I tried on these Topo Athletic Terraventures, and they’ve got a great roomy toe box, but I’m not sure about the lower arch support. I love my Saucony Rides for daily use, super comfy, but they don’t quite hold up on uneven terrain.
Anyone know of trail shoes with a similar wide toe box feel, but a bit more stability? I’m mostly on rocky trails here in Colorado, so I need something that grips well but doesn’t kill my feet on long hikes.
Have you looked at the Hoka Speedgoat? I know they’re not as wide as Altra, but the cushioning is solid, and they still have decent toe room. I hike in Arizona, so I feel your pain with rocky trails. These work well for me on longer hikes.
I second Hoka, but you might also wanna check out the Brooks Cascadia series. I use them when I’m hiking out in Utah—wide toe box, but with more support than most other trail runners I’ve tried.
How’s the grip on rocky terrain with the Cascadias? I’m worried about slipping when things get steep.
The Cascadias grip really well on loose dirt and rocks. I’ve taken them through Zion a bunch of times and haven’t had any issues.
If you like a wide toe box, Altra’s still hard to beat, but yeah, zero drop isn’t for everyone. Personally, I use the Topo Athletic MTN Racers—they’ve got a wide front but still offer some arch support. It’s like a middle ground between Altra and more traditional runners. I’ve done Yosemite in them, and they held up fine.
Same here, man. I was all about Altra until I realized my calves weren’t loving the zero drop. I switched to the Topo Terraventure, plenty of space for the toes, and the low-ish drop doesn’t mess with my feet as much.
Okay, that’s like the third time someone’s mentioned Topo, lol. How’s the durability on those? I don’t want to drop money on something that’ll wear out fast, especially with all the rocks I deal with.