Rating: | 9.2 / 10 |
Comfort | 1.9 / 2 |
Durability | 1.9 / 2 |
Support Stability | 1.9 / 2 |
Weight | 1.8 / 2 |
Value for Money | 1.7 / 2 |
The Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe was my second experience wearing the Topo range. I heard so much about them and wasn’t disappointed.
Topo Athletic make a range of trail running shoes and when you start researching them you realise the possible confusion with Altra shoes. I think many people who have looked at the Altra range, will also be fans of the Topo range. However, the direction that Topo has taken its features means you are going to lean towards one brand or another.
I was initially concerned about the 3mm drop from the heel to the toe given I usually wear Altra Lone Peak 7 shoes with Zero Drop for both running and hiking but the 3mm was barely noticeable. I wear a size 9.5 in the Terraventures and while the width is good, I feel they could be a fraction longer – not a big deal but something to consider if you’re yet to find your perfect Topo fit.
The obvious thing about the Terraventure 4 is that it is a stylish looking but rugged trail shoe. I’ve worn this shoe on a range of terrain from formed trail to sand to rocky ledges and everything in between – in all circumstances it provided just the right level of traction and performance required.
While the upper of this shoe is mesh, there are reinforcing strips that radiate down from the lacing which add to the shoe’s durability. There is also solid reinforcement around the toe to protect you from rocks and toe stubs. While not waterproof, the mesh copes well in lightly moist conditions. Good news is that if they do happen to get wet, they dry quickly.
I really like the lacing on these shoes and how the laces ‘anchor’ the tongue in place. This is the thing that really bugs me about Altra’s trail hikers and runners – the tongue slips sideways no matter how many different lacing arrangements I try!
The Terraventure’s under sole is made of Vibram and has big lugs which ensure you’ll be able to navigate the toughest terrain with ease. Topo describes the Terraventure as having ‘balanced’ cushioning, ‘neutral’ support, and ‘moderate’ pliability which translates to good comfort, firm-ish without being overly stiff.
The shoe stack runs from 25mm at the heel down to 22mm at the toe so it provides plenty of support and gives the shoe a ‘chunky’ look.
Like the rest of the Topo range the Terraventure 4 has a wide foot box, great support around the midfoot and heel, and a brand-specific gaiter attachment which I’m not a big fan of – more on that later.
This shoe has a flat section in the middle of the sole so if you are using a more robust canvas style gaiter with an underfoot strap then this shoe is one of the best choices you can make. If you don’t need a heavy gaiter and opt of the Lycra type, Topo has a specially designed ‘wrap’ gaiter – Topo Performance Gaiter – which attaches to eyelets at the rear of the shoe and a loop at the bottom of the laces. The match between to gaiters and the shoe size isn’t the best fit and there’s a need to go up a gaiter size for the gaiter to sit more comfortably.
The Terraventure 4 comes in two colours – Berry/Violet which looks great and Blue/Blue which has an upper that looks more greenish to me. I have the Berry/Violet colour and was very pleased that it continued to look good even after hours of dusty hiking on the Kiama Coast Walk in NSW.
The front and back of these shoes have good protection so if you manage to kick rocks you are well protected. All this combines for a very stable and protective shoe that also has a good degree of sensitivity on the trail. Something most people will appreciate.
These shoes are AUD $230 RRP which is very similar to other high quality trail runners and trail shoes. Given they will last all but the most full-on hikers for a couple of years for 1000+ km they are very good value.
This is a hard wearing and very comfy hiking shoe that ticks all the boxes. If you haven’t yet discovered Topo, its time to give them close consideration.
Definitely! Great styling, durable and comfy – what more do you need?
You can purchase the Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 from Amazon Australia
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AUD $230.00 RRP
Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe Berry/Violet colour
Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe Berry/Violet colour sole
Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe Berry/Violet colour top view
Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe Blue/Blue colour
Topo Athletic Women’s Terraventure 4 Trail Running Shoe Blue/Blue colour sole
This review was done with product purchased by Australian Hiker from a retail store
6 October 2024