I was excited to try the Topo Traverse 2. Topo has enough trail shoes now that there is some overlap between models, although the Topo Athletic Traverse 2 is easier to separate once you look at what it was actually built for. This is much closer to a lightweight hiking shoe than a trail racing shoe, with a rock plate, substantial Vibram Megagrip outsole, abrasion-resistant upper, and enough protection for spending several hours on technical terrain.
You can run in the Traverse 2, and I have no issue mixing running into a hike while wearing it, but I wouldn’t buy it specifically for trail running. Topo already makes several shoes I would choose before it for that.
Topo didn’t completely rebuild the Traverse for version 2, either. The 30 mm heel, 25 mm forefoot, and 5 mm drop remain, along with the ESS forefoot rock plate, FKT insole, and Vibram Megagrip outsole. The bigger updates involve ZipFoam, a more abrasion-resistant upper, improved collar-liner durability, and slightly more room in the toe box.
Topo Traverse 2 Quick Facts
- Best for: Hiking, thru-hiking, technical terrain, run/hike adventures
- Stack height: 30 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot
- Drop: 5 mm
- Weight: 11.2 oz men’s size 9 / 9.2 oz women’s size 7
- Midsole: ZipFoam
- Rock plate: ESS forefoot rock plate
- Outsole: Vibram Megagrip
- Insole: FKT closed-cell insole
- Gaiter compatible: Yes
- Price: $155
What Changed in the Topo Traverse 2?
The Traverse 2 maintains the same stack and 5 mm drop, while Topo updated the midsole to ZipFoam and revised the upper with abrasion-resistant mesh. The collar lining was changed for better durability, and Topo says the toe box is slightly roomier than the first Traverse and now fits more like the rest of its lineup.
The weight went in the other direction. The original Traverse was listed at 10.6 ounces for a men’s size 9 and 8.7 ounces for a women’s size 7, while version 2 comes in at 11.2 and 9.2 ounces. That’s a big boi!
I never love seeing a shoe gain weight, although I also don’t think minimizing weight should be the priority for the Traverse. If Topo had removed protection and durability just to make a hiking-focused shoe look better on a spec sheet, that would have been a strange trade.
Topo Traverse 2 Upper and Fit
The Topo fit has room in the toe box without making the whole shoe unnecessarily wide. The midfoot and heel hold much closer to the foot.
Topo made the Traverse 2 toe box slightly roomier than the original. The first Traverse could feel more restrictive than expected if you came directly from another Topo shoe. Topo is known to have a wider toe box so many people were surprised!
Extra space becomes even more valuable during long hikes. Feet swell, especially when you’re outside for several hours, and descents can quickly expose a shoe that doesn’t have enough room up front.
The new abrasion-resistant mesh is clearly geared toward hiking durability rather than making the Traverse feel like a stripped-down trail racer. There is more structure here than in many trail running shoes, and the heel and tongue also have enough padding that the Traverse starts moving toward lightweight hiking-shoe territory.
A more durable mesh is rarely going to move air like an extremely thin performance upper. Living in the Mojave Desert makes me pay more attention to that than someone hiking primarily in cooler climates. On a hot exposed trail, I will almost always appreciate more airflow.
The Traverse 2 also uses Topo’s universal gaiter attachment system, another feature that doesn’t change much for my normal trail runs but helps when you’re dealing with loose dirt, rocks, snow, or debris over a longer day.
In running shoes, I wear between a women’s 10-11 wide and the Topo Traverse 2 size 11 fits the best. I rarely have issues with Topo fit and the Traverse 2 is no exception.
Topo Traverse 2 Midsole and Ride
The Traverse 2 has a 30 mm heel and 25 mm forefoot with Topo’s ZipFoam midsole. I prefer the lower platform here because the Traverse doesn’t need a huge amount of foam to create protection. Topo adds an ESS rock plate through the forefoot, which helps prevent sharp rocks from pushing directly into the bottom of your foot, and there is also a substantial outsole underneath everything.
The ride ends up firmer than something like a max-cushion trail shoe. There is enough cushioning for long periods on your feet, but the Traverse doesn’t have the soft, bouncy feeling that has become common in road shoes and is slowly taking over the trail category too…but really do need that in hiking?
The Traverse 2 is heavier than I would want for faster running, though. At 11.2 ounces for the men’s reference size, there is no pretending this is secretly a trail racing shoe. The rock plate, outsole, tougher upper, and hiking-focused construction all add up.
If I happen to run portions of a hike, that’s fine. If I leave home intending to run the whole route, I’m choosing something else.
Topo Traverse 2 Outsole
The Vibram Megagrip outsole is great for technical terrain. There is a substantial amount of rubber underneath the shoe, with multidirectional lugs and heel braking lugs designed for climbing and descending across changing surfaces.
The combination of Vibram Megagrip and the ESS forefoot rock plate is more than I need on smooth desert dirt roads..more technical terrain? Yes. Those are the days when I’d rather have a lighter trail shoe and leave the extra hardware at home.
Move onto rocky singletrack, wet trails, loose climbs, or a long mountain route and I appreciate having more underneath my feet. The heel braking lugs are particularly relevant on long descents where footing gets increasingly important as your legs get tired.
Durability is another reason I like seeing a full Vibram outsole. The Traverse is marketed toward thru-hiking and long-distance use, and an outsole that wears quickly would undermine most of the shoe’s purpose.
I’ve put about 100 miles on my Topo Traverse 2 with no signs of it slowing down. I think it will likely last about 400 or even more miles.
Where Does the Topo Traverse 2 Fit in My Rotation?
The Traverse 2 isn’t replacing my regular trail running shoes. For smoother trails and desert running, I would rather wear the Topo Ultraventure 5. It has more cushioning, transitions better when pavement gets mixed into the route, and doesn’t carry as much hiking-specific protection. For faster technical trail running, I’d rather have the MTN Racer.
The Traverse 2 is great for hikes and long mountain trails, rocky routes, scrambling, run/hike days, and trips where I want something more protective than a normal trail shoe without bringing a hiking boot.
Topo Traverse 2 vs. Original Traverse
The original Traverse and Traverse 2 share far more similarities than differences. Both use the same 30/25 mm geometry and 5 mm drop, along with an ESS rock plate, Vibram Megagrip outsole, FKT insole, and gaiter compatibility.
The Traverse 2 gets ZipFoam, a more abrasion-resistant mesh upper, improved collar-liner durability, and slightly more room in the toe box. It also gains roughly half an ounce depending on size.
If you already own the original Traverse and like it, I wouldn’t rush to replace it. The second version feels more like Topo updating a few areas rather than a full redo.
Topo Traverse 2 vs. Topo Ultraventure 5
The easiest way to choose between these two is to decide whether the day is primarily a run or a hike.
For running, I prefer the Ultraventure 5. It has a 35/30 mm platform with a 5 mm drop and is much better suited to smoother trails, gravel, desert roads, and routes where pavement occasionally gets involved.
The Traverse 2 sits lower and adds the ESS rock plate, more aggressive outsole, and tougher hiking-oriented construction.
I’d choose the Ultraventure 5 for most of my trail running and the Traverse 2 when I expect the terrain to become substantially more technical or hiking is going to make up most of the outing.
Topo Traverse 2 vs. Topo MTN Racer
The MTN Racer is the better choice if speed is part of the goal. It’s a trail running shoe designed for technical terrain, while the Traverse approaches similar terrain from the hiking side.
There will be some crossover because both are capable on rocky trails, but I would use them differently.
For a trail race or workout, give me the MTN Racer. For several hours of hiking where I don’t care about pace and want more protection underfoot, I’d choose the Traverse 2.
Who Should Buy the Topo Traverse 2?
- Hikers, thru-hikers, and runners who spend a lot of their trail time mixing running with hiking
- Anyone low-cut alternative to a traditional hiking shoe
Who Should Skip the Topo Traverse 2?
- You’re running on smooth terrain.
- You’re looking for a soft, max-cushion trail experience
Topo Traverse 2 Conclusion
The Topo Traverse 2 has a fairly specific purpose for hiking and thru hiking. Topo kept most of what defined the original Traverse, including the moderate 30/25 mm platform, 5 mm drop, rock plate, FKT insole, and Vibram Megagrip outsole. Version 2 then addresses a few of the areas that could use improvement, particularly the toe-box dimensions and upper durability, while moving to ZipFoam.
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Questions for you:
Have you tried the Topo Traverse 2?
What is your favorite hiking shoe?