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Topo Athletic Magnifly 3

Topo Athletic Magnifly 3 - Back to the basics

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I am a 42-year-old runner, about 170 pounds and 6’ 1” tall, and my feet are sized 12 (Brannock). I race all distances, from 5ks to Marathons, and spend at least half of my year training for an upcoming marathon.

First glance

The Magnifly 3 shoes appear to be very basic. They have a noticeably wide toe-box and a pretty even heel-to-toe drop. There is nothing fancy about these shoes at all.

They appear very reminiscent of the first versions of the Altra Escalante, except a little stiffer.

Preliminary fit

Shoe length

My feet are size 12 (Brannock). Size 12 in the Magnifly 3 seemed just a little long, but nothing major since I am always marathon training, and the extra space comes in handy on long runs.

Laces

I use a heel-locking tie, just like every other shoe I wear, since it keeps my heels cinched down. The laces are the perfect length when using all the eyelets and a heel-locking tie.

No need for double-knotting them, either, since the material comes together nicely. Only once did the laces come untied, and that was because I put the shoes on a little too hastily and did not tie them well.

Toe box

As I stated above, the toe-box is extra-wide. This is a welcome addition to most running shoes, as my toes had plenty of space to move around.

Upper

Very nice, breathable mesh upper. Again, very basic with nothing fancy.

Midsole

The midsole has two levels of foam density for cushioning: Near the foot is a little softer, and on the ground-side, it’s a little firmer.

Outsole

At the outset, I was a little concerned about the design of the outsole. It looks as if it won’t hold up to high mileage (my initial estimate was incorrect).

Weight

Again, there is just not much going on with these shoes – very basic. There is not much to worry about in the way of weight. They come in right at 10 ounces.

Heel & arch support

This is the first area of concern for me. While the shoes provide a nice molded foam collar and an “Ortholite” foam footbed, there just isn’t enough arch support for me. I could immediately tell that my feet would be prone to flatten in the arch.

After 200 miles

I gave the Magnifly 3 a full range of testing in my current marathon training cycle:

• Short runs (2-8 miles) at recovery pace
• Track speed work
• Fartlek and Hill Repeats on the streets
• Long runs

The shoes have held up quite nicely. It did not take very long for them to “break in” as they were flexible from the start. The shoes did not attract any additional moisture or dirt, as other shoes had.

I did have one problem: Because of the minimal arch support, I began feeling the pains of plantar fasciitis in my right foot. I could give the shoes the benefit of the doubt since I had not been running in zero-drop shoes prior to these, but the lack of arch-support is noticeable.

Performance

The Magnifly 3 is a very versatile shoe and capable of running any workout you might need. I was able to maintain track workout speeds as needed, and they held up nicely for a long run of 18+ miles with no issues.

Expected lifespan

At 200 miles, the Magnifly 3 still have lots of life left in them. I am several hundred miles from reaching the end of these; I anticipate a lifespan of 400-500 miles for these shoes.

Pros

• Simple structure
• Versatile
• Lightweight but long-lasting

Cons

• Minimal arch support

Final thoughts

If you are looking for a very simple, versatile running shoe with no frills, if you do not need major arch support, and if you are looking to throw a zero-drop shoe into your rotation, the Magnifly 3 is for you.

I will keep these in my rotation of trainers even after this test.

Topo Athletic Magnifly 3: My new go-to shoe for daily runs

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Disclaimer: I have received these shoes at no cost through runrepeat.com for an unbiased and objective review based on my expertise and usage of these shoes.

I have worn and reviewed both the Runventure 2 and the MTN Racer trail shoes from Topo Athletic, and both shoes impressed me. The build quality, neutral ride, low heel-toe drop, responsiveness, and roomy toe box are all things that I love about Topo Athletic.

And. I’m happy to say that these traits are all present in the Magnifly 3’s! Topo has an excellent road shoe that will help you devour distances of any length.

Magnifly 3’s right out of the box!

Magnifly 3’s after 50 miles

Design

Overall, it’s a pretty sleek and minimal looking design. These shoes are simple but well made. It doesn’t feel like Topo was cutting any corners when they put these shoes together!

Upper

The upper is amazing—very comfortable. I love that they decided to go all mesh, which makes for a cooler ride when it’s warm out.

There is a sturdier covering over the toes to stop your big toe from poking a hole through the upper. Also, there are no plasticky decals on the sides which can peel off.

There also isn’t any fancy lacing system, which I’m personally a fan of in a road shoe. When you’re running on the road, you don’t typically need to take a lot of sharp turns, so you don’t need to have the foot incredibly secure in the shoe.

You just need a shoe that keeps the sole against your foot as you move in a mostly straight line forward and doesn’t move around too much—both things this shoe does well.

I did, however, notice that these shoes are very easy to overtighten. In other shoes, the laces seem to redistribute the pressure as you run a bit, but these laces stay right where you left them. So, I had to retie them once or twice during my initial runs with them.

The all-mesh upper and substantial heel cup of the Magnifly 3’s after 50 miles of use

Midsole

Topo boasts a 2-density midsole as a new feature on the Magnifly 3’s. I haven't run in the Magnifly 2’s, so I can’t compare this midsole to the previous version, but these shoes have a pretty stellar cushioning system.

I didn’t love the cushioning right out of the box, especially compared to the three pairs of Altra’s Escalante’s I run through this year (Altra’s superb EGO midsole foam is their response to the Adidas Boost foam that started the “Foam Wars” for running shoes).

But, after about 10 steps, the cushioning felt great. It’s not bouncy or plush, but it’s substantial.

I did about 8 miles in these shoes, then raced a marathon in them. A few more longer runs followed this, and at no point in time during any of those runs did my feet feel like they needed more or better cushioning.

It’s stiffer than other running shoes, but I still found them comfortable and enjoyable.

Outsole

The main thing that matters on the outsole of a road shoe to me is durability. The outsoles here seem to be holding up very well after 50 miles.

Thus, I have no concerns about the outsole. It grips, it protects, and it works well.

Brand new Magnifly 3’s

Performance

These shoes don’t seem like they’d be really fast out of the box, but they are. The mildly stiff midsole allows for quite a lot of responsiveness and seems capable of capturing each and every step’s full potential.

If you’re a heel striker, these might not be a great shoe for you, as the stiffer sole and zero heel-toe drop would make for a more jarring ride. On the other hand, midfoot and forefoot strikers will be pleased!

Durability

I typically like to get about 400–500 miles out of my shoes before retiring them. A lot of that is based on how well the midsole foam holds up.

I only have 50 miles on these shoes, but they look like new and still feel incredibly responsive. I don’t foresee having any durability issues with these guys and expect to get 500 miles out of them.

Outsole after 50 miles

Fit & comfort

These are not the most comfortable running shoe you’ll when you first slip them on, but they shine when you start adding on the miles. The heel cup is sturdy and well-shaped to fit my heel and not allow for any slippage.

The big toe box isn’t clown-shoe sized like some Altra shoes, but it’s wide enough to give my foot a ton of comfort during a run of any length. I’m a big fan of the larger toe boxes in road shoes, and Topo did this one very well.

I wear a size 12 in most shoes, and these in size 12 fit me perfectly.

Best use

The Magnifly 3’s are on the slightly heavier side of running shoes, but they really don’t feel too heavy, especially considering how sturdy they are! They feel surprisingly quick for the weight, so I’d be fine with pacing marathons and half marathons in them.

However, I think these shoes will be best put to use as a trusted daily runner to have in your shoe quiver. If you have transitioned to a neutral, low-drop shoe for your road runs, then these are a great shoe for you!

Value

The Magnifly 3 retails for $120, which puts them in the middle range of new shoe prices. If you’re especially thrifty like me and usually shop the deals, then these are nearly twice the cost I typically pay for shoes.

Are they that good? I don’t think so, but they are very good. Topo is an extremely reputable company creating neutral, natural, and ethically made shoes, which are all things that I like to support. By purchasing these shoes over a deal, you are voicing your opinion for more shoes like this.

All that said, if it were my money, I’d probably get the now discounted and still excellent Magnifly 2’s. If you can find the 3’s at a discount, then snatch them up immediately.

Score & conclusion

These are excellent shoes. They shine as a daily runner, but they also feel fast enough that you wouldn’t mind racing in them!

They are sturdy, well made, and seem to be very durable so you’ll get all the miles you’d expect out of these shoes.

One final tidbit about these shoes: they aren’t that common amongst road runners, so if you like to go against the grain a bit with your style choices, these could be a good option.

A brief anecdote: I ran the Chicago Marathon in October, and I’m constantly looking to see what shoes people are wearing.

I saw so many Nike VaporFly’s, that if I had a penny for each pair I saw, I might actually have enough to buy a pair. I saw exactly one pair of Topo Athletic shoes.

Brand new Magnifly 3’s