When the world’s got you down, there’s something oddly fulfilling in scrolling through Zappos new arrivals. That was me a few weeks ago when Topo Athletic shoes popped up in my search. How did Zappos know I was lamenting the current state of our country and my feet at the same time? Could Topo Athletic bring some needed foot joy into my life?
The answer is a resounding YES. We left the Chicago area for an Indiana town a few months ago. Among the biggest challenges was finding a fitness class to replace my beloved Zumba (which was more than just an exercise class, but a community of friends). I stumbled upon a gym offering High Fitness which is “old school aerobics made modern.”
I loved my first class but left discouraged. The instructor and attendees were so welcoming, and the workout was fun and intense, but my feet were killing me. I’m delaying bunion and tailor’s bunion surgery until later in the year, so in the meantime need a fitness/walking shoe that has a wide enough toe box to accommodate the painful bumps on BOTH sides of my feet! A tall order. Enter Topo Athletic shoes…
These two details caught my attention when the Topo Ultrafly entered my Zappos search:
- Wide and “foot-shaped” without looking clown-like.
- Narrows at the mid-foot below the bunion area.
Next I noticed that 72% of Zappos customers left a 5-star review for the Topo Ultrafly 3. I started reading why and added them to my cart. I’m so glad I did. After wearing my new Topo shoes for a few weeks now to High Fitness, for walks and short jogs on the treadmill and around the neighborhood, here’s why they’re my new wonder shoes:
- While the toe box is roomy, the midfoot and heel remain nice and snug to (as Topo says it best, “reduce the sloppy, disconnected feel often associated with wider-fitting footwear).
- The arch support is noticeable–perfect for my moderately high arches.
- Zipfoam™ midsole provides better cushioning and resilience than typical EVA.
- Low-drop not zero-drop. HTT (or heel-to-toe drop) is a hotly debated discussion in the running world. Read more here. I like the feel of the 5mm drop of the Topo Ultrafly 3 (as opposed to Altra zero drop).
- Soft, breathable mesh uppers with no noticeable seams to irritate toes.
- My size 10 feet don’t look ridiculously huge despite the wide toe box.
- When I jog (albeit for very short stints), the dense, yet firm cushioning keeps heels and knees from aching.
- My toes don’t go numb in High Fitness class and I can still pivot well (good traction, but not “sticky”).
Overall, I’m thrilled with my new purchase and highly recommend Topo Athletic shoes needs a supportive fitness shoe with a roomy toe box without a sloppy fit. Find the Topo Ultrafly in sizes 6-12 for $140 from Topo Athletic, Zappos and Amazon.
Need more convincing? Read a few reviews from others with severe problem feet who LOVE their Topo Athletic shoes.
Do you need a shoe with max cushioning like the Hoka Bondi but with a more generous toe box? See my review of the newer Topo Athletic Atmos!
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