Customer Reviews Topo Athletic Specter 2

Completed my first marathon with these shoes and I have zero complaints. 10/10 shoes.

I was initially impressed with the comfort and performance of the Topo Cyclone 2, but unfortunately, its durability fell far short of expectations. After just 70 miles and 80 days of use, the webbing completely detached from the sole while working outsomething I've never experienced with brands like Hoka, Brooks, On Cloud, Mizuno, or Nike. Hoping for a resolution, I reached out to customer service with photos and my order details. Their response? They no longer make the shoe, don't have my size, and instead offered a mere 50% discount on another pairessentially asking me to spend more money on a product that had already failed me. This experience highlights poor quality control and lackluster customer support. A premium running shoe should last longer, and a company should stand behind its product when it falls apart prematurely. Buyer beware.

#sweepstakes fun, light, responsive trainer. love the fit.

The Specter is a great do-it-all shoe. I use it for track workouts, tempo runs, and easy/distance days. Not many other shoes that can do all of those things well. They do wear out a tiny bit faster than some of my other shoes (maybe 50-75 miles less durability), but it's worth it for how comfortable and versatile they are.

These will be my training shoes for training to run Half Marathon race in Nov 2026. I will get a new pair of Specter for that race.

Made for a great half marathon shoe. Felt quick for a shoe with a higher stack height.

It's important to keep in mind what Topo is, they're selling wide toe box shoes with minimal drop. That's what these are, but with added cushion for road running. The zip foam is super plush. They take a bit of getting used to, as they are quite a large shoe, but after about 2 runs, I was good to go. I wear barefoot shoes most of the time so my feet are pretty wide at this point, which may influence my opinion. I've never had a blister in a topo, and I've gotten all my PBs in these shoes!

I used to be all about Nike but as I got older the narrow toe box started hurting my pinky toe and gave me blisters. I tried Topo shoes and the larger toe box was a game changer. The softness of the sole is amazing as well. Feels like I'm on a cloud. Definitely great shoes for every day use. My wife is a nurse and loves them as well.

First high rebound foam shoe I've tried that suits my preferred fit - very good heel and midfoot fit with a roomy toebox. Well done

Had an Achilles and heel injury so I was afraid my cyclones would not be acceptable for a half marathon. Figured the Specter would be a better option to add to my shoe rotation. They worked out great for racing and faster effort training. Typically I shy away from higher stack shoes, but these were firm enough and didn't have a ridiculous rocker so it ran like a lower stack shoe for me. They didn't even give me issues on a road race that had several miles that were actually on trails.

I used to run in topo cyclones, but I was looking for something with a little more stack height as my mileage increased. I decided to give these a try and I certainly am happy that I did. The pebax foam is really nice. They're fast and light and quite durable. I have about 220 miles on them and I'm starting to wear out one of the tread patches but overall they are holding up. Foam still feels fresh. I struggle with Achilles tendinitis and these have helped a ton. Make a trail version!

Light and breathable with a great fit. Secure through the mid-foot but enough room up front for your toes. On my second pair of this version and sixth overall of the Specter.

I have a version of Topo shoe. Some in multiple colors. I'm addicted. While I prefer to run in the Vista I found the Specter 2 to be a pleasant surprise. The stability and weight are unmatched. Originally I bought them for the color lol. Now I alternate between the Vista and Specter 2 on runs. Love them both. #sweepstakes

The fit is perfect - roomy where appropriate but snug enough to stay in place. They are well-cushioned but still fast.

I use my spectre shoes for walking. I used to be a faithful Hoka wearer. Your shoes changed that, they are the most comfortable and roomy in the toe box shoe I have ever put on my feet. I will definitely be a life long buyer. The only disappointment I have is the insole! Very thin and not supportive. But it won't stop me from buying again.

I ordered the Spectre 2 in the hopes of finding a great race day shoe for my upcoming marathon. The shoe I was training in wasn't working for me in long runs past 15 miles. These shoes gave me the space my feet needed plus the shoe had the perfect cushion but also energy return. I wore these shoes for my last long 20 mile training run. Then for my marathon in which I PR'd. I then ran with them in another marathon 3 weeks later. They protected my feet and were fast also. I highly recommend.

I loved the V1, having run the soles of 2 pairs. Many times I thought, mid run, it was the perfect training shoe. The new version keeps the upper fit, which is second to none, but is somehow lighter and the midsole more forgiving and a bit more energetic-exactly the improvements I was hoping for. However, I really miss the pure white colorway. If the shoe wasn't so good, and a marked improvement over the already great v1, I would have returned based on the colors. Please, please please please bring back the pure white color. Or consider adding more neutral / monochromatic colorways to all of your shoes. #sweepstakes

I have enjoyed these shoes a lot! 400 miles so far. I've been a zero drop guy for years, but whated to try something new. Right out of the box these shoes were comfortable and ready to rip. The Pebax has an amazing feel and tons of energy return. Despite the stack height, they felt fast. Probably between 200-300 miles the energy return faded, but they have a very comfortable cushioned feel with a little rebound at 400 miles. Durability is great. There is still enough outsole left and only one small wear spot on the upper that just started. I will keep running in these for a while to come.

If you're looking for running or trail shoes that combine a natural feel with modern technology, Topo Athletic is a brand worth considering. Known for their foot-shaped design, lightweight materials, and roomy toe box, Topo shoes provide an excellent balance of comfort, stability, and responsiveness.

I've owned many topo shoes due to my foot shape. I wear these for long run and the workouts. They felt great for an entire 100 miler cushioned and light.

I will first come out and say that the original Specter was a somewhat disappointing shoe after I had thoroughly enjoyed the Cyclone 2. It felt "off" and rigid and I kept having to go back to the Cyclone for most of my runs. The Specter 2 however is what I had originally hoped that original would be; a do-it-all daily trainer that I could use for virtually any kind of run. It has plenty of plush and flex to grind out long Saturday morning runs but plenty of energy return to push it at race paces during the week as well. I run between 40-45mi a week and it and it has been the shoe I go to for the vast majority of my runs. I'm about 300mi into this shoe and it's still holding up well and should hopefully last awhile longer.

I really don't think that people with narrow toes can quite understand how great this shoe is. This is a genuine performance trainer, but without the carbon fiber systems that have a learning curve. The foam is great, though. I will continue using this shoe for pacework and faster efforts, but it also feels good at slower paces

I love this model of shoe, even more than the Specter 1 I had previously owned. I tried another brand after my Spec1 pair, but immediately bruised my toenails on a long run. Kicked myself for moving away from my previous pair of Topo Spec1's and immediately purchased a new pair of Spec2's and I don't think I'll ever stray again. Excellent build quality, comfy ride, and room for my wide forefoot to breathe. Color is bright and vivid, mesh is super breathable, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. After this trial and error with other brands, I'll be sticking to my Topos.

I love these shoes! I have a couple of pairs of Topos already, Phantom 3 and Pursuit 2, but these are by far and away my favourite, and the pair I reach for on almost every run - I even use them on easy trails. They are exceptionally comfy and the full Pebax midsole is oh so responsive - I definitely run faster in them than in my Phantom 3's (which I have kind of relegated to everyday non-running shoes). My heels also really appreciate the non-rigid heel counter. Topo, please bring these out with a vibram trail sole and they would be my trail racing shoe of choice as well.

The low drop was most important, but I needed a higher stack, which typically does not go with low drop shoes. I really liked the Saucony Endorphin Shift (which had these attributes) but that shoe has been discontinued. The Specter 2 is a fast & light shoe, a bit on the stiff side, but the cushioning comes to life the harder you run.