Topo Athletic  MT-5 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's

I bought these to walk the Caminho Portuguese in August/September 2026. I walked with a light pack, about 13 to 14 lbs. The total distance was about 150 miles. I trained in them at first just once a week about 8 to 10 miles for a couple of months and then later before I left with loaded pack for 2 weeks. Then I walked around various parts of Europe sightseeing for about 4 weeks. Then before the Caminho 2 more weeks with pack, about 8-10 miles a day. I'll start with the good since it's a much shorter list. They are comfortable (except see the not so good), the laces never come untied and they dry very quickly. The wide toe box was nice and I never had a blister. And they are light, too light to hold up apparently. The first pair I had to return because some part of the heel that sticks up was misformed and rubbed my heel. The second pair fixed that. Before I even started the Caminho, something rubbed the fabric of the area around the top of the shoe off of each side. It seems it was the other foot hitting that area going up or down stairs. The third day of the Caminho the bone on the top of my foot started hurting all of the sudden. I thought I had laced them too tight, so I loosened the laces and that felt better but my foot was still hurting. The area around the bone on the top of my right foot that runs from big toe to ankle became swollen and inflamed. I started limping it was hurting so much. All the miles and months before it never hurt a bit. I went to a pharmacy, upon advice from a Dr. relative, and got some new inner soles with a rigid plastic arch support and that helped a lot. They said put them in on top of the existing inner soles which are very thin, 3 mm at most. That helped and it didn't hurt for a couple of days but then started again. After 5 days I eventually went to a doctor who said there wasn't anything serious wrong with my foot, that I didn't need to stop walking, but the shoe was rubbing that area and making it inflamed. I had that foot laced very loose so it didn't hurt as much. She gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and within an hour it wasn't hurting any more. I continued and was able to complete the walk without any more pain. I looked inside with the inner soles out and there is virtually no arch support, it looks almost flat to me. The Vibram sole on the ball of my foot was worn down flat in the short distances that I walked. Other areas of the heal were also worn severely. I have a pair of REI "hiking boots", they look like construction boots, from 1973 or 75. The Vibram sole (when Vibram was Vibram) after decades is barely worn.

This is my 3rd pair of Topo shoes, and I am really loving this brand. I'm almost 70 years young and was suffering from mobility issues when my podiatrist suggested trying Topo. They have been life-changing shoes for me! The MT-5 has a thinner sole and not as much cushion as my others, but I'm enjoying them. I love the big toe box. The material on the uppers is recycled material, I think, which makes me happy if true. I don't care for how the top of the heel splits- one side always bends inward when I slip them on. Minor annoyance. Otherwise, I'm very happy with this new pair.

I LOVE the fade-to-grey color of the MT-5, as well as the Vibram outsole and durable upper. I use my own insoles and there’s plenty of room. Just be aware that these run quite large! I tried on a 7.5 Topo in store and ordered a 7.5 in this style, but it was much too long. Exchanged for a 7, which I can wear with thick socks, but I probably could have gotten away with a 6.5. For reference, I wear an 8D (wide) in the Brooks Ghost and 7.5 wide in Saucony Kinvara.

These are comfortable and great looking shoes. I have the Topo Ultraventure 3 and the MT5 has slightly less cushion and tread in my opinion. Regrettably REI sent me used shoes which was highly inconvenient and disappointing. I will be buying these directly from Topo. Please step up your quality control on outgoing packages REI.

The best run/walk shoe I’ve found for wider feet. Plenty of toe box room. Fantastic arch support without have to switch out to an insert. The vibram soles are an added plus for trails.

They run too narrow through the mid foot and will cause you blisters and instability if you’re used to running in something wider like the terreventure 4.

This is the second pair I have purchased. They have a roomy toe box and fit true to size. Great value and super comfortable. Would recommend.

Shoe is comfortable for the most part but I don’t particularly like the mesh material of the shoe’s body.

I'd been wearing the shoes for a while for walking around my neighborhood. Trying to break them in, but had some discomfort on the tops of my toes, but on too bad. but when I tightened the laces and wore them for a hike, they ended up rubbing the skin right off the top of my second toe. Bled through my sock and all over the top of the shoe. no good.

The lace holes on this shoes are completely responsible for this low rating. They are the tube kind, made out of a fake leather, & the laces catch in them so much I doubt they will ever wear smoothe, thereby making it very time-consuming to adjust your shoes properly.