The Topo Athletic Runventure 2 is a lightweight 0-drop trail shoe that’s currently the most comfortable shoe I own. Built for all-day wear, the upper is airy and breathable with a seamless socklike neoprene heel collar. The responsive midsole has a 15mm stack height that provides just enough cushioning for longer days on the trail. For the outsole, Topo uses a low profile lug design that’s best suited for hard pack and less technical outings. I’ve been wearing the Runventure 2 on and off trail since February and will share my experience in this review.
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Upper
Fit and Weight
The Runventure 2 fits true to size with my size 12 fitting as perfect as a shoe can fit. My size 12 comes in at a lightweight 11.36oz. With an anatomically shaped last, this foot shaped shoe is like sliding my feet into socks.
The heel of the Runventure 2 is slightly narrow and cups the back half of my foot like a glove. There is no heel counter in this shoe which allows for a near perfect fit for many foot shapes. The downside to having such a soft and pliable heel counter is that my foot slides around a bit on technical and steep terrain.
The midfoot has an average D width and provides a very secure and comfortable fit for my slightly large midfoot. The toebox is anatomically shaped, which provides ample room for toe splay and forward movement for steep downhill hiking.
Upper Build
The upper on the Topo Runventure 2 is made of a thin and light open mesh that breathes, drains, and dries better than just about any shoe I own. This is what made the Runventure 2 a go-to shoe for me on the blistering hot summer days here in Southern California. On top of the open mesh, Topo uses welded overlays to provide structure and support throughout the midfoot. These overlays are very comfortable and do a decent job at providing lateral support, but they are a bit too thin for really steep trails.
The overlays also provide a rand and toe guard that starts at the arch and wraps around the toe cap. This rand and toe guard are thin and very comfortable, but still offer a little protection for toe stubs and scrapes.
The Runventure 2 has a lightly padded tongue that is very breathable just like the rest of the shoe’s upper. The tongue is fully gusseted, and does a great job keeping out any dirt and debris.
In the heel, Topo uses an elastane material with no heel counter. This heel design makes for a super comfortable shoe, but doesn’t provide any lateral structure or support for technical trails. At the base of the heel, Topo added integrated gaiter attachment points for the Runventure 2 gaiters.
Midsole
The midsole of the Topo Runventure 2 is built on a zero drop platform with 15mm in the heel and 15mm in the forefoot. The midsole is made of a full length single density EVA that has nice cushioning and is flexible from heel-to-toe. This midsole moves with the foot and allows the foot to engage the trail. There is almost no torsional rigidity or built in support. I find this midsole works really well for trail running and light hiking, but isn’t sturdy enough for technical trails or outings with a heavier pack on.
I love wearing the Runventure on hardpack fire roads and single track where the zero drop and flexible midsole let my feet and legs connect with the ground. On trails with deep ruts, talus, and steep off kilter sections, I have to be a little more careful with my footing.
Outsole
The outsole on the Runventure 2 uses flat and shallow trapezoidal lugs that are similar to what you’d find on a road running shoe. This allows the Runventure 2 to double as a road shoe, and is why I love it so much on hardpack and buffed out single track. The downside is that on soft trails or steep trails with loose rock, the lugs just don’t have enough bite. The lugs are just too shallow and too densely placed for any meaningful purchase on the trail in those situations.
The outsole on the Runventure 2 can also struggle to provide adequate protection on trails with sharp rocks. There is a rock protection plate in the forefoot, but the exposed section of EVA under the arch can take a pounding on longer days.
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Closing Thoughts
At $110.00, the Topo Runventure 2 is a solid purchase. If you’re looking for a trail shoe that fits like a slipper and rides like a road shoe, the Runventure 2 will be a perfect fit. Just be mindful on technical trails since this shoe isn’t the most stable and doesn’t have a very aggressive outsole. For smoother trails and hard pack, it’s a tough trail shoe to beat.
Topo Athletic Runventure 2
110.00