Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Mtn Racer 2

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.

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.

I bought these shoes for work. Lots of walking on concreate. love the box toe concept. Shoes were a little tight at first (over the top of the foot). After about three weeks had them broke in.

I hope your R&D guys run in sand and dust at an average mountain pace. If they do you'll be bringing back the ripstop. I owned 3 pair of MTN Racers just because of the outer fabric and my wife owned 2 pair after I recommended them. The Ultraventure with a ripstop shell would be the best shoe on the market that isn't a zero-drop Altra. I can't run in zeros or I would just buy an Altra. I would buy this combo, Ultraventure with ripstop outer, all day long. My feet would be clean, dust and sand free. The Ultraventure is one of the most comfy shoes I've had but my feet get trashed with the Rocky Mountain dust and sand. The MTN racer kept my feet clean but didn't last as long, were not as comfy and then you took the ripstop away. The ripstop is bomb proof in brush, scree, and sharp traverses. Talk to an average trail runner, not the elites, and bring back the ripstop. Sincerely, Al

Bad blisters on the top of my second toe. My second toe is longer than my big toe and it causes issues on climbing shoes and running shoes. Thought I could break them in. No dice. I do like they are more stable than Atras, but just too short of a toe box for my feet. Dont think I can return, I put some miles on them. 1/2 size larger may work but risky for the money.

Love the shoes. Terrible colors.

Can't pull the trigger on the new version. I used the originals, 2pair. the old material kept all the dust off your feet and lasted forever. This new material seems suspect and will certainly let dust in. I've had three pairs of topo shoes rip out on the sides, but not the MTN Racers. Bring back the ripstop upper

I returned these shortly after trying them as they were too narrow for my wide forefeet, including bunions and bunionettes. If a wide version becomes available I will definitely give them a try.

I've been a Topo fan for years, but their sizing is inconsistent. The MTN Racer 2 size 10 is too long and the 9.5 is too short. The styling of this shoe is great I love the wide toe box and secure midfoot. This has a more narrow toe box which I liked, but the length is off - neither size was comfortable or functional. I ended up going with the MT4 size 10 which fit perfectly and is a great shoe. Do they have different manufacturers for different styles?

The original Mtn Racer was my favorite trail shoe of all time, so the second version didn't have a lot to improve on in my opinion. Unfortunately though, this version doesn't quite do it for me. Still a good shoe, but no longer my favorite, and I am especially hesitant about grabbing them for my long, technical runs. My biggest issues: 1) I'm struggling to get a good fit in the forefoot. On very technical terrain the new mesh just feels sloppier and I've been twisting my ankles from time to time. This used to be a common occurrence when I wore *ltras, and it's the reason I switched to topos in the first place. The original mountain racer always felt snug and secure, and still left me with plenty of wiggle room. 2) When I tighten the laces to try and minimize the sloppiness of the forefoot, they bite into the tops of my feet. For the most part, I don't really feel it, but on sustained, steep, technical downhills it can be quite painful. I find myself constantly trying to adjust the fit until I get a happy medium where my feet are locked down, but it's not painful. 3) I'm a bit nervous about the durability of the new mesh material. All that sloppy "drift" in the forefoot is putting added stress on the upper, and I fear that will eventually lead to blowouts. With ~100 miles on the shoe so far, that doesn't seem to be happening yet, so I really have no evidence to support this other than past experiences with *ltras. 4) Always a minor consideration, but the colors are horrid. On races and adventure runs I don't like to be too flashy -- I understand this is the trend, but I'd love a more toned-down color scheme. The original red/yellow, and the new mustard color just doesn't do it for me. Total personal preference, but what's wrong with subtle blues and greens or a minimalist design?

The fit on these was not ideal for me, my heel would slide up about half inch with every step causing me to second guess the security of my ankles with every step. I liked the feel inside and the lightweight! Toe box was tight. Returned, got salomon

MTN Racer 2 is my first ever Topo's shoes. Now is about 6 weeks I use them for trail running. I write here of main negative issue for me with the shoes. But I really say thanks for Topo for their unique healthy shoes. Negative: insole is slippery a lot -- its outer fabric is slippery and smooth -- very bad. Additionally the fabric is thin and weak (I have almost no fabric now under some places under heels). Additionally :-), insoles are enough deteriorated under heel's outer sides (its foam and fabric are deteriorated there) to be replaced now. And (!), as the insole has not standard form it's impossible to replace it without having gaps at sides of forefoot area -- only Topo's insole will fit correctly. Hope Topo will send me at least 5 pairs of insoles, as roughly speaking, 1 insole is for 1 to 2 months only. And wish them to improve insole quality.

Update on my other review. I have 116 miles in these shoes and they are boxed up and going back. I was really looking forward to them, kept on calling and bugging TOPO for there release but they are a no go for me. Trail runner here around Lake Tahoe. I have wide feet, my little toe always gets squished in "normal" wide shoes. Wide toe box was what drew me to these shoes. For that they fit fine. My issue with these shoes is: Something weird under the foot bed, felt like two rails under the foot. Liner fit odd also and wound't go back in smooth. The toung is really thin and I had a hard time adjusting the laces to be comfortable. But this is why they are going back. My longest run was 20 mile and my legs were dead. No way could i put down a 50k in these shoes. Not enough special sauce to keep the legs feeling fresh. 16 mile run and the same. It seemed for me, anything over 12 miles and my legs were shot. Now I have run these same routes in my Hoka's and Brooks. Neither one is wide enough but they never left me legs feeling like this. For me a swing and a miss. I don't want a max cushion shoe but I want to be able to trail run 20-30 miles and still have some life left in my legs. I'll keep on looking at Topo in the future because they have almost all the things I want in a shoe.. Photo; whats up with this weird gap in the shoe? When it flexes it opens right up. Its more pronounced in person.

The shoe was too narrow sent them back

While the midsole and outsole are very reminiscent of V-1, I found it very difficult to get a secure lockdown in the Ultraventure 2. I have changed the laces three times in an attempt to dial in fit. The microfiber band that goes around the midfoot is tacky but the heel area and fabric of the upper lacks the ability to keep me secure. The dual density upper is fairly thick but too stretchy and hot. Certainty not the greatest choice for hot weather running. Also, the lace loops are a paracord type(new to V-2). I do wonder if this contributes to the lack of security. The ortholite insole is super comfortable but it is a LITERAL sponge for sweat and water(also an issue in V-1). I rate this shoe as a 3 because i don't hate it...however, it needs to live up to, and/or surpass V-1 to recieve higher marks. I am hyper critical of this shoe because it has potential to be awesome. A positive feature of V-2 is it's loss of nearly 1 oz in my size 11. I will continue training in it but will not be able to race in the Ultraventure 2. Please change the upper on V-3.

I've got 32 miles on these, running on the PCT here in Tahoe. Want to love them and was bothering Topo to get my hands on a pair, but unless they do better over the next few miles they are going back. Likes, wide toe box, that is shaped like my foot. Very nice. Stable, as i have broken my ankle before, I'm always concerned. This was really nice. Dislikes. Typical slippery Topo laces. Liner appears to be odd shaped and does not go back in smooth nor flat. Topo specific gatter attachment. Come on, lets get some industry uniformity. 1st run was 6 miles. Was hoping for more comfort from new shoes. The cushion was not there, better then Altra's by far but still for the stack height, and all the talk about the new mid-sole I was hoping for more. Sure Im, 195 lbs but... What i really disliked is on the bottom of both heals, it was like I was running on rails. I'll add a photo below. Its like they put too much stability control into the show or the foot bed was made out of slightly harder places in lines. 2nd run. 6 miles. They felt better. Laces are still not great and I found myself stopping a lot. My ankles and legs felt tired. 3rd run. 20 miles with 3,500 feet gain. The hardness under the heals seemed to go away totally on my left foot. It went away for about 10 miles on the right then came back. I was surprised how tired my knees, quads and ankles got. Sure the PCT is rocky but I've run this section before with others and nothing like this. No way could I have worn them for a 50k. Feet and ankles hurt the next day. Maybe Im looking for the holy grail of shoes, and I thought this one would have it. Nice toe box for my flipper feet, combined with the structure to be a stable shoe but comfort is not there. After 32 miles, I'll try them again on a shorter run but anticipate sending them back.

I was really looking forward to this shoe coming out and had high hopes. Unfortunately this shoe does not work for me. It is a great looking shoe. Found the shoe to fit short on length and tight over the top of the foot. The width is fine, just lacks volume. The worst issue was there is something in the heel cup along the back of the heel that started causing a hot spot within 3 miles. Had the start of a raw spot at the end of my runs. Might work for some folks, just not me. Returning shoes to Topo for a refund.