Hey there, Jay! Your detailed insights really help in understanding their differences and best uses. Keep up the awesome work, and I'm looking forward to more content from your channel. Happy running and keep moving! 😊🏃♂
Thank you for watching my friend! I hope you and your family are doing well! It looks like you are doing some shorter speedy runs these days, which is great 👍
Thanks very much. These are interesting impressions of the two shoes. Very helpful to understand the differences. I also have the Specter so far, and I really love it. Now I will also buy the Cyclone 2.
They are a smaller shoe company out of Boston in the US. I like a lot of there shoes. They are a bit hard to find, but we carry them at the running store I work at. There are some European distributors listed on the TopoAthletic website. However, they may be difficult to find for trying them out.
Thanks for this comparison! I've been in the Cyclone 2s for several months and really like them. However, when I get over 10k distances the ground feel really starts to come through and I'm finding myself wanting something with more cushion. Were you the same size in the Cyclone 2 and you were in the Specter? I wore an 8.5 in the Topo Phantom 2, but needed an 8 in the Cyclone 2 so I'm curious if the more recent models are more consistent. Thank you!
I am wearing the same size in both. However, I do find the Cyclone 2 is a bit longer and I probably could have gone down a half size. I also have the Phantom 3 and find the sizing more similar to the Specter. Thank you for watching!
Not really. You can sometimes feel the soft bouncey Pebax. However, it is still pretty firm because it uses the older zip foam for the "frame". The Phantom 3 uses the newer softer zip foam formulation. This will definitely change when the all Pebax Specter 2 is released, however, that is not supposed to be released until August.
Hi. Thanks for the reviews. Is the arch support 'lump' (for want of a better word) part of the removable insole, or part of the inside of the shoes, please? Maybe a bit of an odd question, but a user review said that they use flat Altra insoles in Topo shoes to remove/lessen the arch support. If this is doable, I would be more interested in Topo, as I really don't get on well with arch support shoes. Thanks again.
I would say removing the insoles reduces the arch support. However, in my opinion, there is still a little bit of arch support in Topo shoes (the way they are designed). Altra shoes seem very flat inside without an insole.
Tired of hearing splay,ugh,but i understand,i like the max cushion cuz i do more slow and steady longer runs over 5 to 10,im 62 and im leaning towards the specter,i dont run on my toes is it a good shoe for mid strike
I like the Specter a lot. I do heel strike a bit on my left heel, but I am mostly a midfoot striker. They worked well for me. I like that they are very cushioned but not mushy soft.
@@TheOldUltraRunner Same. I have 11 prs of Altras going back to the One. Each year I wear a retired pair to Athlete's Village, then put on the racers just before the gun.
I think that I have around 20 pairs. I have 4-5 pairs that are about to be retired. My wife will tell you that I own too many. Working at the running store is not making it easy to keep the number down.😂
@@TheOldUltraRunneris the arch support in Cyclone 2 instrusive? What about Spectre? I trier the Ultrafly 4 and the arch support hurts, and the one in Fli-Lyte 5 felt less pronounced and bearable
The Cyclones feel a bit bouncier and faster due to an all Pebax midsole. The phantoms don't have the bouncy foam or the rocker of the cyclone. However, they are very comfortable and have more cushion for longer runs.
Really happy to see you sharing your thoughts on these lesser known brands! Nice to see them using PBax midsole material.
I would probably do better on the channel reviewing well known brands. However, I really like these shoes.
Hey there, Jay! Your detailed insights really help in understanding their differences and best uses. Keep up the awesome work, and I'm looking forward to more content from your channel. Happy running and keep moving! 😊🏃♂
Thank you for watching my friend!
I hope you and your family are doing well!
It looks like you are doing some shorter speedy runs these days, which is great 👍
Thanks very much. These are interesting impressions of the two shoes. Very helpful to understand the differences. I also have the Specter so far, and I really love it. Now I will also buy the Cyclone 2.
Thank you for watching! I hope you will enjoy the Cyclone 2.
Thanks from Durham UK. Really good info.
Thank you for watching 🙂
@@TheOldUltraRunner I hope you review the Spectre 2 (not available in the uk yet) and maybe Topo Atmos. Cheers, Paul
Nice review, Jay. I never heard of Copo brand before. They are nice looking shoes.
They are a smaller shoe company out of Boston in the US. I like a lot of there shoes. They are a bit hard to find, but we carry them at the running store I work at.
There are some European distributors listed on the TopoAthletic website. However, they may be difficult to find for trying them out.
It might be hard at the beginning find them but it is worth it! Been using them for three years, not going back to other brands!
Thanks for this comparison! I've been in the Cyclone 2s for several months and really like them. However, when I get over 10k distances the ground feel really starts to come through and I'm finding myself wanting something with more cushion. Were you the same size in the Cyclone 2 and you were in the Specter? I wore an 8.5 in the Topo Phantom 2, but needed an 8 in the Cyclone 2 so I'm curious if the more recent models are more consistent. Thank you!
I am wearing the same size in both. However, I do find the Cyclone 2 is a bit longer and I probably could have gone down a half size. I also have the Phantom 3 and find the sizing more similar to the Specter.
Thank you for watching!
@@TheOldUltraRunner Thank you! Would you say that the Specter is softer underfoot than the Phantom 3?
Not really. You can sometimes feel the soft bouncey Pebax. However, it is still pretty firm because it uses the older zip foam for the "frame". The Phantom 3 uses the newer softer zip foam formulation.
This will definitely change when the all Pebax Specter 2 is released, however, that is not supposed to be released until August.
Hi. Thanks for the reviews. Is the arch support 'lump' (for want of a better word) part of the removable insole, or part of the inside of the shoes, please? Maybe a bit of an odd question, but a user review said that they use flat Altra insoles in Topo shoes to remove/lessen the arch support. If this is doable, I would be more interested in Topo, as I really don't get on well with arch support shoes. Thanks again.
I would say removing the insoles reduces the arch support. However, in my opinion, there is still a little bit of arch support in Topo shoes (the way they are designed). Altra shoes seem very flat inside without an insole.
@@TheOldUltraRunner Thank you.
Tired of hearing splay,ugh,but i understand,i like the max cushion cuz i do more slow and steady longer runs over 5 to 10,im 62 and im leaning towards the specter,i dont run on my toes is it a good shoe for mid strike
I like the Specter a lot. I do heel strike a bit on my left heel, but I am mostly a midfoot striker.
They worked well for me. I like that they are very cushioned but not mushy soft.
Nice shoes
Thank you for watching! I am enjoying them.
Cyclone 2 for up-tempo & Phantom 3 for easy pace
I think that is a great combination. I am an old Altra fan, so I still use the Torins for easy pace.
However, I really like the Phantom 3.
@@TheOldUltraRunner Same. I have 11 prs of Altras going back to the One. Each year I wear a retired pair to Athlete's Village, then put on the racers just before the gun.
Jay- how many shoes do you have?! Just curious! I have a lot but I think you may have more than me! Haha! I'm not familiar with Topo-good info!!
I think that I have around 20 pairs.
I have 4-5 pairs that are about to be retired.
My wife will tell you that I own too many.
Working at the running store is not making it easy to keep the number down.😂
Are you wearing the Torin Wide or normal Torin? How would you compare the width of the Cyclone 2 with the Torin?
I wear the normal Torin.
I think the mid foot of the Cyclone 2 is more narrow than the Torin.
The forefoot feels very similar width to the Torin.
@@TheOldUltraRunner thanks for sharing
@@TheOldUltraRunneris the arch support in Cyclone 2 instrusive? What about Spectre? I trier the Ultrafly 4 and the arch support hurts, and the one in Fli-Lyte 5 felt less pronounced and bearable
Is the forefoot on the phantom 3 wider than on the specter?
I think very similar
What are your thoughts on the phantoms vs cylone shoes?
The Cyclones feel a bit bouncier and faster due to an all Pebax midsole. The phantoms don't have the bouncy foam or the rocker of the cyclone. However, they are very comfortable and have more cushion for longer runs.
Both of these fit true to size?
For me they did.
Specter 2 or cyclone 2. Mmmhh.... Difficult
Yes, it is a difficult choice. I think they are both good shoes.