Article by Dom Layfield and Dominique Winebaum
Topo MT-5 ($130)
Introduction
Dom L: My first encounter with Topo Athletic goes all the way back to the MT-2, which I reviewed glowingly back in March 2016, and wore in several races. Since then, the shoe has gone through several iterations (MT-3, MT-4), gaining a little stack height, weight and structure, and crystallizing its identity as a hybrid road-to-trail shoe.
The latest revision mixes things up a bit, as stack height is raised slightly (now 28/23 mm, previously 25/22 mm) and heel-to-toe drop increases to 5 mm (from 3 mm). Despite the extra height, weight is usefully down: my sample pair of US M10 weighed 270 g (9.5 oz) per shoe, down from 310 g (11 oz) for MT-4.
The shoe is completely revamped, with new upper, new midsole, new outsole rubber. In keeping with new emphasis on road-to-trail function, the new shoe is notably more rockered than before, providing a fast roll-off on road. The outsole is also less aggressively lugged, making for a smoother road experience. Sticker price is up very slightly from $125 to $130, which seems very reasonable, and less than inflation.
Dom L: The new MT-5 is a highly capable, refined road-to-trail shoe. Like all Topo Athletic shoes, it has a roomy toe box, but maintains a snug midfoot and heel. Ride is on the firm side, which helps with stability. More than anything, I was struck by how everything feels unobtrusively ‘just right’: the shoe felt nicely shaped to my foot, and performed great both on and off road.
Dominique: Like Dom, I am a big fan of the Topo brand and though I have tested a series of models in the trail/hiking category, the MT-5 is my first introduction to the model. Dom has described eloquently and in much detail the MT-5, along with comparing it extensively to its predecessor. Unlike Dom, I am primarily a hiker and a walker versus purely a trail runner, and when I trail run, it is mostly on easy trails and fairly short distances. I also fit into the category of “deluded” RTR contributors (as described by Dom), as a 5 mm drop is a happy medium for me while I don’t frown upon a higher drop!
Back in April I tested the MTN Racer 3 (RTR Review), and last September the first edition of the Traverse (RTR Review) a primarily low top sturdy hiker with secondary trail running use. In short, the Traverse has become my designated low top hiker in lieu of the MTN Racer, which I first tested in 2019 and last year.
I have been “switching gears” given the many options from Topo footwear, and I continue to do so after receiving the MT-5. As the occasional trail runner who has been wearing the MT-5 for over a month, walking road and trail, the MT-5 is indeed a great fit for me with its hybrid platform, colorful appeal, and comfortably lightweight.
Pros:
Nice and light, with useful weight saving over previous generation. [Dom]
Rockered sole rolls well on the road. [Dom/Dominique]
Still capably grippy on trail. [Dom]
Foot retention is excellent. I had no problems, even on steep descents. [Dom]
Increased heel-to-toe drop of 5 mm probably makes shoe more mainstream. [Dom]
Entry-level trail runner with a hybrid platform/Dominique
Lightweight/Dominique
Attractive looking in my Emerald/Pink colorway sample/Dominique
Stain resistant – upper is still looking good after several weeks of wear/Dominique
Comfortable and secure fit/Dominique
Good value/Dominique
5 mm drop/Dominique
Cons:
Increased heel-to-toe drop is not a win for everyone. Personally, I’d be happier with 3 mm of previous MT-4 [Dom]
A bit on the firm side/Dominique
Stats
Spec. Weight: men's 9.3 oz / g (US9) / women's 7.7 oz / g (US7)
Sample: 9.5 oz / 270 g (US M10)
Stack Height: men’s 28 mm heel / 23 mm forefoot (5 mm drop)
$130. Available Feburary 2024.
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Dom L: The MT-5 has classic Topo fit. Wide forefoot and snug midfoot. Generally Topo shoes are also characterized by low heel-to-toe drop. With a 5mm drop, the MT-5 is at the upper end of what Topo produces. Personally, I don’t see the need for a large drop, and particularly for trail shoes, I think it can be a significant disadvantage (increases the apparent steepness on downhills, driving toes into the end of the shoe, and high heel makes the shoe less stable) without any clear advantage. That said, I know many deluded runners – RTR reviewers among them – who like a big drop. And sadly, this likely remains the majority of the population, so having a 5mm drop shoe is probably a savvy play from Topo.
Dom L: Otherwise the shoe is impressively light for a non-race focussed shoe, with a smooth fine-woven upper fabric, reinforced discreetly by underlays hidden inside the shoe. During my first run, I was surprised and pleased that the cushioning was on the firm side. This slightly diminishes comfort on asphalt, but this is more than compensated for by enhanced stability on-trail. (I found the Topo MTN Racer 3, which many RTR reviewers gushed over, a little on the mushy side, which does not inspire confidence on uneven, technical terrain.) Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised by the trail manners of the shoe. Even on steep descents, my foot did not slide forward in the shoe, and the shoe felt sure-footed and predictable.
Lightweight upper fabric is reinforced by carefully-placed underlays visible inside the shoe.
Dominique: Out of the box I was thrilled about the Emerald/Pink color of the MT-5 which has proved to be very dirt resistant unlike the Ice/Blue of my MTN Racer 3, which stained right away after trail running in them on dusty trails in Park City.
As expected with Topo, the fit is true to size and very comfortable with the Topo trademark anatomical and broad toe box.
The MT-5 is “impressively light” as Dom has described, which adds to the comfort level of the shoe.
The upper is protective but with a design that is slightly less supportive (and bulky) than the MTN Racer 3's – both the collar and heel counter are less rigid, yet I find that the foolhold is very secure and the comfort level is excellent.
Midsole & Platform
Dom L: I’ve previously been ambivalent about Topo’s proprietary ZipFoam. I’ll take light and bouncy any day, but in the MTN Racer 3, the midsole has felt soft and mushy. Not so here. Whether due to a lower stack, or a stiffer foam formulation, the MT-5 midsole feels spot on. On road it leans a little firm, but on-trail, the shoe is impressively stable. There’s enough cushioning for most runners, running most distances.
Outsole
Dom L: Previous generations of the MT-5 have used a more overtly trail-focused outsole. For the MT-5, Topo have opted for more of a hybrid road/trail outsole, with wider, shallower lugs, and more exposed midsole. Consequently, I was expecting trail grip to be compromised, and indeed it is. The diminished lugging means that the shoe is more vulnerable to the ‘ball-bearing effect’ on loose sandy surfaces, and probably won’t be fantastic in the snow either. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised at how sure-footed the shoe felt on trail.
Dominique: I value the hybrid platform of the MT-5 especially when it comes to the outsole. I enjoy the feel of a “mellow” grip design when transitioning from trail to road on my walks. As an easy going trail runner, the outsole does the job for me.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Dom L: As I mentioned above, the MT-5 rides a little on the firm side of the road. But it is still very pleasant to run in. There is more forefoot rocker than is common in trail shoes, making the shoe roll nicely forward during the transition to toe-off. On trail, the MT-5 is also excellent: the firmer ride makes the shoe feel super stable and predictable.
Dom L: To my mind, the MT-5 is unexpectedly greater than the sum of its parts. Any shoe that purports to be a road-trail hybrid is vulnerable to criticism given the inevitalbe compromises involved in trying to optimize for disparate uses. The MT-5 is a decent, but not outstanding road shoe. And it is a capable, but not outstanding tail shoe. Additionally I was predisposed against the MT-5 since Topo chose to increase the drop from 3 to 5 mm. In practice, that didn’t bother me: in fact, I really enjoyed the shoe. When I travel, I often don’t know what surfaces I’m going to end up running on, and usually bring a pair of shoes that can perform well on both road and trail. In this respect, I have to say that the MT-5 may be the best yet. Kudos to the Topo Athletic team.
Dominique: After testing the MTN Racer 3, I did not expect that I would be so enthusiastic about another trail model from Topo. Clearly, the MT-5 appeals to me for its hybrid platform both as a trail shoe and a walking shoe. It is well priced at $130. I would recommend it to any entry-level trail runner who plans to run on smooth trails and to those looking for more of a great looking all-around shoe, which is also great for walking, versus a pure trail runner.
Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Dom L: The latest revision mixes things up a bit, as stack height is raised slightly (now 28/23 mm, previously 25/22 mm) and heel-to-toe drop increases to 5 mm (from 3 mm). Despite the extra height, weight is usefully down: my sample pair of US M10 weighed 270 g (9.5 oz) per shoe, down from 310 g (11 oz) for MT-4.
The shoe is completely revamped, with new upper, new midsole, new outsole rubber. In keeping with new emphasis on road-to-trail function, the new shoe is notably more rockered than before, providing a fast roll-off on road. The outsole is also less aggressively lugged, making for a smoother road experience. Sticker price is up very slightly from $125 to $130, which seems very reasonable, and less than inflation.
Inov-8 Trailfly G 270 (RTR Review)
Dom L: Not technically a road-trail hybrid shoe, the G270 is nevertheless surprisingly comfortable on-road, and a shoe that I often pack for travel.
Hoka Challenger 7 (RTR Review)
Dom L: The Challenger 7 is an interesting comparison, because Hoka markets it as road-to-trail. It has a similar 5 mm heel-to-toe drop, but with more stack height (31/26 mm vs MT-5’s 28/23 mm). The strongest point of the Challenger is its outstanding cushion-to-weight ratio. Its biggest weakness is that the heel feels gigantic, whereas the MT-5 heel is unobtrusive. If you have a narrow foot, the Hoka might suit you better. The more heavily cushioned Challenger can go longer distances, but the MT-5 is more stable, and a better choice for everyday running.
MT-5 available February 2024
Dom 51, trains and competes mainly on trails in Southern California. In 2017 he was 14th at Western States 100 and in 2018 finished 50th at UTMB and 32nd at the 2018 Los Angeles marathon in a time of 2:46. In 2019, his only notable finish was at the multi-day Dragon’s Back race in the UK. In 2022 Dom finished 4th in the Angeles Crest 100 and was 10th in his age group at UTMB.
Dominique has run for over 40 years, consistently about 25 miles per week at paces between 10 and 11 minute miles and once a week down in the mid 9 minute miles. She races rarely, but always surprises more hard core runners in her age group when she does. She has a 1985 marathon PR of 3:16 in her second marathon which at the time put her on the top 10 Swiss women’s lists. An avid hiker and trekker, she has been around Mont Blanc 3 times, hiked Chamonix to Zermatt, and completed the 48 New Hampshire 4000 footers. She is the mother of two grown children, both runners post college, and also enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, tennis, and gardening.
EUROPE Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
These look like Cyclone 1 or Fly-lite 4 with trail-worthy upper and outsole. Any underfoot/performance similarities with one or the other?
ReplyDeleteI’ve had the Mt-3 which had quality control issues but was brilliant for mixed surface runs and i loved the midsole feel. I have the MT-4 which i also love but adding the vibram litebase outsole made it less cushioned and versatile, but better on trails to the point that i prefer it to the mtb racer 2. Really looking forward to this next iteration of a superb shoe.
ReplyDelete«That said, I know many deluded runners – RTR reviewers among them – who like a big drop. And sadly, this likely remains the majority of the population, so having a 5mm drop shoe is probably a savvy play from Topo»
ReplyDeleteA wise man said this. Sad, but true..
Some people are not able to run long distances in zero drop / low drop shoes. I did nearly everything to get into zero drop shoes (strengthening, stretching, easing into it over half a year and starting all over again and not running more than 3 miles at a time during this period) but my peroneal /achilles tendons act up really soon on my left leg. As soon as im back to brooks everything clears up in 2-3 weeks and i can do 20 km runs with elevation gain no problem. I would love to run in altras because i have fat wide feet and i dont find any shoes that fit them. Zero drop / low drop is not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great update, except for the shallow beveled lugs: Putting those on the Ultraventure ruined the shoe and made it borderline dangerous on wet or slippery surfaces.
ReplyDeleteDom comparing this shoe to the Altra Superior, how is the midsole different and is it as flexible? I’ve run most daily runs in the Superior for years and this looks like somewhat of a comparable shoe.
ReplyDelete