Wow, we have no idea where this shoe came from, but boy are we glad Topo stuck with it. The original Cyclone was just not all that great as Topo tried to stuff or rework a lot of their trail thinking into something roadworthy and put a plate in it and we don’t even remember what else because it just fell flat. The Cyclone 2 is honestly here to change all of that and is a shoe that makes us excited to run in it, just like shoes from Topo’s trail side of the world. This shoe just delivers way more than we expected in a really compact package, always exciting to get one of these.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- Weight – 6.9oz or 196g for a US Men’s 9, 5.5oz or 156g for a US Women’s 7
- Cushion – 28mm of cushion and a 5mm heel/toe drop
- Pricing – $150 USD
- Colors – 1 colors
Performance Review
Topo Athletic has a very consistent design, feel, and experience in most of their shoes. Sure, we get models that have a little lower stack or a little less up top, but the shoes don’t deviate all that much from each other. So when the Cyclone 2 showed up, looks alone made us go wow, what is this, and then when we picked it up from the box and realized how light it was, truly shocking.
What Topo has delivered here is exciting as it is truly in new ground for them and while they have plenty of road shoes in their lineup and have tried to get into the space before, the Cyclone 2 does it and does it well. This is a speed shoe, it is a raced shoe, probably focused at a little bit less distance, we would say, half marathon and under, but there is a lot to work with here and that is what is exciting. What Topo has packed into under 7oz is something that is fun to run in. It feels fast and nimble and looks modern and new compared to what else Topo has been putting out.
The new airy mesh upper does a good job of wrapping your foot, and then paired with Topo’s very traditional foot shaped toebox, you have plenty of room for your forefoot to relax. One noticeable stand out area is the collar as it does a great job locking you in place and wrapping around back to protect your Achilles. In run, these things are as fast as you want them to be. That full Pebax powered midsole delivers a super fast uptempo experience, and while they are light and nimble like an old school track runner, the material choices and combination feel ultra modern and fast.
Simply put, they are fun to run in and our only issue with Topo is that they haven’t applied this thinking to some of their other models. We would love to see a higher stack version of this shoe with a carbon plate and not some weird Frankenstein alternative. You have everything here you need to build a better plated distance racer and have it function well.
Construction and Materials
Upper
The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 features exceptional breathability with their new airy mesh upper. Designed to provide a light and secure fit, it seamlessly wraps around your foot, creating a sensation where the shoe seems to disappear as you effortlessly move and run.
Midsole
The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2, with its new full Pebax Powered® performance midsole, offers an impressive combination of highly responsive, seriously lightweight, and energetically charged ride. Complemented by a rocker design, it facilitates a seamless and swift transition, ensuring a fast and efficient stride during your runs.
Outsole
The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 showcases a lightweight die-cut rubber outsole that not only provides weight relief but also ensures optimal traction and durability, enabling runners to enjoy a responsive and dependable performance on various surfaces.
Overall Conclusion
When we say this came out of nowhere, obviously, it’s a bit misleading, as Topo has been working these things through, but the Cyclone 2 just deviates so much from the rest of Topo and in such a good way. It’s weighing in at under 7 ounces, and while it’s not a plated shoe that midsole is really light and fast so these things can turn it over. In a Topo world where most of their road shoes feel more like slow, comfortable joggers or easy daily runners, the Cyclone 2 is a speed demon… and we are here for it. Kudos to Topo Athletic for sticking with it and for delivering something unexpected and new. Can’t wait to see how this evolves!
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.
