Topo Vista Review | Great Cushion and Grip, But There’s a Catch

With its max stack height and trail-ready sole, the Topo Vista is designed help you endure and persist during high-mileage, technical days and mountain traverses. Our review of this ultra and trail shoe!
These might not be your fastest footwear, but the thick cushion will keep you moving. Additionally, their foot-shaped profile allows the toes to spread (or swell) comfortably in the spacious toebox while the narrower heel reduces foot movement.

These shoes are great companions for mountain traverses, double run days, runs on tired legs, long rocky scrambles, back-to-back ultra training, and any high-mileage trail runs.

Topo Vista Overview

When I consider which shoe to tackle a mountain traverse, I’m less concerned about speed than my ability to persist. The right running shoes can reduce discomfort and make it easier to attempt longer distances.

The Topo Vista’s maximum cushion reduces the impact of running and makes high-mileage days easy on the feet. While the science may say more cushion could lead to landing heavier, that seems to be very person dependent. Our feet and legs appreciated what the Vista brought to the trail.

But this comfortable ride has some trade-offs compared to shoes with a shorter stack, such as the Topo MTN Racer.

Both trail runners have a natural foot-shaped shoe with a slight heel drop. Both shoes offer aggressive Vibram soles that can contend with varied terrain. Both shoes have a dynamic rocker design. But running in these shoes offers two different experiences.If you value reducing the impact of your runs and love a max cushion shoe, the Topo Vista will provide the comfy run you desire.

Beneath the insole are layers of Zipfoam cushioning. The Zipfoam is both cushioned and responsive. The thick sole feels surprisingly light, and the shoe’s dynamic rocker allows for faster movement than you may expect from a maximally cushioned shoe.

But all that cushion reduced ground feel and my ability to respond to some technical terrain.

A few times, I felt my ankle wobble as it worked to stabilize the shoe on the uneven granite rocks and steep, slick descents. I needed to select my steps carefully to avoid being caught between rocks. Over time, my foot placement improved, but it still required concentration.While I may never select these shoes for a downhill race, I plan to wear them during long trail runs and mountain traverses. The Topo Vista’s impact-damping cushion should allow me to accumulate the miles I need to accomplish my trail-running goals.

These shoes are delightfully and unapologetically trail running shoes. They have a delicate colorway, fun faded design on the sole, and a playful large logo on upper. Their stack height, hefty tread, and rocker design announce that you are headed for an epic adventure.

Topo Vista Fit & Feel

Finding your ideal running shoe fit involves much more than your shoe size. You must also consider you foot’s shape.

Traditional running shoes narrow at the top of the toe. Most runners do not experience problems with this shape. However, if you have wide feet or your feet are broadest near the toes, this can result in discomfort and more serious problems. A tight toe box may cause black toenails, calluses, and bunions.  My feet are shaped like a frog’s, and I’ve experienced all of these issues.

Frequently, sizing up or selecting a wider size does not solve the problem. If the shoe is too loose, the foot moves in the shoe and increases the risk of falling. Loose shoes may also cause blisters and black toenails as the feet slam into the front of the shoe.

For me, the answer is finding a shoe, like the Topo Vista, that is snug around my ankle and roomier in the front. The Vista has the “Topo fit” – and is one of the reasons I love this brand.

Topos’ wider toebox allows the feet to swell or spread, especially during long runs. Even runners with slimmer, less amphibian-shaped feet should appreciate the extra space.

The heel is securely fitted, preventing chaffing and blisters. Additional cushioning around the heel makes this fit very comfortable. This combination of a roomy toebox and a secure heel should make all but the most narrow feet rejoice.

The Topo Vista has a well-ventilated upper made from a thin, sturdy fabric. In comparison, the Topo MTN Racer has a more cushioned and flexible upper.

Additionally, The Vista’s thin tongue is minimally padded, but the MTN Racer has a thickly padded tongue. Both shoes have a tongue attached inside, preventing the tongue from moving during runs and keeping debris out.

I have high arches and found the Vista’s slim upper better suited for my high-volume feet than the MTN Racer. The oval lacing felt secure and is attached to the tongue in four places. I could secure it tightly, and I expect that runners with lower-profile feet should not experience foot movement within these shoes.

Another important consideration for shoe fit and feel is the heel drop. Topos have a 5mm drop – my preferred drop. The heel-to-toe drop measures the difference between a shoe’s heel and forefoot.

Topo Vista In Water

Days of spring rain gave me ample opportunities to test these shoes under wet conditions.  Despite deep puddles, muddy trails, and swollen streams, my feet dried between dousings.

The Vistas are not waterproof. And that’s great! Waterproof trail running shoes are useful in the winter, but most of the year, I prefer shoes that dry quickly.

Waterproofing reduces ventilation, resulting in sweaty toes. If submerged, the shoes trap the water inside.

For wet conditions, I prefer shoes, like the Vista, that shed water rapidly. The Vista’s upper has strategic perforations to increase air circulation and water drainage.

Additionally, Topo has made a unique water-resistant sole that dries rapidly. This slightly stiff and nubbly sole refuses to hold water. Other shoe soles may become sponges, but even after a hefty soaking, my feet dried quickly.

But the Vista’s pillow-like stack is less nimble, especially when navigating rocky trails. Runners who careen down mountain trails may prefer a lower stack shoe, like the MTN Runner, which offers more stability and responsiveness.

Who Tried It?

Becky Trudeau lives in New Hampshire and enjoys trail running in the mountains near her home. She has completed multiple half marathons, a mountain marathon, and a 50k with 7,000 feet of elevation. When not running, you may find her mountain biking, backcountry touring, cross-country skiing, or reading a mystery