Topo Ultraventure 4 Review

I put the Topo Ultraventure 4 through its paces… but is it actually worth buying?

The TrekSumo review process and why you really should trust us

There are plenty of websites out there that’ll tell you a shoe is brilliant because they’ve run a couple of miles on a dry forest path and taken some nice photos for Instagram.

That’s not how we review at Treksumo.

Between us, Jake and I have spent decades hiking, backpacking, trail running and generally wandering around wild places. We’ve worn footwear everywhere from muddy British footpaths to rocky mountain trails (check out Jake’s jaunts in North America and the Scottish Highlands), and we’ve learned that the difference between a good shoe and a bad one often doesn’t become obvious until you’re ten miles from the car with aching feet, and hotspots are starting to form.

So, when we review a piece of gear, we’re looking at what matters in the real world.

The Topo Ultraventure 4 has developed a bit of a cult following amongst long-distance hikers and ultra runners. Let’s find out if it’s genuinely deserved.

Getting into the guts of the Topo Ultraventure 4

Before we begin, I need to get one thing off my chest.

Every shoe company now seems obsessed with inventing increasingly complicated names for what I see as fairly simple products and concepts.

“Ultraventure” sounds less like a trail running shoe and more like an action movie starring a retired Navy SEAL.

Still, ridiculous naming conventions aside, Topo has built a really strong reputation over the last few years and plenty of experienced runners swear by their footwear.

Grumble over, let’s see what all the fuss is about.

Construction

The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up the Ultraventure 4 is the shoe feels surprisingly lightweight with this much cushioning.

Normally when manufacturers start piling foam under your feet you end up with something that feels like you’re running with your feet wrapped in two small sofas.

Thankfully that’s not the case here.

The upper uses a recycled engineered mesh with additional overlays in key areas of wear. On paper that doesn’t sound particularly exciting, but what it means in practice is the shoe feels airy without feeling flimsy. Topo has also strengthened parts of the upper compared to the previous version which helps improve durability and foot security.

Note: I’ve not run in the Ultraventure 3, but I have heard some less than flattering comments regarding the upper’s durability.

One thing I particularly like is that the shoe doesn’t feel over-engineered.

Some trail shoes nowadays have so many reinforcements, rock guards, plates and protective panels that they end up feeling more like lightweight boots.

The Ultraventure 4 keeps things relatively simple.

Weight

To me, weight matters.

Anyone who tells you it doesn’t has probably never carried a backpack for several days in a row. But I’m going a little off-piste.

At roughly 286g (10.1oz) per shoe, the Ultraventure 4 sits firmly in the lightweight category considering the amount of cushioning crammed into the shoes.

What impressed me most isn’t necessarily the number itself, it’s that the shoe feels lighter than it looks.

You glance at the stack height and expect something cumbersome, but once you’re moving it’s barely noticeable.

Fit

This is where the Ultraventure 4 starts to separate itself from the crowd.

Topo’s whole design philosophy revolves around creating shoes that allow your toes to spread naturally. Thankfully they’ve managed to do that without making the rest of the shoe feel like they’re crushed by a vice.

The heel and midfoot hold your foot securely while the toe box provides plenty of room for expansion during long days on the trail. That’s particularly useful if you’re tackling ultras, long-distance runs or simply suffer from feet that swell after a few hours on the tracks and trails.

Now, if you have particularly narrow feet you might find the front end a little too spacious. I have wide feet, so I love the fit of these running shoes.

For everybody else, it’s probably one of the most comfortable trail shoe fits currently available.

And unlike some Altra models I’ve worn, the shoe never feels sloppy, which is quite an achievement.

Cushioning

The Ultraventure 4 uses Topo’s ZipFoam midsole. Now, I know shoe companies love inventing fancy names for foam compounds.

Most of them sound like they belong in a science fiction film, but, fortunately for Topo, ZipFoam is actually pretty good.

The shoe comes with a 35mm heel stack, 30mm forefoot stack and a 5mm drop. That’s a lot of cushioning underfoot.

What’s clever is that the cushioning doesn’t feel excessively soft.

You don’t sink into it.

Instead, it gives you a comfortable (and I mean really comfortable), protective platform that helps reduce fatigue during longer efforts. Recent updates have also added a little more bounce compared to previous versions.

A point to note: if you’re looking for a fast, race-day trail shoe this probably isn’t it.

If you’re looking for something that’ll keep your feet happy after twenty miles, you’re getting much warmer.

Outsole

The outsole uses Vibram XS Trek EVO rubber.

Whenever I see the word Vibram, I immediately relax a little as, even though it’s not a guarantee of quality, it’s usually a good sign.

The Ultraventure 4’s lug pattern is far from aggressive, and that’s deliberate. The shoe is designed for moderate trails, gravel paths, forest tracks and mixed terrain rather than technical mountain scrambling.

On dry ground it’s excellent.

On gravel it’s excellent.

On easy British footpaths it’s excellent.

Take it onto steep muddy hillsides after three days of rain and you’ll start discovering the limitations.

That’s not a criticism, it’s simply not the sort of shoe Topo designed it to be.

Road-to-trail performance

This is one area where the Ultraventure genuinely shines.

A lot of trail shoes become irritating the second they touch tarmac.

The Ultraventure 4 doesn’t.

The relatively shallow lugs and flexible construction make transitions between road and trail remarkably smooth. If your local trails require a couple of miles of pavement before you reach them, you’ll appreciate this more than you realise.

Durability

Durability is always difficult to judge because it depends heavily on how and where you use your footwear.

That said, early signs I’ve observed are encouraging.

The updated upper appears, from what I’ve read about the Ultraventure3, tougher than previous versions, while the Vibram outsole has a strong reputation for longevity. Multiple long-distance runners have reported excellent durability after significant mileage.

Would I expect them to survive years of scrambling over sharp Welsh slate?

Probably not.

Would I happily take them on a long-distance trail run?

Absolutely.

Free-rein thoughts on the Topo Ultraventure 4

I really like this shoe.

Not because it does anything revolutionary.

Not because it contains some magical foam developed by NASA.

And not because it has an unnecessarily dramatic name.

I like it because it knows exactly what it wants to be.

The Ultraventure 4 is a comfort-first trail shoe built for long days, moderate terrain and people who value keeping their feet happy above all else.

It isn’t the grippiest trail shoe.

It isn’t the fastest trail shoe.

It certainly isn’t the most aggressive trail shoe.

But for long-distance runs, ultra-distance trail running and everyday trail miles, it’s very difficult to fault.

Buy the Topo Ultraventure 4 if:

• You spend long days on your feet (running, of course).
• You want plenty of toe room.
• You mix hiking and trail running.
• You regularly move between roads, gravel tracks and trails.
• Comfort matters more to you than outright speed.

Don’t buy the Topo Ultraventure 4 if:

• Most of your adventures involve steep, muddy mountain terrain.
• You prefer a narrow, race-oriented fit.
• You want maximum grip above all else.
• You need a shoe for highly technical trails.

Final verdict

The Topo Ultraventure 4 feels like a shoe designed by people who actually spend time outdoors.

It’s comfortable, practical, lightweight and refreshingly free from gimmicks.

For trail runners covering long distances on moderate terrain, it’s one of the easiest recommendations I’ve made in quite some time.

Just don’t expect it to perform miracles in a Welsh bog during January. That’s a challenge few trail shoes survive with their dignity intact (my Inov8 Trail Talons eat this kind of terrain for breakfast).