Topo Traverse 2 Review | A Surprisingly Nimble Shoe for Rugged Trails

Built like a trail running shoe, the Traverse 2 is Topo’s relatively lightweight thru-hiking shoe, designed to handle hardcore, technical terrain with its signature full-toe box, 5mm drop, and Vibram® Megagrip outsole.

The Traverse is Topo’s hybrid hiking and trail running shoe, with the second edition tilting a bit more towards the hiking universe, supposedly.

Everything I read about them gave me the idea they would be the short, full-toebox, low-drop version of the hardy hiking boots I had to wear as a teen.

I had images in my mind of trudging down the trail in heavy shoes with a heavy pack, wishing I had my trail shoes. Thankfully, my imagination did not match reality. 

These shoes challenged my expectations at nearly every turn. They are durable and sturdy enough to take me way further than my legs can go, while feeling spry every step of the way. If I feel like frolicking, these shoes don’t hold me back.

For those looking for a stable thru-hike shoe that lets you stay nimble, or a tough trail running shoe for particularly gnarly trails (looking at you, fellow East Coast trail runners), this might be the shoe for you:

This shoe is great for crossing river rocks in the pouring rain, climbing over roots, traipsing through waving grasses, scrambling up boulders, and barreling down scree.

Topo Traverse 2 Overview

When I first slid on the shoes, I noticed the unique texture of the FKT insoles, an upgrade from the first edition. They are made of a closed-cell beaded foam that helps the shoes drain water quickly, and they feel almost a little bit sandy or pebbly.

I got used to it over time, but it was really striking at first. The next thing I noticed is the cradle-like nature of the stability elements. My heel has a perfect little basket to hold it. 

After reading many other reviews online, I set out on my first test adventure fully expecting to just go on a nice hike in the woods, looking for every boulder to scramble and puddle of mud to clomp through, but certainly not running.

I was shocked to find that the shoes do not limit my movement whatsoever, and they also feel more lively to me than two of my other trail running shoes, the Altra Timp 6 and Topo Pursuit 3. 

What makes some people feel these shoes lean a bit more in the hiking direction are the upgrades from the inaugural edition. The fabric is sturdier, the collar liner was improved, a rock plate was added, and there is a new FKT insole (more on that later). 

In terms of the fabric, it now has a high abrasion mesh upper that is tough enough to withstand the demands of the trail. It is designed to keep as much dirt out as possible, without sacrificing too much breathability. 

The Traverse line has a serious cult following with thru-hikers, and the first version was recognized by The Trek with a “Best Gear Award.”

I absolutely love the women’s clay/tan colorway. I’m a sucker for anything in the sunset mauve to dusky rose family. The hefty lugs make the shoes feel a little funny to wear casually, but they are cute enough that I am happy to wear them as much as possible.

Plus, my trail shoes inevitably get completely caked with mud, and I know that these will look just fine once I clean them up, unlike my shoes with white or pale blue colorways that will never look fresh again no matter how many times I wash them.

Topo Traverse 2 Fit

Length: True to size
Width: Regular
Toe Box: Wide, high volume
Arch: Supportive, firm
Volume: High

The shoes fit exactly like all my other Topos and Altras with one major exception: the toe box has a lot of vertical space.

I’m used to the lateral space in Topo and Altra shoes, but the ample vertical space comes as a surprise. I was concerned toes would jam into the front of the shoes on downhills, but thankfully the ankle and heel are very secure and prevent any slippage.

I did find that I had to tighten the laces more than normal to make sure the midfoot was cozy. Thankfully, all the extra space means my feet don’t feel cramped after many hours or days on the trail. 

There is a medium amount of cushion, but I don’t really notice it because the outsole is so firm. The squishiest part of the foam is under the heel, and then it is firmer around the arch, for ideal stability if you’re carrying a heavy pack or standing around for a while.

My biggest concern going into testing was that the shoe would be rigid, but I am delighted to say it is very flexible. 

The tongue and collar are padded and come up a bit higher than my road and trail running shoes. I imagine this design adds to the stability and also prevents trail debris from getting into the shoe, but it is an area I’m concerned about chafing during really long efforts. 

Topo Traverse 2 Feel

At a whopping 9.2 oz for the women’s model, I was expecting the shoe to feel like a brick, but I was wrong, though that might just be because of the funky way my brain works. In my mind, a heavy shoe is also a shoe that is not flexible.

So for me, the fact that my feet can freely articulate through each stride makes the shoe feel a lot lighter than it really is. Magic! 

Ankles do so much work on technical trails, and I love that these hybrid shoes have a collar short enough for my ankles to move and groove with the terrain. There is a distinct lack of bounce, which seems just fine for a hiking shoe but a little sad for a trail running shoe. 

Another surprising aspect of this shoe for me is the drop. I’m a 4-5mm drop girlie, with some zero drops sprinkled in, so I consider myself really familiar with the feeling of low-to-no drop shoes. And let me tell you, these shoes do not feel like the 5mm drop they claim to be.

Perhaps it’s the slight rocker feel, the variation in cushion density, or the cradle-shaped insole, but the drop feels much higher to me. 

The Topo Traverse 2 is definitely a shoe I’ll continue to reach for. I look back at many prior adventures and know they would have been so much better had I been wearing these shoes. I’ve made a wide range of footwear choices for epic hikes, and these are refreshing.

They take the best elements from both the hiking and trail running world, so I can totally see why they have a strong cult following!

What to read next?

• Best Gifts For Trail Runners | Trail Tested By Our Team
• Norda 005 Review | Lightweight, Built to Last Race Day Shoe
• On Cloudsoma Moc Review | The Post-Race Recovery Slip-On