Topo Athletic is one of those brands it seems we are always asked about and are always reminding people about. They ride this relatively unknown line and then produce solid shoes like the Fli-Lyte 3, the Phantom, and in this case, the Magnifly 3. Zero drop, full knit upper, and super comfortable it does tick all the marks. However, what matters to us is really how it runs.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Zero drop easy going everyday runner
- Weighs in at 10oz or 283g for a US Men’s 9
- Has 25mm of cushion and a 0mm heel/toe drop
- Retails at $120.00 USD and comes in 3 colors for Men and Women
Run Test
The Magnifly 3 is a beautifully simplistic shoe and first experiences on foot are really just amazing, the shoe feels great. The new mesh upper is great and wide toe box makes the shoe incredibly comfortable and dual-density midsole is easy going on the foot. The out of the box experience is perfect and really as an everyday shoe, it is hard to beat a good Topo Athletic shoe.
What matters to us is really how it runs and fortunately (or unfortunately) for the Magnifly 3 we have had a chance to review everything from Topo lately. The Magnifly is an easy run, but if we are honest relatively anti-climactic. They aren’t as quick as the Zephyr or as cushioned as the Phantom or Fli-Lyte 3, but they run just fine. Our struggles are a bit with the weight give how it competes with other models in the lineup.
The shoe can really get up when you want to, but more folks who are fans of zero drop will find something here than normal Topo fans. I hate to say it, but walkers will actually find a ton of satisfaction with this shoe and even then… you could wear these to work if you wanted to and would never complain.
Construction: Upper
The upper on the Magnifly 3 is full engineered mesh with basically zero overlays. The collar is a molded foam for comfort and they also include an Ortholite footbed for comfort.
Construction: Midsole
The Magnifly 3’s midsole is dual-density which many other manufacturers are doing as well. In this case, there is a softer top layer that gives you that soft plush feeling and then the bottom layer is firmer which should give you some responsiveness. There is also a visible toe rocker which is designed to help with the heel to toe transition during the stride.
Construction: Outsole
The outsole is really simplistic. Topo has used targeted rubber at the front and heel areas for durability and grip, but the rest is just reinforced EVA.
Style & Aesthetics
The Magnifly 3 is an innocent-looking shoe and will not turn a lot of heads and probably looked more like something you would wear with jeans than to run. It comes in 3 colors for men and women.
Overall Conclusion
The Magnifly 3 is a solid shoe, but for our money, we would definitely go for the Fli-Lyte 3 or the Phantom and for speed we would stick with the Zephyr. The Magnifly 3 is a solid shoe don’t get us wrong, but there are definitely others in the lineup we are like better. If you are a zero drop fan and an Altra aficionado then you might really love these, so it is a difficult call for us. This is a beautiful shoe and many will love it, but truthfully they have better and faster.
Learn more on the Topo Athletic website
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Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
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