Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Runventure 4

This shoe will hopefully put other brands on the fritz. I have been searching for YEARS for a rugged trail shoe, vibram sole, big toe box, no drop, and low stack height and it doesn't exist. Vivobarefoots fall apart and Altras grip feel like icicles. I have tried them all. Topo, please don't change this shoe. It's fantastic the way it is. It's made for people who want a minimal shoe that can handle real mountains.

Very comfortable with minimal breaking in.

Lots of walking. Walking the dog 2 miles a day

I've used these for about 4-5 months and put around 200 miles in them. They are great for almost any outdoor trail because the grip on the bottom is great; I've used them on rainy and muddy days too. I used them a lot more trainning < 25 mile runs since the stack height on these is lower & i prefer more stack height on race day specifically, but I have used them for a 50 mile race as well! Tip: use your ankle lock shoe lace holes, they minimize your feet moving inside the shoe and reduce friction on the sole of your feet; I learned my lesson during a 50 mile trail race, where by mile 35 of 50 I had hotspots on the bottom of my feet because I didnt use my heel lock lace holes. Again my situation was preventable though!

Has to be the best technical mountain trail shoe I've ever worn. Super stable in choppy rock. Handles long, techy descents well. Climbs like a goat. Amazing ground feel. I just love this shoe. Only upgrade I can think of you could possibly make is maybe a MegaGrip outsole. More color options would also be awesome. Topo knocks it out of the park though. So happy to have found this company.

Great shoes. I use them for hiking in Bieszczady mountains and gravel bike riding (flat pedals). The only downside is the colour. I didn't like the brownish / beetroot, so I chose the yellow ones. The result is I have to machine wash them every second activity. Otherwise they look like I didn't clean them for years. I wish you had them in black colour.

I purchased the Runventure 4s as my first pair of Topos and I have not been disappointed. I was looking for a zero-drop with a wider toe box so I was very excited to give them a try. I really love how stable they feel while not being over restrictive; and the Vibram grip is great on various types of terrain. But I think my favorite thing about them has been the comfort. I recently completed a 50k trail race (~3300 ft of vert) with not even so much as a hot spot. Highly recommend.

I like them for work or for play they are great

I have problems with my knee and feet. I usually walk five miles a day and incorporate 3-4 short sprints. The roomy toe box and zero drop feels great.

The runventure 4 has been my go to shoe for everything from technical rocky trails to flat icy roads. With the short stack height and zero drop I can get a really good grip and feel of the ground. Perfect comfort shoe for the minimalist.

I've been a die hard Lone Peak wearer for a couple of years now but after trying these? Forgot I had other shoes in my closet. I have a few injuries on my left foot and the vibram sole protected it well enough that for the first time in a few months I wasn't in excruciating pain. I also quite enjoy the minimal cushioning-I wear barefoot shoes outside of running so these are a perfect fit. Super stoked I'm making the transition to these and will definitely be trying to convert the Lone Peak homies

I like them

I've been using these shoes for a few weeks now as an addition to my quiver of trail runners. I love my Pursuits for those long mountain days but I wanted something with lower stack height for better ground feel on my shorter and faster training runs. The Runventure 4 is absolutely perfect for that purpose! They are light, balanced, grippy, snappy, and an absolute joy to run in. I have very flat feet meaning I have to remove the insert from my Topos but that is an advantage in this situation as I have never had such amazing ground feel while still feeling protected enough on technical terrain. I highly suggest these shoes if you are looking for a capable yet minimalist shoe for training runs under 10 miles.

These are the best shoes that I have found for Disc Golf. I own a pair of Runventure 4 and a pair of Terraventure and they are both great. Love the roomy toe box and the low to zero drop. Having a flatter shoe with a thinner sole makes me feel more stable and grounded when putting a lot of side load on the shoes as one does when throwing disc golf discs. Where other shoe uppers have torn these have held up better than anything else I've tried. Plus having Vibram soles is a must, often we are teeing off from concrete pads and that and rocky terrain can really wear down other soles. The Vibram soles have held up extremely well. Not to mention, these shoes are extremely comfortable. I don't even need to buy insoles for them. I will definitely keep going with Topo for a long time. Thanks for making a great shoe that checked all my boxes.

Far better than Altra

Everyday wear for walks, hikes and runs

I used to run in Altras with custom orthotics. They are very comfortable but they don't last. I then tried Xeros for a while thinking my legs will get used to no cushioning. Well... my knees were not very happy. It probably has to do with my age (mid 50s) and lacking meniscus in one knee. Runventure 4 are very comfortable (wide toe box) and the Vibram soles are very stable and got great traction on rocks. I don't know how long they will last... So far I love them.

I mostly use my topos to hike or play disc golf. Actually, there is a new brand of shoe devoted entirely to disc golf called idio, but I'm not sure if they fit a big toebox. Most disc golfers where Solomons Adidas terrexs or running shoes. If topos had a full reinforced toe area for toe drag on concrete teepads, they'd be perfect. The only thing to have gone wrong so far is a hole where the big toe is. You guys should sponsor a disc golfer! I've suggested topos to several people and at least 2 have ordered a pair and wear them for DG!

Yet another great shoe from Topo Athletic. I've started wearing minimalist sandals at work, around the house and for errands and discovered what a wonderful complex machine are those things at the ends of our legs. I bought these shoes as a bit of an experiment and discovered the benefits of a more flexible, zero drop shoe that allows the foot to hug the ground. The traction is amazing as a result, and these shoes are super light. I've done a couple 6-mile runs in the Colorado Rockies, which were, well...rocky...and did not find the lack of a rock plate to be a problem. These are my new go-to shoes. Kudos to Topo Athletic for its commitment to innovation.

Trail running and racing

I love this shoe for hiking/walking because it allows me to fully bend my toes! It has great mid-foot support, and good, responsive cushioning. I also need 0mm. I must order a men's size because the women's sizes are not wide enough. But, please, please give us a neutral color such as black/grey! I need a shoe that transitions to street clothes in more business situations without having to change my shoes. Athletic shoes are now quite acceptable with business attire; however, sometimes you do not want a shoe to be a distraction.

Toebox is the widest you'll find in running shoes, but still could use more room. Heel is a little loose. #sweepstakes

I use these for shorter, technical mountain runs (< 10 mi) and the combination of grip and ground feel is unbeatable. No hesitation bombing technical terrain in any condition. Only reason for the 4 star instead of a 5 is durability. Over time, a few of the thin lacing loops have completely sheared through, requiring some MacGyver'ing. I would love to see those loops reinforced in the next model. In addition, the actual shoe has begun to show some separation form the outsole over time.

I find these good for pavement to trail. Light, flexible, low stack, and zero drop. If you appreciate these attributes, you may like them.

First I want to say that I was hoping these would essentially be an Altra Superior with a decent (vibram) sole. They are definitely narrower and have a different feel but are still a good shoe. Now a review and not a comparison. They have plenty of grip and more than average toe room though I wish at times there was more. They seem to be holding together well after over 100 miles. My biggest complaint is how they hold water and take forever to dry out.