something to keep in mind when it comes to topo shoes. The way most shoe companies design their shoes, are not for anatomical optimum but rather for design and fashion purposes. Our feet eventually adapt to the way modern shoes are shaped. This is not good at all since it prevents us from properly spreading our toes when placing weight on the front of the foot, thus causing our footvalve to collapse and long term causing a lot of knee/hip problems OR forcing us to buy expensive insoles. The topo toebox takes some getting used to.. not only mentally but physically. Your foot will have to learn anew how to properly spread the weight on your toes. Once your foot adapts, you wont have any issues at all with the width of the toebox. Lastly the foot will strengthen itself the way it was supposed to for each step you take, causing your base to get stronger and stronger. Having strong feet is very underrated. I speak from experience as an ex military. Worked light infantry for many many years. Trust me, allow your foot to work the way it was intended to.
I have this shoe, and I'm also a US size 11 but not in this shoe. This shoe runs very long and not true to size. I tried on the 11's and had more than 2 thumbs width in the toe. I was swimming in them. The 10.5 were perfect with still a thumb width left in the toe. Everybody is different and the geometry works well with my biomechanics. I am a forefoot runner at any pace with flexible feet and plenty of ankle dorsiflexion. I prefer natural or traditional and don't need a rocker so much to propell me forward. So far, only 2 runs in them, and they are feeling very comfortable at any pace if you don't mind a little ground feel. Yes, like other reviewers, I do find them fun. Similar to the Sketchers Razor 3 or Altra Escalante 2.5 but way better.
@Alex Filitti One drawback I've noticed after more runs in these is that the pebax/supercritical foam starts to bottom out after a couple miles, and you feel less protective from the ground. More so than what you would feel in pebax midsole of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. One thing to note is I weigh over 200 lbs. It may also have something to do with not having a plate. I had similar problems with the Nike Invincible 2, which also doesn't have a plate but not as much, perhaps because of the higher stack or the different makeup of the pebax minus the supercritical. I'm afraid as the pebax starts to degrade, it will become a bigger problem and definitely hurt the lifespan of this shoe.
@@jefreywith1f924do you find the Cyclone 2 more stable than the Invincible Run 2? I tried a couple of runs in the Invincible Run last year and I had stability issues in that high stack of Pebax.
This is my first Topo and I like the lock down, the upper, the midsole, and feather weight of the shoe. But I am just a beginner runner so I use them on treadmills rather on asphalt road.
I've done over 300 kms in these. I had them in a rotation with Saucony Sinisters. The Sinisters didn't last long and it was probably too much pebax in rotation anyway. Just got Adios 8s for the fast stuff which seem closer to my old Hyperion Tempos in firmness. The Cyclone 2s are a great versatile daily trainer for those who dont like high stacked plated shoes.
Nice review. Ran a half marathon in these. Wanted just a little more from them. Either additional cushion in the forefoot, or perhaps slightly firmer midsole. Overall, I really like them.
Another great review, Alex. I miss those days when Topo was a zero drop shoe. Would you recommend building a shoe rotation around PEBA midsoles, or would you rotate between the other midsole compounds? Thanks
Hi Michael, I would rotate around other compounds too. Mostly because you then exercise different muscles and you experience different rides which is always good for injury prevention. And also you keep the magic of PEBA for special occasions ;-)
I liked your review, but I believe that we don't need to be hostages of the original characteristics, especially if the shoe is light. In your case, I think that a second insole and a good silicone heel cup would solve the personal difficulties you mentioned. Being a light shoe with a lot of space, these changes are feasible without compromising what it can offer.
Hi, im´tired of super soft midsole, i´m in my second rebel v2, and like more firmer midsoles, I love recently pebax from decathlon in kd900 vfoam, this topo pebaxx is alson from Arkema but then brands make his changes, is as soft as rebels v2? maybe should go for something different, like the sinister or kinvara14?
I was thinking the same because the other altras have normal eva midsole and the vanish tempo and carbon, I think are the only ones with improved midsole but all of them 0mm drop. A comparative would be very interesting.
something to keep in mind when it comes to topo shoes.
The way most shoe companies design their shoes, are not for anatomical optimum but rather for design and fashion purposes. Our feet eventually adapt to the way modern shoes are shaped.
This is not good at all since it prevents us from properly spreading our toes when placing weight on the front of the foot, thus causing our footvalve to collapse and long term causing a lot of knee/hip problems OR forcing us to buy expensive insoles.
The topo toebox takes some getting used to.. not only mentally but physically. Your foot will have to learn anew how to properly spread the weight on your toes. Once your foot adapts, you wont have any issues at all with the width of the toebox. Lastly the foot will strengthen itself the way it was supposed to for each step you take, causing your base to get stronger and stronger. Having strong feet is very underrated.
I speak from experience as an ex military. Worked light infantry for many many years. Trust me, allow your foot to work the way it was intended to.
I have this shoe, and I'm also a US size 11 but not in this shoe. This shoe runs very long and not true to size. I tried on the 11's and had more than 2 thumbs width in the toe. I was swimming in them. The 10.5 were perfect with still a thumb width left in the toe. Everybody is different and the geometry works well with my biomechanics. I am a forefoot runner at any pace with flexible feet and plenty of ankle dorsiflexion. I prefer natural or traditional and don't need a rocker so much to propell me forward. So far, only 2 runs in them, and they are feeling very comfortable at any pace if you don't mind a little ground feel. Yes, like other reviewers, I do find them fun. Similar to the Sketchers Razor 3 or Altra Escalante 2.5 but way better.
Thanks, your comment was really helpful and insightful!
@Alex Filitti One drawback I've noticed after more runs in these is that the pebax/supercritical foam starts to bottom out after a couple miles, and you feel less protective from the ground. More so than what you would feel in pebax midsole of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. One thing to note is I weigh over 200 lbs. It may also have something to do with not having a plate. I had similar problems with the Nike Invincible 2, which also doesn't have a plate but not as much, perhaps because of the higher stack or the different makeup of the pebax minus the supercritical. I'm afraid as the pebax starts to degrade, it will become a bigger problem and definitely hurt the lifespan of this shoe.
Agree that this shoe runs big. I am usually a size 10 but a 9.5 in the Cyclone 2.
@@jefreywith1f924do you find the Cyclone 2 more stable than the Invincible Run 2? I tried a couple of runs in the Invincible Run last year and I had stability issues in that high stack of Pebax.
I just ordered these. I’m worried they’ll be too narrow in the heel and mid foot but we’ll see. I need a good uptempo shoe that will fit my wide feet.
This is my first Topo and I like the lock down, the upper, the midsole, and feather weight of the shoe. But I am just a beginner runner so I use them on treadmills rather on asphalt road.
Thanks for sharing! Good luck with the first months of running, it's a great activity ;)
I've done over 300 kms in these. I had them in a rotation with Saucony Sinisters. The Sinisters didn't last long and it was probably too much pebax in rotation anyway. Just got Adios 8s for the fast stuff which seem closer to my old Hyperion Tempos in firmness. The Cyclone 2s are a great versatile daily trainer for those who dont like high stacked plated shoes.
Nice review. Ran a half marathon in these. Wanted just a little more from them. Either additional cushion in the forefoot, or perhaps slightly firmer midsole.
Overall, I really like them.
Another great review, Alex. I miss those days when Topo was a zero drop shoe. Would you recommend building a shoe rotation around PEBA midsoles, or would you rotate between the other midsole compounds? Thanks
Topo still offers zero drop shoes. They offer shoes that come in 0, 3, and 5mm.
The pebax foam is soft and compresses, so the final result is pretty close to 0 drop.
Hi Michael, I would rotate around other compounds too. Mostly because you then exercise different muscles and you experience different rides which is always good for injury prevention. And also you keep the magic of PEBA for special occasions ;-)
@@AlexFilitti Very good. Thank you, Alex. I rotate stack heights and heel drops too...from 24 mm to 40 mm; & from 0 mm to 6 mm. Cheers
@@jefreywith1f924idk if u will see this but is this facts?
I liked your review, but I believe that we don't need to be hostages of the original characteristics, especially if the shoe is light. In your case, I think that a second insole and a good silicone heel cup would solve the personal difficulties you mentioned. Being a light shoe with a lot of space, these changes are feasible without compromising what it can offer.
Love Topo 🎉
Thanks for commenting! (and first!!)
Would you go TTS? Half size down?
Hi, im´tired of super soft midsole, i´m in my second rebel v2, and like more firmer midsoles, I love recently pebax from decathlon in kd900 vfoam, this topo pebaxx is alson from Arkema but then brands make his changes, is as soft as rebels v2? maybe should go for something different, like the sinister or kinvara14?
Can you compare it to the Altra vanish tempo? the two are similar, but have their differences. I would love them to be put against eachother
I was thinking the same because the other altras have normal eva midsole and the vanish tempo and carbon, I think are the only ones with improved midsole but all of them 0mm drop. A comparative would be very interesting.
Looks like it will perform like a rebel v2
Yes close!