The Topo Pursuit 2. All pictures: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
With the Topo Pursuit 2 ($145), the model has made some clutch upgrades on the unique Topo Pursuit, which was already a first-class zero-drop shoe. The enhancements have resulted in an much more dependable and sturdy shoe able to carry out throughout various terrain and ultramarathon distances. If a Topo working shoe is invariably one factor, it’s reliable, and it is a shoe with out ostentation that exhibits up and performs persistently.
Topo makes trusted out-of-the-box sneakers for which distance and most path situations are a whole non-issue. I wouldn’t hesitate to run a 50k in a recent pair of those sneakers, which I virtually did after they arrived. It helps that I’ve huge expertise and numerous miles in sneakers from the model — street and path — however I imagine it is a testomony to the model and the perennial efficiency high quality of their sneakers.
The zero-drop shoe comes with a newly designed mesh higher, a cool game-changer insole, and a lighter and extra responsive midsole. The Vibram Megagrip outsole, which is discovered on many different shoe fashions from the model, is a staying pressure on this iteration, and the 5-millimeter lugs are succesful on many kinds of terrain.
This shoe appears boldly easy in design, however it’s an integration of excellent engineering and biomechanical understanding. Much like different path sneakers from the model — the Topo Terraventure 4 and Topo Traverse — the Pursuit 2 is a robust efficiency package deal. It boasts dialed-in heel consolation and lockdown with ample forefoot room and is characterised as having balanced cushion, impartial assist, and reasonable pliability.
Specs are all true to dimension and match, and its precise weight is 10.5 ounces (298 grams) for a U.S. males’s 9. Regardless of the consistency in weight from the unique shoe, for my part, the newer model runs lighter, which can be attributed to the midsole really feel. An indicator of the shoe is its zero-drop and 28-millimeter stack peak with a agency cushioned platform — don’t let that seemingly oxymoron confuse you. I brazenly welcome Topo’s zero-drop foot-shaped design with pleasure and unfold toes.
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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 appreciated from the model. They do get artistic with their colours, particularly with their street sneakers, however I imagine they’ve a eager colorist on board at design headquarters. It appears with the brand new engineered dual-woven mesh, which is a decent mesh over a extra open mesh, Topo has gotten extra artistic with the higher design. They’ve added texture and subtleties within the recycled mesh materials whereas nonetheless creating an higher that focuses on operate. It’s breathable, drains properly, and retains particles at bay, and it does all these items properly. I must impress upon the reader that the dual-mesh higher didn’t induce sizzling ft or undue sweating.
One other replace is within the protection and thickness of the toe bumper. There may be much less rubber on the toebox above the toes, however thicker safety on the entrance of the shoe.
The brand new higher is barely extra cushioned on the within and outdoors than the unique. There may be extra vertical materials for fortifying safety on each the medial and lateral points. Much like the unique, the angled heel design supplies a snug lockdown. I understand I can generally be a damaged file with my Topo opinions, however that is one 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 tender tongue that’s properly three-quarters gusseted. I didn’t expertise any shifting or undesirable motion from both the tongue or higher.
Signature to most path sneakers from the model is the distinctive gaiter attachment design for the proprietary Topo Efficiency Gaiter. Though I’ve not used this function or their gaiters, the 2 attachment factors on the rear of the shoe, which add integrity to the heel, and one on the base of the tongue are unobtrusive and supply a quick-release system.
Topo Pursuit 2 Midsole
A medial view of the Topo Pursuit 2.
The upgraded midsole of the Topo Pursuit 2 combines points from its sibling fashions to boost the general trip and longevity. The newer light-weight and responsive ZipFoam midsole is built-in with their waterproof FKT specialty insole. The mixed midsole and insole sit above a barely rockered platform that amplifies the froth’s vitality return and elasticity.
The insole provides to the vitality return, whereas the rocker retains you rocking ahead. You will need to add that the insole provides a singular underfoot expertise. For one, it retains the foot comparatively dry. As well as, Topo makes restoration sneakers with these beaded insoles and whenever you land on them whereas working, it supplies a pleasant refreshing really feel of restoration. Nonetheless, the TPU beads are made to boost elasticity in addition to assist with propulsion.
The extent of cushion is maintained from the unique mannequin, however the brand new mixture affords the shoe some respectable firmness for elevated safety. The brand new midsole begets longer and extra comfy miles over technical trails with out the wear and tear and tear on the decrease physique that different zero-drop sneakers could trigger 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 nothing new from the model. Despite the fact that my optimistic opinions of the top-notch Vibram Megagrip could also be on repeat, it holds fixed throughout the model’s shoe choices. I’ve been sporting the Topo Ultraventure, Terraventure, and Traverse fashions for a number of ultrarunning seasons and the grip stays tried and true. It permits for distinctive traction and adaptability over technical terrain, forest roads, and most singletrack conditions.
The frivolously aggressive and multi-directional 5-millimeter lug design and spacing enable for eager friction, pure foot operate, and respectable shedding of substrate. The outsole is constructed with out an overbearing sense of heaviness or extreme stick — making it amenable to paved sections. It appears to carry out properly on the slick granitic soils in southern Oregon the place, in the course of the dryer months, the paths can tackle a component of a slip-and-slide when descending, particularly for those who don’t heed and respect the switchbacks. I used to be capable of press the outsole in the course of the moist spring months and now in the course of the early summer season for over 100 miles. The outsole remains to be intact.
Nonetheless, with so many different area of interest path trainers in the marketplace, and with development in outsole expertise, there are different trainers that I’d decide up first for mud, snow, and intensely rugged situations. On condition that caveat, this outsole has excellent traction and confidently exhibits up with floor really feel. It continues to be a best choice for reasonably paced medium to lengthy path runs on reasonable to technical terrain.
Topo Pursuit 2 Total Impressions
A high view of the Topo Pursuit 2.
All of the elements of the Topo Pursuit 2 come collectively for an built-in and sturdy ultra-racer or ultra-trainer. This shoe challenges different zero-drop fashions within the path world with its sturdiness, consolation, and longer-distance attraction. Though I contemplate myself comparatively seasoned for zero-drop working, I skilled no decrease limb fatigue or soreness whereas working in these sneakers. In comparison with the unique Pursuit, the midsole is a bit of stiffer however rides lighter and appears 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, apparently, a barely wider toebox, whereas the Topo Pursuit 2 has appears to have extra vertical quantity and materials protection with added cushioned heel assist internally and externally. It rides barely increased for extra safety. The higher’s engineered mesh shouldn’t be solely aesthetically improved, however it additionally maintains ample breathability and drainage. On the identical time, the water resistant insole stays dry and subtly massages the foot whereas working. This shoe is proving to be one other enduring and steadfast path working mannequin from the model. In double-entendre trend, it could be essentially the most long-lasting zero-drop path working shoe that I’ve ever worn — each in every day mileage and total mileage.
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Name for Feedback
- Do you have got expertise working within the Topo Pursuit 2? What do you suppose?
- How do you evaluate the Pursuit 2 with the unique Pursuit?
- What’s been your expertise with different shoe fashions from Topo?
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