The Topo Pursuit 2. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
With the Topo Pursuit 2 ($145), the logo has made some seize upgrades at the authentic Topo Pursuit, which was once already a firstclass zero-drop shoe. The enhancements have ended in an much more dependable and sturdy shoe able to accomplish throughout various terrain and ultramarathon distances. If a Topo operating shoe is invariably something, it’s unswerving, and this can be a shoe with out ostentation that presentations up and plays constantly.
Topo makes depended on out-of-the-box footwear for which distance and maximum path stipulations are an entire non-issue. I wouldn’t hesitate to run a 50k in a contemporary pair of those footwear, which I almost did after they arrived. It is helping that I’ve huge revel in and numerous miles in footwear from the logo — highway and path — however I imagine this can be a testomony to the logo and the perennial efficiency high quality in their footwear.
The zero-drop shoe comes with a newly designed mesh higher, a fab game-changer insole, and a lighter and extra responsive midsole. The Vibram Megagrip outsole, which is located on many different shoe fashions from the logo, is a staying power on this iteration, and the 5-millimeter lugs are succesful on many sorts of terrain.
This shoe turns out boldly easy in design, however it’s an integration of very good engineering and biomechanical working out. Very similar to different path footwear from the logo — the Topo Terraventure 4 and Topo Traverse — the Pursuit 2 is a formidable efficiency package deal. It boasts dialed-in heel convenience and lockdown with considerable forefoot room and is characterised as having balanced cushion, impartial improve, and average pliability.
Specs are all true to dimension and have compatibility, and its precise weight is 10.5 oz (298 grams) for a U.S. males’s 9. In spite of the consistency in weight from the unique shoe, for my part, the more moderen model runs lighter, that could be attributed to the midsole really feel. An indicator of the shoe is its zero-drop and 28-millimeter stack top with a company cushioned platform — don’t let that reputedly oxymoron confuse you. I overtly welcome Topo’s zero-drop foot-shaped design with pleasure and unfold ft.
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Topo Pursuit 2 Higher
A lateral view of the Topo Pursuit 2.
The colorway and aesthetics of the Topo Pursuit 2 are easy, one thing I’ve all the time liked from the logo. They do get ingenious with their colours, particularly with their highway footwear, however I imagine they have got a willing colorist on board at design headquarters. It sort of feels with the brand new engineered dual-woven mesh, which is a good mesh over a extra open mesh, Topo has gotten extra ingenious with the higher design. They’ve added texture and subtleties within the recycled mesh subject material whilst nonetheless developing an higher that specializes in serve as. It’s breathable, drains neatly, and helps to keep particles at bay, and it does a lot of these issues neatly. I want to galvanize upon the reader that the dual-mesh higher didn’t induce scorching ft or undue sweating.
Any other replace is within the protection and thickness of the toe bumper. There’s much less rubber at the toebox above the ft, however thicker coverage on the entrance of the shoe.
The brand new higher is quite extra cushioned at the outside and inside than the unique. There’s extra vertical subject material for fortifying coverage on each the medial and lateral sides. Very similar to the unique, the angled heel design supplies a comfy lockdown. I notice I will be able to once in a while be a damaged file with my Topo evaluations, however that is every other shoe to simply slip out and in of with out shedding the preliminary tie-down snugness of the entire higher. The padded heel collar swoops up and ahead to a now-higher-profile and comfortable tongue this is properly three-quarters gusseted. I didn’t revel in any transferring or undesirable motion from both the tongue or higher.
Signature to maximum path footwear from the logo is the original gaiter attachment design for the proprietary Topo Efficiency Gaiter. Even supposing I’ve now not used this selection or their gaiters, the 2 attachment issues at the rear of the shoe, which upload integrity to the heel, and one on the base of the tongue are unobtrusive and supply a quick-release gadget.
Topo Pursuit 2 Midsole
A medial view of the Topo Pursuit 2.
The upgraded midsole of the Topo Pursuit 2 combines sides from its sibling fashions to improve the entire experience and longevity. The more moderen light-weight and responsive ZipFoam midsole is built-in with their water-proof FKT uniqueness insole. The mixed midsole and insole sit down above a quite rockered platform that amplifies the froth’s power go back and elasticity.
The insole provides to the power go back, whilst the rocker helps to keep you rocking ahead. You will need to upload that the insole provides a singular underfoot revel in. For one, it helps to keep the foot quite dry. As well as, Topo makes restoration footwear with the ones beaded insoles and whilst you land on them whilst operating, it supplies a pleasant refreshing really feel of restoration. On the other hand, the TPU beads are made to improve elasticity in addition to assist with propulsion.
The extent of cushion is maintained from the unique fashion, however the brand new aggregate offers the shoe some respectable firmness for higher coverage. The brand new midsole begets longer and extra comfy miles over technical trails with out the wear and tear and tear at the decrease frame that different zero-drop footwear would possibly reason after lengthy miles within the mountains.
Topo Pursuit 2 Outsole
The outsole of the Topo Pursuit 2.
The Topo Pursuit 2 has a full-contact outsole, which is not anything new from the logo. Despite the fact that my certain evaluations of the top-notch Vibram Megagrip is also on repeat, it holds consistent around the emblem’s shoe choices. I’ve been dressed in the Topo Ultraventure, Terraventure, and Traverse fashions for a number of ultrarunning seasons and the grip stays attempted and true. It lets in for outstanding traction and versatility over technical terrain, wooded area roads, and maximum singletrack scenarios.
The calmly competitive and multi-directional 5-millimeter lug design and spacing permit for willing friction, herbal foot serve as, and respectable losing of substrate. The outsole is built with out an overbearing sense of heaviness or over the top stick — making it amenable to paved sections. It sort of feels to accomplish neatly at the slick granitic soils in southern Oregon the place, all through the dryer months, the paths can tackle a component of a slip-and-slide when descending, particularly in case you don’t heed and appreciate the switchbacks. I used to be ready to press the outsole all through the rainy spring months and now all through the early summer time for over 100 miles. The outsole remains to be intact.
On the other hand, with such a lot of different area of interest path trainers available on the market, and with development in outsole generation, there are different trainers that I’d select up first for dust, snow, and very rugged stipulations. For the reason that caveat, this outsole has very good traction and with a bit of luck presentations up with floor really feel. It is still a best choice for fairly paced medium to lengthy path runs on average to technical terrain.
Topo Pursuit 2 Total Impressions
A peak view of the Topo Pursuit 2.
The entire portions of the Topo Pursuit 2 come in combination for an built-in and sturdy ultra-racer or ultra-trainer. This shoe demanding situations different zero-drop fashions within the path international with its sturdiness, convenience, and longer-distance attraction. Even supposing I imagine myself quite seasoned for zero-drop operating, I skilled no decrease limb fatigue or soreness whilst operating in those footwear. In comparison to the unique Pursuit, the midsole is somewhat stiffer however rides lighter and turns out to carry up longer. It’s much less flat because the mileage begins to tick upward.
The unique Pursuit does have a softer, pliable attraction and, curiously, a quite wider toebox, whilst the Topo Pursuit 2 has turns out to have extra vertical quantity and subject material protection with added cushioned heel improve internally and externally. It rides quite larger for extra coverage. The higher’s engineered mesh is not just aesthetically stepped forward, nevertheless it additionally maintains considerable breathability and drainage. On the identical time, the water-proof insole remains dry and subtly massages the foot whilst operating. This shoe is proving to be every other enduring and steadfast path operating fashion from the logo. In double-entendre type, it can be essentially the most long-lasting zero-drop path operating shoe that I’ve ever worn — each in day by day mileage and general mileage.
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- Do you’ve got revel in operating within the Topo Pursuit 2? What do you suppose?
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