Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Pursuit

This is a fantastic trail shoe. I wear a size 10 in both Altra and Topo. (I used to be a huge Altra fan until I discovered Topo : ) Advertised as 0 drop, but honestly feels like its a few MM higher in the heel (not a complaint!) Perfect heel lock, just enough room in the toe box to give me room but not the sloppy loose fit of Altra Lone Peak. In fact, to get the perfect fit in my Altra I had to spend an extra $50 on Currex insoles to make them work right. Not with Topo. Out of the box they couldnt be better. I run on trails and because of the above reasons as well as improved grip on wet surfaces, I'll be wearing these in a couple of weeks backpacking the 100 mile wilderness of the AT in Maine.

Very comfortable trail runner. For me, seem better suited for running than hiking (zero drop attribute?). Feet feel very secure and super comfy. Classic Vibram grip. Nice job folks!

I'm not actually a frequent hiker or trailing runner, I mostly use them for everyday walking. Pursuit is the first pair of Topos I have ever bought, and I think I have made an excellent choice. Wide toe box, ample cushioning and Vibram Megagrip is a very nice combination. This might be personal, but probably due to my foot shape, I would like the pinky toe area a bit expanded, or the shape of the toe box area to be slightly rotated outward. Just feeling a bit of pressure on my pinky toes especially when sitting down. Would be perfect if done!

Another hit, love the comfort, cushion and fit

Walking and running. Love the great toe room and 0 drop!

Bought this shoe for a JMT hike (250mi). Best shoe I've ever used for hiking. Zero Blisters, no problems at all, shoe still looking fresh. Far better than Altra lone peak.

I have been backpacking and running in Altra for years now and their quality has finally dipped past the point of no return where I was ready to jump ship. Where the Altra Timp 4 is garbage, the Topo Pursuit is INCREDIBLE. So far I have only taken it on one good run, 13 miles with 4k of vert along a very rough ridgeline in western North Carolina. There were long steep climbs, a section of mellow forest roads, class 4 moves, and epically fast decent over roots, mud, gravel, and rocks. The Pursuit truly is a mountain oriented shoe; fairly light, great traction, and a secure midfoot. All of these allow for security on very rough terrain, even when dealing with wet rock and mud. The stack height is a bit much for 90% of my runs, but perfect for those all day long missions, and the fairly wide toe box seals the deal. The only downside is they don't seem to breath well, so extra socks aren't a bad idea. This shoe is mountain race ready.

So glad to have a shoe that performs so well and doesn't crush my toes! These are great and barely noticed and zero drop transition from my ultraventures of 5 mm drop.

Bought these for a backpacking trip in the Uinta mountains coming up. I love the fit, feel, and plenty of support and cushion.

Really love the look and fit of these shoes. I usually find that I like one more than the other, but I equally love both the look and fit. I bought the blue, but I'm actually considering getting the other color as well. I buy Topo trail shoes because I love the fit and feel, and these hug my heels just right and have the toe box I expect from Topo shoes. I'm not a die hard zero drop person, but these are the best feeling zero drops I have worn. I wouldn't change a thing. And I truly love the look of these shoes. Really like the non-white sole, and hope that Topo continues to make shoes like the Pursuit.

So glad I tried Topos out! I've been searching for a shoe that matched the fit/feel of a long lost favorite trail runner from the 'other guys' and these met and exceeded expectations right out of the box. A nice roomy toebox, amazing grip, and a well-fitting heel. I think these shoes just might've made me a Topo convertnow I'm wondering what their road running analog is.

I have been a zero drop fan for years, because of this I kept using Altra shoes. I had purchased the Timp 4 early this year and after 60 miles the tread on the Max Trac is half gone. I have a pair of MTN Racer 2's with 60 miles and you can't even see any wear on the Vibram Megagrip. I still prefer the zero drop over the 5 mm drop of the MTN Racer. Then I purchased the Pusuit and instantly was impressed. Better fit and security, better grip, and longer life. I'm a fan and a convert. Thanks Topo.

Great fit right out the box. Just the right amount of room on the toe box, and nicely fitted through the mid-foot and ankle lockdown. I'm a long-time Nike Terra Kiger runner but wanted a little more cushion. I feel like this is an everyday shoe I'll be able to use for long races. I'll definitely be a returning customer.

I have about 600 trail miles total in my Pursuits. 400 on my first pair, and 200 miles in on my second. The pros: -Possibly the best traction I have felt in a trail shoe. The squishy zipfoam behind the vibram megagrip causes this shoe to stick onto whatever is under you. -High confidence on the downhill. With the traction and the squishy platform, I could plant my foot wherever without too much concern for foot placement. -Excellent "toe off" - not sure if that's what it's called, but even though it's a zero-drop platform, the shoe rolls forward on the toe in a very rolling fashion. I'm a forefoot striker but still felt invited into rolling my toes forward, unlike the flatter platform in Altras. -The upper is very durable and still looks great on the pair I retired. The vibram still has life too. In the end, the way the midsole wears is what caused me to retire these at 400 miles. The cons: -The way the zipfoam midsole wears seems to curve or shorten the shoe over time. I noticed in my first pair that it almost felt as if my toes started touching the front of the shoe over time. I took the insole out to check it out, and the insole is curved almost straight up at the end as if the toe inside the shoe became a steep slope. While running, I don't notice this as much, but it seems the zipfoam wears right under where you put your weight and it has an undesired impact on the shape or geometry of the shoe starting at about 180 - 200 miles in. -Poor drainage and drying. I used these to run/hike about 50 miles of the hardrock course over two days in July, and there were many water crossings. These did not drain and dry out as well as Altras and is an opportunity area for Top. The ortholite insole absorbs a lot of water, I would love for Topo to try out an insole similar to the Adidas boost-like material that Saucony is using for some insoles right now. -This might be related to my first con, but the zipfoam seems wonderful at first then, in a way, seems to soften up or become too squishy. The softness has at times caused my feet to crave firmer platforms, and I think the sweet spot for these Pursuits is up to 10 miles or so. Longer than that irritate my feet in strange ways that I attribute to the soft, squishy platform. I recently bought a pair of Terraventure 4s which e have the firmness that my feet have been craving after 600 miles using Pursuits as my main trail shoe.

I'm a female that has to buy men's shoes to get the width I need. Have been debating on zero drop shoes with the wide toe box for some time. Too many negatives about another brand's' durability and just recently saw ads for Topo and decided to try them. I also use custom orthotics and shoes felt strange for a couple of hours. I've had them on some easy trails and they are great. The zero drop has relieved the pressure from my dropped metatarsals. While I can wiggle my toes they could be a bit wider. I would also like to see eyelets rather than the loops for the laces. I also agree with another review that the heel could splay out a bit more for stability. I haven't looked yet to see if Topo sells the hooks for the gaiters separately that I can see onto my gaiters. Right now I'm using small safety pins. Overall they appear well-made, my heel doesn't slip, and there appears to be enough stability that my foot doesn't roll inside the shoe.

I've worn these every day for 8 months. They are still comfortable and the midsoles have held up much better than the Altra Olympus 5 I wore for only 6 months before they lost midsole support. The vibram outsoles have been very grippy on rocky/uneven trails as well as pavement and indoor surfaces. The outsoles are sturdy and rigid enough to make walking on rocky terrain quite comfortable. However, the lugs have worn down under the ball of my foot and I am looking for new shoes. Unfortunately, there are 2 reasons I am looking at other brands. 1- Size 14 is not readily available ,or even offered for all colors. My foot measures as a size 12, but I found shoes 2 sizes larger allow room for expansion during long hikes. 2- The colors, while subdued when compared to many trail runners, are out of place when not on the trail. I like wearing these shoes at work, but the blue and olive colors look out of place even with casual clothing. I would buy these shoes again if I could find a size 14 and if there were better color options available to align with off-trail use.

Pros - great traction due to Vibram sole and beefy lugs, adequate room in toe box, great protection for the toes, laces stay knotted, very light weight. Cons for me: 1.) tightness in both shoes on my instep, right behind the toes, while wearing lightweight socks. Much snugger than any other shoe of it's type, including Speedgoats, Lone Peaks, etc. 2.) proprietary attachment system for gaiters is a bummer, please show some love for Dirty Girl gaiters and others Overall rating 8/10

I use my Topo's everyday. I love the roomy toe box and overall comfort. The shoe materials and craftsmanship seem to be very well done. Great value for what you're getting!!

The zero heel drop is excellent and keeps my weight centered on my food and off of my heels. Having had several episodes of plantar fasciitis, this is a critical characteristic. The padding is fine and the wide toe box is very comfortable.

Shoes are roomy and cool. They are great for working on my feet all day. I docked a star because the inner materials seem to wear out on me pretty quickly, but the shoes are so comfy I just keep buying them. #sweepstakes

This is just about perfect. Typically my favorite shoe is altra timp. But this is my new favorite. I love the vibram sole. Only recommendation would be a little more cushion. I will see when I get some bigger miles in.

I walked 6 miles in them on forest trails and love so many things about these shoes! The sole is amazingly grippy; my heel doesn't budge; the 28mm stack with zero drop feels great; the upper material is very comfortable and breathable; and the best part, I can wiggle my toes even while on a steep descent, which blew my mind. However, the heel sole feels dangerously narrow, which can lead to a rolled ankle. The heel sole is just too narrow.

I've been running in minimalist shoes for over a decade. I used to run in minimalist shoes like Merrell's trail gloves until I started getting foot pain from the lack of cushioning. Turns out lots of running in minimalist shoes can lead to petatarsal stress and impact fractures. Who knew? Several years ago I switched to more padding from that other zero-drop, wide toe box brand, but their quality has been dropping off for years, and their soles aren't exactly known for traction. This time around I tried a literal portfolio of shoes. Speedgoats? Way too narrow in the toe box. Both lateral toes were smashed. That was an instant no. Timps? Uncomfortable upper with weird creases and a that shoe company's proprietary terrible traction sole. Mafates? More room than the Speedgoats, but still not quite enough, and the insole/midsole weren't particularly comfortable. Mont Blanc? Terrible heel hold with lots of slop. Stinsons? platform clown shoes. Olympus 5? Almost there, but the worst durability ever makes them not a cost effective option. Then I found these Topo Pursuits, and I really wanted to love them. You have no idea. Everything I wanted: zero-drop, wide toe-box, locked-in heel, MegaGrip sole. There was even an unexpected super bonus: one of the best toe-offs I've ever had in a running shoe. Unfortunately, there is one deal breaker for me: a really high "supportive" arch. It's really uncomfortable. When I first put the shoes on, they feel great! Love 'em! After a minute or so, I start to notice all the pressure on my arch. If I wear them for more than a few minutes, my arches start hurting. I'm writing this while standing at a standing desk and wearing them, and my arches are very uncomfortable. I want to like them so bad that I'm going to try swapping the insoles out for some other older insoles I've got to see if I can find some insoles that take the pressure off the arches. I really want them to work. But I'm not really holding out much hope. To anyone else, I would say absolutely try these on and stand and walk around for at least 5 minutes. If they work with your feet, buy them. But sadly, they likely won't work for mine. I'm just hoping the rest of Topo's shoe line doesn't have the same super-high arch. I've got my eye on a pair of Specter's for road running!

I agree with others that the mid foot is too tight. Maybe offer a wide version.

I'm having a hard time with fit with these shoes. How the tongue is designed, there's a tendency for the sides of it to fold over on itself and cause pain on the top of my foot. I never had this issue before with other shoes. I can fix it for a short amount of time by carefully putting my foot in, but after a while the side of the tongue is folded over causing a hard pressure point on my foot.