Topo currently changing their UK distributor hence the lack of stock. Still no announcement on who this will be so guess no product shipped as yet. A long-time UK retailer for Topo with comprehensive stock is Northern Runner in Newcastle. I used the MTN Racer 2 (purchased from Northern Runner) and experienced a strange gaping effect along the collar when walking/hiking in them. This could cause issues with grit etc getting in on rough terrain. Interested to hear if you have similar issues with version 3. The only other gripe I had was that the shoes were made in China as I look to avoid any products made in ROC. I look forward to your update Paul.
That's great info, thank you. Maybe by the time I'm ready for a new pair, they'll be up and running with a new distributor! Appreciate your comment about the debris getting in - that happened a lot with the Olympus 5's so I started wearing gaiters. I think I'll add a small patch of adhesive velcro to the heel of each shoe, just so I can use my own gaiters if needed. Will try without them first, and see how they do.
Iv been using hoka stinson atr6 for the last 2 years. Love em. Great toe box width. Real hovercrafts. Just wished they had vibram soles. Great in the dry but can be a little slippy on wet tarmac when new.
I've been wearing altra for years but they've changed, for the bad. I recently ran in the topo pursuit and loved them. They are 0 drop which I prefer and I absolutely loved them. The grip is fabulous. The outsoles of altra are junk and I spent more time falling than running. The lugs are terrible and aren't very deep on their trail shoes. I could go on for a while about non good things. Now I do love the torrin road shoes except the durability. When those wear down ill be looking at topo road too. In my long runs I'll be looking at the mountain racer 3s. But the trail marathon was good for the pursuit which is 28mm stack height and 0 drop. I'm commenting from the US.
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree about the outsole and grip of the Topo shoes, I've been so impressed by the MTN Racer 3 traction. They really do put Altra to shame in that department.
Thanks, great review as I have been considering these for walking and a lighter alternative to hiking boots. Many shoes have too much cushioning for me but looking for sturdy light shoe with a little, so sounds good. I like the way you say ‘for me’ but add detail, as everyone’s feet and needs are different.
Appreciate you taking the time to comment, thanks! Glad that the video was helpful to you. I'm currently about 320 miles into the GR11 with these, and am really happy with them!
Did you try how fast they dry after getting wet? There are lot of river crossings on GR11 and in the Basque country there is raining a lot. I was thinking about these to take them to GR11 which I did from mid June to mid July. But I was hesitant because of some reviews that said that they take eternity to dry. Otherwise I think they would be excelent for this route. I had MTN Racer 2 last year and like them a lot. For GR11 I opted for NNormal Tomir which proved to be very durable and grippy but not that wide in the forefoot as I would like. My girlfriend went through GR11 in Topo Runventure 4 and she was very satisfied. The shoes survived the whole route with some minor holes. So no that durable as Tomir but plenty enough. Also not drying as fast as Tomir. For me durability was the main concern for choosing the shoes for this hike. Route goes through some high alpine passes with a lot of rocks so less durable shoes can be shred to pieces and I really did not want to be forced to buy some new random shoes in some mountain village.
Thanks Jan, some good points in your post. I didn't try them wet before I left, and have found that they don't really dry too quickly. The weather on the first 3 days in the Basque Country has been terrible as you said. I do find them extremely comfortable though, and they've only really struggled gripping in thick mud - everything else they cope with pretty well. I'm looking forward to trying them out on some dry days!
Topo mtn racers rock!! I’ve owned a pair since they first came out and won’t even bother with other shoes for the most part and I guess my only complaint would be they don’t dry out fast but that’s no big deal for me.
That's awesome, I'm really impressed with them too so far! Exactly the same thought, that they take ages to dry, but like you, I'm not too bothered by that! Happy trails!
I resoled my Superior 3.5 with a Vibram Zegama sole and its pretty sweet...I was thinking about getting the Olympus 5 or 6 but now maybe the topo adventure 4 (or something like that)...I also like my Vivobarefoot Primus trail ii FG but they lack a Vibram sole...Toetem sandals look good to ..Ive hike quit a bit in the Andes with sandals the campesinos hike in ture sandals..Akso the Altra Kung mt 2 looks sweet
That's great to hear, I hope they continue to work well for you in the future! The zero drop of the Altra just doesn't work out for some people, myself included.
How does it compare to the Hoka Madate Speed 4 ? I struggle with my Mafate in the heel lock and midfoot a bit too large, whereas the lenght is ok... While it's acceptable on 20km mountain trail, it's a problem on longer 30km+ mountain trail for me...
Hi, I'm sorry but I've not used the Mafate Speed 4 so can't compare them. I've found the heel lock and general fit in the MTN Racer 3 to be almost perfect for me though.
Did you try the wide (2e) speedgoats and still find that they were too narrow? Just asking because I also struggle with a really wide toe box and have tried the wide speedgoats and even they are too narrow. Thanks, great review!
I have 4e feet with a very high arch and found the Speedgoat in wide a half size up worked great. Olympus 5 wore through the inner heel in two weeks. And I’m not sold on zero drop for the multi week trail hiking I do. I tried on the Topo Pursuit and found it way too narrow. Based on this review I’ll have to try the Topo MTN3. Unfortunately the Topo shoes more suitable for thru hikes seem very hard to find and I need to try them on in store before purchasing as I’ve had far too many shoes not work over the years.
I hope you find some to try on. I eventually had to ditch my MTN Racer 3's as I'd simply worn them out! Absolutely loved them though. Right now, I'm trying the Topo Traverse out. I couldn't find them at all in the UK so had to import from the USA. Promising so far but maybe don't feel quite as roomy as the MTN Racer 3's.
@@PaulandaPack The Traverse is what I’d like to try. Based on what I read online it would be the best match for my multi-week trail walking adventures. Unfortunately, I can’t find any store that carries them. Based on your comment that they feel narrower than the MTN 3, I think my best bet is to order in the MTN 3. Thanks so much for your review.. Very helpful observations on long distance hiking shoes for very wide feet.
Northern Runner stocks Topo Athletic. Brilliant high street store (Newcastle UK) that also sells online. Completely trustworthy. (I have no affiliation, just a happy customer). Good review, thanks.
Hey, good question. I did consider the UltraVenture for a while. In the end, I decided the MTN Racer 3 offered more of what I was looking for - the Vibram Megagrip outsole, a little less stack height than the UltraVenture for a bit more ground feel, and the upper material looked a bit more durable on the MTN Racer 3 too. Having not used the UV myself though, I can't confirm whether or not that is the case. I'd happily buy another pair of MTN Racer 3's, but I actually got a pair of the new Traverse from Santa, So I'm giving them a go at the moment.
I hope the price of first class and special delivery hasn't risen now that you are going to be tearing around in those now :) they look interesting but i have just splashed out on the Olympus yesterday ...i am the opposite i get knee pain with a higher heeled shoe...trail shoes that is :)
Thanks . Just been watching your gear list for the GR11. It's always interesting to see what other people carry. I have gone back to using my pump sack instead of using the flex tail because i just find i hardly need any light from it and i have the Bindi anyway which lasts me ages between charges and i t only takes max 12 bag sackfuls of air to fill an XLite regular wide but we are all different when it comes to luxuries...Best of luck on the GR11 and take care ATB@@PaulandaPack
Thanks, I did give that a try. I'd used Altras for a couple of years and tried a few different things to get them to work for me, but I just couldn't get rid of the tight calves. Since switching to the Topos with 5mm drop, I've had no problems at all.
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Topo currently changing their UK distributor hence the lack of stock. Still no announcement on who this will be so guess no product shipped as yet. A long-time UK retailer for Topo with comprehensive stock is Northern Runner in Newcastle. I used the MTN Racer 2 (purchased from Northern Runner) and experienced a strange gaping effect along the collar when walking/hiking in them. This could cause issues with grit etc getting in on rough terrain. Interested to hear if you have similar issues with version 3. The only other gripe I had was that the shoes were made in China as I look to avoid any products made in ROC. I look forward to your update Paul.
That's great info, thank you. Maybe by the time I'm ready for a new pair, they'll be up and running with a new distributor! Appreciate your comment about the debris getting in - that happened a lot with the Olympus 5's so I started wearing gaiters. I think I'll add a small patch of adhesive velcro to the heel of each shoe, just so I can use my own gaiters if needed. Will try without them first, and see how they do.
You’ve helped me identify my Achilles heal issues! It’s the Altras as these are all I run in. Time for a change
Brilliant! Here's hoping you find something that solves the problem!
Iv been using hoka stinson atr6 for the last 2 years. Love em. Great toe box width. Real hovercrafts. Just wished they had vibram soles. Great in the dry but can be a little slippy on wet tarmac when new.
Thanks, I hadn't looked at the Stinson ATR6 but will add them to my list to check out if the Topo doesn't work out for me!
I've been wearing altra for years but they've changed, for the bad. I recently ran in the topo pursuit and loved them. They are 0 drop which I prefer and I absolutely loved them. The grip is fabulous. The outsoles of altra are junk and I spent more time falling than running. The lugs are terrible and aren't very deep on their trail shoes. I could go on for a while about non good things. Now I do love the torrin road shoes except the durability. When those wear down ill be looking at topo road too. In my long runs I'll be looking at the mountain racer 3s. But the trail marathon was good for the pursuit which is 28mm stack height and 0 drop. I'm commenting from the US.
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree about the outsole and grip of the Topo shoes, I've been so impressed by the MTN Racer 3 traction. They really do put Altra to shame in that department.
Thanks, great review as I have been considering these for walking and a lighter alternative to hiking boots. Many shoes have too much cushioning for me but looking for sturdy light shoe with a little, so sounds good. I like the way you say ‘for me’ but add detail, as everyone’s feet and needs are different.
Appreciate you taking the time to comment, thanks! Glad that the video was helpful to you. I'm currently about 320 miles into the GR11 with these, and am really happy with them!
Did you try how fast they dry after getting wet? There are lot of river crossings on GR11 and in the Basque country there is raining a lot.
I was thinking about these to take them to GR11 which I did from mid June to mid July. But I was hesitant because of some reviews that said that they take eternity to dry. Otherwise I think they would be excelent for this route. I had MTN Racer 2 last year and like them a lot.
For GR11 I opted for NNormal Tomir which proved to be very durable and grippy but not that wide in the forefoot as I would like.
My girlfriend went through GR11 in Topo Runventure 4 and she was very satisfied. The shoes survived the whole route with some minor holes. So no that durable as Tomir but plenty enough. Also not drying as fast as Tomir.
For me durability was the main concern for choosing the shoes for this hike. Route goes through some high alpine passes with a lot of rocks so less durable shoes can be shred to pieces and I really did not want to be forced to buy some new random shoes in some mountain village.
Thanks Jan, some good points in your post. I didn't try them wet before I left, and have found that they don't really dry too quickly. The weather on the first 3 days in the Basque Country has been terrible as you said.
I do find them extremely comfortable though, and they've only really struggled gripping in thick mud - everything else they cope with pretty well. I'm looking forward to trying them out on some dry days!
Topo mtn racers rock!! I’ve owned a pair since they first came out and won’t even bother with other shoes for the most part and I guess my only complaint would be they don’t dry out fast but that’s no big deal for me.
That's awesome, I'm really impressed with them too so far! Exactly the same thought, that they take ages to dry, but like you, I'm not too bothered by that! Happy trails!
I resoled my Superior 3.5 with a Vibram Zegama sole and its pretty sweet...I was thinking about getting the Olympus 5 or 6 but now maybe the topo adventure 4 (or something like that)...I also like my Vivobarefoot Primus trail ii FG but they lack a Vibram sole...Toetem sandals look good to ..Ive hike quit a bit in the Andes with sandals the campesinos hike in ture sandals..Akso the Altra Kung mt 2 looks sweet
Hey, nice idea! I'd not thought of having something resoled!!
I have switched from Altra Lonepeak to Topo Athletic mnt racer as well. I have a lot less issues with painfull tendons in my left foot now.
That's great to hear, I hope they continue to work well for you in the future! The zero drop of the Altra just doesn't work out for some people, myself included.
How does it compare to the Hoka Madate Speed 4 ? I struggle with my Mafate in the heel lock and midfoot a bit too large, whereas the lenght is ok... While it's acceptable on 20km mountain trail, it's a problem on longer 30km+ mountain trail for me...
Hi, I'm sorry but I've not used the Mafate Speed 4 so can't compare them. I've found the heel lock and general fit in the MTN Racer 3 to be almost perfect for me though.
Did you try the wide (2e) speedgoats and still find that they were too narrow? Just asking because I also struggle with a really wide toe box and have tried the wide speedgoats and even they are too narrow. Thanks, great review!
Hi, I didn't try the 2e, but from looking at other reviews, they were never going to be as wide as what I was looking for.
I have 4e feet with a very high arch and found the Speedgoat in wide a half size up worked great. Olympus 5 wore through the inner heel in two weeks. And I’m not sold on zero drop for the multi week trail hiking I do. I tried on the Topo Pursuit and found it way too narrow. Based on this review I’ll have to try the Topo MTN3. Unfortunately the Topo shoes more suitable for thru hikes seem very hard to find and I need to try them on in store before purchasing as I’ve had far too many shoes not work over the years.
I hope you find some to try on. I eventually had to ditch my MTN Racer 3's as I'd simply worn them out! Absolutely loved them though. Right now, I'm trying the Topo Traverse out. I couldn't find them at all in the UK so had to import from the USA. Promising so far but maybe don't feel quite as roomy as the MTN Racer 3's.
@@PaulandaPack The Traverse is what I’d like to try. Based on what I read online it would be the best match for my multi-week trail walking adventures. Unfortunately, I can’t find any store that carries them. Based on your comment that they feel narrower than the MTN 3, I think my best bet is to order in the MTN 3. Thanks so much for your review.. Very helpful observations on long distance hiking shoes for very wide feet.
@@kayakerjer thanks a lot, appreciate you watching and commenting. I hope you manage to find something that works well for you!
Northern Runner stocks Topo Athletic. Brilliant high street store (Newcastle UK) that also sells online. Completely trustworthy. (I have no affiliation, just a happy customer). Good review, thanks.
Excellent, thanks for the info!
Hello what's your size here comparing to altra? thank you
Hi, I used a UK 11 in both the Altra and the Topo. That's equivalent to an EU 46.5 or a USA 12.
Why did you choose the MTN Racer 3 vs the Topo UltraVenture?
Hey, good question. I did consider the UltraVenture for a while. In the end, I decided the MTN Racer 3 offered more of what I was looking for - the Vibram Megagrip outsole, a little less stack height than the UltraVenture for a bit more ground feel, and the upper material looked a bit more durable on the MTN Racer 3 too. Having not used the UV myself though, I can't confirm whether or not that is the case. I'd happily buy another pair of MTN Racer 3's, but I actually got a pair of the new Traverse from Santa, So I'm giving them a go at the moment.
How much built in arch support is there? I’ve noticed many of their models have too much arch support.
I hope the price of first class and special delivery hasn't risen now that you are going to be tearing around in those now :) they look interesting but i have just splashed out on the Olympus yesterday ...i am the opposite i get knee pain with a higher heeled shoe...trail shoes that is :)
😁 First class and Special Delivery are expensive enough already!
I hope you find the Olympus do well for you!
Thanks . Just been watching your gear list for the GR11. It's always interesting to see what other people carry. I have gone back to using my pump sack instead of using the flex tail because i just find i hardly need any light from it and i have the Bindi anyway which lasts me ages between charges and i t only takes max 12 bag sackfuls of air to fill an XLite regular wide but we are all different when it comes to luxuries...Best of luck on the GR11 and take care ATB@@PaulandaPack
@@Olan... thanks! Looking forward to getting out there!
It’s not the shoes, you gotta stretch those Achilles out
Thanks, I did give that a try. I'd used Altras for a couple of years and tried a few different things to get them to work for me, but I just couldn't get rid of the tight calves. Since switching to the Topos with 5mm drop, I've had no problems at all.
It’s a shame they are so gawd awful ugly.
They're available in other colours. Although, personally, I prefer this colour! No accounting for taste I guess 😆
Topo. Kong running in Keswick. Absolutely recommended.
Thanks Iain, good to know of a reputable place to buy in the UK.