Topo Athletic Traverse Review
Time for something different this week in our Topo Athletic Traverse review. The Traverse is a shoe designed for the long distance walker in mind. It replaces the Ultraventure Pro, which was a long distance trail running shoe that a lot of customers used for walking. Topo Athletic designed a shoe specifically with the walker in mind using the Ultraventure Pro as a blue print.
The Topo Ultraventure Pro was one of our Newcastle store manager Craig’s favourite shoes for Ultramarathon distance so he was disappointed to see it dropped from the range and replaced by what looks like a ‘walking shoe’. However, on closer inspection and after a few trail running miles we discovered that the Topo Athletic Traverse has fixed some of the issues that the Ultraventure Pro had and is in fact a good long distance trail running shoe, as well as a long distance walking shoe.
The main issue with the Topo Ultraventure Pro was that the fit of the upper wasn’t snug enough through the midfoot. It didn’t hold the foot onto the midsole of the shoes when you were running on a camber or over broken terrain. Your foot would slip around inside the shoes. The fit is now a little more ‘fitted’ meaning that it just holds the foot much better and stops the foot from moving around as much as it did in the roomier upper of the Ultraventure Pro. The Traverse still has the broad rounded toe box that all Topo Athletic running shoes have but now the upper wraps around the midfoot more effectively and holds it in place. The tough, closely woven upper also has no stretch, which adds to the secure fit.
The 5mm heel drop is perfect for walking. A lower drop means your posture is better. You are more upright and you aren’t encouraged to over stride and land heel first.
The fit is classic Topo Athletic, with a snug fit at the heel and midfoot and a broad rounded toe box to give your feet room to function inside the shoes. It doesn’t feel as wide as an Ultraventure partly because it fits snugger through the midfoot and partly due to the more robust upper, which is a closer weave and not stretchy.
The toes are well protected by a plastic toe guard. It’s soft enough to allow movement of the toes and not too rigid so it doesn’t dig into the tops of your toes when going up very steep gradients. The heel cup and cuff are nicely padded, as is the tongue. The tongue is gusseted to reduce the chance of debris getting into the shoes and the laces thread through two tongue stays to prevent the tongue slipping to one side when walking or running.
There is an extra lace hole that you can thread the laces through to give a snugger fit at the heel or to butterfly lace the shoes.
The sole uses Vibram Megagrip and has 6mm lugs. This is the same outsole as Topo Athletic uses on all of their trail shoes, with the exception of the Ultraventure 2. This outsole is tried and tested. It gives good traction on soft ground but also rides well on harder tracks and trails. There is a rockplate between the outsole and the midsole to prevent thorns or sharp rocks piecing the sole and going into your foot. This is very flexible and doesn’t stiffen up the shoes.
The stack height is 30mm in the heel and 25mm in the forefoot. The foam used for the midsole is Topo’s Zip Foam. This is an EVA foam that is highly durable and resilient. It is soft enough to feel cushioned but give you a good sense for the floor beneath you. Your feet get stimulated to function in the shoes and you get enough feel for the ground to negotiate obstacles on the trail.
In addition to the cushioning from the midsole, Topo Athletic have added a highly cushioned insole. This is the same as Inov-8’s Boomerang insole and is 6mm of nitrogen infused rubber. When an insole or midsole is nitrogen infused, it seals it. This prevents water and dirt from getting in which makes it more resilient to deterioration. It also makes it bouncier, although not quite as soft. This has given the Topo Traverse a bit of bounce. This doesn’t take away from the stability of the shoes, as there is very little compression. It puts a bit more of a spring in your step.
Running in the Topo Athletic Traverse was business as usual, my feet functioning well, I was stable due to the low drop encouraging my feet to work properly. My toes splaying added my natural cushioning to an already well-cushioned shoe. They’re lightweight too, so perfect if you’re out for the day. Due to the wide toe box my feet don’t get stressed so technically I can stay out longer.
As usual, they have the gaiter attachments for a Topo Athletic gaiter–so no messy fingers when taking them off. There’s also a handy little loop at the back which helps you pull your foot into the shoe (or hang them up if you don’t want beasties crawling inside them as you camp out).
The inner sole is genius, totally sealed so it doesn’t hold water if you get your feet wet. As all Topo running shoes drain well, it makes sense to not have the inner sole retain water, helping your shoes dry out quicker and keeping them feeling comfortable.
The shape of the shoe, with its supportive arch, holds my foot well whilst still allowing foot function. Thus allowing my plantar fascia to work and without over stretching. We’ve noticed a lot more customers moving away from the traditional walking boot that tend to be heavier with narrow toe boxes.
Having the classic Topo Athletic foot shaped last means that customers’ feet are more comfortable for longer so they can spend more time doing the walks and runs they enjoy so much. I really like it. I’ve done a few dog walks that have turned into runs without sacrificing comfort or my natural gait, as well as using the Topo Traverse for some of my trail runs. The ride is firm, secure and stable, which is exactly what I felt like in the Topo Ultraventure Pro and is why I preferred them for longer ultra races and long runs. The shoes offers some structure and support when I’ve been on my feet for a long time, which helps to keep me moving.
In summary the Topo Athletic Traverse is not just a walking shoe. It’s versatile enough for longer trail runs, with a bouncy cushioned insole, enough grip for a bit of rough stuff and of course, that lower drop and roomy rounded toe box that so many runners are waking up to.
Comments are closed here.