Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide
Valyermo, California
Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's
$155.00
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Offering a more secure fit with superior traction, the women's Topo Athletic's MTN Racer 4 Trail-Running Shoes are ready to help you take on technical terrain while pushing your pace.
Key Details
Trail-Running Shoe Type
Rugged-Trail
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm)
5
Running Shoe Cushioning
Moderate Cushion
Rock Plate
No
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- Revised uppers feature a slightly snugger fit for extra security on technical trails
- Improved gaiter system now features a more universal hook-and-loop attachment (gaiters not included)
- Secure midfoot and heel design keeps you feeling nimble and agile through every mile
- Roomy toe boxes allow your toes to align in their natural position for better balance and comfort
- FKT Insoles deliver a responsive step-in feel, with optimal drainage in wet conditions
- ZipFoamâ„¢ formula in midsoles provides a soft step-in feel and responsive ride
- 33 mm heel and 28 mm forefoot stack height offers generous cushioning and protection underfoot
- Vibram® Megagrip outsoles provide traction and grip on technical terrain, including wet surfaces
- Weight (half pair): 10.4 oz.
Imported.
View all Topo Athletic Women's Trail-Running Shoes| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 5 |
| Heel Stack Height (mm) | 33 |
| Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 28 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Upper | Engineered mesh (30% recycled) |
| Lining | Textile |
| Midsole | ZipFoam |
| Outsole | Vibram Megagrip |
| Rock Plate | No |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 4.8 oz. |
| Gender | Women's |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
Topo Athletic Footwear - Women's
| 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Women's | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
| UK | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 10 |
| EU | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 |
| Mondo | 22.5 | 23 | 23.5 | 24 | 24.5 | 25 | 25.5 | 26 | 26.5 | 27 | 27.5 | 28.5 |
| Foot Length (in.) | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11.2 |
Sizing Notes
Measurements are stated in inches.
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Comfy and reliable on the trails!
Nene2 months ago
I went from MTN racer 3 to these and love them. I had trouble with the 3's being too loose in the heel. These are locked down and fit just right. No slipping. Great Vibram tread that is trustworthy on slippery rock and loose gravel. Comfortable ride in the shoe. I feel like the toe box is smaller than the 3's but this works for me and still have splenty of room for my toes to spread. I was getting blisters on long hikes due to my forefoot sliding around and had to wear a second pair of socks. Not the case in the 4s. Looking forward to many adventures in my 'blueberries' (I have to question the women's color choices on these. I felt like I had a choice between key lime pie, a unicorn fantasy, and blueberries, but that's my only complaint!)
Nene
Phoenix, AZ
9 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Blistered Heels, Tight Midfoot, Uncomfortable
tnhiker1 month ago
I wore first generation and maybe second generation MTN Racers during our hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and LOVED them. I switched to Trailventures around Pennsylvania, I think it was, for more ankle support and hiked in them until we summited Katahdin. My normal shoe size is an 8 but I hike in 9.5 or 10 to give room for the insoles and foot swelling on days over 15 miles.
It was time for some new hiking shoes, so I waited patiently for the Mtn Racer 4 to release because I was excited for the new gaiter system and some of the other things mentioned in the design. I am so disappointed, though, with the fit of this shoe. It is MUCH tighter in the midfoot, and the heel cup rubbed blisters on both my heels on shorter hikes. Everything else about my gear was the same -- Darned Tough socks, my same custom insoles, etc.
I went back to REI today to return them and look at the Ultraventure or Terraventures, but both were out of stock in the store. The salesperson suggested I try another 1/2 size up. I brought them home and walked around inside the house, and I can tell they're still just not a good fit for me anymore. The midfoot is so much narrower that I am not sure if I'm lacing them more loosely and that's contributing to the heel issue, or it's just the changes to the heel cup or they're holding more moisture or what.
I'll wear my Trailventure 2 mids until I can figure out what to try next. Reading reviews on the Traverse seems to have a lot of the same sizing issues, so not really sure what I'll end up in. I'm heartbroken, honestly, because I have worn nothing by Topo for the last five years and never thought I'd be wearing anything else.
tnhiker
Knoxville, TN
5 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
gcerra
Connecticut
i’m so disappointed in the change in these shoes
2 months ago
I bought these shoes in the model from last year and absolutely love them, the cushion is great, the tread is great, and I love the wide foot box. I felt like I hit the jackpot finally after years of searching for decent trail runners that don’t wear down quickly. So I purchased the new pair during the sale and I was super excited, but these gave me awful hot spots on my heels almost immediately . Upon comparing them to the old trail runners from last year, they definitely changed the heel— it’s more narrow, stiff, and has a weird lip that digs into my heel. I wish companies would stop fixing things that aren’t broken. These are not good 
Age:18–24
Average Weekly Mileage:0–10 miles
Running Experience:Beginner
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 10
No, I do not recommend this product
Nene
Phoenix, AZ
Comfy and reliable on the trails!
2 months ago
I went from MTN racer 3 to these and love them. I had trouble with the 3's being too loose in the heel. These are locked down and fit just right. No slipping. Great Vibram tread that is trustworthy on slippery rock and loose gravel. Comfortable ride in the shoe. I feel like the toe box is smaller than the 3's but this works for me and still have splenty of room for my toes to spread. I was getting blisters on long hikes due to my forefoot sliding around and had to wear a second pair of socks. Not the case in the 4s. Looking forward to many adventures in my 'blueberries' (I have to question the women's color choices on these. I felt like I had a choice between key lime pie, a unicorn fantasy, and blueberries, but that's my only complaint!)
Age:45–54
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'6"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 10
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
Hiking mom
Most comfortable shoes I have ever had
3 days ago
I am 54 years old and I’ve had a lot of shoes. These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned in my life. I think they’re a bit ugly (lavender/grey is what was in stock in the store and what I got), but they’re my favorite shoes anyway. I wear them for light, hiking and walking. My feet feel just as good at the end of my hike as they did at the beginning.
Age:45–54
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'3"
Average Weekly Mileage:0–10 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 8.5
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
CaliforniaHiker
CA
Great grip but uncomfortable
2 weeks ago
These had great grip but were hot and stiff on my feet. I only did 2 miles. The ground feel was not good and there was not enough cushion to compensate for that, so I probably wouldn’t have kept them anyway. I have other Topos that fit well but these were hard to make fit well because of short laces and stiffness. (As an aside, I had to buy them directly from Topo because REI was, as usual, out of women’s 10.5. I am considering switching to men’s shoes because there are like 5 pairs of women’s 10.5 total out of about 90 models stocked in my local or next nearest store so I have to keep going online just to try things on. Hoping someone at REI actually reads the reviews.)
Age:55–64
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 10
Running Experience:Experienced
No, I do not recommend this product
Dani
Asheville, NC
Comfy
2 months ago
Very comfortable with lots of support
Age:35–44
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'5"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 9
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
Anonymous
Wales, WI
This version isn't great
1 month ago
I loved the previous version of these shoes and wore them basically out of the box for a rim-to-rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon with zero issues. After wearing them to death I got this version and find them clunky and uncomfortable in a way where you can't pinpoint exactly why you don't like them but you just don't. They bother my feet after hikes and runs, feel excessively hot, as though its just too much shoe, and are overall uncomfortable. Super disappointing. I always wear a size 10 regular in Topos and got these in the same size, yet the fit even feels a bit off from the five other Topos I have in my rotation, like they're slightly too large but a smaller size would be too small.
Age:45–54
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 10
Running Experience:Competitive
No, I do not recommend this product
tnhiker
Knoxville, TN
Blistered Heels, Tight Midfoot, Uncomfortable
1 month ago
I wore first generation and maybe second generation MTN Racers during our hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and LOVED them. I switched to Trailventures around Pennsylvania, I think it was, for more ankle support and hiked in them until we summited Katahdin. My normal shoe size is an 8 but I hike in 9.5 or 10 to give room for the insoles and foot swelling on days over 15 miles. It was time for some new hiking shoes, so I waited patiently for the Mtn Racer 4 to release because I was excited for the new gaiter system and some of the other things mentioned in the design. I am so disappointed, though, with the fit of this shoe. It is MUCH tighter in the midfoot, and the heel cup rubbed blisters on both my heels on shorter hikes. Everything else about my gear was the same -- Darned Tough socks, my same custom insoles, etc. I went back to REI today to return them and look at the Ultraventure or Terraventures, but both were out of stock in the store. The salesperson suggested I try another 1/2 size up. I brought them home and walked around inside the house, and I can tell they're still just not a good fit for me anymore. The midfoot is so much narrower that I am not sure if I'm lacing them more loosely and that's contributing to the heel issue, or it's just the changes to the heel cup or they're holding more moisture or what. I'll wear my Trailventure 2 mids until I can figure out what to try next. Reading reviews on the Traverse seems to have a lot of the same sizing issues, so not really sure what I'll end up in. I'm heartbroken, honestly, because I have worn nothing by Topo for the last five years and never thought I'd be wearing anything else.
Age:65–74
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'6"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 8
Running Experience:Experienced
No, I do not recommend this product
tashiad
Heel hot spots
1 month ago
I liked the fit of the 3s and LOVED the new style and colors of the 4s initially, but they started giving me hot spots on my heels so I had to return :( Fix the heel and I’m sold on topos over altras!
No, I do not recommend this product
Liv17
Tennessee
Blisters immediately
2 months ago
I loved my mtn racer 3’s. I was super excited to receive the new and improved version, but these were awful. First time I have ever had a blister from topo’s. My husband also had the same experience. This was a downgrade for me from the 3’s. The heels were too locked down and not enough cushion in the heel. I returned this pair and quickly ordered another mtn racer 3 before they go away.
Age:25–34
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'5"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 8.5
Running Experience:Experienced
No, I do not recommend this product
Gina
Minnesota
Amazing traveling/hiking shoe!
1 month ago
I have been so impressed by this shoe! From the first wearing I found them to be all day comfortable with great arch support and plenty of room for my toes. Having bunions that combination is seldom found. I’ve been wearing these shoes for the past two weeks traveling Switzerland and the alps. Steep downhill hikes were comfortable for my toes. Wet rocks and snow were no problem because of the spread and formation of the soles treads. (The sales person clued me in on that featured, and they were 100% correct. Great grip!). My feet were not sore after the long days of carrying a heavy backpack. I will be looking to purchase more of this brand shoe in the future, and hope that they don’t change these highlighted features which are so hard to find in footwear.
Age:55–64
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Yes , I recommend this product
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