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Amazon Customer
August 29, 2022
Awesome Trail Shoe alternative to the Hoka Speedgoat or Altra Timp
To provide some background, I am a 6’2”, 190lb, midfoot-striking Wasatch mountain trail runner that ran exclusively in Altras for about 8 years. In 2019 I finally got fed up with Altra’s quality issues, inconsistent sizing, and cushioning that goes flat after 150 miles and switched to Hoka. I ran in the EVO Speedgoat for a few years, but they were too narrow for my feet. I would constantly get blisters on the outside of my big toe and the inside of my pinky toe. When the Speedgoat 5 came out, I purchased it in a WIDE, hoping that the toe box would be wider, but the toe box was still too narrow. It looked like they just made the midfoot and heel wider, it was a horrible fitting shoe… and I don’t consider my feet to be very wide. Most of my miles are on trails but I had some TOPO road shoes in my rotations for short pavement runs (Magnifly, Phantom, etc) and really liked the fit so I tried the MT-4 trail shoe last year and loved the fit. The Pursuit is very similar to the MT-4, with more cushion and zero drop (as opposed to 3mm drop in the MT-4), so I was excited to try the Pursuit. I purchased the Pursuit as soon as it came out this year and it was amazing right out of the box. The cushion is not as “springy” as the Speedgoat but the cushion is just right. It has a nice balanced feeling and I’m glad they did not put a rock plate in it, because it doesn’t need it. The Vibram Mega grip outsole lives up the hype - it has amazing grip on everything from wet granite to dry, loose sandy trails. The toe box is nice and roomy for toe splay, yet the midfoot and heel have a nice snug feel (this is critically important when descending 1000 feet per mile on a loose trail). I was able to get a perfect lockdown right out of the box without any lacing shenanigans, which makes the shoe feel very nimble and agile compared to the Speedgoat. The laces have kind of a chalky feel to them, which I think helps prevent them from loosening up on long runs. The mesh upper and the padded tongue are very comfortable and breathe well. The sizing is dead-on, just like all the other TOPOs I’ve ran in and I’ve never had any quality issues with TOPO shoes. I’m really hard on shoes and typically replace them around 350 miles. I don’t see hardly any wear on these after 100 miles and they still feel the same as they did after the first couple of runs. I don’t foresee any issues with these going the distance. These shoes are my new go-to for long distance trail runs and I’ve already stocked up on a few extra pairs.
✔ Verified Purchase
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Ken & Amy McAdams
April 20, 2023
Great trail shoes!
These are fantastic trail shoes. Hawaii is notorious for muddy trails, but these beasts tackle the mud like a pro. I’ve been running in them for 5 months now and they’re still doing great, very little signs of wear and the lugs on the bottom are still intact. I’ve already bought a second pair to queue up for when these finally break down. Very comfortable, perfect cushioning and ultra stable on rutted, root infested trails.I thought I’d provide an update. I’m now on my third pair of these shoes and will be ordering a fourth soon. The original pair is about 14 months old now. It was retired to yard work about six months ago. I have a very steep and rocky yard. These shoes keep me from tumbling down the slope. The lugs on the soles have held up well, unlike those on a previous pair of Solomons that frequently peeled off. The originals are now getting close to the end of their useful life. The uppers are separating from the soles, but I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth. Highly recommended!
✔ Verified Purchase
comfortable and light
I use the slightly lower zero drop Topos for running. I got these for the extra cushion in honor of a trip to the Big Apple, where I planned to be walking a lot. And I can say they did great. Love that wide toe box. Very grippy. Haven't tried running with them yet, as I'm leery of how my knees would react to the change in altitude.
✔ Verified Purchase
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A. Smith
November 25, 2023
Arch support is excessive/painful
I have flat feet. This means that zero drop shoes are the most comfortable me to run and walk in. I wanted to try these because they're zero drop trail runners, I'm always interested in testing out other zero-drop brands/models, and the reviews online were positive. I took them out on a short first run today. The shoe is definitely comfortable, and I could see how one could run in these for 25+ miles. They are also relatively flexible, which I like a lot and really appreciate in a runner. But the excessive arch support is really painful and not in line with the zero drop philosophy. After just 6 mi., my left foot was in so much pain from the arch support that I wasn't sure I could finish my run. The ortholite insole seems to be the problem. I will probably just have to run in these with an insole from my Altras and hope that that does the trick.
✔ Verified Purchase
Best trail shoes I've ever owned.
I do a lot of high altitude running in the Rockies. Every summer I need a new trail shoe for fast, technical trail running. The Pursuits are without question my favorite shoes I've ever owned.I've been trail running for years and have experience with all the major brands. These are the best. Granted, what makes a shoe the best is specific to that person's foot shape and needs from a shoe. For me, the Pursuit checks all the boxes. It's got good treads that allow for fast running on rocky terrain, and they're also good in wet conditions (unlike Altras). Topo has the best toeboxes in the business. Plus, I love that the heel is snug. (I have a wide toebox and narrow heel, ymmv.) I much prefer zero drop, even over the industry standard of 5mm.Now that I'm at the end of this pairs life, I can say that the wear has been good. The uppers are still mostly unworn, though the ankle padding is fraying. The treads are really the only worn down part. I wish Topo would tighten up the tread pattern in future iterations, especially at the forefoot, something closer to Saucony Peregrine's, while keeping the rear treads. But it's a minor complaint, mostly for the sake of the shoes longevity to me.All in all, these shoes are the best technical trail runners I've ever owned. I'll be buying a pair yearly unless Topo changes things too drastically.
✔ Verified Purchase
