Hey all! I’m back again from an extended blogging break! Teething, summer travels, house projects, and sleep training have a way of taking over your life! But we are still loving every minute of it and keeping each other focused on the awesome-ness that life has to offer. We take breaks when we can. We clear our plates when we’re really busy. And we remember that late night fussing that turns into early morning snuggling will all too soon be a thing of the past.
Recently, a new running store called Sole Focus opened up down the street from our house. We are huge champions for supporting local when possible, so when my Altras kicked the bucket I decided to check out what Sole Focus had to offer. I told them all about what I loved about Altra shoes (you can read about that here) and was directed toward their Topo shoes.
The story as I understand it goes as follows: Topo was designed by the same people who made Vibram shoes. They feature a low- or no-drop design with a roomier toe box, and are intended to be another market option for Altra lovers. I got sized, bought a pair, and couldn’t wait to try them out.
I’ve had them for a couple weeks now, and this is my impression:
Fit
These shoes don’t fit the same as my Altras (because they aren’t Altras, duh!), but they feel pretty good through the arch and heel. The tongue doesn’t move and the laces do not pinch my foot.
The toe box does not allow as much room as I’ve grown accustomed to. The sole of the shoe does not allow as much flexibility as I’ve grown accustomed to.
Feel
The rebound through the sole massages my arch while walking and makes me feel like I have some spring in my step! They are fairly breathable, but don’t take on water as easily as my Altras did.
Performance
Running in these shoes feels…alright. Because my toes are not able to spread as much as I’m used to (especially my right foot), I usually start feeling my feet cramp up between 2-3 miles. That makes my calves get tight and affects my stride. I haven’t been able to take these out on a run longer than 2-3 miles because my feet are actually going numb and it’s really uncomfortable. Walking feels better than running, but even then I’m feeling uncomfortable after about 2 miles. Wearing them around the house has the same effect-after an hour or so I’m getting pins and needles down to my toes.
Final Verdict
For someone who hasn’t used Altras and doesn’t desire as much toe space, Topo can be a great option as an in-between shoe: It’s the step between traditional running shoe design and free-foot design. It’s got a bit more support than Altras, so that may work out really well for those who need some more form to their shoes.
For me? Well, they aren’t such a good fit (no pun intended). They feel better to wear short-term than my completely dead old shoes, but at the end of the day I’m still more comfortable with more room for my toesies.
I’ll be switching back to Altra for sure. Unfortunately, Sole Focus doesn’t currently carry Altra so I won’t be able to support them with my shoe purchases. ***UPDATE: GREAT news, local Altra lovers: Sole Focus is now carrying Altra as of Feb 2017!!! So go get your shoes, y’all!!*** Sole Focus does have FABULOUS return policies, though I haven’t fully decided if I want to return my Topos or not. They’re not bad shoes, they are just seriously not a good shoe for me.
So, what do you look for in a shoe? Are you in the market for a new shoe purchase? Sole Focus does carry a number of running supplies for serious athletes and weekend warriors, so I’d definitely check them out if you’re in the downtown Staunton area.
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