So it has
only been about 2 weeks since I wrote a product review on the Altra Instinct 2’s.
I wrote about the benefits of a zero
drop/low drop shoe and the wider toe box.
I also stated that I might have found the perfect shoe for me. While I love my Altra’s, I may have found its
replacement already, at least for some of my runs.
Topo
Athletic recently sent me a pair of the MT trail shoe to review. They are great looking shoes, have a low 2.0mm.
heel drop, which is low enough to make running in an ideal running form
easier. The MT also has the wider tow
box just like the Altras. It can be used
on the road or trail with ease.
A little bit
of history on Topo Athletic. Tony Post
was the President of a large shoe company and has over 30 years in the shoe
industry. A year and a half ago, Tony
started Topo Athletic with the desire to create a shoe company that would help
you train smarter. He didn’t like how
most shoes squished your toes, which is where the wide toe box comes into
play. He wanted to make a shoe that was
nimble and allowed you to stay connected with the ground (i.e. feel the ground
as you run). Topo Athletic strives to
make the best shoe available and welcomes customer feedback on how they can
improve. So now let’s get back to the MT’s.
My initial
reaction is that the shoe looks great and felt great right out of the box. My only initial concern was that there was
not as much cushion as I was used to.
That concern was quickly squashed though. I have been on three runs so far with the MT. I went on two road (one fast and one easy) runs
and a trail run. The shoes felt amazing.
They were very quick on the road and had
the perfect amount of cushioning. The MT
is also very light at around 8 ounces. When
I went on my trail run, I was running up granite outcroppings and felt like I
was completely connected to the ground.
I never felt like I was going to slip and the material was extremely
durable. On multiple occasions I caught
my toe on the granite and was worried that I would tear through the shoes
outsole. They didn’t even have a scratch
on them. They are a snap to clean as
well.
The Topo MT
retails for around $100 on the Topo website.
Give them a try and you will not be disappointed.
I always appreciate thorough reviews as I buy many of my shoes online. Thank you. I was able to try on a pair of Magnifly's at the expo in Boston and I really liked them. I used caution/frequently posted advice - to not run an event in untried equipment, but came close. How close is the original MT, reviewed here, in fit and feel to the Magnifly? Considering them for an upcoming 50k instead of Altra Lone peak 1.5. Welcome your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe original MT is out of production now. The MT2 is a great shoe and is similar to the Magnifly in many regards. My favorite trail shoe right now is the Altra Lone Peak 2.5'season. I think the MT2'same would work well for you too though. It really comes down to what feels better on your feet.
ReplyDeleteIL TOPO = THE MOUSE, IN ITALIAN
ReplyDelete