Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Traverse

Used for work and walking in the outdoors, the rock plate is critical for the rugged, pointy rocks we have here in the central mountains of New Mexico. Trailventure, both waterproof and standard, are the other choices because of the rock plate. The new gray Traverse is better for more formal attire, though the green is OK for me. So far, the first pair of Traverse is still going strong for around the homestead and dog walks into the forest. I would say they are over a year old.

Wow, the Traverse is the perfect hiking shoe for me. I live in Colorado and put a lot of tough miles on rocky trails. I also own the Mtn Racer 3 shoes from Topo but my feet were getting a bit beat up. The Traverse has a rock plate and that makes all the difference. If you are on nice trails the Mtn Racer 3 would be perfect, but for tough trails the Traverse is amazing. I also like the slightly smaller toe box of the Traverse vs the Mtn Racer 3. Still a large toe box but not excessively so

This is the best hiking shoe comfort-wise I've had so far. They are holding up pretty well after about 100 miles. Hopefully, they will last over 500 miles like my La Sportiva's Jackal II GTX. My only minor complaint is that the Kahtoola INSTAgaiter does not fit the gaiter clip, which is too small. Otherwise, perfect shoe.

Hands down the best hiking shoe I've ever owned. They strike the perfect balance of stability, traction, support, and toe box comfort. I pair them with Topo gaiters and medium Smartwool socksan unstoppable combo. I size up by half to allow for swelling and longer index toes. The green color? Hideousbut at least it keeps my son from stealing them. Go with black & white if you want to wear them casually. I ruck 40lbs, 34 times a week, over 30+ miles. These shoes hold up.

So happy to find a wide toe box in WIDE. Wish there was a waterproof option in wide. Otherwise, this is a well-made shoe, comfortable for warm weather, and I like the way they look on my feet versus Altra.

Great fit, roomy turbos and great traction.

I have been a 4 year user of regular sized 12.5 TerraVenture 3's. I tried the Traverse last year in regular 12.5. I broke them in for a handful of days at and near home. I went for a 8 mile hike and received blisters on my little toe and near my back heal. Support mentioned that the Traverse's were not as wide in toebox as TerraVenture 3's are and the heal was slightly changed. They mentioned to try wide version of Traverse when they became available. So I tried a new Traverse in 12.5 wide. So far so good - I've broke them in near home and have been on three 4 miles hikes and no issues so far. So looks like I'm keeping these.

Traverse fits both feet perfectly. The arch support from the rock plate is great, yet comfortable. I tried a number of Topo Athletic's products to fine the one that works best for me. I'm on my feet all day and do a lot of walking. The others I've tried are okay and I'll keep them. But the Traverse shoe feels great in all categories so this will be my shoe of choice going forward, after the others wear out. "Sweepstakes".

Just got this pair of shoes. So far I love them. Did a short hike in them the day I got them. The product did better than I thought they would, with no issues. I have found i just want to have them on all the time. I would buy them again and will.

I used the Traverse to train for and complete the Tahoe Rim Trail. Held up well to multiple weekends of 30+ miles hiking. Bought a new pair this spring.

I would otherwise consider this to be a perfect shoe minus the giant limb/rock grabber on the heel. I have tripped a few times because the loop on the heel has snagged on something. Worse than a belt loop on a door handle! I snipped mine off before I tripped on off of something.

Due to an accident one foot is permanently swollen larger than the other. The Traverse fit perfectly with enough room for the larger foot but not too sloppy for the narrow foot. Comfortable right out of the box. Despite the advanced OEM insole, I opted for an after-market insole with better arch support. The Sole brand wide model is the only insole I found that fits the expanded Traverse toe box with very minor trimming. Very satisfied overall.

backpacking, rugged shoe, grips well

The only issue I have for trail running in the high desert is fine sand entering the shoe.s. A coat of waterproof spray helps a little. I would definitely not trade the fit or longevity for this issue.

If you're looking for an in depth review of these shoes I suggest checking out Believe In The Run. They write an excellent description of the pros and cons and who these shoes are for. As for fit, these have the typical Topo wide toe box but the standard model is too narrow for me in the waist. Fortunately the wide fitting shoe opens this area without widening the toe to a point of sloppiness. The overall fit is secure with just the right amount of cushioning and ground feel. A mega grip outsole with no exposed foam provides great traction. The TPU bead insole is similar to that found in some INOV8 shoes which I've been using for years because it just doesn't collapse or wear out. Can't beat the 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Great shoe.

After just a few walks, I wore these on an 11 mile hike with about 1500' of elevation. They were great. No discomfort and good feel for the trail (unlike some other shoes I wore the next day). Only suggestion - be great if they came in more colors. I like the dark blue some other Topos come in. :-)

The Traverse is a great all-around trail shoe, whether for trail running or hiking. Very sturdy and well built. Glad to see that an additional color was added!

The Travese fits my size 13 foot where competing brands did't. Plus Topo has a size 14 in case the 13 didn't fit. As advertised, the toe box is roomy (but not too roomy) and then heel and instep feel snug. I also appreciate the insole that cups my heel somewhat to help revert forward slipping. I'll buy another pair.

Great hiking shoe, roomy and supportive. I prefer my own inserts so like all shoes, if you need more than the basic foam insert, look to add your own.

#sweepstakes These are the greatest shoes for hiking and I've tried them all. Nothing else comes close. Wide toe box, quality construction and the vibram mega grip means the best performance on the roughest trails. Please don't ever change this shoe.

I recently completed 2 legs (about 95 miles) of the off-trail cross country Sierra High Route wearing a 26 pound pack in these new out of the box Topos. The route includes multiple off-trail talus strewn passes up to just over 12,000 feet, as well as long switchbacks, trekking through high country meadows, and hot lower elevation valleys, with many stream crossings. Yes, on some of the passes dedicated approach shoes would have been better, but these shoes were almost as good, and far more comfortable in the other sections. I also noticed that even when they were soaked through, they somehow never felt squishy and waterlogged. And here's the kicker, not only are they fast and light in the high country, they are also my most comfortable around house shoes!

Used on Colorado Trail thru hike. Not a single blister. Great grip in wet conditions. My new " go to" shoe for any hike of distance

I know these seem to be directed toward the thru hiking niche, and I am sure they are great for that, but as a trail runner I find them to be a great shoe for runs on semi to moderately technical trails. Much like the old Ultraventure Pro, but with a slightly wider toe box a bit more cushion. Solid build. A nice ride but you still have some ground feel. Has less toe sweep (rocker) which some other Topo shoes now have - and for me that is a good thing.

Just completed a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail using these shoes and they served me very well! Comfortable/durable/functional Highly recommend!