Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Cyclone

The best running shoes are those that don't get in your way, the ones you can just lace up and forget about. These fit the bill. First ever pair of Topos, but they will most definitely not be my last. Great fit, nice roomy toe box, good cushioning and support without sacrificing ground feel, and they weigh next to nothing. I'm very pleased.

All around brilliant athletic shoe..

perfect trail runner

I am not a runner but this is the second pair of Topos I've purchased. The comfort can't be beaten for walking or standing for long periods of time. I also like the wide toe box, solid construction, and lightweight materials. I purchased the light gray with navy heel and these are now officially my "dad shoes" without looking too much like the typical, white, dad shoes.

Wanted to wait to write a review until I'd run a 50K in these shoes. Performed really well overall. The fit and feel of this brand is for real, and I have been super impressed with the toe box and secure midfoot and heel. I do have to tie my shoes a bit tighter than I do in other brands to get that secure fit, but after figuring that out it's been a great overall feel. I'm used to running zero-drop shoes so the 5mm drop was a bit of an adjustment, but I've noticed my calves have been way less sore after long runs. Biggest thing for me is the GRIP. Virginia running means lots of slick trails (humidity...) and these shoes really give me fantastic grip on any type of trail which is where some of the west coast brands have failed. Only con is that I wish the shoe was just a tad lighter, but they're certainly pretty comparable to similar shoes out there. And, let's just be honest...better color schemes and designs? I don't really love the look of any Topo Athletic shoes, but I'll take function over style any day.

The shoe is really comfortable, nimble, soft, responsive. The only thing I noticed is that I have narrow feet, and maybe because the toe box is really ample, it makes the shoe feel like it is half size too big. But this is not a big problem and does not interfere with the performance of the shoe.

I added these Cyclones because I liked my Ultrafly and Trailventure models so much. I needed something for faster runs on smoother roads -- and these work fabulously!

I run 40-60 miles per week, split between road and trail. I have 75 miles on the Cyclone so far, mainly 2-10 mile runs including easy, workout, and longer runs. I'd consider buying these shoes again. Being used to firm stiff trail shoes, I found the Cyclones to be comfy and cushioned enough for longer runs. I got hot spots on my Achilles but folding my socks around my ankles fixed this. Only question I have is upper durability with only 75 miles, but the shoes look fine so far.

I was introduced to this shoe as a shoe that is economical enough to be used daily, but with the responsiveness for more uptempo days and efforts. Compared to the UltraFly3, which I wear often, the Cyclone feels fast and stripped down for those harder efforts. The upper is feather-light and truly hugs the foot and the external heel padding is supportive and non-intrusive in the upper. This shoe easily picked up the pace on roads and dirt and responded well on hills. Bravo!

Before the Cyclone, I have been running in Phantoms (which I adore), Magnifly3s, and Terraventure 2s for the trail runs. I always chose the Phantoms for easy miles or tempo runs, and the Magnifly3s for speed and track workouts. Now the Cyclone has kinda messed up my whole system by being so versatile! When I first put them on, I was struck by how comfortable and lightweight they felt. They felt close to the Phantoms, but lighter, close to the Magnifly3s, but more substantial. The upper is very light and breathable. My only initial concern was that the toe box felt more cramped than my Phantoms. After an easy run in the rain, a tempo run the next day on wet pavement with storm detritus, and then a sprint workout on the track yesterday, I am in love with the Cyclone. The toe box has not been a problem and that is usually my first requirement of a good shoe, so no model gets a pass. The Cyclone feels soft but also responsive, and quick. I feel connected to the ground without feeling like I'm landing heavily. I prefer a size 14 wide in other brand shoes, wear a 13 in the Phantoms, and a 13 here in the Cyclone fits great. An all-around great trainer that might cause some resentments in the shoe closet.

Let me start by saying Topo Athletic has the foundation to produce an amazing shoe with the Cyclone. I (almost) love it! I've been training and racing in Topo for many years, and primarily in the Fli-Lyte series (11 + pairs, Fli-Lyte versions 2-4). After the release of the Fli-Lyte 4 (the death of the series), I've been scrambling to find a suitable replacement. I believe with just a few subtle (emphasis subtle!) changes, they're going to have a real winner on their hands with the Cyclone. Let me start with the positive "five stars" features. The sizing coupled with the anatomical toe box is spot on. The upper is light, comfortable, and feels "free" on the run. All similar in comparison to what I loved about the Fli-Lyte 2-3's. The stack height (28mm) combined with the ZipFoam feels fast, free, and neutral, yet also cushioned enough to hold up on some bigger mileage sessions. I was nervous about the increase in stack height (23mm vs 28mm) and corresponding increased drop (3mm vs 5mm), but I was VERY pleased to experience a similar feel compared to the Fli-Lyte 2-3's. Notice I'm not comparing to the Fli-Lyte 4's which is an epic disappointment. On the virtuously subjective side, the Cyclone feels like it encourages you to run lighter and faster. Absolutely, that is weird, but a fun sensation to have and one worth acknowledging in the review. On to the "two-stars" or flaws of the first edition Cyclone. First ("flaw"), the lacing system is a challenge to dial in properly, specifically with the Cyclone's minimal design to the tongue and heel. It's difficult to find an all-around secure fit without over-tightening somewhere in the line. After trying multiple lacing combinations, I gave up and accepted that I'm not going to achieve a confident and secure fit. I'm convinced that upgrading to the lacing system used in the Fli-Lyte 4 would solve this problem (they got something right in the FL-4!). Second ("flaw"), is the heel structure. Let me say, I DO love the shape and angle of the Cyclone's heel, that is PERFECT in my opinion and a very welcome relief compared to the Fly-Lite 4's new heel structure. BUT the Cyclone's structure is slightly "off" as well and could possibly use a very minor addition of light weight padding. If I didn't run in a mid-weight sock, I can unquestionably see how the heel structure would decimate my flesh! Third ("flaw"), is the tongue. It's either deficient in length, width, or needs a very minor addition of light weight padding. With the Cyclone all laced up and ready to rock, the heel feels loose, the tongue feels too short, and the shoe feels (slightly) insecure, like it could fly off at any moment (yet it doesn't). To be honest, I'm not sure if fixing the lacing system wouldn't concurrently solve these so called "flaws" or not, but it's certainly a good place to start. Overall, this is a GREAT shoe with a few necessary tweaks to make it worthy of the gods!

The good: I did not experience any issue with blisters or hot spots mentioned in other reviews. The toe box size is excellent and provides a roomy but secure fit for my average to slightly above-average width forefoot. It's a light and agile shoe, and honestly a joy to run in. Subjectively, it feels like the ST-3 but with a bit more structure. The not so good: After not even 100 miles of mostly pavement running, I noticed the black tread was peeling off from the outsole (near the front/outside) on both the left and right shoe. It looks like the adhesion failed. This has never happened in the multiple Topo ST and Magnifly series shoes I have owned in the past 6 years. Those were only replaced after I wore through the outsole after 350+ miles. So my conclusion is this is a fantastic shoe, but the pair I received simply did not hold up from a durability perspective. I would still recommend this shoe because it was great to run in before the tread failure, and no other review has complained of this issue. I think it's probably just a one off problem. Also, Topo was extremely helpful and responsive in remedying the problem, which means a lot these days.

From the ground up: Tread is amazing, it held traction in wet, rainy runs down to a 6'15" pace and sharp turns. It did slip slightly in smooth wet wooden bridges, but any shoe would have to be honest. Midsole was a bit firmer than I would like. I feel like a tempo day shoe should be good for up to 8 miles with no cushion concerns, but feel that 5k-10k is the happy place for the Cyclone (I like firmness, but these are just a little *too* firm). Upper is amazing! I love the ventilation and has a race-ready feel and won't hold tons of water like most daily trainers or tempo shoes! My one grips is the heel counter. Yes, I did half size down, and am glad I did, but have to say the heel seemed to hug a bit low. Thanks to the amazing lacing and snug forefoot fit, it fit like a racer and held the heel in place, but although no blisters or hot spots, was just minorly uncomfortable and not something I would trust in a long run since I would suspect hotspots to form past 8 miles. So solid lockdown for everything but the heel. I totally agree with other runners, the heel needs to change to keep the same contour feel but lock down a bit better and possibly have that "cushion" layer a bit higher to not get in the way of the ankle bones. Lacing was superb. Please don't change a thing, I loved the lockdown experience and the eyelets on the tongue! And the tongue was perfect for not being gusseted thanks to those eyelets, I love the innovation! Bottom line: Heel counter should be changed, with the foam pad section adjusted higher. I would personally also like to see the foam a little less dense to have just a touch more cushion to be more versatile at longer distances, but also understand it is meant as a tempo day shoe. I just feel like this shoe has solid potential to be a "do it all" shoe instead of being restricted to "for shorter tempo purposes only" if the midsole were more forgiving under foot.

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.

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.

I have been backpacking in these shoes for nearly 150 miles so far, and actually look forward to putting them on to hit the trails! The trails around here are rocky and "rooty", but the sole plate and the tread lugs make it safe and enjoyable. My backpack weight is around 25 lbs with full food and water, but I still have good support from the shoes. I have had only one wear area show up and that is right at the Achilles area padding on both shoes. It could probably have a thicker material there to prevent breakdown. Overall, I am super pleased to have finally found not only a comfortable shoe, but also a very functional one!

Got the 1/2 size smaller... Fit would be perfect if it wasn't for the crazy firm toe protection piece... If you like a good snug fit on the length, you may not like the toe protection. It gets in the way in a painful way with my pinky toe. Might have to suffer with a slightly too big shoe because the size that fits my foot size perfect is ruined by the toe cap/guard... With all that said, if you can find the perfect fit and not be bothered by the toe cap, I highly recommend these shoes.

needs more cushion, plus they are just a little narrow for my bunion

I prefer zero drop shoes for running. I have many Altra shoes and I decide to try the Topo because of zero drop and big toe box. Magnifly 3 is a perfect shoes for my regular training because of comfortable cushion without the big stack height. It is a little heavier than my Altra but not by much.

I primarily bought these for work, as I do a fair amount of walking outside, but also wanted something for some actual hiking. I have a "bad" right knee so I had to give up backpacking and bigger mountain hikes, but still wanted something to help me enjoy the great outdoors. These seemed to alleviate a lot of knee pain, and that is just coming off from a 30 day trial on the Hoka Challenger Mid with Gore-Tex! I like the way these fit width wise, like Keen [also Sketcher Extra-Wide] boots. Because these have that same WIDE look, that are better for those of us with wider toe boxes, like EEE. I have tried almost every brand with wide sizes under $200, and these just simply feel better for my foot, but they should still offer a wide option...PLEASE! Not a lot of interior height either, so going to try some lacing techniques to try and free up some room for my higher volume feet, plus to be able to run thicker or cushioned socks, and also to hopefully eliminate heel lifting(getting a little better). But I am not too hopeful, because there is no leather to stretch or even break-in. Length is like Danner and Sketchers for me, in that they are a half to a full size bigger than I wear in every other boot. I am normally a 10w-10.5w, but had to go down to a 9.5 on these. I have had these for a couple of weeks now and appreciate the waterproof [and breathable] booties, because I also work in the rain, and walk across dew covered drenched lawns in the mornings. However we will see how long they stay waterproof, as I don't have much luck with waterproof/breathable membranes, besides Gore-Tex, and that only last a year for me. Most others brand versions start leaking on me within two weeks to about 3-4 months. My better half says I should be a boot tester for all the brands of boots I have owned and failed. They still do make my feet sweat, even with eVent, especially compared to the apparently very breathable Hoka boots I just tried. I also prefer leather, so this will be the first full nylon boot I have ever tried, and so far I don't mind them. One less boot to Sno-Seal. However, just like the waterproofness, we will see how the outside holds up long term. Likes: wider toe box and squared off toe design(like Keen), stable transition through the gate cycle, Vibram outsole :), speed lacing with a 'lace-lock' feature, isolation from rocks and roots from the full-length ESS rock plate, waterproof [so far]. Annoyances: Slightly heavier than the Hoka boot I just had, sweaty despite the eVent DVdryLT one-piece upper that is supposed to be breathable, stiff sole(so unfortunately lots of heel lift) probably due to that full-length ESS rock plate, no wide sizes(even though they are wider than most other boots "wide" sizes), low volume(so need to wear thin socks), and thin/too flexible removable insole which make insertion after drying difficult.

I hope they last, I run about eight hours a week mostly trails, the Vibram sole was the reason I bought these shoes. They feel less comfortable comparing to Nike, or other brands I've tried but I don't want to buy shows every three month.

First day wearing them, my foot rolled in them a lot. But after i broke them in a little more, my foot stays in place and they are comfortable for my whole shift. I am a nurse who averages around 12 miles of walking per shift. The toe box width is amazing and the upper is soft and pliable. Worried a little about how they will hold up over time as the cushioning is already beginning to crease, but I absolutely love them right now. Would like to see some darker colors though. Maybe a black/yellow or black/lime green combo. I am going to get another pair in a different style soon so i would definitely recommend this brand.