Topo Athletic - MTN Racer 1
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Last updated: Jan 13, 2026 Scoring
I can imagine that the MTN Racers would be a good ultra shoe, I do own them but I've never ran an ultra, full disclaimer. But they are a wide and stable shoe with plenty of cushion, but not so much that they lack any ground feeling. The vibram is super versatile too and they are surprisingly fine on less technical segments of trail or even the odd road link up.
r/trailrunning • Best ultra trail shoes ->Topo Athletic MTN Racer - 5mm drop, foot shaped with a huge toebox, vibram, mid-high stack, not the lightest but very durable and versatile. They also have 3 and 0mm drop shoes in the lineup. Otherwise would look at Inov8, Scarpa, Salomon. Scarpa Ribelle Run or similar could be good although I haven't tried them. Or Salomon Thundercross. If you get on with zero drop then Inov8, maybe Altra.
r/trailrunning • Shoes like Saucony Peregrine 14 RFG ->My friend, it was truly excruciating on the trail - I'm so glad someone else has experienced it! Both the MTN Racer and the Terraventure gave me grief. I managed to solve it on The West Highland Way with the toe caps. I've ordered the GOATs half a size up. Did you go wide or standard?
r/PacificCrestTrail • Does anyone have experience with both Topo Vs Hoka trail runners? ->The ones that fit you. The problem with shoe/pack recommendations is that everyone's fit needs are different. By all means, try the Altras and the Topos! But I suggest trying as many shoes on as you can, preferably from a retailer with a great return policy so you can wear them around your house. Of course it's pretty well impossible to mimic the conditions of actual hiking while keeping the shoes returnable, especially for several days or weeks in a row. I personally have a really hard foot to fit. I have narrow, low volume feet and I tend to get some degree of heel slippage in pretty much any type of "athletic" shoe ( I always lace with a heel-lock). So I usually have to try on several pairs and am the most annoying person at the store. I personally find European brands like La Sportiva, Salomon, or Scarpa to be the safest bet - but I rarely ever see those brands recommended compared to Altra or Topo.
r/Ultralight • What kinda shoes would you guys recommend? ->If you as me Altra is terrible. The quality over the years has went down the drain. Topo Athletic has now passed them as the most popular shoe for thru hikers.
r/WildernessBackpacking • Trail shoe for long, NOT ultralight trips ->Have you looked at the Topo lineup of shoes? Same wide toe box, same 0mm drop options. I have a bunch of them. Some zero drop, some 3 and 5mm drops. The only thing I don't like about Topos is that I hate ortho-lite insoles so I swap in super feet insoles instead. But that is probably an issue in most trail shoes since they try to go lightweight.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoe recommendations? ->Topo does the wide toe box. My Ultraventures have a 5mm drop, Terraventures have a 3mm drop and there is also the mtnracer model as well (haven't tried that one yet).
r/trailrunning • New shoe recommendation request… ->Topo Terraventures and Mtn Racers are also great trail shoes with a wide toe box. Low drop but not zero drop, so an easier transition from Brooks. And Topos last way longer than Altras in my experience. Was only getting 400 miles on Altras and I get close to 600 miles on Topos.
r/trailrunning • Extra wide trail running shoes ->Weird! I have flat feet and Topos don’t bother me at all. I’ve definitely experienced that high arch feeling in other shoes, but never Topos (and I have 6 different models of them!)
r/trailrunning • Wide toe box but NO zero drop recommendations ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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I’ve gotten 500+ miles on several Topo models, though I hear Norda 001 last even longer.
r/Ultralight • More durable/longevity trail runner and hiking shoe options? ->One more YES for Lone Peak. Are you used to shoes with a bigger toe box? If so, they'll be great and you should be fine on rocky terrain. I find the Topo more smurf-like than the Lone Peaks. Too marshmallow-ey for my taste. I think the switch to 0 drop is minimal. I wouldn't over think it, but you'll know.
r/hiking • Are Altra Lone Peak 9+ good for hiking in rocky terrain ->I’ve worn Altras and Topos. My wife has some Hokas. It really depends on what fits your feet.
r/AppalachianTrail • Shoes ->Topo athletic is worth looking into if you liked the wide toe box of Altras. They typically have minimal drop (0-5mm depending on the model), and so far durability has been good for me. The ones I've tried seem to have slightly more volume in the shoe, so on steeper grades it's been tougher for me to get my foot locked in well without over tightening, but that's the only negative I've got for them with my feet.
r/ultrarunning • View on Reddit →I second the Topos. I can run perfectly fine while barefoot but the second you give me padding, I need at least a small amount of drop or my Achilles acts up. I use Topos for road and trail running as well as backpacking on very rocky/rooty terrain, up to 20 miles a day. The Vibram soles are wonderfully grippy and outlast the rest of the shoe which has a solid lifespan. I use the Terraventure model for trails and backpacking. Trail runners are the standard now for most hiking as opposed to boots, and quite a lot of AT thru hikers, etc use Topos (or Altras if they can do zero drop).
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →You might have luck with Brooks Catamount or Cascadias! They both are fairly narrow and have a protective rock plate. I also love Topo Mtn Racers- they have a wider toe box but are narrower everywhere else, and they have vibram soles with great traction. As a general heads up, I have narrow feet too and swear by heel lock lacing- it’s been a game changer and prevents a lot of heel slipping!
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →I keep trying other shoes and keep coming running back to Topo. They make the perfect shoes for my feet.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Only my Altras have done this even the same spot. I’ve written off Altra until i don’t hear another story about this for a while. I can’t believe they’ve let this issue persist for years. They’ve got to know. My Topos have lasted forever. My TNF shoes and Salomons are well built as well, typically I retire a pair after the foam goes flat (loses its bounce) for me after 500 miles. Uppers should outlast the foam IMHO.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Another vote for Topo. I still like and use the Altra King Mts for more aggressive or wet conditions. The Topos are more comfortable and much more durable, but retain a lot of water in my experience.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →I've used both, Speedgoats for about 4000 miles, Topos (Ultraventure Pro and Mtn Racer) for over 1000. Each of them have their up and down sides. Speedgoats are a lot narrower at the front, so even a wide isn't as wide in the footbox as a Topo, and the heel is wider for the (wide) Speedgoats, so some have issues with slipping. I've given up on Topos though because of toe and arch issues. I guess my feet don't bend like the makers of Topo expect them to, so I end up in pain after 150 miles. Speedgoats roll easier and are softer where the balls of the feet are, which takes a lot of strain off my feet (though that is, unfortunately, not as pronounced anymore as is used to be with older models). Speedgoats are probably going to counteract the lifting of your toe, but you'll have to try if it really works for you, or if the footbox is still too low.
r/PacificCrestTrail • View on Reddit →Topo is what you want. Wide shoes with different drop options. Well built, will last several hundred miles, affordable.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →TOPO’s fall apart. We called them Tape-o’s in my tramily and they were hell for one of our guys. Hoka’s are good but you can’t really feel the trail/ground because they’re moon boots, but comfy.
r/PacificCrestTrail • View on Reddit →To echo the last comment, Topo has the widest toebox with drop that I’m aware of. Mount to Coast has pretty forgiving toe boxes. I have Achilles issues, and I find the Norda 001 great for me. Toebox is wider than average on that one. It’s kind of a “favorite flavor of ice cream” question. I’d start with Topo and Mount to Coast if I were you.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →One more YES for Lone Peak. Are you used to shoes with a bigger toe box? If so, they'll be great and you should be fine on rocky terrain. I find the Topo more smurf-like than the Lone Peaks. Too marshmallow-ey for my taste. I think the switch to 0 drop is minimal. I wouldn't over think it, but you'll know.
r/hiking • View on Reddit →I recently switched to Topos after similar issues with the newer lone peak models. They have some more bounce, which took some adjustment, but now I like them lot!
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →I wear the TOPO mountain racer - it is waterproof which I love and hate. Your feet will heat up quicker but stay dry. When I’m wearing my HOKA Speedgoats, I always wear wool socks - preferring Darn Tough these days.
r/hiking • View on Reddit →Topo has a lot of cushion (22 or 26mm if I recall) and for me at 285lbs, Topo feels too much like pillows, Topo are great when standing still but walking or running is a no for me. I purchased Altra LP9 and they are just about perfect for me.
r/barefootshoestalk • View on Reddit →I have very wide feet and bunions and Topo MTN Racers are my go-to shoe lately. Very nice wide toe box and just generally a great fit for me overall. Plus they are light, well built, and break in nicely. I also tried the Topo Ultraventure, which has more cushion, but did not like it nearly as much.
r/Ultramarathon • View on Reddit →Durability aside, try on both shoes. If you’re not thru-hiking then durability doesn’t matter much. Yeah, it’ll be annoying if they give out sooner than you expected, but the comfort can be worth the money. For me, Altras are the most comfortable by far. I wanted to switch to Topos due to the rave reviews and the vibram sole, but I had to immediately return them due to their pronounced arch support. My feet hated them and my altra trail runners and road shoes are the most comfortable shoes for my feet I’ve ever worn. I was late to the game so I’m sure I missed out on the glory days, but until another company comes out with a wide toe box and no arch support trail runner it’s altra all the way for me.
r/backpacking • View on Reddit →Just got some Topo Mtn Racers and can confirm they are wide and very grippy. Work as well as my UltraRaptors (wide) on steep slabs, but actually run-able with a bit less stability. My Speedgoat 5s were also really grippy and plenty wide for me in normal but sized up .5 (I always do this).
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →I’ll second Topos, extremely durable trail runners. I trail run in Pursuit 2s (zero drop).
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Aesics are great! For the trail I'm trying out the topo trail shoes. To me they are comfortable and have a wide toe space.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Topos are slightly less disappointing in terms of durability.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →South Sister is pretty mild technically, just recommend some gaiters to keep the scree out. Ive been a huge fan of the Salomon Genesis, Topo Mountain Racer, but what fits your foot is the individual question.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Not sure if they’re trail runners but I made the switch from Hoka Speedgoats and zero drop Altras to Topos with a 5mm drop. The Topos are still going strong on the soles.
r/backpacking • View on Reddit →Not a fan of the swallow tail heel design, but definitely excited to hear that it’s fairly similar to previous models. MTN Racers have kept my feet in incredible condition for every ultra I’ve done. I just wish they’d use TPU for the *midsole* (like Triumph 20s) since, in my experience, it compresses way more gracefully than any other material. Cause my only complaint about Topos is that I can feel my footprint already smashed into the shoe after a long race with little expansion afterward.
r/RunningShoeGeeks • View on Reddit →Coming from Altras to Topos I have noticed that the toe box on the Topos seem narrower and there is this slight arch support. I would call it true arch support, but it's less flat than the Altras were. This is my first pair of Topos and I'm only a week in so we'll see how they perform long term.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →+1 for Topo, I go between the ultra adventure and mtn racer depending on tread needs for the trail.
r/Ultramarathon • View on Reddit →Yeah, you sound like a perfect candidate for topo, Mtn racer specifically. They have good lockdown around the heel and forefoot and roomier in the toe box. Also someone else mentioned the Altra experience wild (low drop, not zero drop). I have the road version of that shoe and I’m pretty happy with it
r/ultrarunning • View on Reddit →Topo Terraventures and Mtn Racers are also great trail shoes with a wide toe box. Low drop but not zero drop, so an easier transition from Brooks. And Topos last way longer than Altras in my experience. Was only getting 400 miles on Altras and I get close to 600 miles on Topos.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Topo Athletic. I’ve heard the Pursuits aren’t as durable but the models I’ve tried hold up really well to abuse.
r/Ultralight • View on Reddit →Topo & Mount to coast… you won’t be disappointed
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →If you are looking at Topos, just know that the MTN racer has a narrower toebox than the ultraventure. Mtn racer didn't work for me but ultraventures do.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →Weird! I have flat feet and Topos don’t bother me at all. I’ve definitely experienced that high arch feeling in other shoes, but never Topos (and I have 6 different models of them!)
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →New Balance Hierro comes as wide as 4E for men and 2E for women. Topo is also legit wide. I wear a women's D width and their wide shoes are TOO wide for me. That never happens with my hobbit feet ??
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →I love them because they are grippy but they hold SO MUCH WATER. They are not waterproof, but they don’t drain very well. I wish they drained better. I also like the topo ultraventure for less technical terrain.
r/XXRunning • View on Reddit →My podiatriast recommended I try Topo shoes because I have bunions and other forefoot issuss. I bought the Mountain Racer. They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. My feet haven't felt so good in years.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →That is awesome! I am glad it helped with your hip pain. I really liked the LP7. I went through 8 or 9 pairs before I couldn’t find them anymore. ?? it’s what started my shoe spiral. I really struggled to transition to the LP9. I ended up in Topos. I like the ultraventure for less technical stuff and the MTN racer for more technical stuff. Turns out 4-5 mm of drop was what I needed. Switched about 5 months ago and it seemingly resolved all lingering issues.
r/XXRunning • View on Reddit →I’ve found the TOPO to be an amazing shoe. Also not under $100 but the HOKA Speedgoat has an amazing sole for Rocky terrain. I wish there were quality trail shoes under $100 - seems an impossible task these days.
r/hikinggear • View on Reddit →I went to Topo from Alta and I’m very happy.
r/trailrunning • View on Reddit →The ones that fit you. The problem with shoe/pack recommendations is that everyone's fit needs are different. By all means, try the Altras and the Topos! But I suggest trying as many shoes on as you can, preferably from a retailer with a great return policy so you can wear them around your house. Of course it's pretty well impossible to mimic the conditions of actual hiking while keeping the shoes returnable, especially for several days or weeks in a row. I personally have a really hard foot to fit. I have narrow, low volume feet and I tend to get some degree of heel slippage in pretty much any type of "athletic" shoe ( I always lace with a heel-lock). So I usually have to try on several pairs and am the most annoying person at the store. I personally find European brands like La Sportiva, Salomon, or Scarpa to be the safest bet - but I rarely ever see those brands recommended compared to Altra or Topo.
r/Ultralight • View on Reddit →