Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Traverse

Dixie @ Homemade Wanderlust talked me into to the Terra 3. Great shoes, got several hundred miles on them, but I needed a thicker, more cushioned sole to support this retired 69 year old pastor, 5'6" 180 hiker with a 25 pound pack for 3 to 5 day hikes. I'm not a runner but as fast hiker. My next pair is/was the Ultra Pro's -these were even better! Got 300 miles one them. About to buy a second pair for 2024 till I saw the Traverse - the perfect shoe. Support, cushion, traction & fit!

Best foot bed and side support in a large toe box shoe I've experienced. Supremely comfortable for walking and bike riding.

I have been a big fan of the brand, and run primarily in the Mountain Racer 3 and Terraventure 4. While both of those shoes are very capable hikers, the Traverse has added comfort, support and stability that will make these my go to shoes for longer hikes, backpacking trips and travel. The beaded insole provides step in comfort and a nice rebound sensation, while the midsole feels very stable over uneven terrain. Vibram Megagrip outsoles provide superior grip in all conditions.

It's a great shoe, no doubt. They're well built, have a secure heal cup, and light weight.They're just not quite wide enough in the toe box. I ran through a few pairs several years ago, but started buying Altras for the wider toe box. The Altras just aren't built as well as Topos and never seem to last long enough to justify their higher prices. A friend suggested that I try Topos again and jump up a half size to get the room I need. These fit a little better but I guess the trade off is that they're a longer lasting shoe for a lower price, without the comfort of a truly wide toe box.

Best fit and performance I've found for hiking that doesn't give me blisters and is comfortable. It seems like they may hold up better than similar shoes I've tried previously.

#sweepstakes this is a great shoe overall, but doesn't check all the boxes for my needs. Durability wise the top of the shoe by the ankle started fraying after two weeks but everything else is still solid and I've put a lot of miles in them because I'm training for a PCT thru hike this year which probably contributed to this wear and tear. The cushion is balanced yet protective and the stability is good. However, for me and my needs I don't think this shoe is quite what I'm looking for. Its very narrow in the heel and mid foot. More narrow than the ultraventure. I was thinking about returning them but since I've put so many miles on them already I don't feel a return is fair. This really is a great shoe but for my needs it doesn't quite hit and that's okay! I love the topo brand, fit, and the quality. The vibram outsole is fantastic and they have a great return policy. I'll be trying the terraventure next when the new model becomes available on the website!

Used them for a few trail runs, a little heavy but wasn't too noticeable. I enjoyed them as a trail runner but not a speed shoe. My feet felt great even after a long hike or run. Never had any problems with grip on any surface. I usually wear an 8 wide and I stayed with that on this shoe, glad I did. I think it's a great shoe but the midsole started to come apart after 60-70 miles. I may have just got a bad pair but I would still recommend this shoe for long hikes and runs.

Purchased as my everyday walking shoes based on the comfort I enjoy from my mountain racers. The Traverse does not have the same wide toe as the mountain racers and I have not yet taken them out for a walk. I do try them in my home to make sure my toes are comfortable.

Originally reviewed with a 2* rating due to the inside heel (top) material deteriorating.....thought for sure I would have had issues with blisters and further degradation(but have not), and these continue to wear well despite the upper heel padding wear. They look a little "worse for wear" but the soles and toe box remain in great shape! Continue to wear for walking, hiking, and light running with no issues. Most other brands I've worn would eventually split on the sides of the toe box: the traverse continues to hold up well...will buy again - once these are retired - will update upon repurchase.

Just off the John Muir Trail, 250 miles of granite in the California Sierras. The Travese held up ok to an incredibly tough challenge. I had two rips in the upper material, panels falling off the bottoms of both shoes, and the heel tops rubbing hard plastic into my heel. The shoes are wrecked, yet they kept their arch support and fit well. Improvements are needed: make it tougher, put in more toe protection including a big toe cap, make the soul one piece (not a glued in jigsaw puzzle), stronger uppers material.

Like all Topo shoes, the Traverse has noticeable room up front for your toes. You will like that. The cushioning also feels decent. My plan was to use the Traverse for hiking, fast hiking, some trail running, and rugged hiking on rocky conditions and some scrambling. I have worn other Topo shoes and was hoping that these would have better back half and rear stability. They did not. In fact, they seem quite unstable and narrow in the rear. Granted, I only wore these around the house for some time, but it was clear that they would not keep me stable on rocky condition or very uneven trails. Like other Topo shoes, I love much about them, but would really love if they took rear stability seriously. I use the Mountain Racers, Pantoms, and sparingly, the Ultranventures(basically a walking shoe). Oddly, the Phantoms, which are designed for road use, have the best heal stability.

Principally for backpacking. Loved the terraventures. But they were not as durable. Still phenomenal. These have improved cushioning under the ball of the feet. Rockplate works extremely well against rocks and roots. Some bites on soft dirt. I like them. Obviously the t I e box is what everyone will comment on. So being that and the above, i like the loop on the heel making it easier to put them on, i like the weight and the improved toe cap and rand. Lastly a wide fits better

As a backpacker, thru hiker I wanted to love this shoe. I'm in the process of switching to Topos from Altra. I ordered this model in wide along with the Pursuit and Ultraventure4 in wide. This is a well built shoe in all aspects. The width was a good fit for my EE forefoot.. The only issue was my foot pronation was worsened by this shoe. It felt like the sole was slanting inward which exasperated my problem, I assume a person who tends to supinate or you have a neutral step this shoe will be fine. I returned the Traverse and kept the other two models I tried. Topo shoes are amazing you just need to figure out which one works for you. I appreciate the trial period. #sweepstakes

This is the third or fourth pair of these shoes I have used. They provide good traction and the uppers are durable except for one area. On the inside upper edge of each shoe, interference from the opposite foot when taking a step on narrow trails leads to destruction of the edging, exposing the inner surfaces of the shoe wall. The photo below is of a new pair after 9 days of hiking. Some abrasion like this is to be expected, but the design of a hiking shoe should anticipate this wear and use a more durable covering for areas like this that are routinely exposed to abrasion and foot strike. I suggest you wear gaiters to protect the shoe edging until Topo puts tougher material on these exposed edges.

I used 2 pairs on the AT in 24. (Two Traverse, 1 Terraventure 4, and 3 non-Topos in total) I absolutely loved the Traverse for the rock plate and the closed cell foam insole that don't absorb water and is very durable. The inside heel wore through but for me it wasn't an issue, but I always double sock and never get blisters since I started that. The traverse is tighter than the Terraventure but more durable. Traction was night and day better compared to Altra and some others (Continental soles are the best imo). I had one major flaw I ran into with both pairs of my Traverse, and other hikers had the same issue as me. The heel would sort of collapse. It would shift outwards and be very visibly noticeable. I first noticed it on another hiker and thought he must have a nasty pronating problem. Then it happens to me and I am a heavy supinator! It happens to me on only one and first the left, then the right on the next pair. Once it collapsed, it started making my ankle sore because it was forcing my supinating step to be forced inwards completely opposite on my step. I discussed it with many hikers and most complained of the same issue. I really hope they address that because I would wear them exclusively. Everything else worked great for me. One pair happened fairly quick and the other lasted a bit longer. No shoe on the AT made it more than 400 miles for me but it's rough trail and I'm 6'0 185-195lbs.

Shoes are tight probably because of liner

While these are well finished and quite attractive, I did not give them a chance. They are too tall, narrow and tippy. For me they are unstable. By unstable, I mean the shoes resistance to allowing your ankle to being rolled. Once the shoe has tilted 20 degrees and I put weight on it there is nothing to stop it from completely rolling over. This could just be a personal issue for me and not an issue for other purchasers of the shoe. Many years ago I destroyed my right ankle and it is still a serious point of vulnerability for me. An ankle Air-Cast allowed me to hike again but it was really annoying to wear. Eventually I discovered that Topo has some shoes that are low, wide and extremely resistant to being rolled. I can't induce their Ultrafly 4 road shoe to roll no matter how hard I try. I assumed that roll resistance was built into the entire line but it's not. The fit has been snugged up a bit. Height and width were reduced but it's still a roomy fit and true to size. Well finished and quite attractive. They also make your feet look a little smaller than they really are, (as opposed to other Topo products that make your feet look larger than they are). Sending them back to try something else.

I ware mens US 11.5 in all my shoes but could feel my toes in the Traverse. I returned those, exchanged for size 12 which took care of that issue. Topo exchange was fast, no questions asked. It was within the 30 day period. I've been wearing the replacements for 6 days, daily ware to make sure there are no other issues. So far so good. Real test comes on rocky, uneven trails. Yes, these are narrower than my other trail shows. I like the snug heal fit and find just enough space in the forefoot.

I have about a hundred miles in these shoes so far on very rough trails in AZ. Topo has done some good things like extra room in the toe and no gore Tex. However for a true hiker this shoe needs to be heavier duty in every way, deeper more aggressive tread, thicker soles, and heavier sticker proof uppers.

I bought Topo Mountain Racer after returning a pair of Topo Traverse for being unsuitable for several reasons. Mtn Racers are agile and responsive. They want to stride and scamper. They feel sticky and secure on rock and loose dirt. Feel and performance are exactly what I want. However, the toe box is too narrow at the inside, large toe. Given the superior overall performance, I am willing to put up with the narrow toe box. If it becomes a problem on a long trail I will just get radical and slit the upper strategically.

I use these for rucking on mixed terrain, but I could wear these all day. Comfortable, light, and good stability (not as stable as Solomon's though). The rock plate works to reduce sharp rocks. The wide toe box is the way.

I was looking for a wider, tougher version of a running shoe for walking, light hiking and all around outdoor shoe. The shoe is a heavier material and is reinforced in key areas but still light enough to be considered a trail running shoe. The shoe is advertised as a wider toe box but it was still not quite wide enough for my EE foot. I exchanged for half size up and this worked much better. Overall I am pleased with the shoe but if you have an extra wide foot I would size up 1/2 size.

I really wanted to like this shoe for planned thru hiking. Toe box and stability is nice but shoe is too tight at "the waist". I ended up going with the Terraventure 4. I wish the mid shoe was slightly wider. Returned the Traverse and stayed with the Terraventure 4.

Almost perfect. If they just would offer a wide version like on the Atmos.