Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Traverse

I haven't hit the trail yet in my new Topos but that's what I bought them for. I got them to replace my Altra's. I like the firmer foot bed and better toe protection. The fit right of the box was fantastic. I also got a set of the gators and am looking forward to many miles on the AT. #sweepstakes

200 hundred miles in the mountains and deserts of the southwest, on sharp rocks and cross country, and there is little wear. It has taken time for me to adjust to the 5 mm heal drop. My toes hurt until I discovered lacing them more tightly prevented my toes rubbing on the reinforced toe bumper. Now I can comfortably hike all day. They are significantly stiffer than the pursuits so my feet feel less stress from rocky ground. The stiffness can be hard on my ankles at times.

I wanted to love these shoes. Unfortunately they're not for me. If you're looking for a trail runner, these aren't for you either. Awesome breathability, sturdy and durable sole, super grippy tread. I put 70 miles in them on the Pacific Crest Trail. This is a perfect HIKING SHOE, not a trail runner. I'll stick to Mtn Racer or Ultraventures, but I definitely recommend the Traverse to anyone who likes a classic hiking style shoe

I was so excited to buy these for hiking, since that's what they're designed for. My last pair was the Mtn Racer 3, and I liked them in all ways except the pronation they caused on the trail. (My feet never pronate naturally, so it was a bit concerning.) Unfortunately, the Traverse ticked almost none of the boxes I enjoy about Topos. The toe box is narrower and the heel is much harder to lock in, meaning I got blisters on both heel and toe the first time I took them out. They also just generally hurt my feet; I don't know whether that's due to less cushioning, or the rock plate, but my feet were aching after 2-3 miles, whereas in the Mtn Racers I could go 8-10 with no pain. (I really took that for granted.) I'm sure these are great shoes for the right person, but I was disappointed. I'll be trying the Ultraventures instead.

Nice looking all around shoe, but the heel platform was not robust enough for my particular foot.

Wide toe box is much appreciated but I wish this shoe was available in a WIDE size.

The thing on the back is useless. It just pinches your hand, has nobody who works for Topo actually worn these? Otherwise, yea they're fine. They're stiff. It's whatever. I loved my old Altra Lonepeaks, but the new Lonepeaks are awful. Topo is somewhere in the middle. Just fine.

The Topo Traverse are marketed as a great hiking and trail running shoe, but I did not find decent heal support. They did have good room in the front, and the arch area felt good. But the heal area is narrow for a hiker. I mean the out sole is very narrow. It also does not have any heal counter that would support me on uneven terrain and rocky surfaces. Topo seems to refuse to build in any support for the heal area. I had to constantly watch my step so that I wouldn't roll my ankle. Perhaps Topo should look at other shoes, even the Brooks shoes, for advice. Being the lightest shoe is not always the best. I love Topo shoes for the fit. That is good for me since I the front of my feet are slightly wider.

The fit and feel of these shoes is superb - comfortable out the box, happily wore them for a 25km day hike without issue. This is my third pair, so I've got to know them fairly well, getting in the region of 3-400km per pair. My only complaint is that the heel material isn't tough enough - it's the first thing to go every time, an issue I've never had with other Topo shoes, with holes starting to appear at 200km, and unless patched with tape they become unwearable. Love the shoe but please fix the heel in the next generation!

People with big feet need roomy toe boxes too.

Wore these to hike across Oregon on the PCT. The traction, breathability, and protection were fantastic. My issue was that the toebox wasn't as wide as I needed. The combination of that and the well-built toe guard destroyed my little toe. Swapped back to Altras and was relieved. A bit disappointed in how quickly the shoe liner got holes in itmaybe after a week on trail. I see there is now a Wide option, but only in one generic gray color (Visual appeal is definitely not Topo's strength.)

I really wanted to like these for short thru hikes but they are way narrower than my Altra LPs. Construction seems very good and I liked the insole but had to return them

Had to return the shoes Traverse was not a good fit for me

Pros - great stability and support - anatomical toe box - rock plate - higher drop (5mm) than some shoes from other brands that offer "foot shaped" shoes Cons - Rigid heel caused terrible heel blisters - I wish they had slightly more cushion - I found the heel loop unhelpful when pulling the shoes on. A tab at the top of the heel would be better. I wore these shoes during a 500 mile section hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. During a previous thru hike (while wearing different shoes) I had numerous foot and ankle issues including plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendonitis (chronic pain on the inside of one ankle). My feet and ankles fared much better this time around which I attribute to the supportive and stable nature of the Topo Traverse and doing foot and ankle specific physical therapy before my hike. However, I dealt with terrible heel blisters which I believe was caused by the rigid heel of the traverse. Terrible blisters were a huge inconvenience on my thru hike and are likely a deal breaker which will prevent me from wearing the Traverse in the future, unfortunately.

I used this model for my Colorado Trail thru hike and in total 540 miles by which the lugs of the sole wore out. The heel of the shoe was abrasive and wore off the skin of my Achilles quickly. The heel cup in the lining was too aggressive causing blisters on both heels with high mileage. The toe box should have been slightly wider but the shape was good otherwise. The upper of the shoe allowed water in too easily compared to Altra's material. The shoe had great traction, good toe protection, and good rock protection.

I really wanted to love this shoe. It had everything that I wanted in a trail runner. The cushion is great, the heel to toe ratio was perfect, and the toe box is roomy. The problem was the heel. There is something just a little different between this shoe and Terraventure. And that gave me the biggest blister that I've ever had, within 4 miles. I switched back to my Terraventures, and everything is better. I gave this shoe 3 separate hikes, and had the same issue each time. This shoe might be great for you, but for me, they're pretty useless. Unfortunately I waited a bit to use them, so my 30 days is up to return then. That's my fault and not the fault of Topo. All things being said, I do think that this is a really good shoe. I just wish the fit was better for me.

Looked like a nice shoe, but I found the midfoot to be too narrow for me resulting in uncomfortable pressure a bit behind the base of my little toe. It was obvious as soon as I put them on. I've been wearing the Pursuit (1 & 2) and Trailventure (1 & 2) for years and was sad to discover that these didn't have the same shape.

I love the fit of Topo shoes that have a wide to box. Contrary to the information page, these are not roomy at all. In fact, the width for the entire shoe is less than normal. I ended up buying a pair of MTN Racer 3 and they have the wider fit I've grown accustomed with Topo. Topo, please don't begin cheapening your products. This is my 3rd pair and don't want to look for another brand. Also, please find new ways to designate the width of your both your shoes and toe boxes. Based on my experience and other reviews, you have narrowed some of your shoes while continuing to place the "Roomy Toe Box" label on their information page. It seems you have a loyal fanbase, including myself. Your build quality and roomy toe box is why I keep coming back. Please don't start chasing us away.

I haven't had heel blisters in years using mostly Brooks, Topo, and Solomon shoes. I got blisters on the back of both feet in the first 2 miles of my first hike. These shoes are really a disappointment, even though I love my other Topos. The insole and heel combine to push my foot so high that my heel slips continually. I have given it 4 tries, ended up hiking without insoles just to make it off the trail. Will have to return them. I ordered different insoles but will probably just return them and try another pair. I wanted to love these for all of the other reasons, like the rock plate. But the heel is a deal breaker.

I expected more from the Traverse. I own the Mountain Racer 3 but Instead, they were uncomfortable right out of the box. And that textured insole they rave about feels terrible underfoot.

I would have loved these shoes if they were more durable. The began tearing at the ankle after just a few hikes

I've owned 7-8 pairs of various Topo shoes that I use for light trail running, hiking, and backpacking. They have always been the same 10.5 size. The traverse is the first one that just had an odd fit. Definitely more narrow throughout including the toes. I could tell the toebox was more narrow directly out of the box. After an hour of wearing them they just feel uncomfortable compared to the amazing fit of every other Topo I've owned. Strangely they also seem longer. Seem well made tho.

Why change the shoe lasts/fit and why are they so varied between shoes? I thought I had found my perfect shoe with the Pursuit 1 but had to return the 2s because they were too sloppy. I have a pair of Terraventure 4 which fit ok, albeit with their narrow midfoot, but lack the cushion and 0 drop I need. The Traverse (1) toe box is too narrow and pinches my little toe so returned those, too. Stick with what works and stop shooting yourselves in the foot, Topo. Back to the Altra LP or Timp.

Heard great things about these shoes, so decided to give them a try. Overall not impressed. Only 5 months after buying them and with moderate use, the tread is already worn down, and the heel pocket is blown out. And even before that, they did not preform well in wet conditions, high milage hiking days or on steep scrambling sections. On the upside, the shoes are very roomy, nice for those needing a wide toe box, and the rock plate is very essential and nice.