Australian Hiker

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Topo Trailventure 2 Boot Review

Topo Athletic is a company well known for producing road running and trail running footwear and when I can get my size, I’m a big fan. I had seen both the Trailventure, and the newer Trailventure 2 Boot come onto the market and was keen to try them out but as is often the case it took me a while to get hold of a pair of size 15’s to suit my needs.

In all honesty I had preconceived ideas about what they would be like even before they turned up in the mail. I had previously tried a pair of the Altra Lone Peak Mid Boots and in that case it was essentially a trail runner with a high ankle so this was what I expected from the Trailventure 2 boots. As I was to find that wasn’t the case. Rather than taking a trail runner and extending the ankle, Topo has produced this boot from scratch and it can best be described as a mid weight-mid height boot.

Size wise this boot is true to length and is consistent with the ‘foot shape’ fit across the Topo range. Where it differs from its trail running brethren is that the sole and toe cap are stiffer. In addition, the toe box is also wider and as someone who has a very wide forefoot, I find that it’s a little bit on the ‘too wide’ side. Having said that I tend to wear thin socks and the average wide footed hiker will find that this shoe has plenty of room. If you have a narrow foot then I would suggest this option isn’t for you. For a boot it’s very comfortable and even provides some tactile contact with the surrounding ground although as you would expect it’s certainly no trail runner. The ankle support is nice and cushioned and feels good.

This boot has a Vibram sole with a 5mm drop (33mm heel and 28mm toe) which is slightly lower than many boots on the market. I’m a fan of lower drop shoes, prefering a Zero Drop where possible so I’m happy with this low drop and will suit even standard footwear users who are used to around a 8-10mm drop.

The tread pattern provides plenty of grip in both wet and dry conditions. The sole lasts well with my pair, which has done over 300km at the time of this review, showing minimal signs of wear. This boot version is a breathable non waterproof option but it does come in a ‘WP’ (waterproof) version for those who spend time in snowy or very wet and cold conditions.

These shoes like many of the Topo stable will accept the propriatory gaiters that hook into the back and front of the shoe. I have never used these and typically wear my lycra trail gaiters.

Colour wise there are only two choices which are essentially Charcoal/Mustard and Stone/Navy.

Price wise these boots sell for approximately AUD $240 RRP which is very similar to other boots of this type and also a similar price to many trail runners.

So how have they performed? While I still prefer a trail runner, after wearing these boots for over 300km I’ve been pretty happy with them even given the very wide forefoot. These boots really are for hikers who have a wide forefoot and if you have been struggling to find shoes to fit then this is a great option.

We Like

• Comfortable footwear with a good degree of protection all round provided by the materials used in the sole and heel/toe
• Durable
• Very stable over a variety of terrain providing good traction and stability
• Lightweight for a boot
• Very wide toe box to allow your feet to expand on those longer hikes (medium width at the rear and mid foot)
• Low profile without being Zero Drop which will suit a wide range of hikers
• They breathe well so your feet don’t overheat
• Brand specific gaiter attachment that also works with other brands of  lycra style gaiters

We Don't Like

• As someone with size 15 US feet, Topo never seem to produce enough of the bigger sizes
• Not one of the more common shoes on the market so you may need to look for them or buy online. If buying online, choose a store that has a good return policy

Would I Use these boots for hiking?

I prefer a trail runner for most of my hiking but if I was going to wear a boot outside of snow conditions, this would be it

Best Use

• For hikers wanting a good mix of comfort, durability and shoe protection, this is a great shoe
• For hikers who have a wide forefoot

Buy One

You can purchase the Topo Trailventure 2 Hiking Boot online at Amazon Australia

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through 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!

Investment

AUD $239.90 RRP

Other Versions

• Available in men’s and women’s sizings
• Topo Athletic also has a range of other shoes suitable for hiking and trail running

Topo Trailventure 2 Boot – Charcoal/Mustard colour

Topo Trailventure 2 Boot – Stone/Navy colour

Topo Trailventure 2 Boot view of sole

Topo Trailventure 2 Boot view of heal and toe after 300km of wear

Topo Trailventure 2 side views

Close up of the sole lugs on the Topo Trailventure 2

Topo Trailventure 2 close up of ankle padding

Topo Trailventure 2 close up of lacing

Last updated

17/12/2023

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