Topo’s path operating and mountaineering footwear are a wholesome steadiness of innovation, reliability, capability, and predictability. I think assured that with any tried-and-true fashion, and even with a brand new shoe thought, Topo won’t stray a long way from what works for outside movers who gravitate towards Topo’s project and engineering. Input the Topo Traverse ($150) — an exhilarating new efficiency hybrid that may adequately take on the technical and the tarmac.
I don’t sweat traversing the pavement with this contemporary paintings horse as it integrates Expanded Thermal Polyurethane (E-TPU) era into the extremely sturdy and waterproof insoles, and it additionally works nicely as a long-haul mountaineering and operating shoe.
The Topo Traverse debuted in October, 2023. I won my advance pair within the mail simply previous to sweeping the primary 28 miles of the Pine to Palm 100 Mile held in Southern Oregon. I laced them up early on race morning, and over an extended day of volunteering, I didn’t take into accounts my footwear or toes as soon as — handiest to acknowledge that once seven hours of laborious paintings they excelled around the board.
The Traverse is designed with a forefoot TPU rock plate, has a 5-millimeter drop, has claimed 30-millimeter heel and 25-millimeter stack heights, and is derived gaiter-ready. It has a real weight of 10.5 oz. (298 grams) for a U.S. males’s measurement 9, and nonetheless permits for ok technical operating when wanted, in addition to coverage and safety for longer outings.
In comparison to the Topo Pursuit and Topo Terraventure 4, the Traverse has a moderately narrower toebox, some degree of shock for some. You’ll learn our Topo Pursuit assessment and Topo Terraventure 4 assessment to check for your self.
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The Topo Traverse. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Topo Traverse Higher
The Topo Traverse higher is a tightly woven mesh extending from the toebox again to the beginning of a properly padded heel cup. The designers opted for micro-stitched underlays as an alternative of any exterior aesthetic and structural elements. This offers the Traverse an built-in glance.
A notable function of the Traverse higher is the bolstering of the welded rubber toe coverage, which extends significantly down the size of all sides of the shoe. To not fear, there are drain holes within the double layered rubber at the medial facet to permit for fast water liberate. The holes paintings.
The rubber fortification additionally replaces the standard stitched cloth for the eyelets of the Ghillie lacing device. In addition — any other skinny rubber layer guards the highest of the low profile and unshifting tongue. You would possibly not assume you want it, however the Traverse tongue boasts additional padding down the midline. When you have ever soccer-kicked a stone or a department on an extended a run, in all probability that little cushion will prevent some metatarsal ache.
The low profile heel cup is properly padded and equivalent in really feel to many different Topo path footwear. It locks within the foot in the course of the gait cycle with out fear of erosion or undo slippage.
Designers once more use skinny rubber, which extends from the highest of the laces and connects to a thickly stitched piece of material, pulling the heel in combination. The material features a liberal pull tab — an amenity I rarely use on any form of shoe. It appears to be like great at the Traverse, and if you wish to hold your footwear on hooks, you must. To make sure additional structural toughen and roll keep an eye on, a skinny piece of TPU anchors the heel higher to the midsole.
A lateral view of the Topo Traverse.
Topo Traverse Midsole
The Topo Traverse midsole is the unique dual-density injected Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) known as ZipFoam. The twin-density design supplies a comfortable layer of froth immediately beneath the foot, however is moderately stiffened with less attackable foam beneath it — driving above the outsole. The double layer supplies a reasonable cushion whilst the second one layer hopefully tackles the bottom — affording the runner toughen and balance on harder terrains.
What Topo uniquely does with the Traverse, as I commented about above, is they added the E-TPU beads into their insole, which could also be water-proof. The beaded insole provides softness and elasticity to the midsole, with out compromising weight or power go back. I’ve a sense shoe firms will likely be integrating this era into midsole designs extra incessantly over the following couple of years.
Importantly, the mixing of a TPU rock plate on the forefoot bolsters the protecting toughen for runners and hikers in the hunt for extra technical adventures. One of the crucial best possible issues concerning the rock plate is that the majority runners don’t even understand it is there, however it will increase the sturdiness of the shoe.
A medial view of the Topo Traverse.
Topo Traverse Outsole
The Topo Traverse has the usual and constant Vibram Megagrip outsole, like maximum fashions now within the Topo path operating shoe line up. Topo has totally embraced this full-length outsole development with a well-spaced and multi-directional lug structure. It permits for remarkable grip and versatility over technical terrain and throughout climate weighted down substrates.
I’ve been constantly operating in Topos for the final 5 years — particularly on this outsole design — and it has confirmed itself time and time once more to paintings around the spectrum of climate and path prerequisites. If you’re apprehensive about weight from the outsole whilst operating technical terrain, and whilst in maddening releases from the heavens, the safety and grip the place the rubber hits the paths issues far more.
Significantly, I love the truth that this is a design that understands how a foot lands, rolls via mid-stance, after which ft off. It’s merely unswerving. The corporate’s shoe designers found out one thing that works, so they’re sticking to it, as it sticks when you want it essentially the most.
The outsole of the Topo Traverse.
Topo Traverse General Impressions
If you’ll’t inform, I’m an enormous proponent and supporter of Topo trainers. I’m all the time looking for a unswerving, comfy, and most significantly a flexible hybrid path operating shoe. The Topo Traverse actually is a outstanding and unremarkable shoe to have in my rotation.
For explanation at the latter, it’s seldom that I slip on a shoe for the primary time and right away run just about 30 miles with out excited about my toes, ankles, or footwear for that subject. That I used to be ready to do that with the Traverse right away made them my dependable sidekicks.
The Traverse is meant for each lengthy gradual path operating and through mountaineering, they usually functionally carry out for the ones functions. With that being mentioned, the mix of the additional stack peak, forefoot rock plate, insole, Vibram Megagrip outsole, and protecting layers at the higher pushes the Traverse over technical trails with self assurance when important.
The Traverse would possibly lose a little bit floor really feel and velocity with this mixture, whilst additionally now not catering to the maximally cushioned workforce. Since I’m additionally an enormous fan and day-to-day wearer of Topo’s restoration footwear with OrthoLite 3-d Wave Sense restoration foam, the brand new embedded TPU beads underfoot within the Traverse upload a breath of clean air. Thank you — it’s time to Traverse.
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A best view of the Topo Traverse.
