Topo Athletics had a great shoe with the original Terraventure and now with the updated Terraventure 2, they have fixed a lot of the issues found in the original especially when it comes to traction. We handed it over to our his and hers testers and have the results.
Construction: Upper
The upper on the Terraventure 2 sees am overhaul from the original, making it now softer and more flexible. They are not weatherproof but do feature Topo’s custom gaiter connections and the mesh design should see less water get in. For the water that does get in, they are designed to evacuate water as quickly as possible. They also feature a gusseted tongue which prevents extra bits from getting into the shoe. Also present as always is their rounded toe box making them and Altra really the only two offering a very explicit shape in this design.
Construction: Midsole
The midsole on the Terraventure 2 has changed minimally, still being composed of a dual-density EVA. It is nice and responsive while still maintaining some level of firmness. It doesn’t feature a specific rock plate, but it is firm enough to offer decent protection.
Construction: Outsole
Thankfully, the outsole has been redone and is now full Vibram rubber. This means better traction and a tactile stickiness that wasn’t there prior. The lugs are also a bit more aggressive than prior, but now more widely spaced apart which ensures the lugs don’t fill up with mud… well done.
Style & Aesthetics
The Terraventure 2 comes in 3 colors for men and women and the diversity of colorways is nice. The majority feature one primary color block with some subtle accents, but the diversity is quite good. The mesh can be a little odd-looking, the width of the cells, but overall very nice.
Run Test
His Take
Right now Topo Athletics has three really solid trail shoes on their hands and I was lucky enough to try all three. First off, the Terraventure 2 is a great update to the original which I tested as well… the outsole alone is worth it. That being said, I am a bit faster and a more aggressive runner and I love the weight loss that you find in the MT-3 and especially their new Mtn Racer. Don’t get me wrong, the Terraventure 2 runs really well, but the challenge for me is that the MT-3 has more cushion at a lighter weight and then the MTN Racer, well that is just a sick trail shoe.
Her Take
The collar padding is more pronounced than all their other trail shoes and while the cup itself is soft, this pushes my foot forward and pushes me up against the front which makes them feel smaller, so I would size up half a size… It just never broke in either. The overlay materials on the left and right sides of the shoe at the start of the toe box still cause me a lot of pinching as well and while they are supposed to provide structure, it makes them run a little narrow.
Overall Conclusion
The Terraventure 2 is a great successor to the original having improved on quite a few issues we had originally. The upper handles various trail conditions well, the midsole is both flexible and responsive, and the updated outsole is just what was needed. Topo Athletics has some great trail shoes on its hands and the Terraventure 2 is solid.
Technical Stats, Pricing & Availability
- Weight: 10.8oz (size 9)
- Drop: 3mm heel/toe
- Cushion: 25mm
- Type: Neutral Trail
- MSRP: $120.00
- Available: Now
