right out of the box and immediately went on a 14 mile trail run...and I really just wanted to keep going. The fit of the shoe is so spot on. I have never had a shoe fit my foot this perfectly honestly. It is stable and snug around the heel and forefoot but has just enough room in the toes to not be too baggy but also allow for some toe splay. I prefer a less wide toe box than say an Altra and I feel like this shoe nailed it. The grip is of course fantastic with the vibrate megagrip performing flawlessly. I love the lacing system around the tongue. I was able to get a great fit and it held my heel in really well. All the materials used seem bomber and I predict they will hold up to the rugged, technical trails I am accustomed to running here in Colorado. This is my first pair of Topos but after my first run, I immediately went home and ordered a pair of Terraventure 2s. Excited to try those out as well! The MTN Racer will be my shoe of choice for all upcoming summer races and lots of training runs as well. They are light, solid, well cushioned, and fit my foot just right. Honestly, could not be more stoked with them and will likely be running in Topos exclusively now.

I've been running in Topos for well over a year now and this is my favorite trail shoe to date. The shoe is incredibly light and responsive and even with long runs the cushion keeps my legs fresh. I feel like I can really hammer the downhills in this shoe as it locks the heel in place well and there isn't any slop to the fit. The only feedback I'd give is that the laces are a little slick and come untied easily so I swapped them out. I'll have to wait until the summer to see how well the shoe breathes. It doesn't seem to have the same airflow as my terraventures. I'm super stoked for these shoes and they will be my 'go-to' trail shoe for a long time.

Have used these on a couple of long ultra runs in summer and winter, water drained well running through rivers and carried me 100k in the middle of summer in total comfort! Awesome shoe.

: I recently purchased this shoe as my race shoe for the Bandera 100KM race in Hill Country Texas. This course is very Rocky and had brought my feet to tears (that is a thing) the first time I ran it. Lately I have been using Topo shoes for a variety of training applications and decided to roll the dice on this important decision. The weight is nice for a shoe with so much protection. Some of this is possible due to the very thin upper. I did not have any issues with rips or tears, though I did have to tighten my laces a few times as there was a little give/stretch to work through. The toe bumper worked well for me as I full on punted several rocks with little to no damage to my big toe. This shoe runs a little narrower than the typical Topo but it was true to size for me. The traction was solid on a fairly technical course and the cushioning was sufficient to protect my feet through 63 miles of pounding. I notched a huge course PR and was back to training in days and these shoes definitely played a role. I recommend them to anyone who is interested in a quality shoe with a decent toe box and low drop. Have fun on the trails

I have run several ultra trail marathons and these are very durable and comfortable. Just ran ultra race in Arizona and three of top 20 were wearing these and we all commented how much we loved them. Feels like Topo took the best from several leading trail shoes and put into this shoe.

Superb traction on hard pack, mud, ROCK, and WET rock. Work better than my approach shoes for climbing except for edging and I can compensate most of those by smearing.

I received the MTN Racer as part of the Runner's World Magazine shoe test program. Let me disclose that I'm a fan of Topo first, before I say that I've worn almost every pair of shoes that they have produced and while I'm a fan, I'm not a fan of every shoe. The MTN Racer ticks a lot of boxes for me. It's fast, flexible and comfortable across rocky and technical trails while it also excels on the climb. The tread is secure on gravel, mud and anything else you can throw at is and it disappears under foot in tough circumstances. I wore it for my fastest 50K in the rain/wet and it did great so I find it hard to find any faults in 200+ miles of testing but I'm still waiting for the obvious durability mark to bite me. I've rarely gotten more than 300 miles out of a pair of Topos. Nevertheless, these are a favorite of mine and combined with the new Topo Gaiters they are even more awesome. No rocks in my socks, less mud on my ankles and a fast and speedy ride under my feet.

I received the MTN Racer as part of the Runner's World Magazine shoe test program. Let me disclose that I'm a fan of Topo first, before I say that I've worn almost every pair of shoes that they have produced and while I'm a fan, I'm not a fan of every shoe. The MTN Racer ticks a lot of boxes for me. It's fast, flexible and comfortable across rocky and technical trails while it also excels on the climb. The tread is secure on gravel, mud and anything else you can throw at is and it disappears under foot in tough circumstances. I wore it for my fastest 50K in the rain/wet and it did great so I find it hard to find any faults in 200+ miles of testing but I'm still waiting for the obvious durability mark to bite me. I've rarely gotten more than 300 miles out of a pair of Topos. Nevertheless, these are a favorite of mine and combined with the new Topo Gaiters they are even more awesome. No rocks in my socks, less mud on my ankles and a fast and speedy ride under my feet.

I've tried all types of shoes from Hokas to Altras to Salomons. This guy is hands down the best trail shoe I've worn. I took them out to North Georgia for a trail run on the DRT yesterday. The weather was awful so the trails were a hot mess. This shoe performed better than I had ever expected. It took on mud, slick rock, and roots perfectly. There were a couple of places going down Coosa that I thought I would lose my footing...never happened. The toe box is perfect and the shoe feels secure on technical terrain. The only thing, in my opinion, would be to add just a bit more cushion. Other than that, I'll be buying a couple of more of these in case they get discontinued! Way to go Topo! Nice Job!

The Topo fit with the wide toe box yet snug fit through the heal is perfect for me, so when I needed new shoes for a Spartan race I decided to pick up a pair of MTN Racers. Because of the rip stop upper, they did not initially feel as flexible or comfortable as other shoes and after wearing then around the house and on the treadmill a few times, I seriously considered exchanging them for something else. Ultimately, I decided to keep them and they were rockstars during my race. After only one short training run to break them in I ran a 13 mile obstacle course race and I could not be happier. Very solid on the steep terrain, great traction in the mud, outstanding grip on obstacles, and very quick drying. And my initial concern about fit was completely unfounded. They are extremely comfortable, and the lack of flexibility that I felt in the upper actually made for a much more secure feeling fit over uneven terrain. With Topo's 30-day risk free trial, these are a no-brainer.

The Topo fit with the wide toe box yet snug fit through the heal is perfect for me, so when I needed new shoes for a Spartan race I decided to pick up a pair of MTN Racers. Because of the rip stop upper, they did not initially feel as flexible or comfortable as other shoes and after wearing then around the house and on the treadmill a few times, I seriously considered exchanging them for something else. Ultimately, I decided to keep them and they were rockstars during my race. After only one short training run to break them in I ran a 13 mile obstacle course race and I could not be happier. Very solid on the steep terrain, great traction in the mud, outstanding grip on obstacles, and very quick drying. And my initial concern about fit was completely unfounded. They are extremely comfortable, and the lack of flexibility that I felt in the upper actually made for a much more secure feeling fit over uneven terrain. With Topo's 30-day risk free trial, these are a no-brainer.

Topo shoes were recommended to me by a great running coach. I figured I'd give them a shot and I'm so happy I did! My foot tends to swim around a bit in Altras so I was looking for something else with a wide toe box. The mtn racer fits me perfectly! Just wide enough in the fore-foot combined with solid ankle support. I'm not quite ready for a zero drop shoe so the 5mm is perfect for long runs too. Used these right out of the box for the Rainier Ragnar in late August, followed by the Rut 50k the following weekend.

Topo shoes were recommended to me by a great running coach. I figured I'd give them a shot and I'm so happy I did! My foot tends to swim around a bit in Altras so I was looking for something else with a wide toe box. The mtn racer fits me perfectly! Just wide enough in the fore-foot combined with solid ankle support. I'm not quite ready for a zero drop shoe so the 5mm is perfect for long runs too. Used these right out of the box for the Rainier Ragnar in late August, followed by the Rut 50k the following weekend.

Over the past couple of running seasons I've had a lot of trouble finding a comfortable shoe that can hold up to the ruggedness of the Long Trail and the Adirondacks. The recent Lone Peak versions from Altra totally fall apart on these types of terrain, I had two pairs that didn't even last 100 miles! Salomons hold up, but definitely lack comfort when putting in 20-30 mile runs in the mountains. But behold, the MTN RACER! The best of both worlds. Excellent fit, lightweight, great traction, comfortable and - most importantly - durable! I've put 120 miles on them so far and there's absolutely no sign of wear and tear, they still look brand new but feel even better. It's nice to finally be able to break in a pair of shoes without actually breaking the shoes. Ran the great range traverse in the Adirondacks last week in these, and they performed like a dream. My only gripe (and it's a minor one): not a fan of the flashy red and orange, I wish there were other color choices.

Over the past couple of running seasons I've had a lot of trouble finding a comfortable shoe that can hold up to the ruggedness of the Long Trail and the Adirondacks. The recent Lone Peak versions from Altra totally fall apart on these types of terrain, I had two pairs that didn't even last 100 miles! Salomons hold up, but definitely lack comfort when putting in 20-30 mile runs in the mountains. But behold, the MTN RACER! The best of both worlds. Excellent fit, lightweight, great traction, comfortable and - most importantly - durable! I've put 120 miles on them so far and there's absolutely no sign of wear and tear, they still look brand new but feel even better. It's nice to finally be able to break in a pair of shoes without actually breaking the shoes. Ran the great range traverse in the Adirondacks last week in these, and they performed like a dream. My only gripe (and it's a minor one): not a fan of the flashy red and orange, I wish there were other color choices.

This shoe has made my training so much easier. Before these I had a pair of SpeedCross3 and I had to ice me feet after every run. Now with my MTN runners my feet feel as amazing as they are going to after hard runs. I am a little disappointed that I listen to the lady at the store and went a size up. They are a size to big and my foot slides on up and down hills which makes them a little unsteady. I will have to get the right size next time. Other than that this shoe is awesome.

I think Topo has just about nailed it with the MTN racer. It's well cushioned, roomy in the toe box, secure everywhere else, grippy, light, and fast. It covers the bases, and covers them well. I could nearly replace all my trail shoes with the MTN racer. Sizing was spot on for me ie same size for these shoes as with other Topos. I have done trail runs ranging from 10 to 30 miles, and felt good, on these shoes and am overall very happy. The roomy toe and secure mid and heel ensures smooth going even over technical terrain with uneven footing. It didn't feel sloppy at all. The lugs and Megagrip made for great traction on mud and rocks. The stiffer cushioning provided good underfoot protection. That all said, if the MTN racer could improve, at least for me, I would want stiffer, or different cushioning, for even more underfoot protection.

I think Topo has just about nailed it with the MTN racer. It's well cushioned, roomy in the toe box, secure everywhere else, grippy, light, and fast. It covers the bases, and covers them well. I could nearly replace all my trail shoes with the MTN racer. Sizing was spot on for me ie same size for these shoes as with other Topos. I have done trail runs ranging from 10 to 30 miles, and felt good, on these shoes and am overall very happy. The roomy toe and secure mid and heel ensures smooth going even over technical terrain with uneven footing. It didn't feel sloppy at all. The lugs and Megagrip made for great traction on mud and rocks. The stiffer cushioning provided good underfoot protection. That all said, if the MTN racer could improve, at least for me, I would want stiffer, or different cushioning, for even more underfoot protection.

The name of this shoe is fitting for how it performs on the trail. Today I ran a 5.3 miles loop run in these shoes straight from the box. The area I run in is rocky, sandy with steep ups and downs over rough terrain. I regularly run these trails in my Ultraventure and Terraventure trail shoes. The Mtn Racer borrows the best from both of these shoes. It has the cushioning of the Ultra and the firmness of the Terra. That makes this a fast and efficient runner. The cushioning and firmness of this shoe eliminates the need for a rock plate. The fit of this shoe is a little different than the Ultra and Terra. The heel locks down very well and greatly adds to stability when running steep sections. The fit is a little tighter and feels a little shorter that the Ultra and Terra. I am hoping as I put more miles in the shoes it will stretch out a little. Overall, I'm not sure if there is a better trail runner on the market.

Love everything about this shoe, best Topo model I've tried and I've run road and trail models. Downside is the laces. Across the board they don't hold well, slowly loosen. Need a lace with a higher coefficient of friction.

I'm really enjoying these shoes. Before this I was in the cyclone and I prefer the front upper from that shoe but it doesn't lock your heel in as well as these do. I love having the extra support from the plastic plate. Would love to see one with a carbon plate.

I bought these in October 2020 for day hikes and overnights on medium to rough trails, under loads from minimalist to 30 lbs. Longest day hike 12 miles. 75-ish total trail miles so far. I am very satisfied with the fit, stability, and traction. I have wide feet with narrow heels. They fit so well I added daily wear, now nearing 100 miles in town. The soles are wearing well, but the heel collars have worn through to the foam. Disappointing for 8 months. Expecting at least 18 mo. Qualified "buy".

Great shoes so far. Have been a HOKA guy for years but these are definitely itself a nice addition to my running shoe problem. Will definitely buy TOPOs again!

I have ran in a few Topos over the years. I needed to return to a 5mm drop after a few seasons on 0mm (knees starting telling me so). Decided to give these a try since they also offered a stiffer ride. That is a fact. Took a good week to get used to that but now my gait and wheels are in sync. Now I can feel that extra bounce the tension plate gives out. The tongue is a bit stiff and long cutting into my ankle above the no show sock line. Glad to see bright FUN colors... after all running is supposed to be happy. Topo needs to do better with its colors and schemes across all RUNNING shoes - come on guys - live a little! The standard Black, awful White, typical Blue, Green or Gray are boring. I do like the colors and design of the new MTN Racer 2 that is more like it - creative and eye catching. Anyway, I am positive these will allow the 300+ miles Topo usually gives me especially since it is firmer. Overall it is a solid runner and delivers what it advertises.