Topo ST-5 review

In our view, the Topo ST-5 is a good choice for:

• Runners looking for a true minimalist shoe that delivers versatility and strong durability.
• Those who want a low-cushion shoe that works well for both gym workouts and short runs.
• Altra fans who enjoy zero-drop geometry and roomy toebox but want an even lower midsole.

The Topo ST-5 feels very limited for runs beyond 60 minutes, and we do not recommend it for longer efforts. We found on our runs that the low-cushion, ground-focused ride becomes tiring, even for runners used to minimalist shoes. In our view, zero-drop options like the Altra Torin 8 for neutral runners or the Paradigm 8 for added support offer a better setup for longer distances.

We also think the ST-5 is not the best pick for those chasing a pure barefoot-style experience. Those wanting an ultra-close feel may prefer the Merrell Vapour Glove 6, which keeps the foot even closer to the ground.

The Topo ST-5 is a minimalist shoe with a very thin midsole, so expecting high shock absorption would be unrealistic. Nevertheless, runners drawn to the ST-5 usually want low cushioning to feel the ground, and that’s exactly what we discovered: just 50 SA in the heel and 39 SA in the forefoot.

The shoe provides the bare minimum cushioning for light comfort while keeping a close, connected ride for walking, running, or gym workouts.

The Topo ST-5 uses the EVA-based ZipFoam compound found in other Topo shoes like the Atmos, so we expected low energy return here. And that’s exactly what we measured, with just 45.6% in the heel and 46.2% in the forefoot.

That said, energy return matters far less in a minimalist shoe like this. The primary goal here is not bounce. Still, a bit more rebound would not hurt, and this is an area Topo could improve in future versions.

We confirmed that the ST-5 is a true minimalist shoe, with just 13.7 mm of cushioning in the heel when accounting for every component: outsole, midsole, and insole.

The forefoot comes in at a very similar 13.9 mm, creating a close-to-the-ground ride that works wonders if your goal is to improve foot strength.

After measuring the front and rear of the ST-5, we found a −0.2 mm drop, which confirms a true zero-drop setup just as Topo intended and delivers a natural feel underfoot.

You may be wondering why 0.2 mm and not 0.0 mm. Well, such a tiny difference is very common due to manufacturing tolerances or slight foam compression after our test runs, because 0.2 mm is extremely small in real life. Just look at a measuring tape! 

ZipFoam comes in a firm formulation that we measured at 25.1 HA. And as we proved earlier, there isn’t much energy return either.

That said, this softness is the right call for a minimalist shoe, because using a plush foam with very little material underfoot would not work well.

Topo keeps the ST-5 mostly natural, although it shows slightly more toe spring than some of you may expect from a minimalist shoe. That curvature largely disappears in use thanks to the shoe’s extreme flexibility, so underfoot it feels genuinely flat and natural when running.

One of the details that sets the Topo ST-5 apart from most shoes is its roomy fit. We noticed how wide it felt right away, even before measuring it, though we still ran our full lab test as we do with every shoe.

After the gel mould cooled and hardened in the fridge, we took our first measurement. At 97.1 mm, it clearly sits on the wider end of the spectrum.

But it’s the second measurement, at 79.0 mm, that really highlights how different this shoe is from most others. True to Topo Athletic’s design philosophy, the ST-5 uses a foot-shaped toebox with a wide taper that allows excellent toe splay.

The toebox height is also generous at 30.2 mm, making this shoe a great option for those with high-volume feet.

We never felt any unwanted pressure, and if anything, the only issue could be having more space than needed.

Traction is solid at 0.52, and combined with the ST-5’s low-to-the-ground design, it feels secure on the run—even on wet tarmac. We have no real complaints here.

The outsole mixes exposed midsole foam with several rubber patches. The rubber pieces are completely flat, maximising ground feel while keeping the layout simple.

In the forefoot and heel, the black rubber appears as small oval and rectangular pieces arranged in rows, with large grooves between them. The midfoot has less coverage but continues to use cutouts and segmentation that follow the foot’s natural shape.

Thanks to the low stack height and the outsole layout with deep grooves, the Topo ST-5 is extremely flexible. In our lab test, we discovered it needed just 3.9N to bend to 30 degrees!

The Topo Athletic ST-5 weighs 6.8 oz or 193g. While that’s very light compared to most shoes, it’s important to remember this is a minimalist design with far less material, which makes this weight feel simply appropriate.

Topo uses a similar upper to its regular running shoes, like the Phantom 3, with plenty of ventilation holes to provide steady airflow—and it clearly works.

Shining a light through the upper showed that the toebox is thinner than the midfoot and heel, which helped it earn a solid 4/5 score for breathability.

Under the microscope, we found that the engineered mesh is simple, but at the ST-5’s price point, we did not expect anything high-tech.

Overall, the upper does exactly what it should: deliver good comfort and reliable ventilation. We assess durability separately, but the material looks encouraging.

One advantage of minimalist running shoes is the natural stability that comes from being close to the ground. That is clearly present in the ST-5, and combined with its wider-than-usual midsole and firm foam, the stable feel is very noticeable.

We were glad to find that the shoe offers almost no resistance to twisting, earning an ideal 1/5 score for a true minimalist feel.

The heel counter is almost nonexistent, earning a 1-out-of-5 score that promotes a natural feel at the rear. As we noted earlier, this is exactly what we want from a shoe like this. Well done, Topo.

The forefoot is clearly wide for a minimalist shoe at 114.2 mm, and it’s one of the defining traits of the ST-5. This generous platform explains the stable feel we noticed up front and shows that Topo designed it as a running shoe first.

The heel measures 82.4 mm in width, which feels perfectly fine to us. Keep in mind that, as a zero-drop shoe, it’s not meant for heel striking while running, though it works well for walking.

The upper delivers across the board, offering solid comfort, good ventilation, and proven resilience. We confirmed this with a strong 4/5 durability score, showing it can handle many miles, helped by the generous toebox height that reduces pressure from the big toe.

The heel padding also showed excellent durability, earning another 4/5 score in our Dremel test. From our side, there’s nothing to complain about—only positive impressions here.

The durability testing wrapped up with the outsole, which also delivered a very positive result, showing just 0.7 mm of wear.

It feels like Topo built this shoe with longevity in mind. With 4.0 mm of outsole thickness and such strong durability results, the ST-5 has real potential to last well over 700 miles of running, plus gym sessions and everyday walking.

The Ortholite insole in the Topo ST-5 adds 3.9 mm of extra cushioning.

Since the insole is removable, you can make the ST-5 feel more barefoot by taking out the 3.9 mm layer and wearing the shoe without an insole.

ZipFoam is EVA-based, and we’ve proven many times in the lab that it’s not very stable in cold temperatures, getting firmer than TPU or PEBA. Here we saw the same behaviour again, as it became 33% firmer after 20 minutes in our freezer.

We didn’t find any reflective elements on the Topo ST-5, which wasn’t surprising, even if we had hoped to see some.

The lacing system is far from standard, mixing punched eyelets with lace loops to spread pressure more evenly across the instep. We also found Topo’s usual double loop at the top of the tongue, which helps keep it centred and prevents sideways movement.

We measured 3.3 mm of tongue padding. It’s not plush, but it fits the minimalist nature of the shoe and helps keep weight under control.

As expected at this price point, the tongue is not gusseted.

One of the things we liked about the Topo ST-5 is its very reasonable price. Sure, there is not much room to charge more for this shoe, but even with a $5 increase over its predecessor, it still sits at a fair level.

The heel design is very simple, clearly aimed at keeping costs down, and we understand that choice. Still, it’s nice to see Topo clearly marking the shoe as zero drop right on the heel.