Topo Ultraventure 5 Review | A Trail Shoe Built for More Than Trails

Despite a few updates, the Topo Ultraventure 5 is still the quiver-killing shoe that can tackle trails, cross-country fields, and asphalt roads with comfort and grace.

This design includes a spacious toebox that allows toes to wiggle, and the cushioned upper and ankle hold the shoe firmly in place. The natural foot shape benefits most runners, but especially those with feet like mine – with wider toes and narrow heels.

The Ultraventure has a clean design and playful logo. I love the maroon and tan colorway. Trail shoes with darker colors show less dirt than lighter colors. 

Ready to find out more? Here’s what we found out in testing.

Topo Ultraventure 5 Overview

One of my favorite running shoes last year was the Ultraventure 4. After serving for hundreds of miles, my Ultraventures were demoted to yard shoes. Given my love for this model, I was excited to test this year’s Ultraventure 5.

Since the shoes arrived, I’ve tackled steep terrain, flat roads, gravel trails, and grassy fields with these shoes. These shoes transition seamlessly between the surfaces.

These days, I’m also assisting with the local cross-country team, and these are the perfect shoes for a cross-country spectator – they are lightweight, comfy, and grippy.

For years, I have preferred Topos because the shoes are well-made and have a natural foot shape, and these are no exception to that standard.

Topo Ultraventure 5 Fit

Length: True-to-size
Width: Roomy
Toe Box: Roomy
Arch: Medium
Volume: Medium-to-high

I love the Topo fit. These are the shoes I recommend to my friends and family because they offer a wide toe box and a locked-in heel.

This natural foot shape does not taper at the toe but allows the toes to splay. Research suggests that toe splay may improve balance and stability and may even improve running form.

During high mileage days, the wider toe box also allows space for swelling.

The Ultraventure 5’s fit differs slightly from the previous model. The natural foot shape – wide toe box and secure heel – is present in the Ultraventure 5s, but this version feels tighter behind the ball of my foot.

I suspect that the sole of the shoe narrows into the shoe’s waist sooner than the previous model. This shape could benefit runners with narrower heels.

For me, this created an initial hot spot that has since eased. 

The upper has thicker padding along the collar and tongue. This padding creates a snug heel and reduces friction from movement.

The extra padding felt great at first, but I noticed that during runs, my feet would occasionally move in the shoe as the padding compressed. 

Ultraventure’s tongue is well-cushioned to prevent pressure from the lacing. Furthermore, the tongue is secured with a gusset, which reduces the amount of debris entering the shoe. 

While Topo’s shape provides a secure fit, the laces did not. Usually, I like oval laces as they provide a good compromise between the security of flat laces and the longevity of round laces.

These laces were a little shorter than I prefer and were difficult to tie as tightly as I desired. 

These are small complaints, and overall these shoes feel fantastic on my feet. 

Topo Ultraventure 5 Feel

The Topo Ultraventure delivers a lightweight, cushy ride for miles. Its responsive outsole and playful rocker allow for quicker turnover.

The Ultraventure’s outsoles are constructed from Vibram’s XS Trek EVO. I’ve run in shoes with a variety of different outsoles and prefer a Vibram sole to most.

One ultramarathon I ran had us traversing a long, granite slab still damp with morning dew. I crossed it confidently in shoes with a Vibram sole, but two people behind me fell.

Ultraventure uses a Vibram tread designed to function across a variety of surfaces. It is both flexible and durable. The tread is also strategically placed on the sole to reduce the shoe’s overall weight.

Underfoot, the midsole felt softer than previous models. I enjoyed the reduced pounding and plusher ride – achieved without increasing the stack height.  The insole features an Ortholite high rebound foam, similar to the insole in the Ultraventure 4. These insoles maintain their shape over the lifetime of the shoe and are washable and breathable.

These shoes offer some trail-specific features, including a toe bumper, universal gaiter system, and the gusseted tongue.

As a clumsy runner, I appreciate shoes that lessen the impact when I inevitably kick a rock.

The Ultraventure 5’s upper is a little stiffer than last year’s, but it felt secure, not restrictive.

The perforations prevented swampy feet syndrome.

The retro-reflective logo on this year’s model is one of my favorite updates. As the hours of daylight diminish, more of my runs begin before dawn. It’s nice to have a little extra visibility on these early morning runs.

While the external design changed, the Ultraventure 5 retains the previous model’s moderately high stack height and lower drop. 

The Ultraventures have a medium-high stack of 35 mm. Extra foam absorbs shock and might reduce muscle fatigue as the miles accumulate.

But when I switch from a lower to a higher stack, I inevitably fall as I adjust to the reduced stability and ground feel. Usually I learn the shoes within a couple of weeks and can run without tripping. The Ultraventure stack of 35 is a sweet spot for me – lots of plush foam but not a lot of adjustment time. 

I’m also a fan of the lower drop on the Ultraventure 5. A lower drop height can improve running form and reduce the pounding on the knees. While zero-drop shoes are intriguing, the low drop makes my feet and form happiest. 

If a natural foot shape sounds appealing to you, Altra is another brand that crafts shoes with a wider toe box. The Lone Peak 9 has a similar contour with zero drop and a lower stack height. The outsole has Altra’s priority tread, MaxTrac, which uniformly covers the shoe’s bottom. (The Ultraventure combines their tread with a carefully placed Vibram outsole.) 

For me, I keep returning to Topo and Ultraventure in particular. I anticipate many happy miles in the Ultraventure 5.

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