Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 400 Mile Hiking Review

Is the Topo Pursuit 2 better than the first version or not? After lots of trail time here's what I found.

I've been hiking all summer in the Topo Athletic Pursuit 2, and this is my second pair with about 400 miles on them. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews about the fit, especially around the toe box and heel, so I decided to take a caliper and check it out myself. Turns out, the Pursuit 2 is a little narrower in the toe box compared to the original, but honestly, I didn’t even notice while hiking. The shoes have been super comfortable for me. I also compared them to the Altra Lone Peak, and while the Lone Peak’s toe box is a bit wider, these still feel great.

One thing I like about the Pursuit 2 is that they don’t have that annoying arch bump that the original had. The new upper dries quickly and feels soft, which is perfect for long hikes. The FKT insole is another nice touch—it dries fast, too. Overall, they’ve got a grippy outsole, feel a bit softer than the original, and still have that nice zero-drop trail feel.

I’ve tested a ton of shoes, and these are the ones I keep going back to unless I'm doing a really long hike, then I might switch to something with more cushion like the Ultraventures. For anyone on the fence about these, I'd say just try them on. If they don’t feel right immediately, they probably won’t be the shoe for you, but if they do, you’ll love them.

People have mentioned these falling apart, but that’s pretty much the case with all brands lately. If yours do, buy them from somewhere with a good return policy like REI. Mine have held up fine, though. Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any issues or if there’s another shoe you want me to review. I’ll be switching to my Topo Mountain Racers after these wear out—they’re more aggressive and just feel faster on the trail. Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you out there!

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[Hikingguy]

Anyone else use the Pursuit 2? Did they work for you?

[stanmakowski]

Great review. Been a Topo for years, love the wide tow box. I have really come to love the Mt Racer. I don't have the Pursuit 2 but I do have the Ultraventure and like it a lot but the Mt Racer has become my favorite. Thanks for your reviews and work.

[SteveHorne]

Just got the Pursuit 2s on your recommendation. So far, so good, enjoying them for hiking. 👍

[thomasc]

I have the Topo Pursuit 2. The only fault is the arch area is too narrow, so if you have a low arch, that bump is what you feel. It's like the arch is a supported by the sidewall of the shoe and not the sole.

[ChristyHikes]

Excellent video, I have roughly 500 miles on the Pursuit 2's and they're still holding up pretty well, thankfully I have a new pair still in the box. If it wasn't for you pointing out the few mm difference in the toe box width I would have never known. A few cons... I do love the FKT insoles but I wish Topo would increase their stock since they wear out faster than the shoe. Next issue is the laces, unless I double knot the bow they always untie. Altra laces are marginally better. As for wide toe boxes, most hikers including myself wear Darn Tough socks that can constrict the natural splay of our toes, I'm not a fan of toe socks but the few times I've worn them with the Topo's it did make a difference in overall comfort. The Vibram out soles are super grippy on varied terrain which is a huge plus. I always look forward to your gear videos!

[Mdogbrown]

Interesting. I’ll check these out. I’ve been having my eye on brooks trail runners lately. The cascadian and caldera especially.

[grahamambridge]

Cheers for the review. I've had 4 pairs of pursuits and look forward to trying the v2. Like them over Altras. Or might try the mtn racers. U.K.

[peterbedford]

I've been using trail ventures for about 100 mikes and they're very good as well. I run in the Pursuit 2 and like them too.

[richardjohnson]

I bought a pair mid summer and have hiked 100+ miles so far, and I really like them! For comparison, my usual running shoe is Brooks Adrenaline in Wide. I also bought Hoka Speedgoat 6 Wide and Brooks Cascadia 18 Wide to compare (kept all three and will use the others for trail running, etc.), but for me the Pursuit 2 had the best fit. I'm 60 and have some foot problems, so I did replace the insoles with Superfeet insoles. Just finished hiking Grand Canyon rim-to-river in the Pursuit 2's and had no issues!

[peterbedford]

I've been using the Pursuit 2 for about 50 miles and its all good. I think they're a little narrower in the one box than the first Pursuits, but still a good fit for me.
Durability and quality still seem quite good.

[EricKummert]

I am using the HOKA Speedgoat 5 in wide and 1 full size larger and love them!

[PapaBoiOutdoors]

I just checked out the Topo Traverse which seems to fit in between a couple of models that Topo offers right now. I found them incredibly comfortable; however, they have a very stiff sole which is nice when walking on sharp rocks but makes it much easier to twist an ankle as the whole shoe wants to twist when stepping on a less than horizontal surface. Overall, I really liked them for comfort. I may try the Pursuit 2 next. Thanks for the update!

[joseygirl]

Just did a 20 mile day hike in my relatively new Pursuit 2. I had to lace them up pretty tight to keep them from rolling out underneath my feet on the rocky stuff, but overall they felt comfortable and secure. After 10 years of Altras, it was nice to find another shoe that performed how I wanted on the trail. These have a lot of life left in them, but I am MTN Racer curious and might give that shoe a whirl next time. I tried them on at REI and almost opted for them instead of the Pursuit 2.

[StamfordBridge]

I just bought a pair of these today. I hope it works out for me.

[wolfeadventures]

I love everything about these shoes with the exception of one thing. The top of the heel counter is so stiff that on anything but a completely flat trail it digs into the side of my ankle. There is a piece of plastic to stiffen up the heel counter, I cannot use these for any technical trailfor that reason.

[seedmole]

Been using the Terraventure 3 myself, got it a few years ago and I'm looking to update it. Leaning toward the Terraventure 4, but the Pursuit definitely looks like another valid choice for me. With the recent fires, parks are gonna be closed for a while, so maybe I could go for the Pursuit to get something a bit more road-ready, as most of my usual trails are closed.

[semo]

Topo mntracer is excellent. Was planning to try pursuit but now not sure and may need to continue with mntracer

[peterbedford]

Update on pursuits.
Ive, been through 3 pairs thus far.
Im getting about 700 miles out of them before tread is gone. Not bad.

[JWaag]

Topo pursuit were perfect for me. My feet have normal length feet but are very wide, high arches and wide heels. I will try Topo Pursuit 2 and a pair of Topo Phantom 3 Wide depending on where I walk.

[davidplotkin]

I started using the Topo Traverse this summer because I wanted the rock plate as well as a 5 mm drop. I was coming from hiking boots with a 17 mm drop and so I thought that was enough of a challenge to be comfortable in the 5 mm. It was no problem at all and within one hike I was totally used to them. I’ve worn them through creeks and small streams, on gravel, dirt, sand, big rocks, and even a little bit of scramble and they do a wonderful job. My feet are never tired, and nothing aches anywhere from the hip to the toe.