Haven't tried them yet but I'm keen to try out the Tarkine range, which falls into a similar vein as Topos, Altras, etc. They are a newish Aussie brand with an eco edge :)
I watched the video interview you did on footwear a little while back and it got me to check out Topos! I was really excited to find that they offer a couple styles that are light stability shoes, which I have always needed as an overpronater, but is seldom offered in a trail runner. I got a pair of their Traverses and have been really impressed! I love the Altra toe box but haven’t been able to find a style of Altras that doesn’t give me major foot pain - the medial support of the Traverse combined with the wide toe box has been an absolute game changer. They also have an insole that’s designed to shed water and help the shoe dry faster - haven’t had a chance to hike in conditions that would test that yet, but I’m excited to see how they do when I get them out in wetter conditions. I’ve been living in these shoes for the last few weeks and have gotten a few pain-free hikes in them - they are tentatively my new favorite shoe!
I'm with you. The quality of Altra shoes has gone down in the past two years not to mention they keep changing the width of their shoes. 3 months ago I switched over to Topo trail runners.. I love them for all the reasons you mentioned. Yes, a little pricey but my Altras wore out way too fast, so in the long run Topos are a better buy.
The excessive toe-spring is my biggest issue with Topos. The toebox is just curved too much which makes it feel like a snowshoe. It's fine while on the move but standing, sitting, or driving in Topos just makes me wish I could switch to a normal flat shoe.
Got a pair, wanted to love them but found out the mid foot was way too narrow, probably being that I’m a 2E. After my foot going through that level of pain I found out that these companies that brand themselves with the wide toe box aren’t the end all be all for wide footers like me. Glad you were able to enjoy them though!
I'm a 4E (according to the Redwing store computer analysis)... but I can comfortably wear New Balance 990 series in 2E. I ordered Topos this year... 4 pair... not a one of them fit my foot. When I was young I had a narrow foot and all was nice in the shoe department. Currently, I have a pair of Altra Lone Peaks in wide and it fits okay. Note: you can definitely see my foot bulgjng out of it. So if the youth of today is wearing narrow shoes, let's just say due to age. Do you think these "kids" will swear brand loyalty if no one is there for them in the long haul. NB knows they will always have my money, Merrill too. But I want to be o. The PCT and experience a brand like Topo. Back them and brag to high heaven how I love them and why. It would be great to have all 4 pair of Topo models I bought in at least 2E, even as a custom order. Inatead I made a.lame video of my first time in their shoes and I swapped through them all in a matter of minutes (needs to be on my ready to launch new YT channel). The goal was to put on my first pair and go hike and provide live feedback onto my PCT FB page... but when the first kne didnt work I swapped to pair #2... which I thought would work ... this repeated until I was back in my Lone Peaks. Topo was great though... they paid for retrun shipping from Oahu... so talking bad about the company is somethjng I can only due from the standpoint of their variety of shoes for the variety of peolle qith a variety of foot sizes/widths. It did suck for me though... it was like my childhood football hero had let me down. 2024 PCT is coming and I havent figured out a shoe yet... I do have Altra on speed dial though. Dream shoes: rock plate, size 11, 2E-4E, not waterproof... (waterproof models all keep water out until they don't... then they are great at keeping water in). By my testing... the non waterproof models have seemed to have dried quicker.
Wide feet need wide shoes. You see this all the time with people buying altras thinking they're wide, then blowing out the sidewalls. They make actual wide versions for wide feet. Their normal width shoes aren't wider than other brands, they're just not pointy.
Totally with you on this, Darwin. I'm on my second pair of Topo Pursuits, and I've got a pair of their road shoes too. One factor you didn't mention is that they are a little more snug in the mid foot, so they don't feel as sloppy as the Altras do. Altra revolutionized hiking footwear, and kudos to them for that. But unless they do something to fix the durability issue, I probably won't look back. Thanks for the review!
Great piece of info! I want more space for my toes, but after wasting money on two different pairs of altras only to realize my foot turns inside the shoe and squishes my toes worse than a shoe that stabilizes the mid foot. I will look for these and give them a try!
@laurasanders6071 What Topo road shoe do you like? Torin Altra 4 was near perfect for me and their revisions have been disappointing. Interested in what's worked for you. Thanks!
@@miksmi I've been using their zero-drop ST-4 for road walking and gym. It's light but stable. It looks like they now have moved on to ST-5, which has a slightly lower stack height and a zipfoam midsole. I'll give those a try when my ST-4s wear out.
@@laurasanders6071 ST-5 wasn't even on my radar 👏👏REI and local (Maryland) running stores don't stock this. What's your go-to b&m or online store? //rant on Why oh why aren't we allowed to have comparison charts with product features like drop, stack height, midsole material, etc.? C'mon manufacturers, enginerds are people, too; we want the deets! (No offense to any engineers in the crowd.)
Have been using Topo MTN racer 2 for over a year. Bought them on sale for +-$100 and I see they are currently on sale for $99. Very comfortable with 30mm stack, decent durability. The Vibram outsole started breaking a bit but I run a lot on rocks and concrete sections, so to be expected.
Take an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade and cut the threads on the gaitor trap, then pull it off. Attach a traditional gaitor velcro block with super glue gel. Wipe excess glue along the 'seam' where the velco meets the upper.
I’m using the Topo Terraventure 3 and LOVE these shoes. I will be buying them as long as they keep making them. Super durable and most of all they feel amazing on my feet.
My go to shoes as well. Unfortunately they've stopped making the 3 and moved to the 4 and last time I looked I couldn't find anymore 3s in my size. I haven't tried the 4 yet since I still have two fresh pair of 3s, but hopefully they're just as good!
I love these too. The rock plate really helps. I’m wondering why we cant have the Pursuit but with a rock plate. That would seem ideal. Maybe it would destroy the foam, IDK 🤷
I used the Topo Terraventure 3 for my 6 day hike of the West Highland Way in Scotland. Bumped into a nice older man from America in a pizza bar in Fort William at the end of the hike and he also had the same Topo Terraventure 3's, he spoke highly of them also. Andy
You should give the Topo Traverse a go next. Topo created them specifically for thru-hikes and long haul trail hikes. 5mm drop - 30mm heel/25mm toe. New closed cell FKT insole locks water out and it's beaded to drain off water. Does have a rock plate.
Important fact omitted from this video is that the tongue for Topo pursuits is sown on the sides which prevents the show from expanding fitting wider feet. The tongue on line peaks and spaadgoats is only attached at the end. The show is free to expand.
I picked up the Pursuits as soon as they dropped and haven’t looked back. The way I’ve been describing them to people is that they’re the shoe the Lone Peak should have been. Exponentially more durable, more comfortable, longer lasting more substantial midsole, a Vibram outsole, the list goes on. The only thing I hope they offer in the future are some more subdued colors. The green is a touch too minty for my tastes. Would love to get a more black/charcoal option. Happy they’re working out for you, man.
Comparing the Pursuits with the Lone Peaks is not comparing apples with apples. If Topo still had the RunVenture3s it would be a close and worthy comparison. The Pursuits are heavier, stiffer, and not intended to be a direct competitor for the Lone Peaks. This is just 11 minutes of you expressing your personal preference. I own both, have run 100+km ultras in both, and each have their place, but they are different beasts.
I got these last year and love them! They outlast any altras I ever owned by an unknown amount because I still havent got any holes in them. My altras all got holes before hitting 100 miles. I do wish they made a shoe with more aggressive tread for mud and snow. I hiked on snow last week and fell on my ass a few times. The altra lone peak and king mt treads do great on the same trail.
@@DarwinOnthetrail Yah it’s gotten ridiculous. Currently enjoying hokas but have always been curious about topo as well. Interestingly, topo has a new shoe, the “traverse”, specifically built for long distance hiking with durability in mind but still has a trail runner fit and feel. Seems appealing to me.
@@mattgross7726 They do end of season sales like that, yes, but the official msrp and typically the price throughout most of the year is $150. Even at $90, the altras still present a lower "miles to dollar" value than topo.
The last set of Lone Peaks I bought was back in March and they were about $135 at REI. Getting something much more durable at the same price point seems like a no brainer. I'm definitely going to look at the Topos. @DarwinOnthetrail is who turned me onto the Lone Peaks in the first place and I was amazed when I first tried them to the point of Lone Peaks are the only athletic type of shoe that I buy (the zero drop is life changing).
Been wearing Topos (mostly Terraventures and Mountain Racers) for 5 years now. Surprised you didn't mention the biggest downside -- drying time. Topos are absolute worst-in-class for trail runners in that really important department. The message doesn't seem to be getting through to Tony and his design team. Was hoping you would have highlighted that with your high profile channel. If there's any chance of a follow-up, hope you'll highlight it.
@@DarwinOnthetrail Thx for the reply. Maybe the Pursuit is different and dries quicker. Haven't tried them (yet!). I have 6,000+ miles on Terraventures (which have improved from version 1 to 3) and 2,000+ on the Mountain Racer 2s (which I love, although they don't have a rockplate and do have 2mm more drop than the 3mm Terraventure - which does have a rockplate). FWIW, the latest generation of Mountain Racers, Terraventures and Ultraventures have expanded the heel a bit. Good for some, but not so much for those of us with a narrow heel that loved the lock-down in the last year's models. Thx for the reviews.
I'm glad you mentioned this. The Terraventures are terrible in this regard. They soak up water and don't let go. I went back to Lone Peaks after too many mornings with soaking shoes on trail.
I have really bad overpronation and I read on Reddit where a lot of people suggested these shoes with a solid insert right before I found this video. So I think I’ve really found my next hiking shoe!
I was thinking same thing today ,as I'm doing a 45 through hike in Indiana Tecumseh trail matter of fact , been wearing lone peak 7s and decided to get a pair of topo ultra adventure 3 , and topos are now my new favorite shoe .
I'm on my second pair of Topo running shoes. Had my first pair for about 2 years. $140.00 is a fair price for me considering how great they feel and how long they last. Great video. I hope they make the Pursuit in a midhigh,
Altra put the final nail in their coffin by narrowing their foot box. Their quality has gone downhill since LP 3.5. Also the colors are horrid. Topo for the win.
Pursuit is way too narrow for my toes foot and my pink toe was pushing against the fabric too much for comfort. I wanted to love it but just can't. However my terraventures have been pretty good but I also had the same durability issues I did on the lone peak 5's with a little more comfort
Just finished hiking 80 miles through Patagonia in Topo Pursuits and they were great! Great cushion so i didnt have any feet pain and durability was outstanding.
Great review, excellent content. I have been testing the topo pursuit for a week now and love them over my loan peaks. I'm glad I found the perfect shoe for my Eastern continental trail thru-hike starting January 24.
I’m older, need the padding and after Ultras hurt the bottom of my feet in the Sierra rocky trails where I live, I switched to Hokas. I can still day hike in Ultras, but anything overnight I’m grabbing the Hokas. I will say that after your video I may not have given them a fair chance as I did not use any additional insoles. I may try that with this brand as I appreciate what you said about their grip and durability.
It isn't just Altra - Merrell is having issue too, usually the uppers and soles last long after the 'spring' and cushion is gone, but the last pair of Merrell shoes I bought the upper started to fall apart just doing light stuff around the farm.
The lone peak has the most slippery outsole on allmost any surface. Can not use them for anything faster with uphill or downhill. Will definitely try these. Tried some topos (road shoes with 3mm drop) in the past but didn't really like the toe spring
I wear Topo Ultraventures now, since I also decided that the durability of Altra shoes is no longer acceptable. I highly recommend Kahtoola Instagaiters instead of the proprietary Topo gaiters. The Kahtoola gaiters are universally compatible and are designed really well overall.
HOW ABOUT THE ARCH SUPPORT? YOU DIDNT SAY A SINGLE WORD ABOUT IT?!?! You dont feel any uncomfortability with this unnecessary support? it's a no go shoe for me mainly because of this. Altra is the MOST comfortable shoe ever made. Topo isnt
European Topofanatic here. First at al : been watching your channel for years, thanks a lot for inspiring me to do longer hikes here. I've got the Ultraventure 2 , Pro and 3 . I have tried Altra and zero-drop shoes ( Timps 4) and was not happy : the shoes were splitting after a mere 200 km and zero drop was messing with my achilles.Gues who was waring Timps at that time.😄 After trying different brans (Asic , Brooks, North Face etc...) i wend for Topo. My ( discontinued) Ultraventure 2 clocked over 1000 km. The Pro is in the same state as your Pursuits and has +- 500 km ( i use these only in rocky terrain) . The new 3's are at 300 km and counting (most confy and best ventilating ). I still use the 2's for dayhiking because there is still life in them. You can also change the insole for Sportiva one's , they are from the same manufacture , they are as confy but dry quicker and whem you buy them 1/2 size smaller they slip a bit in the shoe = no blisters. I don't use gaiters so no problem for me. Some strange thing : the toe box is not the same : Pro smaller than the2's and the 3's are the widest.
My wife and I both love the Lone Peaks but have always been disappointed with the durability of them. Glad to know there's another option. Unfortunately in Canada they're selling for $220! $140USD should translate to around $180-$190 depending on the exchange rate, but $220 is a little out to lunch.
Just logged 800 miles on my Pursuits. The tread finally wore out. I never got more than 500 miles on my Altra LPs. The Topos fit way better, top. No more Altras for me.
I could not find any reliable info regarding width of the sole of these shoes. By reliable i mean actual measures in numbers, instead of "wide" which means absolutely nothing.
I never wore my Peaks long enough to experience durability issues. They are uber light and comfortable, but they didn’t protect my feet. I felt roots and rocks from the start. Several days of hitting my toes against I’m overall objects or objects slapping the sides lessened my love. Then the bottoms of my feet were sore from the pounding. I still wear them for day hikes, but nevermore for long distance endeavors.
As soon as I saw the gaiters in the intro it's what caught me as a disadvantage on their side.. Let's see with more people talking about it, the might change it up.. Thanks for the review!
I'm so jealous.. my feet are super narrow and the toe shape is totally wrong for my extreme Greek toe 😭 My hiking shoes have to be narrow enough plus laces up almost to the tips, like ones from La Sportiva or Salewa. They are still okay and comfortable, but I just wish I could try the brands/models that you recommend..
So I caught a guy’s video on YT his channel is “Believe in the Run”. He was at the Austin trade show big running show. He has a video with the Altra rep. He’s showing the new stuff for 2024 for Altra. With the whole durability issues with Altra I found it interesting this rep mentioned all three of the biggest gripes being addressed through out the video. The mesh in the toes falling apart, the lugs coming off, and the midsole flattening out were all touched on and according to the rep, steps have been taken in 2024 to address these things. So we shall see. Plus….They actually dropped the prices of some of their shoes. The Lone Peak is one of those. $150 down to $140
Good to hear. I hope it's true. I tried Topos a while ago. They were very slow to dry compared with Altra Lone Peaks; still squelchy in the mornings, even with the insoles out overnight. I also didn't like the foam collar around the opening. Altras just fit me better.
I love topos! I thru hiked the PCT and AZT in their original ultraventures. Since then, I've been trail running in the pursuits (which I love), but just recently got a pair of their new shoes, the Traverse, to train in for an upcoming CDT attempt. I'm really hoping that these are going to be the perfect thru hiking shoe for me with the addition of a springier insole and added rockplate. Seriously stoked on topos!
The Topo Pursuit it's over 200 dollars for a normal size feet. I'm a triple crowner and used Altras for most of my hiking. I get about 600 miles out of them with Shoe Goo. I've been using Asics Gel-Venture 8 lately which costs about $50 and seem to be holding up as good as the Altras. The only problem they just not Zero Drop. Maybe we should consider alternatives to help bring down the prices
Altra really went downhill once they got bought out by VF. Which is too bad since they were a local Utah company and I still have several pairs of the older models I really like.
I’ve had many lone peaks over my years backpacking, hiking, running and camping. My biggest complaint has always been that they wear out so fast I’m very happy to hear there is another option that is better! Definitely buying TOPOs for my next shoe
The Topos wear out too - I’ve had some last 300km and some last 750km, just as I’ve also had with Altras. Please don’t make your decision based on someone’s RU-vid video - this is 11minutes of him expressing nothing other than his personal preference.
One complaint you have on the Topo is cost, yet at regular price they are still cheaper than any Altra's. I've been looking for a longer lasting trail shoe to compete with Altra's as I think they are so damn expensive for the short period of use you get out of them. May have to try a Topo. Thanks for the review!!
Does the midsole protect as well as the trail runners with a rock plate? Most of my hiking/running is in the NM mountains and the scree/rocks are brutal.
I found the heel outside to be rather narrow considering the stack height. It seemed like it would be too easy to roll an ankle in the Pursuits. Otherwise, I loved the fit.
Been loving my Inov8 Roclite 290g and 315g GTX. But given I am more of a scrambler than a distance hiker, I tend to prioritize grip over everything else. Best wet rock grip I have ever had.
Americans only understand which brands are getting most “content creator” / influencer hype on social media. So they overlook some of the best brands which don’t receive so much attention.
@@_Chris390 Inov8 were popular in the US many years ago due to some good marketing. I don't know why they didn't keep it up for the age of social media, but it must have been a conscious decision on their part. But you're right, sometimes I forget they're still around (until Loyd Purvis reviews a pair).
I’ve been wearing Altra for around 5 years (Lone Peak, Olympus, Paradigm) and Topo Pursuit are not a direct swap for Altra Lone Peak. The toe box is smaller and the overall fit is tighter. I can wear Lone Peak straight from the box, while the Pursuit feel like they need to be stretched to achieve the same level of comfort. I was disappointed with them and will be going back to Altra.
I bought a pair of lone peaks and hated them. The lone peaks wore out so fast too. My favorite has been Brooks Cascadia. My Cascadias have a few hundred miles on them and they are still in great shape. I will probably get about 5-600 miles out of them. I do want to try some Topo Athletic trail runners though.
I did some off trail hiking in the Sierra this summer and my Lone Peaks didn't feel grippy enough. I tried a pair of Topos (can't remember the name) and a pair of Salomon Speedcross. The Topos were too "in the middle", meaning I lost the full benefit of the width of Altra's toe box and no 0 foot drop, but they also weren't as grippy as the Salomons. Grippiness won out and I went with the Salomons and felt very secure. The Topo Pursuits sound like they might be a good option to try (once everything I have wears out, lol) cuz I would like a very grippy shoe that is 0 drop, and being more durable that Altras is another plus. Thanks for the review!
Ordered a pair of Topo's to compare to my LonePeak Ultra's. When I got them I took 5 steps in them and put them back in the box and shipped them back. They, like a lot of shoes these days, have created a weird topography built into the sole of their shoe for arch support. I guess I have low arches because with the Topos on with every step I could feel them pushing into arches. No thanks. The LonePeak Ultra's have a simple, old school sole that works perfectly for those that don't need built in arch support, i.e. zero-drop shoes. I just got back from doing 500 miles thru the desert section of the PCT with my Ultra's and I had NO foot issues at all. Along the way I replaced the insoles with some much more comfy Doctor Scholl insoles and wow, the shoe was transformed and made even better. I was able to hike 20+ miles per day and my feet never got sore (which was first for me). Just wished the ULtra's had a Vibram-like sole.
I am a huge brand jumper who goes back and forth all the time when it comes to the outdoors and I've bought them all.......Salomon, Keen, Hoka, NorthFace , Merrell, Oboz ,and more, but the Altra Lone Peaks trully saved my life. No more Plantar Fasciitis, no more corns, no more blisters, no more rashes , no more Achilles heel pain or shin splints and because they are lightweight and airy, no odor issues.I don't know what people are complaining about? They are a super shoe and very durable.Yes, eventually they fail from enough abuse because after all , they are made of lightweight man-made materials.Tactical boots wear out too and they don't weigh 11 onces either.They are not over priced either and you can stock up and buy older styles at the end of the year. I can work two jobs in them,hike, bike, go to the gym, play Frisbee golf, wear them 14 hours a day and they last for months and I never have foot pain ever.I go to outdoor stores and running stores to buy my Altras and the only criticism I have is if you like a particular crazy color combination you have to act quickly because you might not get the pink/Navy/gray/orange ones you've been eyeing that quarter because you procrastinated.I would like to also add that zero drop is such a lifesaver that any one that is heavier and wanting to start a program to definitely buy zero drop shoes to train in.Once you experience zero drop you will never go back.I remember the days before I discovered Altras, like the day a doctor had huge needles for the injections for my heels because I could barely walk.By wearing Altras I can go hard all day being a two hundred and fifty pound guy and no foot pain.
I don't know what version of the Lone Peaks you have but they are getting worse every year. I thought the my Lone Peak 6 didn't last long at all. Very poorly made. They are discounting the Lone Peak 7s now because no one is buying them. I won't buy them even at the discounted price. If I ever hear they are durable again, I might switch back
dude, Zero drop shoes are HORRIBLE for overweight people. you will end up with more injuries to your foot with zero drop shoes if you are overweight. they are intended for people that are lightweight and in shape. you will destroy your feet if you are overweight and out of shape and use zero drop shoes.
I own a small outdoor adventure store in WI. Since we opened almost 2 years ago, Topos have outsold Altras by far. I am an Altra guy through and through. However, the Topos have definitely proven themselves worthy.
Bought a pair of Topo Pursuits and they felt fantastic right out of the box. After a few days I noticed that my right foot started rolling inward a little bit - as if the insole had shifted but I couldn't confirm that. I put in a pair of Superfeet Green insoles and the combination was too high had too much arch. Still trying to figure it out and find a combination that will work for me. I do want to make them work. I have a couple of LP4's and an LP6 that I still use - sole wear has been the killer issue for me.
I‘m gonna buy a pair of these asap. I started using the Timp 3 because of your reviews, and gosh I loved those. Replaced them regularily after 700 miles or so only because I thought the cushioning was getting thinner. Nothing else broke. Now they don‘t produce them anymore and I‘m on a friggin 600 mile hike with 2 (!) pairs of Timp 4, switching them out from time to time (wearing different colors on each foot lol) because the heel stuffing is falling apart! Gosh I hate it if shoes that expensive don‘t even last 300 miles. On a side note my dirty girl gaiters are definitely shredded, need to buy new gaiters anyways, but I really do hate it when they do not allow you to use your own gaiters (at least the hokas have plenty of space to attach a piece of velcro)
I tried topo boots and it felt tight on top of my foot I returned them. I really want to like them. I have owned 10 pair of Altra's and I have learned how to sew and glue to keep them from completely falling apart. If they weren't so dang comfortable. Shoes are so expensive specially these wide toe shoes.. I have a double e and require it.
Nice, I wish more shoe companies would come out with a zero drop model or two. So many shoes look nice or have some nice quality I want but then there's a high heel too for some reason, and the only zero drop shoes with any cushioning are altras. With how popular altras have been while simultaneously being complained about, I dont understand what other shoe companies are thinking.
For those that are like me, Topos are not an Altra killer. Their insoles have arch support which is very uncomfortable for me. The gaiter system is terrible. For me the Lone Peak killer is the Superior! Lower stack height and flat insoles. Just my input.
For me coming from the Lone peak to the Superior, the Superior felt too thin and my feet would get tired more quickly. So I went back to the Lone peaks... To each their own I guess
Thanks for the detailed review. I’ve been in lone peaks for years and finding the same for their durability. Nothing beats the Olympus high tops I have for winter wear though. Winter boots that are foot shaped were a huge problem for me here in Canada. Need something warm down to -40 that didn’t destroy my toes.
After years of contentedly wearing full-on traditional boots, I decided to sip the trail runner Kool Aid ;) and tried out The One That Everyone Raved About, the Altra Lone Peak. I loved how light they were on my feet and I REALLY loved the wide toe box; I hated nearly everything else about them. The grip was . . . not very grippy; I was "meh" about the zero drop; and no matter how I laced them, they felt sloppy on my foot. Several times, while hiking in tricky spots, I ended up walking partly on the side of the shoe. It was like hiking in bedroom slippers. But, boy, that light weight, those wide toe boxes . . . I was sad that I just didn't trust them enough. Then I came across Topo. One of the first things I noticed was their use of Vibram outsoles; a huge plus, from my perspective. I tried a few of the Topo models; I liked them much better than the Lone Peaks, but there was just something a little "off" about how each of them fit my foot, and I was on the fence about making a full switch. Then Topo came out with the Traverse; I gave those a try, and it was like Goldilocks, lol -- I think they are going to be Juuuuust Right.
The Topo Pursuits are significantly more narrow at the ball of the foot than the Altra Lone Peak. I measured them for my size (13). I do not think Vibram makes a very wide sole. If your feet are narrow enough to be comfortable in the Pursuit they are definitely better than the Altra which have always struggled with durability, and traction. Comfort is king and queen though. I don't know why no other shoe company will make a wide toe box shoe. I think Altra would go out of business immediately if Topo had the same width toe box but they don't. Also with Topo's rigid upper design (and narrower width) they are extremely uncomfortable for my wide feet as others have noted. Note that every shoe I have tried has the exact same width sole no matter what width is advertised like New Balance. Wide shoes just have sloppy uppers. Even Altra's wide Lone Peak has exactly the same sole. As people with wide feet know having your foot ride over the ridge of the sole can be exceptionally painful for long endurance activities. Edit: Altra seems to be changing the width of Lone Peaks. The Wide Lone Peak used to have the exact same width sole as my original Lone Peaks. The regular Lone Peak 8 I purchased has a slightly narrower sole than the wide version. So my comments now seem to only apply to the wide version of the Lone Peak. I haven't measured a wide Lone Peak 8 though, only a 7 so it is possible Altra is further narrowing it's shoes. I would agree with Darwin now that the Topo Pursuit would likely be better than the regular Lone Peak 8 in every way. If the wide Lone Peak's are still the original width then I still prefer them. Again I have only compared size 13 shoes. It would be helpful if a shoe reviewer could track these changes since it is really difficult to keep track of what Altra and Topo are actually doing. I would like to know the real inner width at the ball of the foot and when it changes for each model.
I've been an Altra purist for years but I just can't with their new offerings for MANY reasons. My favourites were the Superiors (4.5's were elite) and Lone Peaks but the newest iterations of these are just disappointing and to be frank, unwearable. I'd like to try Topo but I hate any arch support, which these pursuits apparently have so at this point i'm unsure of which direction to go.
I've been wearing Altra for years and had hiked in some topos once on the PCT after a store in Ashland recommended them. I will be hiking the AZT next year wearing topos. I'm more than happy to pay the price if I can get more than 300 miles out of them. Altra just seems to wear out too quickly. I will still buy them for work, however for the trail I am hopeful the topos will be my new hiking shoes.
My Altras (LP 6) are at almost 1400 KM and i´ll replace them soon. The reason is, besides some holes, that the trek is non existent anymore and i start to slip in mud and snow. But besides that they are quite durable in my opinion. Also totally ok after that distance.
After Backcountry Pilgrim did a review of the Topo Adventurer several months ago, I bought a pair on sale. The only dislike I have is the toe box is not as wide as the Altra Lone Peak. Other than that, they have out performed the Altras. Great review...
Can't use standard gaiters, and can't easily stick a Velcro patch in so that you can? Nah - that's a deal breaker. If they fix that un the next model, i might try them.
Nice to see you posting videos like this again. I started using the Lone Peak 3.5's on your recommendation & been with them ever since. In the UK we have deep discounts after the initial 3-4 month period where I can pickup Lone Peaks for £75, so it makes it cost effective but I hate waste and I hate the crappy rubber they use. Will flip when I can get a good price
Wearing topos now. I loved my timps from yrs ago and was disapointed lately for the same reason as all long time users. Dont last 6 months.. then my old body parts start talking to me because the foam has deteriated and holes show up even sooner . So glad someone is listening to our concerns.. good to have your reports darwin 👍
Nice. I just picked up a pair of Runventure 4's during Black Friday sales. I haven't tried them out yet but I hope the Vibram outsoles last longer than the 2 pairs of Lone Peak 5s I've been using.
I had a bunch of LonePeaks for years and for my style of hiking I can only get 300mi of good use. And depending on the trail I can see the difference in the first 100mi. On top of that, Altra keeps changing the LP design so comfort it’s unpredictable. v4.5 and 5 had a lot of construction issues. While they are great shoes, the longevity leaves a lot to be desired.
I've been planning to give Topo a try, but for right now, my go-to trail shoe is the Scarpa Spin Planet. Best all-rounder I've had in many years, and I've used it for both mountain races, and backpacking (in the Sierras and Winds). Just bought a second pair on-sale!
@@clementerosauro9127 No, the toebox of the Scarpas isn't as wide as the Topos. But, my feet are a little wide, and I always struggle with finding shoes that will work. Basically, my toes don't "taper" much (more kinda block-like :), so I need extra room for my pinky toes. And the Spin Planets have enough room for me, without having to size up (which causes other problems).
