Rating: | 8.6 / 10 |
Comfort | 1.6 / 2 |
Durability | 1.9 / 2 |
Support Stability | 1.7 / 2 |
Weight | 1.7 / 2 |
Value for Money | 1.7 / 2 |
I’ve had my pair of Topo Athletic Traverse shoes for just over a year now and thought that it was long past time for me to release this review. This model was released just after Topo stopped producing my favoured Topo Athletic Ultraventure Pro, a model that I was very sad to see go. So, while this model was never marketed as a replacement, it shares a lot of the same genetics.
First up let’s talk generalisations. Topo is a brand that I first came across around eight years ago and at that stage it wasn’t a well known name here or the US where it hails from. Fast forward to 2025 and this brand has made big inroads into the US long trails and is now a dominant brand and much more recognised on the Australian market.
Key features that Topo shoes are known for are their roomy toe boxes. In regard to the fit, Topo suggests that you purchase a 1/2 size up on this model. As a size 15US, I have topped out with this brand however they do produce a wide fit version which would assist those hikers with a very wide forefoot. Topo is also known for its excellent durability and every Topo model I have owned has comfortably lasted around 1,000 km.
While Topo is very similar to Altra in many respects, the biggest difference used to be that while Altra used to be zero drop and Topo offered 0-5mm options, this has now become less of a difference given Altra has expanded its offerings to include non-zero drop options.
Now onto this model specifically. The sole of this shoe has a 5 mm drop from front to back – the heels have 30 mm cushioning and the toes 25 mm. The cushioning is firm and partially that’s because this model comes with a ‘rock plate’ which helps to protect your feet from sharp pointy rocks. If given the choice I will always choose a shoe with a rock plate however, given I have joint issues I prefer a ‘plusher’ model. The vibram sole is very durable and has 5 mm lugs that provide extreme grip on surfaces ranging from dry and powdery to wet and slippery. While still on the soles, there is a gap in the lugs that means you can use heavy duty gaiters when you need protection from snakes.
Colour wise there are two options with these shoes – green or grey, both with a black sole. Topo does produce some lairy colours in their other models but so far have kept this range fairly muted which means they aren’t going to upset anyone.
The upper on these shoes is classed as ‘breathable’ which is a way of saying that if it’s raining or you are walking through wet grass, then you will get water into them. The reverse of this is that they will dry quickly.
A feature that isn’t specific to Topo is the built-in gaiter system and while it’s also a feature on Altra shoes, in Topo’s case it’s not really transferable to other brands of shoes because of the way they do it. If you’re a Topo fan then this won’t be an issue and if you really don’t want to use the dedicated Topo Performance Gaiter system, you can aways use one the of lycra models such as the Dirty Girl Gaiters that can be adapted to just about any shoe.
One thing that seems to be standard in the Topo trail running range is good heel and toe protection more so than a lot of other brands but in doing so it doesn’t reduce the flexibility and comfort.
Price wise the RRP of these shoes in Australia is around AUD $250 which is very similar to other high quality trail runners and trail shoes. Based on previous models from Topo, I would expect these shoes to have a good lifespan with my previous versions lasting around 1,000-1,200 km without losing midfoot cushioning.
While I found much to love about this shoe the degree of joint pain I have at the moment means I prefer more cushioning but if I’m going really remote and in areas where I expect snakes, then these will be my shoes of choice matched with my long gaiters. For the average hiker who doesn’t need lots of cushioning then these are a great hiking option and well worth considering.
I wear these shoes when I need to wear heavy gaiters for protection from snakes but next time I will look at the wider version
You can purchase the Topo Traverse Trail Running Shoe online at Wildfire Sports or from Amazon Australia
Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through on the above links and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!
AUD $250.00 RRP
Topo Traverse – Dark Green Charcoal colour
Topo Traverse – Dark Grey Charcoal colour
Topo Traverse top view
Topo Traverse sole view
Topo Traverse heel and toe view
Topo Traverse heel and toe view with Topo Performance Gaiters attached
This review was done with product purchased by Australian Hiker from a retail store
12 January 2025