The Topo model is probably not the primary you bring to mind whilst you consider a shoe for going lengthy within the mountains, however it will have to be on account of the trail it’s carving with the Topo Mtn Racer 3, the 3rd iteration of this nice 5mm drop shoe, which weighs in at 293 grams, or 10.3 oz, for a males’s U.S. dimension 9.
For those who in finding the quantity and form too restrictive in stalwart mountain trainers from Los angeles Sportiva, Dynafit, Scott, and Scarpa, the Topo Mtn Racer 3 is your antidote. It outperforms the more than a few FriXion rubber outsoles from Los angeles Sportiva, and makes use of a a lot more abrasion resistant higher in comparison to just about all path footwear — excluding Matryx-backed ones in new footwear from Arc’teryx, Nnormal, Salomon, or Dyneema, as used within the new Norda 002.
From Longs Top to the Top Lonesome loop to the Indian Peaks vintage “Pawnee-Buchanan,” and in the end, the Softrock (a four-day supported loop of the Hardrock 100 path), I’ve run loads of mountain miles within the Mtn Racer 3. Its convenience, sturdiness, and outsole traction have made it my new go-to for any run with challenging path stipulations (asymmetric surfaces, rock-hopping, talus-scraping, creek crossing, rainy, and dirt), and we named it probably the most best possible all-terrain dust footwear in our Absolute best Path Working Sneakers for Dust information.
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The Topo Mtn Racer 3. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Topo Mtn Racer 3 Higher
For a shoe to carry up within the mountains, it will have to be built with tremendous sturdy fabrics. Talus rock has shredded numerous uppers on my footwear throughout lengthy mountain runs so in the case of apparatus for that terrain, I generally tend to seek out one thing that works and use it time and again. Whilst the Topo Mtn Racer 3 doesn’t boast any additional particular or brand-name higher subject material, its tightly woven, sturdy mesh has withstood the affects of harsh terrain with out ripping, shredding, or blowing out. To start with, I discovered the higher to be virtually opaque and overly company, however through the years the fabric has at ease, whilst nonetheless conserving the safety.
The higher of the shoe supplies superb lockdown due to Topo’s “lace keep device,” which is composed of 2 loops on the base of the gusseted tongue. It is a good innovation that helps to keep the tongue in position and stops it from slipping off to the perimeters. The laces themselves are thick and chunky, like I’ve come to be expecting from Topo’s footwear — a bit too thick for my liking, and lead to an unkempt pile of material (particularly should you double knot your laces.)
The shoe doesn’t stand out in particular from a breathability point of view, however it does an ok activity. To be truthful, my checking out was once in particular orientated round elevations above 9,000 toes, the place the air temperature is merciful.
A lateral view of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.
Topo Mtn Racer 3 Midsole
The midsole of the Topo Mtn Racer 3 is the place lots of the adjustments had been comprised of earlier iterations of the shoe; the outsole is precisely the similar because the Topo Mtn Racer 2, so the midsole is the place runners will both revel in those updates or yearn for the previous design.
At the start, the corporate itself has stated that its consumers and athletes have requested for extra coverage underfoot. This influenced the verdict to extend the stack peak. It keeps the similar 5-millimeter drop, however has long gone from a claimed stack peak of 30mm/25mm within the Mtn Racer 2, to 33mm/28mm within the Mtn Racer 3. And not using a rockplate or carbon plate, this additional stack certainly supplies an ideal really feel underfoot and I sustained no “zingers” to my arches or heels the way in which different footwear may have, because of their extra serious floor really feel.
This coverage is delivered in the course of the chunky, comfortable, and springy ZipFoam, Topo’s proprietary compound. ZipFoam is certainly “springy,” however I in my opinion like different proprietary foams like Nike’s ZoomX or Hoka’s twin density sandwich foam, ProFly, higher.
The place ZipFoam does exceed those different manufacturers’ compounds, is over the period of a longer term with a large number of descending. The Softrock direction in the course of the San Juans had more than one days of ~30 miles with vertical acquire and loss round 9,000 toes, so the relief may in reality be judged via the fatigue in my legs and toes as the times wore on. For quicker efforts, I’d go for probably the most aforementioned manufacturers’ footwear, however for tremendous lengthy and rambling days, the Mtn Racer 3 has the appropriate traits.
As a shoe tester, regardless that, I’m regularly operating in carbon-plated footwear, which has helped me run thru a lingering large toe damage. The stiffness of a carbon-plated midsole is helping alleviate the ache when pushing off and it’s extremely noticeable how adversely affected my toe is in customary, springy foam on my own. That is simply one thing to notice should you too have discovered bother together with your feet or ankles, or different gentle foot bones, when operating in “comfortable” midsoles like the only used within the Mtn Racer 3.
A medial view of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.
Topo Mtn Racer 3 Outsole
The Topo Mtn Racer 3 makes use of the similar Vibram Megagrip outsole subject material that each one variations of the shoe have used since inception. This rubber simply sticks. We even put the Topo Mtn Racer 3 in our Absolute best Path Working Sneakers for Dust information for the outsole’s skill to be mud-repellent and simply as competitive within the rainy, even on slabby, technical rock the place it locks in for a confidence-inspiring enjoy.
Vibram is the herbal selection for Topo footwear making an allowance for that Topo’s founder, Tony Put up, was once the important thing individual at the back of bringing Vibram to the U.S. marketplace within the “5 Palms” days. And regardless that I feel Vibram, in any of its codecs (Litebase, Megagrip, and so on.), is the awesome subject material, it in reality issues how deep the lugs are. I’m checking out the brand new Nike ZoomX Ultrafly presently, which is particularly the usage of Vibram Megagrip for the primary time ever in its path footwear (in lieu of its personal subject material), and it’s like curler skating at the very dry and sandy surfaces on which I do about 75% of my operating. The Mtn Racer 3, alternatively, has a powerful chew on this sort of floor and doesn’t skitter in any respect; the lug intensity distinction between the Topo Mtn Racer 3’s and the ZoomX Ultrafly’s is ready double.
The outsole of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.
Topo Mtn Racer 3 General Impressions
Calling the Topo Mtn Racer 3 a “racer” doesn’t appear proper for me and my taste of operating. I’ve turn out to be slightly of a weight weenie and dedicated to very explicit midsole foams (and carbon plates) in footwear just like the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 2 and Merrell MTL Skyfire 2.
If I had been on the helm, I’d rename it the “Mtn Runner,” as a result of it’s masterful in actual alpine mountain terrain, however now not essentially a shoe wherein I might race the ones stipulations. I’ve used the phrase “chunky” on this evaluate a number of occasions and it’s apropos; from the burly fabrics to how it feels for your toes it’s only a tad clunky for me to in reality run rapid. However for rugged mountain runs, I might select the Topo Mtn Racer 3 forward of the ones others in a heartbeat. This shoe gets you thru difficult terrain with out materially breaking down as temporarily, or breaking your frame, and this is the reason it made the lower in our Absolute best Path Working Sneakers for Dust information.
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A most sensible view of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.