In production · road · Tempo / Long run · $170
Tall but lively ZipFoam shoe for tempo days and long runs.
Built for tempo, long run, at a target pace of 7:00–9:30 /mi on road.
Topo Athletic tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 39 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A low 5 mm drop encourages a midfoot landing and keeps the ankle working through a fuller range. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 350 miles from the outsole, about $0.49 per mile at $170.
For the foams and plates Topo Athletic uses across its line, read the Topo Athletic brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
218 g / 7.7 oz
57 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
39 mm
3 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
5 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$170
10 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~350 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Topo Athletic line it is lighter than the brand's median (275 g / 9.7 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (32 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Mount to Coast R1(2024)
240 g / 8.5 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $180
Road-ultra specialist: adjustable single-pull lacing and a wide, stable platform.
Hoka Mach 7(2025)
241 g / 8.5 oz · 37 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $150
Light supercritical foam trainer that handles workouts and easy days.
Hoka Mach 6(2024)
235 g / 8.3 oz · 37 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $140
Snappy supercritical foam without a plate — the honest tempo shoe.
Adidas Adizero Evo SL EXO(2026)
215 g / 7.6 oz · 39 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Evo SL with an exoskeleton cage for extra hold at speed.