Customer Reviews Topo Athletic ST-3

I got into the semi-minimalist/wide toe box/zero drop platform many years ago with another brand. Unfortunately, their "improvements" seem to keep bringing them closer in line to the pack of traditional running shoes. In steps Topo. The ST-3 has a super comfortable upper, roomy toe box, a responsive sole allowing you to feel the road but comfy enough to avoid pokey rocks, and a very lightweight, quick feel. Highly recommend giving them a try if you're in this genre of shoe.

I run

The ST-3s are the same size as my ST-2s but feel slightly smaller with a little less toe box width also. The variation is really slight though and the shoes have stretched some with use. The ST-3s are flexible and seem to cushion impact a little more so than the ST-2s. I switched to topo mainly for the zero drop characteristic and have been surprised at how great both the ST-2 and ST-3s feel overall. Really great running shoes!!

I love these shoes! I had ran through 5 pairs of the ST-2 and just bought 3 pair of ST-3. The most important thing to me is that once you find a shoe you like with a normal large brand; they go and make a major change the next year and you are back to the shoe dating game again! I have been able to consistently buy the ST series and am a lifer at this point. The shoes are light and give a nice low to the ground feel. I really like that the heal cup is just fabric so that they pack up pretty small in my bag for travel or going to the gym.

I'll begin by saying I'm always between 11 and 11.5 shoes so I'm not sure if this shoes is true to size or not, but the 11.5 works well for me. Now, I got this to transition into more natural and barefoot running, however as I'm barefoot all the time at my house and when Im outside (I'm 17), running in the ST-3 wasn't quite what I wanted in a running shoe as my cadence was still lower than I wanted so I just went straight to being completely barefoot. However, for casual wear I love it as it looks like a normal black and white athletic shoe and the fit is great. I have C width feet and the I step and mid foot fit is perfect when I tighten it down with the laces. Also, the laces are great and stay right where you put them and tight, no loosening. For the toe box, the room is perfect, not too wide or too thin. As my toes are still kinda cramped from conventional shoes, there is plenty of width for my toes to splay out in as they spread out over time, and for now my toes don't feel like they are swimming around in too much room so eaithwr way the shoe fits great for me. Now as for durability I don't know because I've only put about 20 miles on them, but if you get this I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the room, 0 drop, and low stack height!

I've tried probably 15 different brands of running shoes over the past few years and never once written a review. Brands ranging from Hoka to Nike to Altra to Xeroshoes/Vivobarefoot and everything in between. I can't recommend them enough after putting probably 100 miles on them in the past month ish. If you're worried about trying them, the customer service is incredible. Basically I can't say enough good things. PS, girls with wide feet, order the men's version, the women's was too narrow (but I also have ridiculously wide feet). I also put a thinner pair of insoles in to help the width but that's more of a me problem not anything to do with the shoes. Best shoes ever!

I used this shoe when I'm out running on the road, and has some very good durability that for me I important. I have used this shoe through most of my running life. I usually chew through these shoes in 3 months but I do think Topo did a very good job making a good shoe.

This is my first "low" drop shoe after running for years and most recently on a Hoka Clifton. I would get random injuries and itbs from time to time over the years. I finally did some research on minimalist shoes and ended up on the ST-3 as a "compromise." The build and material quality are top notch. Fit is amazing and yes the toe box is roomy and I was worried about blisters but nope, none, perfect design. The shoe is lightweight and there is much more cushioning then I thought there would be.. but don't get lazy and heel strike on your run as you'll be sorry. I had to ease into running with these. I had zero ankle, foot or knee pain but I realized how under utilized my calves were on previous higher drop shoes. About 2 weeks in and calves are happy and I'm running with better form then ever.

The ST-3 is a great shoe for the gym and an even better shoe for travel. Being on the road for more than 50% of the time, I really needed a shoe that packed flat but would provide structure for whatever I could do to exercise. I looked all over, and there really is not another shoe on the market as good for fitness and minimalist travel. Running, lifting, CrossFit, these shoes are great. The zero drop allow for more natural running for me, and it provides enough structure in the neoprene helps to keep my foot locked in place. The roomy toe box, common across Topo's kept my toes from the numbness and soreness I had in other brands. Compared to my ST-2s (which I had two pairs of) these have held up better. Missing the color options though. Looking forward to the ST-4s. P.S. Being stuck at home now, I broke down and bought the Magnifly 3, which is a great running shoe for longer distances. If you like the feel of the ST-3s, but would like more energy return and comfort on longer runs, these are great.

So comfortable but does it's job. Great naturalist shoe

These are my new racing shoes replacing my ST-2. I love the feel of the road I get with this shoe. I love the room in the toe and the minimilist feel when my foot hits the ground. The farthest I've run so far is 12 miles. Feet felt great, legs felt great.

I've put 150+ miles on these so far as well as using them in the gym. Huge fan, they allow a natural foot strike and have the right amount of grip. My one wish would be for their to be more ground feel, personally I like to feel the surface under my feet and whether it's asphalt or gravel, the feel is basically the same on all surfaces as currently constructed. Granted, I'm a bit on the far end of the minimalist spectrum. Great shoe!

I had the ST-2 and loved them. I purchased the ST-3 after putting 700 miles on the ST-2. They perform really well for speed work or medium distance runs. I will continue to buy these shoes as they are updated and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a light and fast shoe that can do anything.

I run, walk, workout and wear these shoes to work. I am a Strength coach, football coach and PE teach. I wear them all day.

I've owned more than many pairs of ST-2/ST-3's since I discovered them several years ago. I love putting them on because it just feels so comfortable. I take them on dirt roads, the track, sidewalks, trails and for workouts ranging from 200m sprint repeats to 2 hr slow runs. I don't recommend using them for paths that have large rocks or roots, but that is their only limitation. Above all, they are DURABLE. I use to use Brooks, Mizuno, Asics, whatever and they all busted at the outside where the toe connects to the foot. The mesh would last for maybe 4 months before starting to split and then it was only a matter of time. The ST-3 runs out of tread long before anything actually goes wrong with the shoe, and the tread on mine lasted 6 months while doing about 5 miles/day. I originally tried them because of the price. Even though it has gone up slightly over the years, they are still way cheaper than any other legitimate running shoe I would consider. When they went on sale recently I bought two pairs just because I know I will keep using them in the future.

I'm a big proponent of zero-drop shoes, and I like not too much but some cushioning and minimal support... so these are great! If that's what you're looking for, I highly recommend!

The shoe fits like a glove. Great for gym use and for walks. Comfortable and lightweight.

Great road and gravel shoes

I'm a casual daily runner and alternate runs using either Merrell Vapor Gloves or Vibrams finger shoes. The ST-3s have been a nice surprise but for my personal preference I removed the inner sole and used a wide toe box lacing. The extra cushioning is nice and the shoe isn't heavy. It's a great complement to the mix of shoes I currently use.

This shoe is exactly what I was looking for in a trainer: lightweight, minimal cushion, flexible, zero drop, and the Topo fit that works so well for me. Don't mistake this shoe for a cushy structured shoe - it's not. It's a perfect compromise between minimalism and protection.

The ST-3 is a shoe that does a wonderful thing: it gets out of the way of the runner and allows them to move unencumbered. It doesn't try to pad a heel striker or insulate the runner from any other ill advised habits. Rather it is lightweight, gives generous room in the toe box, is stable, and stiff enough to give the runner the feedback as to how their foot is contacting the ground. I used a pair of zero drop Altra Escalate 1.5's before and found these shoes to be a superior alternative. Where the Escalantes were too loose when changing direction these provide good directional stability while providing the same freedom in the toe box. The ST-3s are 8 mm less in stack height and slightly less in weight so they are not necessarily in the same category. If you have good running form and are comfortable running either barefoot or in a minimalist shoe this shoe is a great option to add to the arsenal of footwear options.

The ST-3 is so far my favorite pair of running shoes. I have two pair of the ST-2s and they were my go-to shoes. However, they have been replaced. The ST-3s are secure in the heel and mid-foot, while letting the forefoot splay and do what it is intended to do. I have not had any issues with the lacing, but if you do, then use some creative lacing options. In my opinion, these are not gym shoes for anything requiring lateral movement and stability. They are running shoes. The durability is still to be determined, but so far they are great.

In some ways I like this better than the ST-2, in fact I like it more in most ways. I still have 3 pairs of the ST-2, and use them for my shorter distance runs (5 miles and under). I use the Magnifly 2's on my longer runs and Runventure 2's on my trail or snow runs. The ST-2 feels much more minimalist than all of those. The ST-3 feels more "there" than the ST-2's, but not in a bad way. It is also much less "there" than the Runventure's and Magnifly's. I really like the way the upper feels. My only real gripe is I had quite a bit of rubbing on my heel which gave me a blister the first time out of the box. Never had that in the ST-2; but it has since resolved. Just be aware you may need a bit more "break-in" time with these. Overall a nice improvement, but not a huge improvement; as the ST-2's were already great. Hard to improve on those!

Great gym shoe

This shoe is my all around shoe. From traveling and daily chilling, to hitting the CrossFit gym for my speed workouts (kettlebells, box jumps, 400m run, assault bike and more). These have a "sock" like fit. Flexible with a 0 drop platform. Lucky as topo ambassador I'm able to try their shoes and give them honest feedback.