Customer Reviews Topo Athletic ST-4

I was looking for a second pair of zero drop running shoes and came across Topo Athletic. This is my first pair and I am very happy about them. Great stability around the mid foot and back. Very comfortable overall!

I use the St-4's to strengthen my feet and achilles on short-to-medium runs, and also as my go-to gym shoe. I plan to use them on the treadmill a little this winter. This iteration doesn't slide around on my feet, even at faster paces. The upper is a huge improvement over the 3's. I would favorably compare them to the Cyclones, almost like Cyclones without as much cushion.

Used mostly for a gym shoe

I have run in other brands (gasp!) zero drop shoes and I find Topo outperforms in all aspects. Their designs don't just provide a roomy toebox, but their structure and form keep your heel in place allowing you to really run with your toes. I was excited to try the St-4 for their low stack height, how incredibly lightweight these are, is just a bonus.

I like the way I roll through the shoe. My gait seems more natural. Other shoes I worn feel like the shoe has a mind of its own and fights me as I roll through and off my toes.

I mostly use the ST at the gym, but it works well as a lifestyle shoe too. The ST-4 looks and feels like the ST-2 which I personally am glad Topo went back to this style. Along the top of the shoe, from the heel to the laces, seems a bit loose. Maybe it's for extra big ankles, I'm not sure, but my heel still feels secure. I love the ST line, and the ST-4 continues that love.

It's hard to wear any other shoes for the fact that these are the most comfortable and have the most support for my feet.

Really solid shoe with minimal cushion which I enjoy. The biggest challenge I have is with the sizing. The heel cup has almost no padding so my foot sits back further than my other topo shoes. I'm very pleased with the shoe I just wish I didn't buy them on final sale as I would love to swap them for .5 size smaller. #sweepstakes

feels light and comfortable.

This is great shoe for Running and walking for the people who wants barefoot experience but want some cushion too. Although this is not a great show for standing and occasionally walking.

I bought these as a barefoot/minimalist shoe to workout with kettlebells and jump rope in. At first the midsole seemed aggressively firm. After two weeks they've softened up nicely. The quality for the price is far above the Alt-ernative zero drop shoes I've switched from. Two minor things. I find these fit absolutely true to size and I regret sizing down 1/2 size on the recommendation of others because they fit slightly snug on my big toe. I also question the 0mm drop. But very good overall.

Very simply put, I like the ST-2 better than the ST-3. And the ST-3 better than the ST-4.

I purchased the ST-4 for workout training because of the zero drop. I like the fit of all my Topos and wanted a shoe for weightlifting in the gym that was more minimal. The ST-4s fit the bill. Also good for non training, tooling around, have a good feel. I use Phantoms and other shoes for heaving waling and running for treadmill work.

Normally wear Ultraflys. Love the fit of these and the only reason it's not a full 5 star rating is because I needed to go to men's sizing (usually wear women's) which are sized WIDER. Also needed half size larger than the converted women's to men's sizing. So, these are definitely SHORTER/SMALLER and NARROWER than Ultraflys. Only had for a week or so, don't know about durability yet.

Very comfortable 0 drop, minimal running shoes.

I was so excited to receive these shoes. I have been an Altra fan in the past, but many of their models don't have the roomy feel of their older models. These shoes look great, nice and lightweight, I like the stretchy but not too form fitting feel of the uppers. Unfortunately, the heel has absolutely zero cushioning. I imagine getting blisters after only a few runs. Sadly, I sent them back. So disappointed because I think I would otherwise love these shoes. The greenish teal color is also quite nice.

Very light, enough cushioning. For trained runners minimalist, the sole is too stiff. Too bad, otherwise this was the perfect shoe for me. This can easily be solved for a company like Topo. Patrick from Belgium

I have been running in zero-drop shoes for several years now. My current go-to pair of running shoes (from another brand) is now discontinued, so I've been hunting for a suitable replacement that ticks the boxes of having lower stack height but still enough cushion to handle long-ish runs (over an hour). I'd tried on a pair of the ST-3s last year and found them very firm and a little too narrow around my metatarsals. But after being impressed with what I saw in Topo's ad for the ST-4, I thought I'd give the next iteration of the ST a try. Right out of the box, I was reminded of Topo's signature fit, including snug midfoot area and roomy toebox. I was impressed by just how well locked-in my midfoot and heel felt, especially given the ST-4's minimal upper material and generously-sized toebox - definitely none of the side-to-side sloppiness that I've come to expect from other zero-drop brands. The heel counter is as close to perfect in holding my heel in place as I've found in any of the shoes I've tried out/worn in the last several years, and the very premium-feeling Ortholite insole left my feet feeling nice and comfy. Overall, lots in the ST-4's favor from a fitment standpoint. That said, if I had to touch on things that could be improved, there'd be two- 1) Midsole firmness - In warmer weather, I really enjoy the snappiness and responsiveness of the ST-4's midsole, which is definitely on the firmer side relative to my current pair of shoes (which has within 1mm of stack height but feels significantly softer and more cushioned). If 10 were most firm, I'd say these shoes' midsole is an 8/10 on its own. The Ortholite insole definitely helps to bring the net firmness down to a 6 or 7/10. But once temps drop (say, under 40F), the midsole gets very firm (9/10) and pretty inflexible, at which point the insole can't quite keep up. From my perspective, this current iteration seems best suited for warmer weather/indoor workouts where temps are well above freezing. 2) Arch support - If I'm upright, I'm either barefoot or wearing minimalistic shoes, which my feet have definitely adapted to. As a result, they have become very strong but still flexible, with strong arches and intrinsic foot muscles to match (see photo). But even despite my relatively high arches, the firm/rigid arch support in the ST-4 didn't let my arches move at all and left them and my 4th and 5th metatarsals feeling sore if I wore the shoes for more than an hour at a time. Definitely very different from what I'm used to when running barefoot/in minimalistic shoes, where my arches are allowed to flex up or flatten down throughout the gait cycle. So what's my takeaway? The ST-4 is a very well-made, purpose-built shoe that I think will suit the needs of the average person looking for a lower-profile, zero-drop shoe for shorter runs/workouts in warmer weather or indoors. And while I'd definitely still recommend it, it just doesn't let my feet function as "naturally" as I would've hoped/expected from the advertising (other than letting my toes splay). For the time being, I'll be looking into other options for my next pair of shoes while eagerly awaiting the ST-5 in hopes of toned-down arch support and slightly more accommodating midsole.

Great shoe! Use it for marathon training. Glad Topo kept them light. Only had the ST-2 so not sure how they compare to the ST-3. I like the lacing system, feel a little stiffer than the 2s. Keep making them!

I recently picked up a pair of ST-4s in hopes of finding a suitable replacement for my current pair of low-profile but still well cushioned zero-drop shoes (from a different manufacturer). I'd tried Topo's ST-3 previously and had mixed feelings about it due to the very narrow midfoot and relatively stiff feel, but after reading reviews and even watching Topo's recent advertising for the ST-4, I decided to give this latest revision a try. Right out of the box, I was reminded of Topo's signature dialed-in fit. The more form-fitting midfoot area, excellent lacing system/laces, and perfectly-shaped heel counter left my foot feeling super anchored into the shoe, with none of the side-to-side sloppiness that I've gotten used to experiencing in some of the alternate zero-drop brands' shoes. At least based on some initial walking around my work, I found the cushion level to be just right, especially thanks to the high-quality Ortholite insole. So I took the shoes for several runs. The first couple were in temps of 45 - 60F. The midsole did feel pretty firm at this point compared to the shoes I'd been running in previously that had a 17mm stack height (with the insoles removed) but were lighter and felt significantly more cushioned. But I liked how responsive the midsole felt, so I kept running in them. Then the cold weather hit, and I was surprised by just how firm the midsole became. If I were to have to pick between running in these shoes and just running barefoot/in my minimalist shoes for cold-weather running, I'd have opted for my bare feet. Definitely a shoe with midsole foam that's better for indoors/warmer environments. While I run-tested the shoes, I also tried wearing them around my work for extended periods of time. I am on my feet all day at work and was very impressed by the great step-in feel of the Ortholite insoles, so I was hopeful that they'd be a comfortable option for my work shoes. Unfortunately, because of the ST-4s' firm and overly pronounced arch support, I found that I was finishing my shifts with very sore soles/plantar fascia. It's worth noting that I have very flexible feet but also strong, muscular arches (see attached photo) from spending my time on my feet either barefoot or wearing minimalist shoes with 5-10mm of cushion - and no arch support. So to have a shoe constantly pressing up on my arches instead of letting my arches support themselves naturally just didn't feel right. I will say that I didn't notice the soreness when wearing the shoes for less than an hour, so I'd say it's still suitable for shorter-duration workouts/runs. My takeaway? I think the shoe overall is designed very well, especially for people who prefer a locked-in fit and typically opt for ground feel over cushion. If you are planning to use the shoe for indoor or warm weather workouts/runs under an hour and then switch to a different pair of shoes afterwards, you owe it to yourself to pick up a pair of these shoes. At least for me, though, I found that my feet weren't able to function as "naturally" in them as I'd hoped, so I'll be looking elsewhere for now and will circle back around to the ST-5 whenever it comes out in hopes that the arch support and firmness are toned down just a tad.

Zero drop shoes should be zero drop from heel to toe, the ST-4 is not. The heel and forefoot may be the same height but the arch area is higher and that looks like an attempt to give arch support? Remove the insole and run your fingers from the heel to the toe and it's easy to feel. I have a couple pairs of topo trail shoes and they don't have this so what's up topo? I returned these, it's hard to find a zero drop road shoe with this stack height. It's either no cushion, which I prefer, or too much, 25 mm and up. I wanted these for long training runs on the road as I normally wear a barefoot shoes. Please correct this in your next iteration of this show and offer some colors that do not have white midsoles. If this wasn't the only zero drop road shoe with a sub 20 mm stack height, I wouldn't have bought them based on that aspect. Make an option for a black shoe/black midsole in every shoe you make and you will not be disappointed. Just like the new color offered with the magnify. Thanks!

Want these for my 96 year old father (I've worn Topos for years and love them) but these colors! Please give us a neutral grey with a pop of color! Will have to pass, he would not wear these....

I have had these for less than 24 hours and the left shoe sole is starting to delaminate. One 2 mile walk and 1 hour exercise routine pretty disappointed. They due feel very comfortable for the activities that I planned on using them for. I find Topo to run 1/2 small. Pretty upset that shoe is falling apart 1 day after receiving. Glued black pad and seems to be holding for now.

This shoe isn't nearly as good as the St-3. This version of the show isn't as minimalist as the 3 and feels clunkier and stiffer. Please don't become like altra who are making their 0-drop shoes thicker and thicker and less minimal. Also the inserts at the bottom of the shoes need to be glued on better or something bc on my St4s and some on the St3s the insert will always slip out of place about 35 minutes into a run. Overall, PLEASE KEEP THE ST MINIMAL, please make the next ST closer the the 3