Topo Specter 2 review

After running in it and testing it in the lab, we can recommend the Topo Spectre 2 for:

• Runners looking for a versatile and lightweight shoe that feels super quick and offers a very roomy toebox for natural toe movement. That's quite a rare combination!
• Midfoot and forefoot strikers who want one shoe that can handle easy runs, tempo sessions, and long distances.
• Those who prefer non-mainstream brands and need a shoe that works especially well for high-volume feet.

We do not recommend the Topo Spectre 2 for runners who want a plush, cloud-like feel underfoot. We found in the lab that its firm Pebax foam feels responsive but clearly dense, so if you want soft cushioning, the Nike Vomero 18 or New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 make more sense.

We also think the ultra-wide toebox can be a deal-breaker for some runners. For similar performance and price with a more average fit, we believe the Adidas Adizero EVO SL or ASICS Novablast 5 are better choices.

The Topo Spectre 2 offers solid cushioning that can handle many types of runs, from short efforts to medium distances with ease. However, for long runs it may come a bit short for heavier folks.

In our lab tests, we measured 137 SA in the heel and 102 SA in the forefoot, which are slightly lower than the midsole looks suggest but still enough for most runners. However, if you're chasing a true max-cushion feel, maybe it's worth to spend a bit more and look at the ASICS Megablast instead.

During our runs, the Topo Spectre 2 felt lively and bouncy, making it a great option for runners who dislike the dull feel of most EVA foams. Back in the lab, we measured energy return at 64.4% in the heel and 66.0% in the forefoot.

These are strong results that place the Spectre 2 near the top end for training shoes. That said, seeing the Pebax logo raised expectations for even higher numbers, and while it did not reach 70%, the outcome is still very impressive overall.

The Spectre 2 features a 36.0 mm heel stack, which puts it in a very versatile zone for many distances and paces. It is not so tall that it feels bulky or intimidating, yet not too thin to struggle after one hour of running, making it a strong do-it-all option.

The forefoot comes in at 29.2 mm and feels equally well balanced. The Spectre 2 works like a slightly beefed-up daily trainer, with a bit of extra foam underfoot and more energy return than average. And that's a very appealing combo.

Most Topo shoes, aside from the ST-5, list a 5 mm drop on the spec sheet. With the Spectre 2, we measured a slightly higher 6.8 mm, yet on the run it totally feels like a mid-drop shoe, well suited for midfoot and forefoot strikers thanks to its geometry.

One potential deal-breaker for some runners is the firm feel of the Spectre 2. That trait is common in many Topo shoes, so it did not surprise us, but newcomers to the brand may notice it right away.

In our lab test, the Pebax foam measured 26.0 HA, which matched what we felt on our runs and explains the lower shock absorption despite the high stack—of course, firmer foam absorbs less, think of a brick versus a sponge. On the plus side, this firmness adds support and deliver a predictable ride, a quality many runners still value.

The Topo Spectre 2 is far from a traditional running shoe when it comes to rocker design. It uses an ultra-extended heel bevel that clearly stands out and even brings back memories of early Hoka models from over a decade ago.

Up front, the rocker starts very late but then rises sharply, leading to a fairly aggressive toe-off. So if you are looking for a classic, old-school ride, this shoe does not deliver that kind of feel.

Topo Athletic shoes are known for being friendly to wide feet, and many loyal users buy them expecting plenty of room. Still, we wanted to verify that assumption with our own measurements.

Once the gel mould cooled, the first measurement already came in above average. We recorded 97.6 mm, which confirmed the spacious fit before moving on to the toebox width.

Another hallmark of Topo shoes is a toebox shaped to match the natural outline of the foot, and we confirmed that with an 80.2 mm measurement.

This design delivers excellent toe splay and standout comfort, though it may look weird to runners used to traditional shoe shapes.

The Spectre 2 stands out for its generous toebox volume, offering ample space in every direction.

We measured a toebox height of 31.8 mm, which is well above average and makes this shoe an excellent option for runners who dislike any pressure on their toes.

The outsole performed very well in our traction test with a 0.60 score. That result places the Spectre 2 comfortably in the safe zone for both dry and wet runs, supporting its role as a true do-it-all running shoe.

The outsole of the Spectre 2 uses large areas of exposed foam through the midfoot, with rubber added only in key contact zones to keep weight as low as possible. Topo pushed this approach even further by carving cutouts between the rubber patches themselves.

Some runners may expect the Topo Spectre 2 to feel flexible, but that is not the case. Its high stack and firm foam create a stiff ride, measuring 18.5N, which makes it better suited for faster paces than relaxed, easy runs.

One of the standout features of the Topo Spectre 2 is its excellent weight-to-cushioning ratio. For a shoe with such a high stack height, coming in at just 8.4 oz (238g) is genuinely impressive and feels remarkably light on foot.

Topo Athletic achieved this through a smart mix of elements. Pebax is much lighter than average EVA foams, and pairing it with minimal rubber coverage and a lightweight upper helped keep the shoe impressively agile, as we confirmed during our testing.

From the moment we unboxed the shoe, it was clear that Topo put a lot of effort into the upper. This is not a simple engineered mesh, but a more complex design with a strong focus on keeping weight low.

The ultra-thin textile cleared smoke very quickly in our test, earning a solid 4 out of 5. That result is good enough for comfortable use across different seasons.

The upper is clearly split into two zones. Around the heel, the focus is on support and comfort, while the forefoot prioritises weight savings and airflow.

Looking at the upper under our digital microscope confirmed that this is not an ordinary material.

Topo invested in a premium engineered mesh, with precise construction and a distinctive design that really stands out.

Overall, we are very pleased with the upper. It balances comfort and low weight well, looks amazing, and offers some flexibility. If durability matches the rest later, it would be the icing on the cake!

The Topo Spectre 2 is a neutral running shoe, and we do not recommend it for runners with support needs. While the firm foam and midsole sidewalls help add structure, the shoe comes with a compact platform that's best suited to runners with a neutral gait.

With no midsole cutouts and a higher-than-average stack height, it was no surprise that the Spectre 2 scored high in our torsional rigidity test, earning a 4 out of 5.

One reason this shoe is not very appealing for runners with support needs is the low heel counter stiffness. Scoring just 2 out of 5, it disappears on the run and stays comfortable, but it does little to add stability.

One thing we really enjoyed about the Spectre 2 is its agile platform, which breaks away from the bulky maximalist trend. With a forefoot width of just 110.5 mm, it feels refreshing, nimble, and light, even if it trades some stability for agility.

The heel feels even more radical at just 86.5 mm. Paired with a flexible heel counter and a medium drop, this setup makes the shoe less suitable for heel strikers and clearly better matched to midfoot and forefoot runners.

It seems the Spectre 2 delivered the icing on the cake. With a 3 out of 5 durability score, we are genuinely impressed by an upper that is lightweight, breathable, durable, and looks great.

On the flip side, the heel padding disappointed us. Scoring just 2 out of 5, it lacks resilience, and this is an area where a future version clearly needs improvement.

Back to the good news: the outsole rubber proved extremely tough, with only 0.7 mm worn away after our Dremel test. That result places the Spectre 2 in the stronger end of the durability range.

With 2.8 mm of rubber, there is a solid foundation underfoot. It might be tempting to ask Topo to shave it down for less weight, but given the limited outsole coverage, keeping this thickness makes sense.

The insole thickness measured 4.2 mm, which sits very close to the average.

Not every shoe includes a high-quality insole like this Ortholite one, but you can still swap it out if you prefer a different option.

One of the key advantages of Pebax over EVA is how it handles cold temperatures. EVA tends to become much firmer, while Pebax stays more consistent. We confirmed this in the lab, with only an 11% change after 20 minutes in the freezer.

We always appreciate reflective elements for added safety during night runs, but the Spectre 2 does not include any.

Topo chose a simple and proven approach for the lacing system. Punched eyelets paired with flat laces deliver a secure fit, and the setup works smoothly without drawing attention to itself.

The tongue thickness also hits a sweet spot for a lightweight trainer. At 4.0 mm, it provides enough padding to protect the instep while keeping bulk to a minimum.

While we really liked the Topo Spectre 2 in almost every area, the lack of a gusseted tongue is a small disappointment. Topo did add the usual dual loops instead of one to prevent tongue shifting, though.

We think the price of the Topo Spectre 2 is fair. It is not a bargain, but getting a full Pebax midsole in such a versatile shoe at this price feels reasonable, so we have no real complaints.

The Spectre 2 does not include a heel tab, but Topo paid close attention to detail by neatly covering the upper stitching for a cleaner, more polished look, and it did not go unnoticed for us.