Customer Reviews Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3

Been running a month now and they still feel really good. I did a road 5K in them and was happy that my hips, knees, and feet were not soar after the race. My only concern is the top outer part of the toe box is creasing. It looks like it may rip open. Maybe poor rubber molding around top of toe box. Will be disappointed if they rip after a short wear time.

Compaired to the MTN Racer 2 the thicker tongue and the new midsole of the MTN Racer 3 are definitely an improvement. However I feel the overall fit of the shoe is a step down compared to its predecessor, at least for my foot shape. The toe box feels too wide (the MTN Racer 2 fitted perfectly) and my foot feels less secured esp. on uneven terrain or downhills. I wander if a half size down would do the trick, but I can't afford to buy a second pair and they don't sell Topo's in the local stores to try them on. Overall I would give this shoe a 3.5 out of 5 compaired to a 4.5 for the MTN Racer 2.

I love the way my MTN Racer's feel, fit, and definitely hold up. I've had mine for almost a year and due to some feet problems, I've started wearing them for golf as well as slow pitch softball. But for size 14, you get black. In any of the models. My big feet need pops of color Topo, make it happen!

tldr: Love everything, except the narrow midfoot/arch, please make a wide option in these and the pursuit line I purchased these after being unhappy with the newer lone peaks. I wore them for one short run then immediately on a 15 mile run and 10 miles the next day during a trip in California. I was very impressed with the grip on wet rocks and roots, and the performance in mud and sand. The shoe dried very quickly as well and also performs very well in Ohio and Appalachia where I do most of my running. I have worn these up to 50 miles and find the cushioning and support to be more than adequate. After 300 miles they still have plenty of life and I am happy with the durability of the upper, midsole, and outsole. The only problem I have with the shoe is that the midfoot is ever so slightly too narrow for me feet and spills over in the inner arch area. This led to some blisters and discomfort until I changed the insoles with some old Altra ones which cover up the lip on the inner arch slightly better. I also had some initial discomfort breaking in the heel cup. On longer runs I still need to tape my inner arch to prevent discomfort from the narrow arch/odd arch placement. I was worried the 5mm drop would be too much and while it is noticeable, it has not been a deal breaker. If in future iterations there is a wide option, or the midfoot is made wider I will purchase another pair because I love nearly everything else about the shoe; great cushioning, grip, toe box, and upper fit after break in. I also purchased the pursuit at the same time which I like more for their 0mm drop and find the fit better for my wider than average foot. However, I did also change the insoles in the pursuits. My sentiment is similar for the pursuit line love everything but please make a wide option.

Hiking, trail running. Six weeks of use. I have used the Mountain Racer 2 shoes for a couple years and loved them. They did need some slight tweaking so I was eager to start with Mt Racer 3. The 3 has improved room in the toe box, a bit more padding in the tongue, and added stack cushioning. The shoe is very comfortable. Out sole traction is excellent. Flex is very good. It is a good upgrade, but I do have issues - slight issues. Sometimes I think companies spent too much time listening the the "expert" reviewers. Those upgrades feel good, but I found some slipping in the heel and some overall less confidence in the stability when hiking or running over mixed terrain and rocks. The 2's locked my foot in place very well. The 3 is stabile, but not as sure footed on the rocks as the 2. It could be from the added tongue padding (which I am not a fan of), or the added 5 mm stack hight. The jury is still out as to which shoe feels better when hitting the Rocky Mountains, or when encountering varied terrain. I did not need the added 5 mm of stack hight. I guess I would love to feel the absolute glove-like connecting that the 2 gave with the added comfort of the 3. It is a great shoe. I guess I am picky about feeling sure-footed on rocky terrain. Great shoe and better in some ways. But I miss the locked-in heel.

The first Topos I tried were the Mtn Racer 2. It was the best trail shoe I tried up to that point. It had the three things that mattered most to me: roomy toe box, secure mid foot/heel, and super grippy outsole. It made me feel secure and able to go fast on technical downhills. I recently got the MTN Racer 3 and the roomy toe box is still there along with the grippy outsole, however the mid foot/heel is not nearly as secure. When running down steep fire roads I feel my foot moving around in the shoe, which gives less confidence to open up the stride. On the good side, there is a bit extra cushion added to the midsole to protect feet fatigue. For the next version, it would be great to go back to the upper design of the MTN Racer 2 but keep the amount of cushion from the MTN Racer 3. I think the tongue and lacing system allowed for a more secure lockdown than the MTN racer 3. That would be the ideal shoe for me. Roomy toe box, secure mid foot, and grippy outsole. Also, I'm loving the Fly Lite 4s as a road shoe.

I had to return them because they were unfortunately just a little bit too small. It hurt having to do it, because the wide toe box, the snug heel, and the arch support were all phenomenal. I float between a size 15-16, and unfortunately they were just a little bit too short. Once you start making size 16s please let me know, because I will be first in line!!!

The jury is still out for me on these. I like the fit and function. I've been using superfeets for years without issue in a lot of different shoes. However, the instep is super narrow on these which doesn't affect the fit but my insoles don't sit on the bottom and therefore don't provide the right amount of arch support (too much). I'm experimenting with the stock insoles, hopefully they provide enough support since I do like the shoe.

So after a few hundred miles on these I have a few thoughts. Overall, really like them. Positives are wide toebox, grip and bounce with ground feel. Areas that could be improved: mid foot width too narrow - toebox much wider compared to mid foot, Arch support is too much but did flatten out a little over time, the medial interior structure support near the big toe/arch has caused me intermittent blisters. With the mid foot being narrow lock down can be difficult to get without your feet going numb at some point.

I love the style of the Mountain Racer and I think it feels great on foot but any runner with a history of twisted ankles might want to go with a lower stack offering like the Terraventure or Runventure. I want to love this shoe but with my weak ankles, I've had some trouble. Couple mild sprains on not particularly difficult terrainonce while hiking on a fairly straight, non-technical stretch of trail. For those who have no trouble with their ankles though, I would imagine this is an awesome, all-day, any terrain model. It looks awesome, feels awesome. I still wear it quite a bit, even on really steep, technical stuff, but I'm really careful about foot placement. The Terraventure and Runventure both feel much more stable to me overall. Ditto the Fli-lyte road shoe. The Weak Ankle Crowd might wanna go more in that direction.

Really good shoe that I use for ultra marathons. I ran the 215 mile race across Scotland in one pair and they served me pretty well. Personally, I'd like to see a more aggressive profile on the sole. The lugs aren't deep enough for really boggy stuff. I'd also like the laces to be longer. When you lace lock them you have very little lace left to tie. Also, the gaitor eyes need to more funneled - as when it's muddy they're hard to put back through the eyelets.

4.5 stars! I love what Topo is doing as a company and really want them to succeed. In most ways, this shoe is incredible. The fit and cushioning feel great. It retains a very good level of ground feel for a high stack shoe. They feel nimble, lighter than their weight. Grip is amazing, as usual. I'm very close to saying they are the best trail shoes I've ever used. But, as another reviewer points out, to me this version lacks a bit of stability in the heel. The increase in stack height, softer midsole, removal of the medial post, and narrower platform at the base of the heel mean that, compared to the MTN Racer 2, I feel like I have to work harder than usual to keep my feet from pronating on the medial side. I don't usually run in stability shoes, but in these I feel a bit unstable in the heel. I'll still continue to enjoy using these shoes, but I would love to see Topo address this issue in the MTN Racer 4. In my opinion if they were to make this shoe more stable, it would be the best trail shoe on the market, better than a SG5 or anything else. My feeling is that some combination of a slight increase in width at the base of the heel, combined with the insertion of a firmer compound on the medial side to counteract the otherwise very pleasurable softness of the Zip Foam might do the trick. P.S. I feel that, with the increase in stack height in this update, Topo could fill the space left by the MTN Racer 2 with a new shoe - say 30mm in the heel, 27mm up front (3mm drop), no rock plate, lighter than the new MTN Racer, great stability and ground feel something with protection for longer runs but fast enough for racing? I would love that shoe

I run on mostly technical trails. The shoes fit great. The only issue I have with them is the new zip foam collapses laterally in the fore foot when running either up or down vertical (at an angle)causing potential injury.

I was sad to see Topo kept the high stack on the next version of this line as well, the MTN Racer 4. The 2 had the perfect stack height and I will pray that the 5 goes back to this shows roots with something similar to the MTN Racer 2

Racer 1 was awesome: secure, amazing fit, super durable. Racer 2: much improved energy and speed in the shoe, slightly less durable upper but still great, my favorite trail shoe of all time for speed over technical distances (I race mountain 50ks). Racer 3: seems like they've tried adding too much to the shoe. It still performs ok, but it feels clunky on the trails. Started getting blisters on my first long hard run. Just not a rocket on the trails like the 2s and even 1s were.

I want to love these. They feel good overall but I have heel slippage and there is an odd and pronounced pressure point about a half inch below my big toe. The area around the laces is rubber and stuff and it's just pushing right into my foot. My search for a trail shoe continues.

This was my first Topo purchase. I use these on mixed terrain averaging about 5 miles per run. I have a wide toe area and narrow heel so it's very difficult to find a heel fit that is secure enough yet will not pinch my achilles, dig into the ankle or cause blisters. The key for me is a very snug heel with adequate padding around the transition. This shoe comes close but isn't quite there. The toebox of these Mountain Racers is roomy and the midfoot and heel are secure enough, though a little on the sloppy side for me. I would appreciate a little more energy return/responsiveness in a trail runner like this as well. A little too cushioned for me, but not unacceptably so. Comfortable, though, and seem well made though won't know for sure until I put more miles on them. Honestly, I haven't found anything better for me on the market presently.

used these after being super impressed with Pursuit V1, but wanted more stack and the natural foot. I have gone through 2 pairs this year, getting about 450 miles on pair 1 through rugged white mountain (NH) trails, BUT have barely managed to get 250 miles on the second pair. 1. the upper on both pairs tore on the inside...in almost the exact spot (See photo) 2. the heel cup has my achilles inflammed. It keeps hitting and rubbing the back of my achilles. 3. Mid foot not as secure, toe box too big

Avid ultralight hiker and long time, dedicated Topo user - I switched from your major competitor years ago, and have purchased well over 20 pairs of men's and women's Mountain Racers, Ultraventure Pro's, and now Terraventures. I live and hike in the NH White Mountains. ALL of these shoes are causing pain at the Achilles - the very top back of the shoe rubs at the top of the Achilles (circled in photo), especially while descending, but it just rubs all day long. I have now run into 5-6 others while hiking - in the same models shoes, all complaining of the same pain. I met a woman on a trail in Ultraventure Pro's who had so much pain there that she took shop scissors and literally cut the top of the shoe off at the back - where her Achilles sits. Russ - this is a design flaw that needs to be addressed. We hope to not have to go back to Hoka's, but we will if not remedied. Thank you for listening!

I use these for walking and hiking. Why choose these shoes? I wanted the 5 mm lift, the 28 mm cushioning, the toe box and the Vibram sole. I find that the toe box isn't wide enough for my left (smaller) foot and my three smallest toes get jammed. I had the same problem with the Pursuit, size 11, to point that I had to stop using the Pursuit. I bought a size 11.5 in the Mtn Racer 3 which provides more than ample room toward the front of the shoe, but just not wide enough. Recommendation: widen the toe box for the smaller toes. I also am finding that the Vibram sole provides great traction for the frequent muddy conditions on the trails, but the lugs wear down faster than expected, much faster than on the Vibram soles of all hiking boots I've had. Recommendation: use more durable material in the Vibram sole. I recommend this product ONLY with reservations pertaining to the above issues, hence my 3-star rating,

In a word- Sloppy :( But now the rest of the story with a hope that Russ and Tony see some feedback on these. I have exclusively run in Topos for 7yrs and typically have about 5pr in current rotation. The really wonderful feedback I am seeing below seems to be from ppl that love them for hiking, thru hiking, non-technical running, but that's not the intent of the Mtn Racer model. Versus the 2, the changes made to the shoe leave it very loose all around the midfoot and unstable for technical trails. I was worried when I saw the increased volume in toe box and more stack height and Topo seems to keep upsizing their line of great shoes... As a very regular-footed trail running and racing human living in the Southwest and running some 2000mi/yr, I wanted to chime in some feedback that NOT ALL OF US WANT YOU TO KEEP CHANGING YOUR SHOES TO BE WIDER AND CUSHIER :) ...I have about 75mi on the Mtn Racer 3 and I cannot say enough about how sloppy the midfoot and ankle are- its bad enough that I am specifically writing a review to warn future users that not all Topos fit this way. I am moving to the Pursuit after 8 pairs of Mtn Racer 2s- all with nearly 400mi/pr. Sadly, a quick review of Reddit, etc and there are lots of other folks used to the Mtn Racer 2s having the same experience when pushing these shoes on steep, rocky, technical, mountain and desert trails. Viva la Mtn Racer 2!!! Love Topo Athletic, these shoes are just a whiff.

Love the 2s to death!! Some downfalls were the tongue and toe box. These issues were fixed in the 3s, but now it feels like a totally different shoe. The toe box is somehow too wide, stack feels like a platform, additionally to my feet; they somehow create a pronation and rub on the heels. I was excited and had many miles in the 2s just to be sorely disappointed that my favorite shoe no longer works for me.

I want to love these shoes. The MTN Racer 2 was my go-to shoe. With an insole replacement, I usually got 600 Miles out of a pair. Since the update, I haven't managed to make it to 300 miles. The first two pairs had delamination issues with the Vibram rubber and the heal cup fabric wore out. I cleaned out the stock on MTN Racer 2's that I could find. Hopefully, they come out with a more durable V4. The fabric sole interface is less robust on this version as well, you get more foot movement mid-foot on technical terrain.

While the cushion does feel plush and responsive with some bounce.... It does not handle technical terrain well. With the super wide toebox and extra soft midsole stability and protection aren't there. There is a feeling of lack of agility and having to pick your spots wisely which can be tough with the massive soft forefoot. I have normal to wide feet and even for me they are a bit much. You can feel any sharp rocks straight into your forefoot if you're not careful. I found these very comfy and nice to run in for less technical mellow trails. I will say the grip was excellent but hard to take advantage of it when the rest of the shoe isn't quite suited for it. Room for improvement to truly be a "Mtn Racer" in my opinion. Look forward to seeing the next version!

I use these to both hike and run. 30-35 miles of running, with 20-30 miles of hiking. I initially loved how responsive and plush these were. Topos are the only shoes to alleviate my Morton's Neuroma so that I can continue to run and hike. However, I am less than 200 miles into these shoes and they have essentially broken down to the point that they are shot. I also have the MTN Racer 2, and have over 500 miles on them. The 2 looks like I only have 20-30 miles in them, whereas the 3 looks like I left them in a swamp, let my dog chew on them, and dragged them behind my car for a road trip down a gravel road.