In production · trail · Trail / Long run · $185
Waterproof mid-cut hike-run hybrid for rugged, wet terrain.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 9:30–13:00 /mi on trail.
Topo Athletic tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is modest, so the ride feels protective and damp rather than springy. 30 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A low 5 mm drop encourages a midfoot landing and keeps the ankle working through a fuller range. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot is stiff, so it rolls rather than bends — a lever, not a slipper. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is unusually roomy — foot-shaped rather than tapered, which suits splayed or bunion-prone feet. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.41 per mile at $185.
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
340 g / 12.0 oz
65 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
30 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
5 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$185
25 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Topo Athletic line it is heavier than the brand's median (275 g / 9.7 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (32 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Altra Lone Peak Hiker
362 g / 12.8 oz · 26 mm · 3 mm drop · Rock · $170
Hiking-boot version of the Lone Peak: light, flat and wide.
Altra Lone Peak Alpine
340 g / 12.0 oz · 25 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $200
Rugged mid hiker for alpine terrain and shoulder seasons.
Altra Wahweap
350 g / 12.3 oz · 25 mm · 0 mm drop · Rock · $160
Rugged approach-style outdoor shoe with sticky rubber.
Hoka Mafate Three2
329 g / 11.6 oz · 35 mm · 4 mm drop · Rock · $200
Hoka Mafate Three2: 35 mm heel stack, 4 mm drop, 332 g — specs from independent lab testing.