Topo Cyclone 2 review

We believe the Topo Cyclone 2 is a fantastic running shoe for:

• Runners with high-volume feet looking for a lightweight, fun, and spacious shoe that delivers a connected, ground-feel experience without the bulk of modern maximalist designs.
• Those who love Altra Escalante's roomy feel but want a moderate drop and more energy return for a responsive ride.
• Anyone seeking an affordable yet performance-driven running shoe that blends speed and comfort.

Those seeking a plush ride might find the Cyclone 2’s Pebax midsole too firm. Instead, we suggest the Nike Pegasus Plus or the Nike Streakfly, both featuring softer, more forgiving ZoomX foam.

We also believe the Cyclone 2 lacks stability. In that regard, New Balance has revamped the Rebel v4 into a surprisingly stable yet lightweight option—making it a perfect alternative.

Lastly, runners who need a wide toebox but prefer a zero-drop platform may not appreciate the Cyclone 2’s moderate drop. For them, the Altra Escalante Racer 2 is an ideal choice, offering a similar ride with slightly less energy return.  

The market is shifting toward ultra-stacked designs like the ASICS Glideride Max or the Hoka Skyflow, which is why we loved the Cyclone 2 right away—it’s a breath of fresh air with a thin-yet-protective 26.2 mm heel stack.

That’s just the right amount of foam to craft an ultra-lightweight trainer while still delivering enough cushioning for short and medium distances. And, of course, it ensures an energetic, feedback-rich ride, something that’s missing in most heavily-cushioned shoes today.

The forefoot measures 22.0 mm, keeping it on the thinner side compared to most running shoes. Again, this lower-profile design enhances ground feel while maintaining a lightweight and agile ride.

With such a moderate stack, we think this shoe will divide opinions. Runners who crave a proprioceptive, foot-engaging experience will love the Cyclone 2’s natural feel, it's just awesome. However, those seeking extra underfoot protection—especially beneath the ball of the foot—may find its minimal cushioning less than ideal for their needs.

Topo lists a 5 mm drop as standard for their shoes, but we measured 4.2 mm. This slight difference pushes the Cyclone 2 even more toward midfoot and forefoot strikers.

One of the biggest selling points of the Cyclone 2 is that it's one of the most affordable shoes on the market with a full-length Pebax midsole—something rarely seen at this price range.

While this foam is officially branded as Pebax Powered, please note that not all Pebax foams are created equal. We covered this in depth in our advanced guide about foams, but to summarise, the Cyclone 2’s midsole feels strikingly similar to Saucony’s PWRRUN PB in both compliance and energy return, yet quite different from the state-of-the-art ZoomX used by Nike.

That’s no surprise, as Nike secured an exclusive deal with Arkema nearly a decade ago to retain rights to the highest-end Pebax formulation. So while this might not be top-tier Pebax, it still delivers impressive energy return and, thanks to its pellet-based structure, better durability than ZoomX. Again, just like PWRRUN PB.

In terms of feel, we found this Pebax Powered foam to lean toward a firmer ride at 22.6 HA. Given the short stack height, this makes perfect sense to us.

Pebax foams typically handle the cold well, but the Cyclone 2's performance was a bit meh. With a 28% change, we expected slightly better resistance to our freezer challenge.

Topo didn’t cut corners with the insole—it features a premium Ortholite model with a generous 4.2 mm thickness.

The Cyclone 2 avoids an aggressive rocker, delivering a smooth, natural ride at any pace. However, we noticed a moderate toe spring that kicks in late—just enough to ease transitions and counteract the firmness of the foam. Without a plate, this is all the rocker the shoe needs.

One of the standout features of Topo shoes is their foot-friendly toebox, designed to follow the natural shape of the foot and, in theory, promote effortless toe splay. But does it truly deliver? To find out, we manufactured an exact replica of the toebox.

After letting the gel solidify in the fridge, we measured a generous 98.3 mm—undoubtedly a spacious design. In our experience, this is a fantastic starting point for runners with wide feet seeking extra breathing room. But we have more measurements to do...

The second measurement is crucial for those chasing exceptional toe splay, and we know many of you have been eagerly waiting for this one—so here it is.

With 83.5 mm in the big toe area, we confirmed the Cyclone 2’s non-tapered, foot-friendly toebox. In other words, it’s not just built for speed—it’s impressively spacious too!

The toebox height comes in at 28.5 mm, providing ample vertical space for a comfortable fit.

While the material doesn’t have the ultra-flexible stretch of a knit upper, we found its generous height eliminates any restrictive pressure. In our view, the Cyclone 2 is a good option for runners with high-volume feet.

Promoting a smooth, natural ride from heel to toe, the Cyclone 2 was never designed with stability in mind—and our testing confirmed that.

Therefore, we recommend this Topo shoe only for neutral runners or those with mild stability needs who don’t mind putting in a little extra effort.

A key factor in the smooth ride of the Cyclone 2 is its low torsional rigidity that we rated at 2/5.

We encountered minimal resistance when twisting and bending the shoe, making it highly adaptable to foot movement and impressively agile when navigating corners.

That’s exactly the same feel we experienced in the heel—barely any structure, earning another 2/5.

In our view, this explains why the Cyclone 2 delivers such a natural, free-flowing ride and why runners who prefer a reinforced heel for added support might find it lacking. In our opinion, it leans closer to a race-ready design than a structured daily trainer in this aspect.

To keep things simple, let’s use an analogy—while most modern running shoes resemble bulky SUVs, the Cyclone 2 delivers the sensation of a 2-seat roadster, being close to the ground with a compact design.

In the forefoot, our digital callipers measured just 111.6 mm. While some may see this as a drawback, we believe it’s an ideal fit for a shoe designed to be lightweight, fast, and exceptionally agile.

We've already mentioned that the Cyclone 2 is best suited for midfoot and forefoot strikers due to its geometry and heel-to-toe drop, and here’s more evidence—at just 86.0 mm in the heel, we think it’s far better to land toward the front half of the shoe.

This test was crucial for the Cyclone 2, as any shoe designed to promote a natural and unfiltered ride should feature a highly-flexible design. It already checked the box for low torsional rigidity—now it was time to assess its longitudinal flexibility.

Fortunately, the Cyclone 2 excelled, registering an impressively low 13.6N in our 90-degree bend test. Sure, it lacks the propulsion of a plated shoe, but with the market oversaturated with those options, this flexible, raw design feels like a breath of fresh air.

The superb agility of the Cyclone 2 is amplified by its ultra-lightweight build.

At just 6.7 oz or 190g, it’s lighter than many top-tier supershoes like the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4, virtually disappearing underfoot, and making it a perfect choice for interval sessions on the road or track.

To achieve its impressively low weight, Topo crafted an ultra-thin, feather-light upper that we found incredibly breathable—perfect for tackling intense summer workouts.

Ventilation is outstanding across the toebox and midfoot, with only the heel remaining structured, where airflow isn’t essential. After evaluating smoke evacuation and testing the transparency of the upper under light, we had no doubts—this one deserves a flawless 5 out of 5 for breathability.

Next, we turned on the microscope for a closer look. We discovered that Topo pushed boundaries with a minimalist design, using transparent, high-strength monofilament strands intricately woven together to maintain structure while keeping weight to a minimum.

Beneath that, white interwoven fibres create open spaces for added flexibility, maintaining continuous airflow without relying on large perforations.

Despite the remarkably thin midfoot and forefoot, we appreciated that Topo added a few extra grammes to ensure a plush tongue and heel, eliminating any comfort concerns. One of the most impressively uppers we’ve tested so far!

After analyzing the upper under light and magnification, we had a strong suspicion that durability would be a major concern. Unfortunately, our testing confirmed it—we had no choice but to rate the Cyclone 2 a 1/5.

However, the heel area was a completely different story. We found that Topo nailed the design, delivering both comfort and durability in equal measure—earning a solid 4 out of 5 in our evaluation.

Throughout this review, we’ve found that the Cyclone 2 blends elements of both a daily trainer and a racing shoe. However, when it comes to the outsole, it clearly leans toward the latter.

With the rubber scoring just 70.0 HC on our durometer and plenty of exposed foam, it’s obvious that Topo prioritised weight reduction with low rubber coverage while maximising grip as much as possible.

Topo didn’t skimp on high-quality materials despite this shoe’s attractive price. The midsole is made from Pebax, while the outsole features a grippy, flat-textured rubber similar to what we’ve seen in some high-end Adidas models—it really clings like claws.

But what about durability? After testing with the Dremel, we measured 0.9 mm of damage—an impressive result for such a soft, traction-focused rubber.

Prioritising weight savings, it was clear the outsole would be thin, so the 2.2 mm measurement from our vernier calliper came as no surprise.

The Topo Cyclone 2 delivers exceptional value for its price. Aside from the Adidas Adizero EVO SL, we believe this is the best example of how brands can blend speed, comfort, and fun without breaking the bank.

We didn’t find any reflective elements on the Topo Cyclone 2, which is something Topo might consider adding for version 3.

One of the most intriguing details of the Cyclone 2 lies in its uniquely-designed tongue. Instead of the standard single lace loop found in most running shoes, Topo took a different approach by adding two loops—one on each side—positioned near the last eyelet.

It might look unconventional, but we found that this setup significantly enhances lockdown, keeping the tongue in place even during faster-paced runs.

We also measured the tongue at 6.7 mm thick, which we think is a well-balanced choice—providing superb comfort without adding unnecessary weight.

The tongue isn’t gusseted, which could be a drawback in most running shoes. However, in the Cyclone 2, we never saw it as an issue thanks to the dual lace loops that keep it securely in place.

The Cyclone 2 lacks a heel tab, but Topo added a small strip that neatly covers the stitching while displaying the model name and heel-to-toe drop.

One standout feature of the Cyclone 2 is its Ortholite insole, which offers better energy return than the basic footbeds found in most running shoes. While removable, we think it’s worth keeping in place for the added comfort and responsiveness.