Article by Sam Winebaum
Topo Athletic Phantom 4 ($145)
Introduction
The Phantom is Topo’s best selling shoe. It is a daily trainer featuring Topo’s signature anatomical broad toe box, a soft and quite energetic Zip Foam EVA/TPU midsole foam and moderate (in these times of max and super max towers of foam) stack height of 35mm heel / 30mm forefoot.
Releasing May 2025, the Phantom adds 2mm more stack height of a slightly softer Zip Foam and a new outsole design while staying the same in weight at 9.2 oz / 260g in my US8.5 sample. The result is a pleasant softer riding but not mushy or energy sapping, wonderfully fitting (any foot shape should be happy here), option for moderate pace runs and fitness walking. Let’s get into the details in this initial review with a full multi tester review to come soon.
Pros:
Rare: secure comfortable fit for just about any foot shape and volume: Sam
Versatile and friendly daily trainer: fun, soft but not mushy with a decently energetic ride: Sam
Ideal recovery runs option and fitness walking shoe due to flexibility, comfort and cushion: Sam
Reasonable Stack Height: 35/30 with plenty of cushion and flexibility: Sam
Lowish 5mm drop done right: no low heel feel at any pace: Sam
New outsole adds some well integrated response, front stability and a bit of a rocker: Sam
Fairly Priced: $145 for quality construction, versatility and comfort: Sam
Cons:
By 2025 standards for its stack height. it is somewhat heavy, a supercritical foam would bring weight down but might bring the price up.
Most comparable shoes
Brooks Ghost Max 2
New Balance Fresh Foam 880
ASICS Cumulus 27
Saucony Ride
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.45 oz / 268g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 9.2 oz / 260g US8.5 (v3: 9.18 oz / 260g US8.5)
Stack Height: men’s 35mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
As always, that Topo fit! The broad anatomical toe box immediately stands out as it always does with Topo shoes. Always seemingly too broad, with the upper too unstructured to hold my narrow to medium feet, their uppers always work for me with notable comfort and all over hold and here in the latest Phantom, as always I have a great fit that balances room and lock down just right.
The mesh is not particularly thin but soft and pliable.
Topo never has a gusset on their tongues instead relying here on a lightly padded but substantial tongue with their trademark dual lace cord loops just before the final lace up holes. This approach keeps the tongue in place and helps tie the midfoot to the rear of the shoe.
The ankle collars are moderately padded with an external pliable molded piece near the top edge which extends from the lace up area all the way around the semi rigid heel counter area.
So instead of the usual rigid heel counter then soft and often unsupportive areas forward, Topo puts moderate and effective support all the way from the rear of the shoe to the lace up.
It absolutely works with no heel slip and plenty of support without making the rear of the shoe over rigid.
Of course the famous Topo anatomical toe box! Plenty of room and hold for just about any foot shape or volume. The hold is assured in what is essentially an unstructured front of the shoe by quite rigid long but thankfully vertical toe bumper with a small but high off the toes short curvature back.
All in all a superb upper for a comfort focused moderate to slower paces daily trainer
Midsole & Platform
The midsole is Topo’s ZipFoam, an EVA TPU blend which for the Phantom 4 is softer and this was noted in test. The midsole balances softness with enough responsive bounce to not feel mushy and energy sapping. We do not have confirmation yet but v3 was a dual density Zip Foam but here by feel (flexibility and consistency underfoot) and with 2mm more stack height at the same weight as v3 I suspect we have single density midsole.
While not a supercritical foam as many 2025 are now getting for their energy return and lighter weights, Zip Foam can still hold its head high as one of the best EVA blends out there. It is somewhat more controlled and consistent in feel than Saucony’s all TPU PWRRUN+, less dull and energy sapping as I mostly find New Balance’s Fresh Foam. It is less springy in feel but softer than adidas Dreamstrike PEBA blends and more forgiving than adi’s Lightstrike 2.0. It feels most similar to Diadora’s Anima foam, if a bit softer.
The platform is “reasonable” in stack height at 35/30 and in platform width at 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot.
We go up 2mm in stack height over v3 but remain out of the domain of max and super max cushion stack heights with their stiffer flexes and less stable rides.
There is plenty of friendly cushion here, nice flexibility for easier runs (and walking) without overdoing it. I particularly appreciate that, while a 5mm drop, the heel does not feel low even at slower paces as the transitions are smooth and easy off the rear.
Outsole
The outsole moves to fuller more linear upfront coverage and a more decoupled rear to ease landings. Both changes in design are clearly felt and especially up front where the outsole clearly provides some “not in your face” response and even a mild rocker to go with plenty of flexibility.
The rubber thickness may be somewhat thinner than before but if our experience with similar Topo outsoles in the Cyclone 2 and Specter 2 hold true, and we think it will, durability should be just fine.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: Seeking a softer riding, moderate to slower paces daily trainer (or walking shoe) with an extremely comfortable broad toe box uppers that by miracle seems to fit all shapes of feet while holding the rest of the foot so well? The refined, great fitting, now softer and slightly higher stack height Phantom 4 is a top choice.
It fits nicely in the Topo line up between the same stack height, more uptempo focused and about 1 oz lighter Specter 2 (RTR Review) with its PEBAX midsole and the 3mm higher stack but stiifer and somewhat firmer and Atmos (RTR Review), the long run shoe in the line up.
For the faster runner it is an ideal “recovery” run shoe but it is not limited to that. For many, it can be a solid choice as a daily trainer if you prefer a softer ride and one, unlike many “soft” shoes, that did not have me bogged down or sinking even at slower paces. This is due to its flexibility, midsole geometry and new outsole.design which helps stabilize and provides well integrated front toe off response. And all of these strengths for running make it an excellent fitness walking shoe as well.
“Little” Topo is growing fast and for good reasons with anatomical fitting shoes with plenty of room yet great hold and pleasant yet effective rides. The first few Phantom were quite stiff and quite firm and not that much fun to run, bordering on stability shoes. Version 3 was a big improvement and here in version 4 they refine yet further to slot the Phantom 4 as the mellow riding daily trainer in their line up.
Initial Score: 9.15 / 10
Slight deductions for weight and more limited versatility beyond easy runs for me.
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Detailed comparisons to come in our multi tester review but most comparable shoes in my initial take are:
Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Review)- very similar in ride and purposes, considerably heavier with a heavier upper and a more dense less bouncy midsole, but close.
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v15 (RTR Review) - the 880 is higher stack height, firmer and stiffer and harder to turn over at slower paces. Lower volume upper with wides available.
ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 (RTR Review)- Cumulus is firmer ( less bouncy), stiffer and more responsive. Lower volume upper with wides available.
Saucony Ride 18- (RTR Review)- also TPU based (100%) so bouncy, the Ride is softer, higher drop at 8mm with the same 35mm heel height and not as rear stable.
Diadora Cellula (RTR Review)- more stable, slightly lower stack height, more energetic if a bit firmer, more versatile with a wider range of paces possible. $25 more expensive than the Topo with a lower volume upper.
The Topo Phantom 4 will be available May 2025
Watch our 2025 Topo Previews from The Running Event
Aura Stability, Phantom 4, New Vista Max Trail, MTN Racer 4
Tester Profile
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 53th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
How does the upper compare to the Phantom 3? Though I wear and love several other Topo models, found the 3 too soft and unstructured (I also weigh 215 lbs, so it might just not be enough shoe).
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