Topo Athletic Trail Runner Comparison: Ultraventure 3, Terraventure 4, and Traverse

After my previous favorite trail shoe brand was sold to a voracious, enormous outdoor-business conglomerate, nothing was quite right anymore. I noticed size tinkering and a marked decline in quality and durability. Sad as it was, I knew I needed to switch.

When I went looking for a replacement, I discovered American-owned, Massachusetts-based Topo Athletic, whose shoes offer a wide toebox and minimal drop. Since finding them, I’ve hiked and run exclusively in Topo’s for more than three years. So yes, you can call me a “homer.” But it appears that I’m not the only one. Last summer on the Continental Divide Trail, Topos were neck-and-neck with my previous favorite brand in terms of popularity. So clearly, the company is catching on.

Good Shoes, Subtle Differences

I’ve been impressed and more than a bit surprised at Topo’s growing catalog of varied models, though I confess that the differences between them can sometimes be… subtle. And I’m sure that I’m not alone. The names sound similar and the shoes look the same to the uninitiated. However, the differences are notable and easy to understand once you get into the nitty-gritty, which is what we’ll do here.

In this combined review, I take a look at the latest iterations of two popular models, the Ultraventure 3 (a more sustainable version, Eco) and Terraventure 4 (including a waterproof version), and a new one, the Traverse.

Left to right: Topo Athletic’s Ultraventure 3 Evo, Traverse, Terraventure 4 WP, Terraventure 4. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Eco (Women’s | Men’s) At-a-Glance

Topo Athletic’s Ultraventure 3 Evo. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo

MSRP: $150
Style: High-cushion, wide toebox, Vibram sole
Stack height: 35/30mm
Drop: 5mm
Intended purpose: Trail running, hiking
Weight: 10.2 ounces per shoe (men’s 9)

Circumstances of Use

I wore the limited-edition Ultraventure 3 (UV3) Eco for more than 600 miles on the CDT in Montana last summer. The Eco has the same specs as the regular Ultraventure 3 but was made with no dyes and more recycled materials.

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Eco Features

Roomy toebox: One of Topo’s top selling points
Roomy heel: While one well-known “wide toebox” shoe manufacturer has inexplicably narrowed the heel on several top models, Topo has kept its heels roomy
Secure midfoot and heel: OrthoLite Performance insole and ZipFoam midsole
Cushioning: Topo’s cushiest trail shoe
Lightweight
Vibram XS Trek EVO outsole: Designed for wet and slippery conditions
Gaiter attachment: Compatible with Topo’s patented gaiter system

How’d They Do?

Fit

My feet are short and very wide with a high arch and instep. Topo shoes fit me very well, but I routinely bump a full size up for more roominess. The roomy heel and toebox are what bring me back, time and again, to several Topo models, and the Eco is no different.

Comfort

The Ultraventure 3 is an extremely comfy ride for a solid and durable trail shoe. I remember thinking, “It’s like I’m wearing clouds on my feet.” The stack height is 35 mm at the heel and 30 mm in the forefoot, but I never felt like I was teetering atop too much foundation. This shoe feels like the other brand’s most cushioned trail shoe, but with a wider fit.

Traction

Topo’s standard Vibram soles are a real selling point for their trail shoes. One knock against using trail runners on a long-distance hike is the lack of durability, and most of the best hiking boots use Vibram soles for a reason.

The Vibram XS Trek EVO outsole is flexible and lightweight. Despite having fewer beefy lugs than some of Topo’s other models, I found the sole plenty grippy.

Durability

In all honesty, while I was thrilled with the Topo Terraventure 3 on my 2021 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, I saw a fair number of Ultraventure 2s that simply did not hold up.

So, when I decided to head south from the Canadian border in the UV3 Eco, I told myself not to expect much in terms of durability. And my general rule of thumb is, the more comfortable the shoe, the less durable it is likely to be.

But Topo has done some work on the uppers for the new version. My once-bright-white, by-then-mud-brown Ecos were still in great shape when I traded them out (for Topo’s excellent Pursuit) after well over 600 miles. They could have gone further, but I didn’t get caught short in the middle of nowhere.

Topo Athletic's Ultraventure 3 Evo clay bonnyman

Despite its incredibly cushy ride, Topo Athletic’s Ultraventure 3 Evo proved to be remarkably endurable on the Continental Divide Trail. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo

And I used them hard. A week-long low-pressure system over northern Wyoming meant countless miles of muddy trail, sometimes rocky, often mixed with poop from passing mule- and horse-packing trains. The northern CDT is plenty rough in places and involves lots of steep climbing on granite-toothed peaks, as well as gritty desert crossings. The Evo held its own through all of that. I was more than impressed.

The lugs on Topo Athletic’s Ultraventure 3 Evo after 600-plus miles on the Continental Divide Trail. Clay Bonnyman Evans photo

Price

This is Topo’s most expensive regular trail shoe (not counting those with ankle-high uppers), which is no surprise, given the cushioning. But it is still $20 less than the best-known wide-toebox brand’s cushiest shoe.

Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 (Women’s | Men’s) At-a-Glance

MSRP: $135
Style: Moderate cushion, wide toebox, Vibram sole
Stack height: 25/22mm
Drop: 3mm
Intended purpose: Trail running, hiking
Weight: 10.1 ounces per shoe (men’s 9)