Topo Athletic - MTN Racer 1
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Jan 28, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
1898
551
"I even washed them accidentally and still worked perfectly fine afterwards."
"Been using them for about four years working out in my gym, and cycling daily (45+ minutes on a bicycle outdoors)."
"They last absolutely forever (I know 1980s models still in daily use)"
312
84
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
"I forgot I had my fenix on and did a mud run. Didn’t even phase my watch. Literally dragged it through the mud and it just kept going."
"I've put them through the washer and dryer."
292
59
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"Even after mountain backpacking a dozen miles over very steep rocky trails my toes are never sore or cramped feeling."
561
131
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"The Trabuco 12 have been the best trail shoes I’ve ever owned. ... I’m 6”4 and charge hard over serious rocky terrain…and I feel completely safe in them."
24
4
"I can’t do zero drop. ... I don’t like the lack of push off ... I’ve had plantar fasciitis in the past which is not suited for zero drop. ... I use Topo and Altra low heal to toe drop but not zero."
"I’ve taken my Topo MTN racer’s up Longs, Capitol, and multiple laps up Freeway on the 2nd flatiron. ... I’d say they’re the perfect scrambling shoe if you’re looking for something for class 3/4. ... I like a lower drop shoe for scrambling because I feel more centered/connected to the ground."
"Agree that Topo shoes are a good alternative. I got the Mtn Racer when switching from Altras. ... I switched from zero drop and that was a big help. ... Don’t push too hard. I did and ended up with a 6-month achilles injury before finally switching away from 0 drop."
48
8
"As far as grip goes, all three are excellent. ... It's truly amazing how good they are at gripping scree, sand, and unstable terrain."
"Mountain Racer 3 for shorter / technical or muddy runs."
"nothing beats underfoot feedback when it comes to feeling secure on scree and wild rock"
119
42
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
"I just finished a 52k ultra on the weekend. Not a single blister, not a single black toenail, no foot pain. My quads are a whole different story lol. But the shoes looked after me very well."
"Too much arch/heel pain. The Sense Rides work as well as the Adidas Mundial Team Turfs I played in for years but with a bit more cushion."
53
19
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
"after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine."
"the cushiony soles save me from the metatarsal joint inflammation I sometimes got when carrying a full pack in Salomons."
18
4
"I can’t do zero drop. ... I don’t like the lack of push off ... I’ve had plantar fasciitis in the past which is not suited for zero drop. ... I use Topo and Altra low heal to toe drop but not zero."
"I’ve taken my Topo MTN racer’s up Longs, Capitol, and multiple laps up Freeway on the 2nd flatiron. ... I’d say they’re the perfect scrambling shoe if you’re looking for something for class 3/4. ... I like a lower drop shoe for scrambling because I feel more centered/connected to the ground."
"I like the ultraventure for less technical stuff and the MTN racer for more technical stuff. ... Turns out 4-5 mm of drop was what I needed. Switched about 5 months ago and it seemingly resolved all lingering issues."
Disliked most:
398
443
"About a year and the right bud would last about 15 minutes on a full charge."
"I've had them for a few years and now the battery doesn't last for more than 40 mins, so looking for a different model."
"And then during a race in September the mid sole of one pulled right off with less than 200 km on them."
65
141
"My Timps got holes after 4 weeks of wearing lol ... Forgot exactly where but it was the toe box. ... Never seen running shoes with such a shitty build quality before. ... Altra is definitely skimping on the materials since they were sold a few years ago."
"I beat the ever living shit out of my shoes in the Colorado high country and have had to shoe goo the soles twice in spots so it’s definitely not bomb proof."
"Left earbud broke after three days usage."
12
28
"The toe box seemed nice but even with a solid heel lock, my toenails are falling off for the first time from downhills."
"The Olympus 5 was a no go for me and I bought up multiple pairs of the 4s. Haven't tried the 6, but I heard they did a better job with the heel lock, which was a huge problem in the 5s."
"The Olympus 5 was a no go for me ... the heel lock, which was a huge problem in the 5s."
30
37
"I always roll my ankles ony Altra Olympus, doesn't really happen with anything that has a lower stack."
"the new mid height are total garbage. ... My favorite part of the speed goat 5 was the ankle support, the new 6 has no ankle support, and simply a water resistant gasket that provides no support. ... So my big gripe is the 6 only comes in 'low' and 'water resistant gasket' and there is no longer a 'mid' option ... 6 only has the weird high sock option."
"I did the first half in Topos and got terrible Achilles tendinitis and planter fasciitis. ... Made the switch to speedgoats at Shasta per the recommendation of the shoe guy and all symptoms started to get better."
18
17
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
"Topos narrow so insanely in the midfoot it’s insane. I grabbed the ultraventure 4s and had the worst foot pain ever because my feet were just hanging off the sides."
"the midfoot was way too narrow ... The worst part was the awful midfoot. ... Some "normal" shoes have a wider midfoot."
8
20
"For me the Terraventure 4 had the worst pronounced arch. Paired with the narrower midfoot and need to tighten the top of the laces for better heel hold, it caused me to commonly have more pressure(on the arch) and pain during runs with that model."
"I tried Topo mtn racer3s last week and they had the traction I want but they blistered my arches on all 3 of the runs I did in them."
"the high arch bothered one of my feet and gave me PF."
0
1
"they hold SO MUCH WATER. ... They are not waterproof, but they don’t drain very well. ... I wish they drained better."
"they hold SO MUCH WATER. ... They are not waterproof, but they don’t drain very well. ... I wish they drained better."
"they hold SO MUCH WATER. ... They are not waterproof, but they don’t drain very well. ... I wish they drained better."
20
20
"PT 5 US size 10.5 is still not enough for me ... while size 11 is okay but with heel slip."
"they made them much more narrow across the mid foot and I could barely pull them on."
"the midfoot was way too narrow ... The worst part was the awful midfoot. ... Some "normal" shoes have a wider midfoot."
9
20
"Ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time in my life that I really think is related to the high arch support."
"Ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time in my life that I really think is related to the high arch support."
"I tried Topo mtn racer3s last week and they had the traction I want but they blistered my arches on all 3 of the runs I did in them."
fakecascade 1.0Have you ran in the early MTN racers? I have had issues with rolled ankles other than the MTN racer 1 which I has so so so many with, and have steered clear of TOPO since. Wondering if there has been been a change in stability since then
Gummmbeee 1.0I use Topo MTN Racer shoes. In Australia they're not cheap, but no more than all the other brands. Uphill running is just hard work. Don't try to race it (yet) just short steps and grind your way up. Yes your legs and lungs will burn, but that's the overload that is necessary to get the strength and fitness. Downhill running needs care and technique to avoid injury from falling. Run with short quick steps. Try not to put the brakes on to slow yourself because that actually needs MORE traction, which is in limited supply on steep hills. You have to run with gravity a bit. It's scary. You need the short steps so you can change direction to dodge bad spots or find the less slippery spots. Good luck! Enjoy your trail running, it's worth it!
I get 1200km out of Topo Mountain Racers before the Vibram has lost most of its grip
I've been thru Topo Hydroventure, Ultraventure 1/2/3, MTN Racer 1/2/3/4. The UV3's lost the outer/lug grip plot, the MTN3's felt like running in floppy support-free canvas bags (the MTN4's are a return to form). I haven't tried the Vistas yet. What I'm concerned about with the Vistas is catching little rocks in that split heel just like Saucony Peregrines do. Did you experience this in your run test? Other than that, the lugs are the same as the MTN4's, right?
Human_Morning_72 1.0The original Mtn Racer (2018-2019) was so clutch. Then they changed the soles and I lost interest...
AbominableSnowman69 0.1I can imagine that the MTN Racers would be a good ultra shoe, I do own them but I've never ran an ultra, full disclaimer. But they are a wide and stable shoe with plenty of cushion, but not so much that they lack any ground feeling. The vibram is super versatile too and they are surprisingly fine on less technical segments of trail or even the odd road link up.
Topo Athletic MTN Racer - 5mm drop, foot shaped with a huge toebox, vibram, mid-high stack, not the lightest but very durable and versatile. They also have 3 and 0mm drop shoes in the lineup. Otherwise would look at Inov8, Scarpa, Salomon. Scarpa Ribelle Run or similar could be good although I haven't tried them. Or Salomon Thundercross. If you get on with zero drop then Inov8, maybe Altra.
AggravatingStage8906 0.1Have you looked at the Topo lineup of shoes? Same wide toe box, same 0mm drop options. I have a bunch of them. Some zero drop, some 3 and 5mm drops. The only thing I don't like about Topos is that I hate ortho-lite insoles so I swap in super feet insoles instead. But that is probably an issue in most trail shoes since they try to go lightweight.
Topo does the wide toe box. My Ultraventures have a 5mm drop, Terraventures have a 3mm drop and there is also the mtnracer model as well (haven't tried that one yet).
allthegear-andnoidea 0.1My friend, it was truly excruciating on the trail - I'm so glad someone else has experienced it! Both the MTN Racer and the Terraventure gave me grief. I managed to solve it on The West Highland Way with the toe caps. I've ordered the GOATs half a size up. Did you go wide or standard?
AlveolarFricatives 0.1Topo Terraventures and Mtn Racers are also great trail shoes with a wide toe box. Low drop but not zero drop, so an easier transition from Brooks. And Topos last way longer than Altras in my experience. Was only getting 400 miles on Altras and I get close to 600 miles on Topos.
Weird! I have flat feet and Topos don’t bother me at all. I’ve definitely experienced that high arch feeling in other shoes, but never Topos (and I have 6 different models of them!)
arcticamt6 0.1If you are looking at Topos, just know that the MTN racer has a narrower toebox than the ultraventure. Mtn racer didn't work for me but ultraventures do.
AvocadosAndOcean 0.1You might have luck with Brooks Catamount or Cascadias! They both are fairly narrow and have a protective rock plate. I also love Topo Mtn Racers- they have a wider toe box but are narrower everywhere else, and they have vibram soles with great traction. As a general heads up, I have narrow feet too and swear by heel lock lacing- it’s been a game changer and prevents a lot of heel slipping!
baddspellar 0.1My podiatriast recommended I try Topo shoes because I have bunions and other forefoot issuss. I bought the Mountain Racer. They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. My feet haven't felt so good in years.
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