If you have
been following my blog for a while, you know that I really like Topo Athletic shoes. They offer shoes with a low heel drop and
wide toe box. This allows your toes to
spread out instead of feeling claustrophobic like in most shoes. The durability of the materials that they use
is excellent as well. The MT
is one of the first pair of shoes that I reviewed on my blog. It is still one of my favorite trail shoes
because it is so light, comfortable, and really flexes with your foot. The Hydroventure
is an amazing trail shoe with a waterproof eVent material that keeps the water
out but is still breathable. Topo Athletic also has some amazing road
shoes. My favorites are the Runduro, Fli-Lyte
(road shoe), and the UltraFly.
If you are
not familiar with Topo Athletic shoes,
they fit snug in the heel and midfoot, while it they are loose in the
toebox. The wide toe box allows your
toes to spread out, which has several benefits.
This will not only help you be more stable, but will also reduce foot
injuries commonly caused by shoes that compress your toes.
I have
tested 12 shoes from Topo Athletic and
have been impressed with every one. Here
are some of my past reviews.
Topo Athletic took one of my favorite speed
shoes in the Fli-Lyte
and made some improvements to bring you the all new Fli-Lyte 2,
which was released in May.
The Fli-Lyte 2
weighs in at an incredibly light 8.2 ounces for a men’s size 9. It has a 4mm rubber outsole and a total stack
height of 23mm (rear) and 20mm (front) meaning that it has a 3mm heel
drop. Lower heel drops promote a more
natural gait with less heel striking and puts your body in a better
alignment.
The Fli-Lyte 2
provides an ultra-responsive ride that is not only good for speed or track
workouts, but is a great everyday trainer.
They would even be good on race day for shorter distances up to maybe a
half-marathon (some people might be able to use this longer, but I like a more
cushioned shoe like the UltraFly for marathons).
What is
different between the Fli-Lyte
and Fli-Lyte 2? Topo
Athletic updated the mesh upper with more durability and structure and did
so without adding any additional weight.
The midsole is a little stiffer and more flexible than the first version
and I really like the new feel. The
original Fli-Lyte
fit true to size as does the Fli-Lyte 2, but
some people said to get a ½ size down. I
didn’t feel the need to do that and the fit was great in my normal size. Other changes include a little less rubber in
the outsole and the tongue had more meat too it (thicker).
The Fli-Lyte 2
comes in three men’s colors and three different women’s colors. The shoes really feel great from the moment
you take them out of the box and give you enough cushion to really push, while
still remaining extremely light. I was
able to click off some fast laps on the track followed by a very fast tempo run
a few days later. These are simply a really
light pair of shoes that feel great. I
can’t get enough of shoes with the wider toe boxes. Most of my foot pain (due to foot compression
of narrow shoes) has disappeared since switching over to wider toe boxes. You really can’t beat the value either as
they only cost $100 on the Topo Athletic
website. I have even seen them for
around $75 online if you want to shop around.
Pros:
Lightweight
(8.2 ounces)
Wide toe box
allows toes to spread out
Low (3 mm)
heel drop allows for better form and posture
Great price
($100 at the Topo Athletic website or cheaper elsewhere)
Extremely
flexible for a natural feel
Topo Athletic’s Social Media Links:
As I have
been saying with almost every review, Topo
Athletic continually ups its game with each release of a new shoe. The Fli-Lyte 2 took
one of my favorite speed shoes and made it even better. It feels so light that you can just run and
not worry about what’s on your feet. You
can get a pair at the Topo
Athletic website, or check the Topo Athletic Store Locator for
a store near you. Give them a try today
and let me know what you think.
Note:
I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my
personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular
opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so
please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.
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