Topo Athletic Ultraventure Trail Running Shoe - Women's reviews and deals for sale

Great for wider feet

I purchased these shoes in August for trail running and also used for speed walking on pavement. In terms of fit, I feel I have finally found the perfect shoe for me after 30 years of trying different brands and styles. I have a close-to-wide foot and always bought regular width shoes because the wide width would be too loose in general. Because of that the fabric outside… read more of my small toes would tear out over time. These shoes have plenty of room for my toes and I am able to adjust to a perfect fit in the heel. Regarding shoe length - my one foot is an 8 and my other is an 8.5-9ish. I usually buy size 9 running shoes. I did purchase these in an 8.5 size anticipating more play in the toe area. My larger foot did touch the end of the shoe at times, but no blisters, the other foot fit great. I believe if I would have sized up to 9 as I usually do in running shoes, these would have been too big. I found the shoes to be responsive, cushioned. I had a little ankle rolling and tripping on roots but not more than usual for me. My feet were not sore after running on trails with rocks and roots. They feel like a glove and I'm not "aware" of my shoes when running with these. I am disappointed in the durability of the sole. After about 125 miles I already had significant wear on the sides of the foot bed portion at the front of the shoes. At 200 miles now, the soles are basically flattened with no tread from the middle to outer third of the shoes. I realize I am a heavy runner, about 180lbs, but I have never had shoes wear out so quickly before. The trails I am running on are typical for Indiana - dirt/mud/roots/some rocks - nothing extreme. I question whether the training I do on pavement has caused the quick wear. I plan to buy another pair and see how the next ones wear. I really hope they last longer because otherwise I really really love these shoes and would say I found the exact brand for my feet.

Simple no-nonsense shoe

I chose the Topo Ultraventure because it fit all of my criteria: a modest drop, wide toe box, good cushioning and somewhat stiff sole. I had Hoka Speedgoats before these and found the cushioning was just too lofty for all but the mildest trails. While I appreciated the feel of the footbed, I would roll my ankles regularly so I wanted something with a lower profile. Additionally,… read more I read a review that compared these to the Pearl Izumi EM trail series which were my favorite shoes of all time and sadly aren't made anymore. Having worn these shoes for about two weeks now, on 5-8 mile rugged trail runs, I can say with some confidence that I love them. My heels swam around in them a bit until I dialed in the fit, and now they are snug and comfy. In fact, I don't even think about the shoes at all while I'm wearing them, which is probably the best thing that can be said about a pair of shoes! They are just stiff enough to offer some protection against roots and rocks. I have sesamoid problems so I try to wear shoes with plenty of cushion and protection. These are comfortably cushioned without being over the top like the Hokas. They feel low to the ground so I can feel the terrain without being tall and tippy. I would compare the ride to Salomon XA pro or Sense pro with a wider toe box. The toe box is reminiscent of Altras without the super flexibility and zero drop, which have been a problem for me. I have not done any long runs with these yet but from my current perspective I'd say the Ultraventure is a great choice for a simple, no-nonsense trail runner. They have the cushioning and protection I need without going overboard, and they have a natural, glove-like fit with a generous toe box. I can't say how these will hold up over time but they do have a solid toe cap and the upper material seems rugged.

After only 5 trail runs...

After only 5 trail runs (about 5-7 miles) the soles started to delaminate. You can see the shoes look almost brand new. My last run was in a bit of mud and some puddles, perhaps the water did something to the glue? I loved the fact that these had vibram soles. I also liked the way they fit and felt, cushy but still having some trail sensitivity. But I’ve never had a pair… read more of trail shoes with this problem. I contacted BC and they want to issue a store credit instead of a refund, which means I need to wait prior to ordering a suitable replacement. Not sure I’ll be purchasing any of my shoes from BC with that return policy. This is obviously a huge QC problem with Topo but since BC is a vendor they should stand by the product and issue appropriate refunds. I'd like to add to this review that upon contacting my guru of this issue, backcountry quickly refunded the amount upon putting the return in a UPS box. AND expedited the new pair of running shoes that I ordered! Very pleased!

What a shame.

These are some of the most comfortable and supportive trail shoes that I've worn. The Vibram soles have never disappointed me on rocky and/or wet surfaces. However, after wearing these a total of 8 times they have developed holes around the ankles on both shoes. For the price point, I would expect these to last quite a while longer. To make matters worse, Backcountry is refusing… read more to give me a refund because it has been more than 30 days. I received them Aug 8 and contacted Backcountry Sep 20. Most of their items are esoteric and can't be adequately used in 30 days to determine if they're good quality or not. Notice how little wear is on the insoles (photo attached). This will be my last purchase from Backcountry until they update their customer service policies.

Great trail shoes

I have a wide foot so I love the wide toe box and they have great traction and support. Plenty of cushion as well for long runs. No more sore heels or sore feet from rocks.

Great shoes for wider feet.

Comfortable out of the box. I typically have issues with rubbing in the heal/ankle area, but these felt fine prior to breaking them in. Plenty of room for those with wider feet.

Thought I'd love them

I keep trying to LOVE these shoes. They are heavier than the Ultrafly. They are wider than the Ultra Fly and the Hydroventure. Size for size, I am constantly stopping to tighten the lacing... and even then I am always feeling heal pain whereas in the other two models by Topo, I've loved every mile. I'm still struggling with wondering if I need a different arch support or should… read more just switch to a different shoe. Have had them for 3 months, alternate with other shoes, so it's become clear that the pain is generated mostly from these shoes. I just want to like them. ARGH! :) LOVE the Ultrafly and the Hydroventure, but they wear too fast. I expect a good shoe that cost over $120 to last a good 6 months to a year. In both cases, the wear is greater than I expect.

Met all my needs and then some.

I have a wide forefoot, a high arch, and a narrow heel. This makes finding a shoe that works for 50+ miles of rugged trails very difficult to find. After trying just about every shoe on the market, a friend recommended Topo. I was more than pleasantly surprised to have the shoe 1) fit like a glove, and 2) provide enough cushion that I don’t have to change shoes at that 50 mile… read more mark. The rubber and aggressive lugs have been great on every condition I can throw at them in the Wyoming backcountry. I’ve been pro-Topo ever since and even joined their Ambassador team so that I can help spread the Topo love to others on their journey to find a shoe soulmate. My only complaint with the Ultraventures is that they don’t come in bright colors.

SUPER wide toe box - love!

I was in the market for a shoe with a wide toe box but that was not zero drop. I had been battling plantar and heal pain for almost a year. I tried so many different brands and decided to give Topos a shot. I haven't looked back. Superb cushioning, amazing traction and that super wide toe box has done wonders for my running and my foot. My foot pain has disappeared. I am a Topo… read more Ambassador but I became one because I fell in love with the shoes so much. This review is all my own opinion.