I received’t sugarcoat it: I’m an enormous fan of Topo Athletic footwear. My admiration started throughout my 2018 Appalachian Path thru-hike, after I urgently sought a shoe with a large toebox that would endure not solely my large foot, but in addition greater than a pair hundred miles of use with out falling aside just like the Altras I used to be carrying.
The unique Terraventure mannequin caught my eye, and I used to be hooked. Since then, I’ve worn Topos virtually completely, logging hundreds of miles mountain climbing and operating of their sneakers. Usually, I can put 750 – 1,000 miles on a pair earlier than needing to interchange them, and so they typically look barely used even then.
Nonetheless, not each pair has been flawless. After Designer Manufacturers Inc. acquired the corporate in late 2022, I started to note some inconsistencies in high quality, though authentic CEO Tony Put up remained with the corporate. For example, I used to be disenchanted when the unique Pursuit mannequin’s soles delaminated after only a 3-day trek via Maine’s 100-mile Wilderness final summer time.
Regardless of these occasional points, Topo’s total high quality stays excessive total. So when the brand new Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 was introduced, I used to be keen to provide them one other strive — and I’m glad I did.
Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 At-a-Look
MSRP: $145
Weight: 298g / 10.5oz (every)
Stack peak: 28mm
Drop: 0 mm
Ladies’s Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 right here.
Circumstances of Evaluation
The Pursuit 2s turned my rapid every day drivers for path runs, hikes, and guiding as quickly as they arrived. Over about three months, I put them via the wringer on the rooty, rocky, and moist trails of Maine, together with guided hikes of Katahdin. All informed I put no less than 350 miles on this pair.
Pursuit 2 Options
Light-weight and Breathable: Designed with a light-weight development and breathable higher mesh to maintain ft cool and cozy throughout lengthy runs.
Large Toe Field: The Putsuit 2 includes a spacious toe field that permits for pure toe splay, enhancing stability and luxury as with different manufacturers corresponding to Altra.
Excessive Traction Outsole: Outfitted with a high-traction Vibram outsole, the Pursuit 2 has glorious grip and sturdiness on a wide range of surfaces, together with moist, rocky, and rooty trails.
Cushioned Midsole: The Pursuit 2 makes use of a cushioned midsole manufactured from Topo’s up to date ZipFoam system for a softer, extra responsive, and lighter journey. With a stack peak of 28mm, this provides consolation and shock absorption for longer days on path.
Safe Match: Like all Topo Athletic fashions, the Pursuit 2 makes use of a lace-up closure system that ensures a safe and customizable match within the midfoot and heel, stopping slippage and enhancing consolation.
FKT Insole: A more recent function being added to the newest Topo fashions is the FKT insole — an insole with a specifically beaded foam design that helps shunt water away to maintain it from absorbing into the fabric and staying saturated for longer. 
Topo’s new FKT insole.
Topo Pursuit 2 Execs
Pursuit 2s after greater than 350 miles of beatdowns on Maine trails.
Extraordinarily Sturdy
What I hoped for with the Pursuit 2s was that their high quality and sturdiness would match these of Topo’s different fashions, and I’m happy to say they ship. After lots of of miles of operating and mountain climbing, I’ve encountered no points with sole delamination, midsole sloppiness, or blowouts within the uppers—frequent issues with different manufacturers. The photograph above, taken after crossing the 350-mile mark, exhibits the sneakers nonetheless trying virtually new, except for minor scuffing on the tread and a little bit of dust. I’m extraordinarily impressed and relieved by their sturdiness.
Large Toe Field & Zero Drop
Although not universally accepted, the purported advantages of a large toebox and 0 drop (the identical peak distinction between the heel and toe) in a path shoe are well-known.
A large toebox permits for pure toe splay, providing a roomier match and enhancing toe motion, which might enhance stability and stability. Zero drop promotes extra pure foot alignment and encourages a midfoot or forefoot strike when strolling or operating, doubtlessly lowering pressure on the ft and decrease limbs for a extra snug and environment friendly stride.
Regardless of the recognition of zero drop amongst runners and hikers, few manufacturers provide sneakers that mix a large toebox with zero drop. In a current episode of Backpacker Radio, Dr. Courtney Conley, a foot and gait specialist, particularly advisable these options and this shoe mannequin for sustaining foot well being throughout long-distance actions.
Outsole Grip
For mountain climbing and operating within the northeast, distinctive outsole grip and sturdiness are important. The Pursuit 2s function the Vibram Megagrip outsole, which excels at gripping moist, robust surfaces like granite slabs. Usually, there’s a trade-off between grip and sturdiness: the grippier the outsole, the much less sturdy it tends to be, and vice versa.
Nonetheless, the Vibram Megagrip compound appears to defy this trade-off, providing an answer that’s each grippy and sturdy. Whereas the perfect outsole I’ve ever used is Inov-8’s Graphene Grip, the Vibram Megagrip comes shut, notably in moist situations.
Topo Pursuit 2 Cons
High quality Management Considerations
As I discussed firstly of this evaluate, I’ve been operating and mountain climbing in Topos virtually completely for six years. For the reason that firm was purchased out, I’ve seen some high quality management points. I’m going via about 4 pairs of Topos per 12 months and have solely had issues with two pairs prior to now two years. Whereas this isn’t a significant concern, it does make me considerably cautious.
Topo has at all times been glorious about changing pairs that fail prematurely, and I hope they’ll resolve these points and return to the constant, prime quality we’re accustomed to. I imagine they’ll — it’s only a matter of time.
Not for Excessive Circumstances
Though the Pursuit 2s carry out properly in lots of situations, they aren’t supreme for all environments. Whereas the Vibram Megagrip outsole affords superior traction, it’s not my best choice for heavy snow or mud, because the lugs aren’t aggressive or deep sufficient to grip properly.
Moreover, these sneakers won’t be the best choice for desert environments because the breathable mesh uppers could enable sand to penetrate, which might result in irritation and discomfort.
Last Ideas
Taking a break at treeline on Katahdin’s Hunt Path.
General, the Pursuit 2 lives as much as Topo Athletic’s popularity for high quality and sturdiness, delivering spectacular efficiency even after in depth use. The large toebox and zero-drop design improve consolation and foot alignment, whereas the Vibram Megagrip outsole supplies glorious traction on all of the rugged surfaces I might throw at it.
Regardless of some current high quality management issues and limitations in excessive situations, the Pursuit 2 stays a stable selection for hikers and runners in search of a reliable, high-performing shoe. I extremely advocate them, however as with every zero-drop shoe, it’s clever to ease into them when you’re not already accustomed to the transition.
Store the Males’s Topo Athletic Pursuit 2
Store the Ladies’s Topo Athletic Pursuit 2
Comparable Path Runners
Altra Lone Peak 8 (Ladies’s)
MSRP: $140
Weight: 10.7 ounces
Drop: 0 mm
Learn our evaluate of the Lone Peak 8 right here.
Inov-8 TrailFly G 270 V2 (Ladies’s)
MSRP: $170
Weight: 9.5 ounces
Drop: 0 mm
Learn our evaluate of the TrailFly G 270 V2 right here.
Astral TR1 Scuffler (Ladies’s)
MSRP: $125
Weight: 11.2 ounces
Drop: 0 mm
Learn our evaluate of the Astral TR1 Scuffler right here.
The Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 was donated for objective of evaluate.
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