A Precision, Technical Off-Trail Shoe with Wide Forefoot & Medium Drop

Not sure if you like HOKA or Altra better? The Topo Athletic Mtn Racer 2 combines popular features of both brands as an excellent third option for lightweight yet aggressive trail shoes.

• Price: $145
• M’s Weight: 10.0 oz | W’s Weight: 8.0 oz
• Heel-Forefoot-Drop: 30-25-5
• Lugs: 5 mm | Rockplate: No
• Width: Average-to-wide | Overall Fit: True to size
• Wide Sizes Available: No
• On Trail/Off trail? Either
• Pros: Well Rounded. 5 mm drop. Great traction. Wide toe box. Comfy.
• Cons: A bit sloppy on technical terrain.

Features

They have a similar fit to Altra trail runners with the wider toe box, but with a small 5 mm heel-to-toe drop like HOKA. For runners or hikers with any foot or Achilles issues, this extra support is a better option than Altra’s zero drop models.

On the other hand, for those who are intrigued by Hoka’s excellent traction and comfort but don’t like the more average to narrow fit, these are an excellent option.

As one would could only hope for in “mtn racer,” these shoes are designed with high energy return foam for springy step. This matters less for walking than running, but anything helps.

The wide toe box is very comfortable, but the overall wider fit may make it less than ideal for technical terrain, like crawling over a boulder field, for example.

The mesh upper is comfortable, and reinforced with a toe cap, and it’s manufactured with recycled materials. The Vibram outsole has extremely aggressive lugs and can be used for nearly any type of terrain.

Verdict

Topo athletic has been around for about a decade, but they still feel like a new kind on the block. That said, they make great trail runner that are very well rounded and perfect to use as hiking shoes. We highly recommend the Mtn Racer 2.

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