Topo Athletic Ultraventure 5 Review
The Topo Ultraventure 5 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe that is best used as a road-to-trail shoe for routes that are a mixture of road and hard-packed trails, or for runs predominantly on hard-packed trails. Like all Topo running shoes, the Ultraventure 5 has a broad, rounded toe box to give the feet room to spread and function inside the shoes. On longer runs, this reduces how much the feet expand, which in turn reduces rubbing. The low heel-to-forefoot drop helps to promote a more midfoot landing, which loads the foot correctly so that it can spread on impact and help absorb the shock. The plantar fascia is stretched on impact and then recoils to spring the foot off the floor. As the foot is being worked with each touch of the ground, it gets stronger the more you run.
The Topo Ultraventure has been a popular trail running shoe since its inception. Each version has had a few tweaks that have further improved the fit and ride, building on the previous version of the shoe. The Ultraventure 5 is no different. It has maintained the key features of the Ultraventure 4, including the more fitted, slightly snugger upper. To further improve on this, Topo have made the mesh slightly thicker to make it more durable and offer a bit more protection from the environment. In areas of high abrasion, there are now overlays to reduce wear.
The Ultraventure 5 is built with comfort in mind. It is a shoe designed for long runs or regular daily use. The heel cup and cuff are exceptionally well padded, and the plastic heel cup holds the foot snugly inside the shoe. The tongue is equally well padded and has two tongue stays that the laces thread through to stop it slipping to one side. The tongue is also gusseted to help prevent debris from falling into the shoes.
At the base of the laces, there is a D-ring and at the back of the outside of the heel cup, a Velcro tab. These are attachments for gaiters, which will help to further reduce debris getting into the shoes. Gaiters can also bridge the gap between the shoes and your leggings to keep you warmer in winter. There is an additional lace hole at the top of the laces, which can be used to make the heel fit snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes.
Like all Topo shoes, the heel and midfoot fit is snug. As you move into the forefoot, the shoe opens out into a broad, rounded toe box. This fit holds the foot inside the shoe but also allows the toes the freedom to function.
The outsole is the same as the previous version. This uses Vibram XS Trek rubber, which gives a high level of traction on wet surfaces but is also durable enough for use on tarmac. The 4mm lugs are rounded at the edges. This takes away some of their ability to bite into soft ground but makes them much smoother on firmer surfaces. This means that the Ultraventure 5 doesn’t feel like a trail running shoe when running on the road. It’s a comfortable all-round running shoe.
The midsole has been updated. The foam is Topo’s ZipFoam, which is a blended EVA. In the case of the Ultraventure 5, the ZipFoam has been made a touch softer with a quicker rebound. This gives the ride of the Ultraventure 5 a similar solid, grounded feel to previous versions but adds a bit more rebound, making it feel more responsive. This makes the shoes feel lighter on your feet and adds a bit more spring to your step. The difference is only subtle, so it doesn’t distract from the natural feel that the previous versions had. It just makes it easier to cruise along in the Ultraventure 5.
The stack height is 35mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot. The 5mm heel-to-forefoot drop promotes more of a midfoot landing, although there is more than enough foam under the heel to allow for a comfortable heel strike. When on your feet, the Ultraventure 5 doesn’t feel at all unstable. You feel grounded. The new ZipFoam configuration does have a bit more compression on impact, which is more noticeable when walking in the shoes than when running. The softness has increased the flexibility just a touch and also allows the midsole to compress to absorb some of the obstacles on the trails, like roots and small stones. This has made the ride smoother on more broken trails.
The Ultraventure 5 has no pronounced rocker or curve to the midsole. This is added to some running shoes to keep the foot moving when it touches the ground, helping to maintain posture and cadence. In shoes with a rocker, your hamstrings and glutes don’t work quite as much, so you get less of a training effect, and it can make the shoe feel less natural. A bit like the shoe is controlling the pace. When you run downhill, for example, the curve of the midsole takes over and you get pulled down the hill. As the Ultraventure 5 doesn’t have this accentuated curve to the midsole, I feel much more in control. The ride feels a lot more natural, and I can speed up or slow down as I wish.
My only gripe is the time it takes for the upper to dry. The high level of padding at the heel and through the cuff can absorb water when you’re out in the rain or running over grass fields in the early morning. The upper then takes time to dry, more so than other trail shoes that I use. The result is that they are often damp. This isn’t something that puts me off using the shoes, as I enjoy the ride and comfort.
The weight of the Ultraventure 5 is similar to previous versions, with the men’s UK 8 weighing 300 grams and the women’s UK 5 weighing 245 grams. However, when they are on your feet and you are running, we feel that the slightly more responsive ride makes the Ultraventure 5 feel lighter than previous versions.
Topo running shoes are a similar length to Brooks, Saucony, Altra, NNormal and 361. If you use New Balance, Hoka, Inov-8, La Sportiva or Karhu, then we would suggest trying half a UK size larger to get a similar length. For example, a UK 11 in Topo is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka.
Topo running shoes have a broad, rounded toe box. This is not designed to accommodate runners with wide or high-volume feet, but to give runners’ feet the room to spread and function inside the shoes. The Topo Ultraventure 5 is available in a wide-fitting option. If you wear a wide fit or 2E fit (women’s D width) in other running shoe brands, then you may find that your feet fit into the regular width in a Topo shoe. However, if you want your feet to have room to spread and function inside the shoes, we would suggest trying the wide-fit option.
When fitting running shoes in the shop, we often say to customers that you want a shoe that you can’t feel on your feet. One that you can forget is there and just enjoy your run. This is what I feel when I am running in the Topo Ultraventure 5.
In summary, the Topo Ultraventure 5 is a well-cushioned running shoe designed for use on roads and trails. It’s ideal for mixed routes that include some tarmac and hard-packed trails, and comfortable enough for long runs or daily use. The broad, rounded toe box allows the feet room to spread and function inside the shoes so they can get stronger the more you run.
Alternatives to Topo Ultraventure 5
Altra Experience Wild 3+: A lower level of cushioning and lower stack height makes the Altra Experience Wild 3+ a better option for mixed routes that have more broken ground or single track. The toe box is similarly broad and rounded to allow the feet to function. The lugs bite better into soft ground compared to the Ultraventure 5. They don’t have the same smooth feel to the ride on tarmac and hard packed trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-experience-wild-3-review/
361 Futura 3: A more pointed toe box a rocker and much softer feel to the foam gives a very different feel to the ride. Less feel for the ground. The soft midsole does adapt to the changes in terrain and the lugs bite better into soft ground. The rubber is exceptionally sticky and grips well on wet surfaces. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-futura-3-review/
Brooks Ghost Trail: A much more pointed toe box. Firmer feel to the ride. Traction a similar level but bites better into softer ground. Not a smooth on tarmac. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-ghost-trail-review/
NNormal Cadi: A firmer feel to the ride. The toe box has a straight big toe line but doesn’t have the same space as the more rounded toe box of the Ultraventure 5. The Cadi doesn’t feel as light and smooth. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-cadi-review/
New Balance Hierro v9: A more pointed toe box. The rocker is noticeable and helps to give the Hierro v9 a smooth feel to the ride on hard packed terrain. The lugs have a similar rounded shape which helps create a smoother ride on hard packed terrain. Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fresh-foam-x-hierro-v9-review/
Hoka Challenger 8: A much more pointed toe box and softer feel to the midsole foam. The rocker is noticeable and gives a more controlled feeling to the gait. Traction level is similar. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-challenger-8-review/
OMM Ultra Shoe: A more pointed toe box with a firmer more responsive the ride. This makes the OMM Ultra Shoe feel nimbler. The traction is better on softer or more broken ground but the ride isn’t as smooth or cushioned on tarmac or smoother hard packed trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/omm-ultra-shoe-review/
Mount to Coast H1: A much more pointed toe box. The foam is a lot softer giving a much softer ride. The rocker/curve to the midsole makes the ride feel floaty like you are riding the shoe rather than running. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/mount-to-coast-h1-review/
La Sportiva Prodigio 2: A straight big toe line and good level of volume in the toe box gives the feet some room to spread. The ride is firmer with a bit more ground feel. There isn’t the same responsive bounce as you get from the Ultraventure 5 midsole which makes the Prodigio 2 less smooth on tarmac and hard packed trails. Although the more flexible midsole does make it better on more broken terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-prodigio-2-review/
Scott Kinabalu Trail: A similar light feel. Snugger fit in the toe box. Lighter level of cushioning. A rocker that isn’t too controlling. Lugs bite better into softer ground. More underfoot feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-trail-review/
Inov-8 TrailFly Max: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function inside the shoes. A stiffer shoe that doesn’t have the same smooth feel to the ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailfly-max-review/
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