Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Phantom 2

These shoes are very comfortable. I love the wide toe box and the nice ground feel. One improvement would be to go to a totally flat insole. The insoles are ever so slightly higher near the arch which created some arch pressure. I replaced them with flat insoles and all is well!

I live on gravel and switch back and forth between these and a more "trail" style shoe from Altra. I do run purely on road occasionally (like this morning) and enjoy the feel of the Topos. My challenge has always been the toe-box of shoes being too narrow, but Topo have this figured out!

These shoes are amazing. Big improvements from Phantom 1! I use them for road running and walking. Bouncy feel, nice cushion, very roomy and comfortable toe box, snug midfoot. I have bunions and these shoes are great. I have Hokas, Altra, Asics and other shoes from quality brands, but these are the the best ones I have ever had. I have not tested them long term so I hope the quality holds up.

I love the wide toe box. For me it was so difficult to find a running shoe wide enough for my feet. TOPO for the win on this. No bloody toes, no scrunched toes , no pain on the tops of my feet. A very well designed running shoe.

I went for a 3 hour run in them right out of the box. The sizing is similar to the previous model. However, the mid foot is considerably more form fitting. As far as function, my run was terrific. I have zero hotspots, blisters, or sores. This shoe locks down on your foot. The slightly sloppy slide from the original is gone. I feel 100% confident making that statement. I live in West Virginia. My entire run was up and down a mountain. We don't have long climbs and declines like as in other parts of the country but we have short steep drops and rises. This terrain is brutal on I'll fitting footwear. I love these shoes. I have been racking my brain trying to remember the last time I had such a great shoe. If you change anything, the upper is not quite designed for the heat; this shoe will be ripe before mid-July.

I was very excited about these shoes, and i am not disappointed. They fit great, are nice and cushioned but still have great responsiveness. I have worn these in dry rocky single track and have enjoyed them so far. I haven't worn them in wet conditions yet but I can't imagine a trail scenario that the MTN Racer 2 would fall short. These are my new go-to shoes for any distance trail runs and ultra races

So I've tried so many different shoes to help with different foot issues. Oboz, Altras, Saucony, Hoka, Asics to name a few. Most of the time they were too narrow. If they did make a wide it only came in a few models. Altras were good but I couldn't take the zero drop and I had to order a size 15 to fit me. I swear my feet are getting bigger as I grow older. I'm 52 and try to walk hike several times a week. I did an 8 mile hike a couple of weeks ago in my Topos and had no issue. Slight blister on a couple of toes but that wasn't the shoes fault. The shoes still felt actually comforting by the end of the hike. I have a size 14 and it feels great. Compared to Saucony and Asics where their 14 even in wide still feels tight. If there was one minor problem would be the construction of the shoe puts a little stress in my upper arch. Kind of where the two different materials meet. However it doesn't cause any blistering or lasting pain. I wish Topo would make a waterproof low shoe with higher cushion in a 5 mm drop. More colors too. I have ordered two pair of Topos now and will definitely get more to try if they ever come back in stock.

A great shoe for mixed terrain over long distances. Asphalt, dirt roads and mountain trails. Very comfortable. Good grip. Good breathability. Thanks Topo !

I have had a terrible time with shoes being too tight especially for my "naturally walked" toes. I found these ad I put them on and wow!! Comfortable, fits good and my toes are happy! I have not been walking for weeks, now I can get back to it and I will update after a week of walking.

The Phantom 2 has the optimal stack height and delivers a very comfortable ride. The upper is light and airy affording good breathability and the lacing let's you dial in a secure midfoot. Great shoe! I hope Topo will increase the stack and foam to their Mtn Racer and / or Ultraventure 2 trail shoe.

I've been running in Altras the past 6 years but found the Topo mtn racer to fit my foot better (just wide enough in the toe-box with a narrow heel) and perform better out on the trails (light and nimble with the right amount of protection and traction). Will be buying a second pair.

He's raving about these shoes - Ultrafly 3 - like I've never heard him rave before! He loves them and he is picky about his shoes! He's worked in a fitness center since he was a kid. He knows shoes! He's not going to write a review, he's too busy walking and working in his Ultrafly's but I offered to send this review to you, for him. Hope you accept it because it's 100% TRUE!

Worried about the exposed foam on the bottom of the shoe is going to wear out and make me replace them too soon. :(

Second pair in a year and only got new ones because my first pair got dirty from wearing them so much. Absolutely love these shoes.

I run a bit here and there. I really like cushion and 0 drop. Feels better than the 0 drop 0 cushion shoes that I was wearing.

Look decent with a pair of jeans as well!

I am 73 and do over 20 miles per week speed walking. Due to "old knees" and past plantar fasciitis issues, shoe fit and design is critical to me. I had been wearing various Altra shoes for a number of years, but have abandoned the brand due to constant changes that compromised fit and reduced quality and reliability. I only have about 30 miles on my Phantom 2s, but they are awesome: - Fit was good. They may even be a bit large, and I may try a 10.5 next time. Plenty of room in the toe box, good midfoot and heel capture. - The stitched upper is so much better than many shoes with all kinds of glued on overlays, etc. - The tongue stays in place and absolutely does not rotate during a long walk. - The laces and lacing system is stable and does not loosen during a walk. - The cushion and return feels just right. I have experienced zero pain or stiffness after a walk. Incredible! - The shoes seem to breathe exceptionally well, even in Arizona heat. My feet were way less damp after a walk than in any other shoe. - The slight rake in the heel and toe eliminates any toe/heel drag. - The overall workmanship quality appears to be very good. Time will tell as to how well the shoes will wear. My wife just received a pair of Phantom 2s, and her words coming in the door after her first walk were "I want fifteen pairs!". That says it all. These are the best shoes I have ever had. Please don't make unneeded changes like other manufacturers.

Get up make coffee read the paper put in my phantoms and leave the house. Everyday. Walk 5-10 miles per day. Mostly on tarmac. Some trails. I wear wool socks, the shoes are mostly comfy and do not get sweaty or stinky.

I work in a warehouse and I walk on average 5-7 miles a day on concrete floors. I have orthotic insoles that fit perfectly with the size I ordered. I definitely will order another pair.

This is my go to shoe when I want a little less cushion than the Phantom. It provides more feel without sacrificing too much comfort.

Having worn the previous Phantom for years, I can say that this is Topo's best version yet. It feels even more comfortable and has an improved lacing system. These are my workhorse road shoe and will be for the foreseeable future. Go get you some!

Being a school administrator, the topos help my feet and back walking around the school on a daily basis. They help me keep the momentum in my step getting from one thing to the next

I am a senior runner, 45 years running, racing, marathon and ultra. Converted to topo about 8 months ago and alternate with Altra torin and Rivera. Had settled on ultrafly 3 with topo. Tried the phantom original. Not a fan. Just did 6 miles with the phantom 2. love it because of toe box but also how well it cradles and holdsy foot. Will continue with ultrafy but this is a definite add to the inventory! Nice job!

I'm 63 and topo shoes have kept me running into these later years. I really appreciate the increased cushioning of this model. As is the case with all models I've had in the past the roomy toe box is critical to foot health for me. I don't think I could go back to standard name brand shoes.

6' 1", 200lbs, East Coast trail and ultra runner; size 12. I recently used the Topo Mountain racer's in a 100 mile ultra, and I didn't get a single blister. That made me a believer in the 'Topo fit', and the Injinji Toe-socks that I had paired up with them. The only down side, is that the Mountain Racer doesn't quite provide enough protection from 'pointy things' on the trails. After reading up on the features of the Ultraventure Pro, I decided to give them a try, as they offer a bit more cushion and a rock plate. So far I have 3x long runs on these shoes and a bunch of shorter runs, mostly on technical single-track, but a few gravel and paved road runs mixed in there. I thought they were too good to be true during the first few runs, so I held off on this review until I got more miles on them, but I honestly think I found THE shoe for me, which is bold statement. I can't compare to Altra, because I can't do zero-drop. I came from the Hoka crowd, but they keep making skinnier toe boxes year after year, to the point that I can no longer use them. Another runner left a strong negative review of these shoes, which I was surprised to see, because these are the best shoes I've used in a long time. I'd say they're worth a try, especially since Topo allows a return within 30 days. TOPO: Please continue to make foot-shaped shoes that are NOT zero-drop!