The Topo model won’t be the primary you consider if you think about a shoe for going lengthy within the mountains, but it surely needs to be due to the trail it’s carving with the Topo Mtn Racer 3, the third iteration of this nice 5mm drop shoe, which weighs in at 293 grams, or 10.3 ounces, for a males’s U.S. dimension 9.
In the event you discover the amount and form too restrictive in stalwart mountain trainers from La Sportiva, Dynafit, Scott, and Scarpa, the Topo Mtn Racer 3 is your antidote. It outperforms the varied FriXion rubber outsoles from La Sportiva, and makes use of a way more abrasion resistant higher in comparison with almost all path footwear — besides Matryx-backed ones in new footwear from Arc’teryx, Nnormal, Salomon, or Dyneema, as used within the new Norda 002.
From Longs Peak to the Excessive Lonesome loop to the Indian Peaks basic “Pawnee-Buchanan,” and eventually, the Softrock (a four-day supported loop of the Hardrock 100 course), I’ve run a whole bunch of mountain miles within the Mtn Racer 3. Its consolation, sturdiness, and outsole traction have made it my new go-to for any run with demanding path circumstances (uneven surfaces, rock-hopping, talus-scraping, creek crossing, moist, and dirt), and we named it probably the greatest all-terrain mud footwear in our Greatest Path Working Sneakers for Mud 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 should be constructed with tremendous sturdy supplies. Talus rock has shredded numerous uppers on my footwear throughout lengthy mountain runs so in terms of gear for that terrain, I have a tendency to seek out one thing that works and use it repeatedly. Whereas the Topo Mtn Racer 3 doesn’t boast any further particular or brand-name higher materials, its tightly woven, sturdy mesh has withstood the impacts of harsh terrain with out ripping, shredding, or blowing out. Initially, I discovered the higher to be nearly opaque and overly agency, however over time the fabric has relaxed, whereas nonetheless retaining the safety.
The higher of the shoe offers glorious lockdown because of Topo’s “lace keep system,” which consists of two loops on the base of the gusseted tongue. This can be a sensible innovation that retains the tongue in place and prevents it from slipping off to the edges. The laces themselves are thick and chunky, like I’ve come to anticipate from Topo’s footwear — just a little too thick for my liking, and end in an unkempt pile of cloth (particularly when you double knot your laces.)
The shoe doesn’t stand out significantly from a breathability standpoint, but it surely does an ample job. To be truthful, my testing was significantly oriented round elevations above 9,000 ft, 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 many of the modifications have been created from earlier iterations of the shoe; the outsole is precisely the identical because the Topo Mtn Racer 2, so the midsole is the place runners will both take pleasure in these updates or yearn for the previous design.
Firstly, the corporate itself has mentioned that its prospects and athletes have requested for extra safety underfoot. This influenced the choice to extend the stack top. It retains the identical 5-millimeter drop, however has gone from a claimed stack top of 30mm/25mm within the Mtn Racer 2, to 33mm/28mm within the Mtn Racer 3. With no rockplate or carbon plate, this further stack certainly offers a terrific really feel underfoot and I sustained no “zingers” to my arches or heels the best way different footwear may need, because of their extra extreme floor really feel.
This safety is delivered by way of the chunky, mushy, and springy ZipFoam, Topo’s proprietary compound. ZipFoam is certainly “springy,” however I personally like different proprietary foams like Nike’s ZoomX or Hoka’s twin density sandwich foam, ProFly, higher.
The place ZipFoam does exceed these different manufacturers’ compounds, is over the length of a future with plenty of descending. The Softrock route by way of the San Juans had a number of days of ~30 miles with vertical achieve and loss round 9,000 ft, so the consolation might actually be judged by the fatigue in my legs and ft as the times wore on. For quicker efforts, I’d go for one of many aforementioned manufacturers’ footwear, however for tremendous lengthy and rambling days, the Mtn Racer 3 has the fitting traits.
As a shoe tester, although, I’m typically working in carbon-plated footwear, which has helped me run by way of a lingering massive toe damage. The stiffness of a carbon-plated midsole helps alleviate the ache when pushing off and it’s extremely noticeable how adversely affected my toe is in regular, springy foam alone. That is simply one thing to notice when you too have discovered bother together with your toes or ankles, or different tender foot bones, when working in “mushy” midsoles just like the one 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 identical Vibram Megagrip outsole materials 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 Greatest Path Working Sneakers for Mud information for the outsole’s skill to be mud-repellent and simply as aggressive within the moist, even on slabby, technical rock the place it locks in for a confidence-inspiring expertise.
Vibram is the pure alternative for Topo footwear contemplating that Topo’s founder, Tony Put up, was the important thing particular person behind bringing Vibram to the U.S. market within the “5 Fingers” days. And although I believe Vibram, in any of its codecs (Litebase, Megagrip, and so on.), is the superior materials, it actually issues how deep the lugs are. I’m testing the brand new Nike ZoomX Ultrafly proper now, which is notably utilizing Vibram Megagrip for the primary time ever in its path footwear (in lieu of its personal materials), and it’s like curler skating on the very dry and sandy surfaces on which I do about 75% of my working. The Mtn Racer 3, alternatively, has a robust chunk on this sort of floor and doesn’t skitter in any respect; the lug depth distinction between the Topo Mtn Racer 3’s and the ZoomX Ultrafly’s is about double.
The outsole of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.
Topo Mtn Racer 3 Total Impressions
Calling the Topo Mtn Racer 3 a “racer” doesn’t appear proper for me and my fashion of working. I’ve turn out to be a little bit of a weight weenie and dedicated to very particular 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 not essentially a shoe through which I’d race these circumstances. I’ve used the phrase “chunky” on this evaluate a number of occasions and it’s apropos; from the burly supplies to the best way it feels in your ft it’s only a tad clunky for me to actually run quick. However for rugged mountain runs, I’d decide the Topo Mtn Racer 3 forward of these others in a heartbeat. This shoe will get you thru powerful terrain with out materially breaking down as shortly, or breaking your physique, and that’s the reason it made the reduce in our Greatest Path Working Sneakers for Mud information.
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- Have you ever run within the Topo Mtn Racer 3? What had been your ideas?
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A high view of the Topo Mtn Racer 3.
