Topo’s path operating and mountaineering sneakers are a wholesome steadiness of innovation, reliability, capability, and predictability. I think assured that with any tried-and-true type, and even with a brand new shoe idea, Topo is not going to stray some distance from what works for outside movers who gravitate towards Topo’s venture and engineering. Input the Topo Traverse ($150) — a thrilling new efficiency hybrid that may adequately take on the technical and the tarmac.
I don’t sweat traversing the pavement with this recent paintings horse as it integrates Expanded Thermal Polyurethane (E-TPU) era into the extremely sturdy and waterproof insoles, and it additionally works effectively as a long-haul mountaineering and operating shoe.
The Topo Traverse debuted in October, 2023. I gained 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 consider my sneakers or toes as soon as — best to acknowledge that when 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 dimension 9, and nonetheless lets in for good enough 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 reasonably narrower toebox, some degree of outrage for some. You’ll learn our Topo Pursuit assessment and Topo Terraventure 4 assessment to match 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 a substitute of any exterior aesthetic and structural parts. This offers the Traverse an built-in glance.
A notable characteristic of the Traverse higher is the bolstering of the welded rubber toe coverage, which extends significantly down the size of either side of the shoe. To not fear, there are drain holes within the double layered rubber at the medial facet to permit for speedy water unlock. The holes paintings.
The rubber fortification additionally replaces the standard stitched cloth for the eyelets of the Ghillie lacing gadget. Besides — every other skinny rubber layer guards the highest of the low profile and unshifting tongue. You would possibly not suppose you want it, however the Traverse tongue boasts additional padding down the midline. When you’ve got ever soccer-kicked a stone or a department on an extended a run, most likely that little cushion will prevent some metatarsal ache.
The low profile heel cup is properly padded and identical in really feel to many different Topo path sneakers. It locks within the foot throughout 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 infrequently use on any form of shoe. It appears to be like great at the Traverse, and if you wish to dangle your sneakers on hooks, you’ll want to. To make sure additional structural strengthen 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 cushy layer of froth at once beneath the foot, however is reasonably stiffened with more impregnable foam beneath it — driving above the outsole. The double layer supplies a reasonable cushion whilst the second one layer optimistically tackles the bottom — affording the runner strengthen and balance on more difficult terrains.
What Topo uniquely does with the Traverse, as I commented about above, is they added the E-TPU beads into their insole, which may 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 corporations might be integrating this era into midsole designs extra incessantly over the following couple of years.
Importantly, the combination of a TPU rock plate on the forefoot bolsters the protecting strengthen for runners and hikers looking for extra technical adventures. Some of the easiest issues in regards to 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 loyal Vibram Megagrip outsole, like maximum fashions now within the Topo path operating shoe line up. Topo has absolutely embraced this full-length outsole development with a well-spaced and multi-directional lug format. It lets in for remarkable grip and versatility over technical terrain and throughout climate weighted down substrates.
I’ve been persistently 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 stipulations. In case you are fearful 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.
Particularly, I really like the truth that this is a design that understands how a foot lands, rolls via mid-stance, after which feet off. It’s merely loyal. The corporate’s shoe designers found out one thing that works, so they’re sticking to it, as it sticks when you want it probably the most.
The outsole of the Topo Traverse.
Topo Traverse General Impressions
If you’ll be able to’t inform, I’m an enormous proponent and supporter of Topo trainers. I’m at all times looking for a loyal, at ease, 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 rationalization at the latter, it’s seldom that I slip on a shoe for the primary time and in an instant run just about 30 miles with out serious about my toes, ankles, or sneakers for that subject. That I used to be ready to do that with the Traverse in an instant made them my dependable sidekicks.
The Traverse is meant for each lengthy sluggish path operating and through mountaineering, and so they functionally carry out for the ones functions. With that being stated, 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 vital.
The Traverse might lose just a little floor really feel and pace with this mix, whilst additionally no longer catering to the maximally cushioned team. Since I’m additionally an enormous fan and day-to-day wearer of Topo’s restoration sneakers 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.