Topo’s first waterproof road shoe has arrived, just in time for fall in the PNW! We love to see it.
I’m a Topo girlie, having fallen in love with both their road and trail shoes because they are a natural fit without the zero drop, which just doesn’t work for me. I’m always excited to see their new iterations in the trail world, but a waterproof road shoe also has my attention. Enter the Phantom 4 WP.
See all our reviews of Topo here!
This shoe has a monochrome colored upper with a pop of accents on the soles and in the logo. They are a little heavier than their non-waterproof sister shoe (8.5 oz vs 7.6 oz), but let’s get into it.
Appearance:
These have a bit of a stiffer / chunkier look, especially in the sole! These have a high cushion and it shows, but the monochrome look hides some of that look where the upper transitions to the sole.
The logo on both the mesh and the foam on the side give a little contrast to an otherwise dark-colored shoe (women’s is gray/light blue, men’s is black/charcoal). Topo has done some monochrome colorations this season and I’m really liking it!
s always, 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.
The heel and ankle collar are both lightly padded, giving a supported and locked-in feel. Inside, under the insole, is the eVent® stormST technology, which makes this shoe waterproof. What does that mean in human terms? You can learn more about it here, but basically it is a flexible, plant-based membrane that is paired with recycled or smartly-sourced fabrics to create a breathable, waterproof protection.
Specs:
Because the waterproof membrane lines the entire inside of the shoe, the upper has slightly less flexibility than the regular Phantom 4s, or other non-waterproof road shoes, The mesh overlay is breathable without being permeable and water beads up on the upper and rolls right off, which is pretty cool to see on a shoe.
The tongue has some light cushion but doesn’t feel bulky. It’s attached to the upper about 1/3 of the way down so it’s flexible but not sloppy.
Midsole:
The ZipFoam midsole gives this shoe its weight, but with the rocker design, this shoe isn’t feeling like lead underfoot. The Phantom is a stiff-feeling shoe out of the box, but I didn’t need any sort of “breaking in” period with these, which is true for most shoes these days.
Outsole:
The outsole rubber is grippy and rather than having lugs like a trail shoe, there are 6 indented sections on the forefoot and two on the heel to give a bit of extra traction without affecting the ride.
Overall:
I love a Topo and I like this shoe a lot, however, it might be a fall/winter/early spring shoe given the weight and the warmth. I love my lighter Fli-Lytes for faster running like racing or speedwork, whereas these feel more like a workhorse / casual-run / slog-type shoe. I think Topo has finally filled a want and a need that a lot of runners have been asking for and not every shoe is going to fit every scenario so these are perfect for the niche they were made for. I look forward to putting them to the true test of a January in Oregon!
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.
