Topo Ultraventure 5 is perfect for wide feet and crushing mellow trails
This review is sponsored by REI Co-op, but the views expressed are my own
Choose the Topo Ultraventure 5 for a wide fitting, wide toe box, low-drop, well-cushioned, comfortable trail shoe, perfect for high mileage days on easy-to-moderate terrain. People with wider feet will love this shoe, while low volume users will slosh around uncomfortably. Its best use case is running or walking on well-maintained trails and forest roads, but look for a grippier alternative on technical terrain.
The Fit: True to size in length, no need to size up. Wide at heel, narrowing slightly at midfoot, widening out at forefoot for an Altra-style wide toe box.
- Price: $155
- M’s Weight: 10.7 oz | W’s Weight: 8.8 oz
- Heel-Forefoot-Drop: M’s 35-30-5 | W’s 35-30-5
- Lugs: ~3 mm | Rockplate: No
- Wide Sizes Available: no
- Midsole Foam: EVA/TPU blend
- On Trail/Off trail/Pavement? Yes/No/Yes
- Pros: Extremely comfortable right out of the box. Cushion braces impact, reduces sore feet. Wide toe box accommodates swelling, decreases blisters. Versatile outsole can handle pavement, gravel, and maintained trails with ease.
- Cons: Moderate traction is sub-optimal for difficult terrain. Too wide for low volume feet. Foam is not supercritically infused.
Compare to more great options in our guide to the best trail runners for hiking, and trail super shoes.
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Expanded Pros of Topo Ultraventure 5
Extremely comfortable right out of the box
Because of the wide fit, spacious toe box, and soft mesh upper, this shoe is immediately comfortable without any break-in period required. No blisters after the first 30 miles of running and hiking.
Wide toe box
We love a wide toe box for most running and hiking because it allows toes to splay for balance, and gives them room to swell on high mileage days. It increases comfort, and decreases blister potential. This is a highly sought after feature and a major reason to choose Topo Ultraventure 5.
High cushion
The 35mm stack height classes as high cushion, which makes this shoe great for comfortably striking hard surfaces like pavement or gravel. Your feet and knees will feel less sore. Thirty five millimeters is our default preferred level of cushion. However, many use cases justify more or less. Lower stack heights are better on difficult terrain; even more cushion is great on dedicated pavement shoes.
Great breathability
The woven mesh upper has great overall breathability. This is important to reduce sweat, thereby reducing blisters. It can be a liability in dust and sand though; expect slightly dirty socks.
Versatile outsoles
The Vibram rubber outsoles with wide 3mm lugs are perfect for gripping gravel, easily flexing onto pavement, or maintained dirt trail. This is a great do-it-all shoe! I tested them on steep and loose class 2 terrain (which they were not designed for) and they did fine, even if slightly sub-optimal.
Expanded Cons of Topo Ultraventure 5
Moderate traction is sub-optimal for difficult terrain
This shoe is not designed for steep, loose, technical terrain, and thus its 3mm Vibram outsole lugs will not provide optimal traction in those conditions. That isn’t Ultraventure’s fault. While it is versatile, all-purpose shoe, it wasn’t designed to be an all-mountain shoe.
Too wide for low volume feet
The wide fit and wide toe box is a blessing and curse. We don’t recommend this shoe for low volume feet because they will slosh around inside, or requiring aggressive tightening. Either option leads to discomfort.
Foam is not supercritically infused
For premium trail shoes, we’ve come to expect premium foam. While the EVA TPU blend is okay, we prefer supercritically infused foams for optimal energy return.
Should you choose it?
Choose Topo Ultraventure 5 if:
- You have wide feet
- You want a wide toe box
- You want low-not-zero drop
- You want a versatile hybrid shoe for mixed use on maintained trails, gravel, and pavement
Don’t choose Topo Ultraventure 5 if:
- You have narrow or low volume feet
- You require aggressive traction for technical terrain
- You want a shoe optimized for high energy return and speed
Topo Ultraventure 5 Vs the Competition
All Topo shoes have a low drop and wide toe box.
Vs Mtn Racer: Compared to Ultraventure, Mtn Racer has more traction and slightly less cushion. Choose Mtn Racer for technical terrain and a less exaggerated cushion. These are arguably the best Topos for hiking.
Vs Terraventure: Compared to Ultraventure, Terraventure has significantly less midsole cushion and more traction. Choose if you prefer a more minimalist feel. And/or if you like Altra Lone Peak, but wish it didn’t have zero drop.
Vs Vista: Compared to Ultraventure, Vista has slightly more cushion, a more breathable upper, and more traction. Choose Vista if you want a highly cushioned shoe to use in technical terrain. Choose Vista if you liked HOKA Speedgoat, but now find it to be too narrow.
Topo Ultraventure 5 Review Conclusion
If you have wide feet and want a versatile shoe that you intend to wear for running and/or walking on roads, gravel, pavement, and maintained trails, Topo Ultraventure 5 is the perfect choice. Avoid this shoe if you have narrow feet or require aggressive, all-mountain traction lugs.
