Topo Vista review

In our opinion, the Topo Vista is a top pick for:

• Runners who loved the Topo Atmos 2 for road running and want a similarly plush trail shoe.
• Anyone with wide feet looking for a comfortable trail shoe with immense room inside the upper.
• Trail enthusiasts with high-volume feet.
• Midfoot strikers who want a shoe that combines comfort, stability, and versatility for running and hiking.

The Topo Vista's high weight and lack of speed can be a real deal-breaker, especially considering its relatively high price. For runners looking for a lighter and more versatile option within the brand, we recommend the Topo Ultraventure 4.

We also think some runners may be disappointed by the energy return falling below 60% at this price. If that's the case, take a look at the ASICS Trabuco 14 or the adidas Terrex Agravic Speed.

The Vista is a new max-stack trail shoe from Topo Athletic, and we were eager to test its shock absorption in our lab, as adding so much foam underfoot should translate directly into better impact protection.

Indeed, the Vista did not disappoint, delivering 139 SA in the heel and 124 SA in the forefoot.

Like it happens with any running shoe featuring ZipFoam, the midsole bounce is not particularly impressive.

Back in our lab, we put numbers to our feelings: 53.0% energy return in the heel and 56.7% in the forefoot, both below our current lab average and disappointing for a shoe at the Vista's price.

Topo Athletic fans who love the Atmos series for road running will find plenty of familiarity here, as the Vista also comes with a highly-cushioned heel setup.

We measured 38.0 mm at the heel, which puts it firmly in the maximalist category for a trail shoe.

The forefoot is even more impressive compared with our current lab average, especially considering the shoe's moderate drop. We measured 31.4 mm here, which also checks the box for a max-stack trail shoe.

As usual, Topo claims that this shoe has a 5 mm drop. And, as usual with Topo shoes, we measured slightly more, with a precise 6.6 mm after taking our measurements.

This is a very small difference that doesn't change our view of the shoe: it's better suited to midfoot strikers, but it also works well for forefoot and heel strikers.

What Topo has changed with the Vista is the softness of the foam. We noticed it from our first strides, as the midsole felt noticeably softer than other Topo shoes with ZipFoam we’ve tested here at RunRepeat.

After slicing the shoe in half, we used our Asker C durometer directly on the foam. With a 30.2 AC reading, it’s really plush for a trail shoe!

Given the Vista's increased stack height, it's no surprise to see a bit more curvature in both the heel and forefoot, making the ride more dynamic and helping the shoe roll forward more easily.

However, we're glad to see that Topo didn't go bananas and kept things relatively conservative, which should work well for their long-time fans.

Having more or less energy return could be valuable for runners considering a Topo shoe, but a fit that's friendly to wide, high-volume feet is what most runners are looking for from this brand.

In our first fit measurement, we found a huge 100.3 mm reading. It's one of the few shoes to break the 100 mm mark, so things are looking very interesting.

If you have narrow feet, we think this shoe could feel too wide, even if you appreciate plenty of room for natural toe splay.

We measured 82.8 mm in the toebox, once again putting it among the widest shoes we've ever tested in our lab.

Topo shoes usually get along very well with high-volume feet, and the Vista is no exception.

With 28.0 mm of toebox height, this is the third measurement in a row above our average.

The outsole of the Topo Vista delivered good grip, with a 0.67 CoF in our traction test, which is high enough to handle loose and wet terrain well.

However, we can't hide that we expected a bit more from the Vista, given that it uses Vibram Megagrip, which usually scores higher in our lab.

The Topo Vista's lugs measure 3.7 mm deep, which makes the shoe better suited to non-technical trails. Gravel roads, groomed paths, and well-maintained trails are all easy tasks for the Vista.

However, given the lug depth, density, and design, we think this shoe isn't ideal when the terrain gets more technical.

Some runners may feel that the Vista has too much exposed foam, and we can understand why. However, it doesn't seem to be a concern for Topo, as it would have been easy to hide it by painting the foam black.

Instead, the brand went with a high-contrast design that makes it obvious that full-length rubber coverage was never part of the shoe's design. Weight issues? We'll see...

The Vista is understandably a stiff shoe given its high stack height, which can make uphill running feel somewhat less natural if that's something you enjoy. It scored 16.3N in our 30-degree bend test.

Now we understand why the outsole coverage was far from extensive, as rubber is one of the heaviest parts of any trail shoe. Tipping our scale at 11.1 oz (315g) is not good news at all.

But Vibram isn't the culprit here. It's the foam. If Topo switches from ZipFoam to a supercritical foam, it could cut a significant amount of weight, improve energy return, and allow for better outsole coverage. As simple as that.

Like with maximalist road running shoes, the Vista feels more stable than its stack height and soft foam would suggest. That's largely because of its very wide midsole, which provides a broad platform that compensates for the tall, soft setup.

Topo has done a good job of preserving some torsional flex, which is important for a trail shoe to adapt to uneven terrain.

In our lab test, it scored 14.6 Nm. And the key here is the two cutouts in the forefoot outsole, which allow the shoe to twist more freely and provide a more adaptable, terrain-conforming ride.

The heel counter brings a familiar feel from road shoes too, earning a solid 3/5 in our assessment. In our opinion, it should work well for most runners.

The Topo Vista's oversized design is impossible to miss, as even a quick look makes it clear that Topo went big across the board.

The midfoot is noticeably wider than most competitors, providing extra stability throughout the transition, while the forefoot reaches a massive 118.3 mm.

The heel is also remarkably broad at 96.0 mm, and combined with the structured heel collar and supportive midsole sidewalls, it provides stable landings for rearfoot strikers.

We found the toebox to be well protected by large TPU overlays, and we also liked how the mesh handled abrasion, earning a 3/5 score. It's not excellent, but it passes the test.

The heel padding of the Topo Vista was a bit disappointing in terms of durability, scoring just 2/5. There's definitely room for improvement here if the shoe gets a second version, although that remains to be seen.

Vibram Megagrip is just tough as nails. We prove it time and time again in our lab with so many shoes, and here it's no different, with just 0.5 mm of damage.

Thanks to the excellent durability of Vibram Megagrip and the high stack height, Topo only had to use 1.0 mm of outsole rubber. And thank God for that, because otherwise, this shoe would be heavy as a tank!

On top of measuring 4.5 mm thick, the Ortholite insole that comes with the Topo Vista has a water-resistant treatment. That can be a plus for runners who often run in wet conditions or tend to step into puddles.

One trick to make the Topo Vista a bit lighter is to remove the standard insole and replace it with a lightweight one that will probably weigh... half as much?

The ZipFoam midsole got 24% firmer after spending 20 minutes in our freezer. That's not particularly impressive, but it's what we expected from an EVA-based foam.

The Topo Vista lacks reflective elements, so unfortunately, it won't bounce any light back.

One of Topo's signature design cues is the use of multiple tongue loops to keep the tongue centred during runs. However, the Vista takes this a step further with four loops arranged in a distinctive X-shaped pattern.

We also found the tongue to be very comfortable, which comes as no surprise given the thick slab of foam inside that helps prevent unwanted pressure. We measured its thickness at 7.0 mm.

The tongue is semi-gusseted, although it blocks most potential entry points for debris. This is nice to see from Topo Athletic, as its road shoes typically use a non-gusseted tongue.

The heel comes packed with features, including a finger-loop heel tab and a Velcro attachment for the new Switchback gaiter, which is sold separately for £30.

We don't think the Topo Vista is overpriced if we take into account the actual brand's lineup, but we believe it needs a better midsole to justify being so close to £180. However, the story changes with a nice discount, which puts the shoe in a much better spot. At MSRP, though, we think it's a bit of a stretch.