Did Topo Ruin My Favorite Hiking Shoe? - Pursuit 2 Review

Did the Ruin the Topo Pursuit with a New Update?

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[DarwinOnthetrail]

Have you tried the New Pursuit 2? What NEW TRAIL SHOES have you been loving lately? 🥾

👇Let Us Know Down Below!👇

[DPM-dpon]

Topo is definitely watching. Let’s see if they are listening.

[KLRBugeater]

I'm a runner. My favorite shoe maker keeps improving my shoe with stuff I really don't want. I buy in bulk now (5x pairs) if I find a shoe I like, so I don't have to constantly adjust to a new fit/design improvement...

[randygonzalez]

Darwin is the master of reviews. He has such a respectful and no BS approach that is so damn informative

[DevinSchiro]

So glad you put this particular video out, and I hope Topo actually sees this (and reads the comments) and hopefully pays attention so that they don't slip into becoming the next Altra as far as poor craftsmanship. I'll admit I'm already pretty irked at them, as it took me 3 years to find the only shoe that doesn't cause me issues, which was the award-winning Trailventure 2 boot. Guess which one they just discontinued this year, probably because it wasn't selling as well (despite winning REI's best boot award or something like that)....yep.

I'm probably one of the few people who don't mind the gaiter hooks in the back, but the gaiters themselves are not sewn well enough and I've had multiple pairs tear at the single-stitch they use. The hook also tends to slip out from the front way more than the Dirty Girls. They're heavier too. Some days I go without gaiters just to avoid the weight penalty. If they're going to re-design anything, it's the gaiters that deserve a second pass. The shoes were fine, they shouldn't have touched a thing.

Why shoes companies can't just adhere to the "if it ain't broken don't fix it" mentality will forever be lost on me.

Anyway solid video, doin the lord's work here Darwin.

[joospis]

The best update to these shoes would be going back to the old version. If you want to raise the price, just raise the price. You don’t need to make the shoe worse while you’re at it

[ryancooperthompson]

I did pick up a pair of the 2s and agree with pretty much every point you made, except that for me the toe box feels slightly narrower when compared to my 1s. I’ve gone through 2 pairs of the 1s after 900 miles and have a new 3rd pair in my reserve because I also loved them so much. The only wear I have on the uppers is near the top of the ankle. I use dirty girl gaiters and the Velcro they provide held pretty well to my 1s. I also really liked the color of the 1s compared to the 2s, but am just glad that they continue to have color options that aren’t obnoxious as hell

[TelosBudo]

I got a pair of these when they released. I'm liking them. I use them for canoe portaging, carrying heavy weight and walking through shallow rivers and shorelines. I like the new quick-dry sole and fabric. They're comfy, and made well.

[brholder]

I've just started using the Topo Traverse, I wanted to try out a shoe with a rock plate. They have been good so far. I was using Terraventure 3's, an awesome shoe. I do like Topo's gaiters. They stay with the shoe when you take them off. I more often than not forgot to put on my Dirty Girls before I put on my shoes.

[dallashill]

It’s mind blowing that an excellent shoe is created, it’s near perfect, and they change what worked into something that doesn’t work. The secret to greatness is to continue being great.

[saxgoddess]

Love Topo - though my model of choice was the Terraventure. I wore them on the West Highland Way in June and they were phenomenal.

[florianfrey]

The only reason I am not using Topos over Altras is because Topo has this notorious toe spring that is quite stiff and absolutely unnatural. This causes me to have too much tension on my plantar facia and therefore is a no go. I absolutely love all other aspects of the Topos especially the durability over the poor quality that Altra has been taken on lately.

[bpjbp]

Great review. I enjoy your reviews. I'm usually left with several questions after most reviews. But not usually with yours, including this one. You answer every question that I have. It's as if you're reading my mind. And they have good flow.

[sheilaoregan]

Great review! I love Topo’s and wear the Ultraventure 3’s for walking and hiking. I like the extra cushioning 😊. I also have the Trailventure WP 2’s for winter walking/hiking. They are great for keeping my feet warm & dry while walking in snowy conditions plus are light so I don’t feel like I’m dragging 5 lbs around on my feet that other winter boots feel like.

[peterschenck]

I purchased a pair of these before I went to a two and a half week trip to Italy. It wasn’t a hiking or running trip. I was in full tourist mode. Rome, Venice, some stops in Croatia…. So lots of steps and lots of standing around in line on paver stones.

I am 6’ 3” and a robust 280 pounds. I use blue SuperFeet insoles. I wear a men’s US size 13.

These shoes never let me down. I spent hours and hours a day exploring these cities on foot. My feet never felt tired at the end of the day, and I never had to put a single piece of leuko tape on for rub spots.

As things cool down outside here wt home, I am looking forward to putting many miles on these during day hikes around the area. If I can convince my wife to go for a three or four day section hike, even better!!!

Thanks for the review Darwin! These are the best pair of trail shoes (and I am old enough to have started back when everyone wore leather boots when they went hiking and canoe tripping) that I have ever used!

[jamisonswift]

I'm right there with you. I'm trying some Topo MTN Racer 3's right now because I'm so fed up with Altra changing the Timps. I just want the Timp 2's back again and wish they'd stop messing with it

[curtelverd]

I just purchased my first pair of Topos and in the Pursuit 2 at that. I, too, have been a die hard Altra guy for over a decade because the wide toe box kept my feet from getting blisters and were great for triathlon. But, I kept seeing all these YouTube videos about Topo so I tried a pair of Mtn. Racer 3’s on at a local store and was shocked. They held my heel and midfoot much more secure than Altras, and I could feel the extreme grip of the Vibram sole (even grippier than my Olympus). I’m excited to give these shoes their first backpacking run in the Sawtooth mountains this week!

[pyronymph-]

Currently wearing Hoka Rincon3's. They are super cushy. Today they got a great Monsoon test, great traction wet.

[joelfurrer]

After struggling with durability and fit issues with Lone Peaks on the PCT last year I settled on the Pursuits. Absolutely love them. I’m excited to see the new version myself.

[tomatoomelette]

I switched from the La Sportiva Bushido 2 to the Topo Traverse with the rock plate and absolutely love them, I have narrow feet and what I loved about the Traverse is that they are a bit narrower in the heel and mid so they feel nice and secure...I use the dirty girl gaiters with them