Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 Trail Runners Review
Durable, Zero-Drop, low-stack trail shoe with wide toe box
December 6th, 2024
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Our verdict
The Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 is a zero-drop trail shoe intended for hiking and trail running. With 28 mm of stack height, a wide toe box, and a Vibram Megagrip outsole, they’re comparable to Altra Lone Peaks, but offer more durability, lateral stability, and quicker drainage for wet runs.
I hiked in the Pursuits on my 600-mile Mogollon Rim Trail thru-hike. I traversed rugged, rocky, tough terrain. The trail was overgrown, not maintained, and occasionally involved steep scree. Through it all, the Pursuits performed really well. In fact, I wore one pair the entire 600 miles, and the outsoles and uppers still look surprisingly good.
Due to its quick-draining, quick-drying capabilities, its medium ZipFoam cushion, and neutral stability, we think the Topo Pursuit is an excellent trail runner for both thru hiking and trail running.
Men's
Women's
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Specs
Cushion: Medium, balanced
Stability: Neutral
Outsole: Vibram Megagrip
Midsole: Proprietary ZipFoam
Upper: Recycled mesh
Weight: 10.5 oz (men's 9), 8.6 oz (women's 7)
Stack height: 28 mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
Rock plate: No
Gaiter compatible: Yes
Comparison Table
| TRAIL RUNNING SHOE | WEIGHT MEN'S | WEIGHT WOMEN'S | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topo Pursuit 2 Men's Women's |
10.5 oz | 8.6 oz | Moderate | 0 mm | 28 mm |
| Altra Timp 5 Men's Women's |
9.8 oz | 8.2 oz | Moderate | 0 mm | 29 mm |
| Altra Lone Peak 8 Men's Women's |
10.7 oz | 9.2 oz | Moderate | 0 mm | 25 mm |
| Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 Men's Women's |
10.1 oz | 8.6 oz | Moderate | 3 mm | 22 - 25 mm |
| La Sportiva Bushido III Men's Women's |
10.5 oz | 8.8 oz | Moderate | 6 mm | 13 - 19 mm |
Best for
Technical terrain
Trail running and day hikes
Folks who prefer zero-drop and minimalist shoes
What we liked
Wide toe box
Minimal stack height for a natural, close-to-the-ground feel
Excellent lateral stability and overall performance on the trail
Quick drainage in wet conditions; dries quickly
Durable – Vibram tread lasts a long time
What could be better
Got a small blister on my toe, which is unusual
Limited color options (both men's and women's)
Performance in the field
We put the Topo Pursuit through the ringer on a 500-mile thru-hike of the Mogollon Rim Trail.The new version, the Topo Pursuit 2, performs just as well. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz.
Fit
The Topo Athletic Pursuit trail shoes fit true to size. They’re most comparable, in my experience, to the Altra Lone Peaks in that they have a wide toe box, zero-drop, minimal stack height, and provide a close-to-the-ground feeling I like. Unlike the Lone Peaks, though, they offer more lateral stability and cushion.
Midsole and cushioning
A profile view of the shoe we had while testing. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz.
The midsole of the Pursuits is constructed with Topo Athletic’s proprietary ZipFoam cushioning. Pursuits are labeled a “medium” performance shoe with “balanced” performance – i.e., they aren’t as responsive as shoes intended for quick turnover and faster movement, and aren’t as plush as shoes intended more for recovery or slower movement. They’re a nice balance between the two, and I found the level of cushioning comfortable for a long-distance hike.
The Pursuits also contain an OrthoLite Performance Insole, adding to the cushion and comfort of the midsole. This insole was comfortable, so I opted to keep it in rather than replace it with my own.
It took a long time during my testing to notice any compression in the midsole. Even after my 600-mile thru-hike, the cushion still felt good.
Comfort
The ZipFoam midsole and medium cushioning were ideal for my long-distance thru-hike. I had no tendon pain in the ankles like I often do with similar-fitting shoes, such as the Altra Lone Peaks.
While I enjoyed the comfort overall, I did develop one small blister on my big toe. I wore my usual Darn Tough socks and do not usually get blisters there, so that was unusual. Despite that blister, though, I was impressed by the overall comfort of this shoe.
Stability and support
One of the qualities of the Topo Pursuits that stood out to me was the amount of stability and support this shoe offered while still feeling like a natural, close-to-the-ground shoe. The upper is constructed of a tightly woven mesh that is breathable, durable, and reinforced in high-abrasion areas to increase lateral stability and overall durability.
This is a neutral shoe rather than a stability or motion-control shoe.
Outsole, grip, and traction
We had some unexpected snow on the Mogollon Rim Trail, and the Pursuit's traction was surprisingly good. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz
The outsole of the Pursuits features Vibram® Megagrip, which offered excellent grip and traction on my rugged, rocky thru-hike of the Mogollon Rim Trail. In fact, these shoes exceeded my expectations in terms of traction — there were many times in steep scree and on questionable surfaces during which I risked putting too much faith in these shoes, and they always pulled through for me.
In addition to the grippiness of the Vibram outsole, the lugs are spaced to release mud, snow, or other similar substances that could get stuck to the bottom of the shoe.
Versatility
While I backpacked in these shoes, they’d also make excellent trail runners. They perform well on technical trails and in wet conditions, so you can run, hike, or backpack in a range of conditions, environments, and distances.
Break-in time
I was able to wear these shoes right out of the box without any discomfort or issues. In fact, I wore them for the first time on a 600-mile thru-hike, and they felt great.
However, if you are unaccustomed to zero-drop shoes or a low stack height, ease into these shoes before busting out a lot of miles in one go. I’d recommend a few short hikes or runs to allow your body to adjust to the new fit.
Upper and breathability
The mesh of the upper is tightly woven enough to ensure durability while remaining breathable and able to drain water efficiently. My feet never overheated. After stream crossings, which I encountered frequently, the shoes drained fast and easily and dried quickly.
The overlays on the upper are strategically placed for high-abrasion areas. This contributes to its longevity — while the uppers of similar trail shoes might wear down on the outsides of the toe boxes or other common places, the uppers of the Pursuits remained intact — even after 600 miles of rugged hiking.
Durability and longevity
In addition to the overlays mentioned in the section above, the midsole and outsole both displayed impressive durability. By the end of my 600-mile thru-hike, the cushion wasn’t too compressed and still felt pretty comfortable and effective. The outsoles gripped as adequately at the end of my thru-hike as they did at the beginning.
I only noticed some areas with obvious wear, which is to be expected.
Price and value
Considering how expensive trail running and hiking shoes can be, $140 is an excellent price for such durable shoes. This is the same price as the Altra Lone Peak 8, which is similar to the Topo Athletic Pursuits but less comfortable, durable, and stable. You can put more miles on tough terrain in the Pursuits than in the Lone Peaks while still benefiting from the same zero-drop and low stack. For a longer-lasting, more comfortable shoe, this is a great deal.
Features
The stack height is fairly low, with medium cushioning. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz.
Roomy toe box
Like most long-distance hikers, I value a shoe with a wide toe box. The Topo Athletic Pursuits offer plenty of room for my feet to splay. It’s roomy without looking “clown-like.”
Weight
With the women’s shoe weight 8.6 oz and the men’s shoe weighing 10.5 oz, these are average for trail runners and lightweight hiking shoes. I didn’t notice anything significant about the weight — I had a heavy pack and at least didn’t feel like my feet were dragging because of heavy shoes.
Heel-to-toe drop
This is a zero-drop shoe, meaning the stack height at the heel is the same as the toe, rather than being elevated. Folks who like to walk or run with a more natural gait will appreciate a zero-drop shoe. If you’ve worn an Altra brand shoe, it’s like that.
Stack height
The stack height of the Topo Pursuit is 28 mm, which is 3 mm more than the Altra Lone Peaks. This is a low stack height for a trail runner or hiking shoe, which allows you to feel close to the ground with each step. I prefer this, but recognize some folks may not. If you’re looking to avoid feeling the terrain, you may prefer shoes with more stack height than this. Check out our Best Hiking Shoes and Best Men’s and Women’s Trail Running Shoe guides for other options.
Gaiter compatible
The Topo Athletic Pursuits are gaiter compatible. However, I started my hike with gaiters and didn’t feel like they were doing much. I removed them for the remainder of my thru-hike and didn’t miss them. I had no issues with dust and debris.
Vibram Megagrip outsole
As mentioned in the Outsole, Grip, and Traction section above, the Vibram Megagrip outsole offers excellent grip and traction. Even on steep scree, I had no issues trusting these shoes.
ZipFoam midsole
The midsole is constructed of Topo Athletic’s proprietary ZipFoam cushion. This is comfortable and strikes a great balance between responsive and plush for a long-distance hike.
Upper
The upper is made from a tightly woven, recycled mesh. It drains and dries quickly, and is durable.
FKT insole
The FKT insole is Topo Athletic’s proprietary, closed-cell foam insole made of beaded foam. It is water resistant and molds to your foot’s unique shape.
Double tongue stays
The Pursuit has double tongue stays, which helps to keep the tongue moving from side to side and keeps it centered over the foot.
Style and design
Despite the two-tone design and wide toe box, these shoes do not look like clown shoes, for which I’m grateful. These shoes are not flashy, and depending on your tastes this could be a positive or a negative. In my opinion, they were just right for my preferences on the trail.
Long-term testing notes
Testing the Topo Pursuit shoes on a thru-hike of the Mogollon Rim Trail.
After 600 miles of rugged terrain:
The tread is still surprisingly good
The uppers have few punctures or tears
The midsole cushioning still has a little bounce to it
How we tested
The Mogollon Rim Trail had frequent stream and river crossings, which is hard on trail running shoes. The Pursuits drain and dry quickly. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz
I tested the Topo Athletic Pursuit on the Mogollon Rim Trail. These shoes traversed over 600 miles with me through dirt, rocks, and scree on dry dusty days and through wet creeks and snow. I also compared these shoes to similar models, such as the Altra Lone Peaks, for a more in-depth review of the specs, features, and fit of this shoe.
What's new with the Pursuit 2
The Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 is the updated version of the shoe we tested. In this update, Topo updated the ZipFoam midsole formula to encourage a softer, more responsive, and lighter ride. Since I already found the ride and fit of the Pursuit to be appropriately cushioned, responsive, and lightweight, I found the update minimal and even more comfortable.
New features on the Topo Pursuit 2 vs. Pursuit 1:
ZipFoam midsole improves responsiveness
Lighter weight
Tightly woven mesh upper to keep out dirt and debris
FKT insole
Other trail running shoes to consider
Altra Timp 5
Cushion: High
Stability: Neutral
Outsole: Vibram Megagrip
Midsole: Altra EGO™ MAX
Upper: Quick-dry mesh
Weight: 9.8 oz (men's), 8.6 oz (women's)
Stack height: 29 mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
The Altra Timp 5 is a moderately cushioned, zero-drop shoe with 29 mm of stack height. It weighs about 8.6 oz for the women’s shoe and about 9.8 oz for the men’s shoe, making it about the same or a little lighter than the Topo Pursuit. It boasts a new, super grippy Vibram outsole as well. Learn more in our in-depth review of the Altra Timp 5 here.
Men's
Women's
Altra Lone Peak 8
Cushion: Medium
Stability: Neutral
Outsole: MaxTrac
Midsole: Altra EGO™
Upper: Ripstop mesh
Weight: 10.7 oz (men's), 9.2 oz (women's)
Stack height: 25 mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 0 mm
The Altra Lone Peaks are a staple in both the trail running and thru-hiking communities. Fans of the Lone Peaks enjoy the zero drop, natural feel, and wide toe box. I’ve compared the Topo Pursuits most to the Lone Peaks throughout this review because they are the most similar. However, a few notable differences include a less effective midsole cushioning and less durability with the Lone Peaks.
While I appreciated the Topo Pursuits more as a lightweight hiking shoe, the Altra Lone Peaks have consistently been our Best Zero-drop Trail Running Shoe winner. Learn more in our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes and Best Women’s Trail Running Shoes guides. You can read more in our in-depth review of the Lone peak 8.
Men's
Women's
About the author / Why you should trust us
Naomi Hudetz is director of analytics and digital innovation and leads business strategy and revenue operations for Treeline Review. She brings decades of private sector experience in project management, budget and pricing projection, and long-term business vision, strategy, and goals.
Naomi left her corporate career to pursue her passion for the outdoors. She received the Triple Crown award for hiking for completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trail and has hiked numerous other distance routes including the Great Divide Trail across the Canadian Rockies (twice), Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, the Arizona Trail, (most of) the Idaho Centennial Trail, the first known thru-hike of the Blue Mountains Trail, and the Oregon Desert Trail.
She previously served as Treasurer of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West and is based in White Salmon, Washington.
