The Vista is Topo’s new trail shoe with max cushioning. Let’s talk about it.
This shoe just debuted in June 2025 and has a monochrome colored upper with a pop of accents on the soles. They run on the heavier side, coming in at nearly 11 oz, and is described as being for “technical, rugged terrain”. Given the amount of cushioning, the rocker design, and gaiter attachment feature, I’d venture to guess this is a shoe we’ll see at some longer distance ultras.
See all our reviews of Topo here!
Appearance:
These look chonky! The stack height is obvious, that cushioning instantly noticeable. The logo on both the mesh and the foam on the side are prominent, but not intrusive, and I’m really loving the muted monochrome appearance of these. The women’s come in black/mint or purple/lilac, while the men’s are black/black, black/lime, or navy/orange.
I’ve been running in the lighter purple and they became instantly dirty-looking, so I was wishing I had gone for the black (or that the light color in a trail shoe was swapped for a different color scheme).
The anatomical toebox gives a wider appearance but I love that Topo does this well – they never look cartoonish.
Construction & Fit:
I have been running in Topos consistently for a good 2+ years and invariably I have to go up a full size over other brands. Normally a 9 in every other brand, but a size 10 every time in Topo. I’d recommend trying these on a store and/or checking out their generous return policy for online ordering to be sure to get your own Goldilocks sizing. A lot of other reviewers will say they fit true to size and I just do not find this to be the case for me.
The laces are flat and plenty long for any sort of variation of lacing you prefer. Topo has also a gaiter system so there is a hook up front and velcro on the back for this purpose.
The heel and ankle collar are both heavily padded, giving a supported and locked-in feel.
Specs:
The upper provides a surprising amount of protection, while also allowing for breathability (and drainage). Made of a tightly-woven mesh, it’s quite a durable material. Running nearly halfway down the upper are the vents, which would cut down on the weight where reinforcement isn’t needed, but the overlaid bumper along the pinkie toe covers what I would anticipate being the blow-out point. Thoughtful.
The tongue is thin, with some light cushioning. I always love a tongue with a garage to help with unlacing, but is it worth the extra weight? The tongue also has a notch at the top to allow for ankle flexion without losing your support and protection.
Midsole:
The ZipFoam midsole gives this shoe its weight, but with the rocker design, this shoe isn’t feeling like lead underfoot. The Vista is a stiff-feeling shoe out of the box, but the cushion and subtle rocker doesn’t make it ride this way.
Inside on these is a unique FKT insole. It’s got a bubbly / bumpy feel to it and is a closed-cell construction which allows it to have better drainage and be more water resistant. Which, is not only ideal for the running part, but also for the drying-out-and-not-becoming-absolutely-rank part post-run.
Outsole:
The outsole rubber is the much-loved Vibram with 4mm lugs. Patterned for traction but were designed to be smaller under the toes and larger on the sides for grip and a nicer underfoot feel. The arch area and the forked heel space have the foam exposed, giving a bit more flexibility and, presumably, saving weight.
Overall:
If I could design a trail shoe for myself, it wouldn’t be far off of the Vistas (mine would be black and pink, though). I didn’t love how stiff these felt out of the box, but the foam loosened up with a few runs and the cushion is exceptional. These are going to be a great shoe for technical summer terrain, wet and slippery fall, and snowy adventures come winter. This isn’t going to a be a shoe the elites reach for, but for the rest of us, it hits the nail on the head.
Sustainability and Commitments (bonus!):
Besides the shoe itself, or if you find yourself in a different Topo model / use case, there’s a lot to love about the company itself. They are committed to DEI. They donate money to the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and Special Olympics. Their shipping bags are compostable (made from corn!). All but one of their products are vegan (their non-vegan model has a wool component).
They require suppliers to adhere to a code of conduct, which includes language around harassment, child labor, and health & safety. These aren’t always things we can look into when making purchases like running shoes, but I appreciate their transparency and commitment to making a good product by a good company.
