Topo Athletic ST-4

Yes, we have dared with a minimalistshoe and I tell you one thing, if you are one of those who do not adapt much to this type of shoe, but would like to try a shoe of the so-called natural or minimalist .... The Topo Athletic ST-4 can be an ideal model to get you started. I assure you that it will surprise you.

For my characteristics of multiple serious injuries in both ankles I go much safer with shoes that help my instability when running, so trying this type of running shoe really makes me a little nervous in case I get injured again. But I put them on and... I went running in the mountains. Exactly!!!! you are thinking the same thing I thought when I saw myself running in the mountains, that I'm crazy because the Topo Athletic ST-4 are not exactly a shoes designed for running in the campo and much less for my characteristics, but the truth is that they gave me so much confidence from the first moment that I decided to go for it and they did not disappoint me. This is what we always look for when testing a shoe Their limits and as I said, these Topo Athletic ST-4 have pleasantly surprised us.

The Topo Athletic ST-4 is a 0 drop shoes, with a fairly low profile (16mm according to the brand... a bit more according to my measurements), with a more than generous footbed9 cm in heel, 8.5 cm in the midfoot and 12 cm in the metatarsal area in size 11USA), which provides great stability and a very light and flexible upper but which overall conveys a great feeling of comfort when you put them on for the first time, largely due to the Ortholite insole inside and its generous and slightly padded tongue.

The fit of the foot is very good, despite the thin upper, theinternal seams are not noticeable and transmits a lot of security. All these sensations were the ones that made us run directly in the mountains.

The Topo Athletic ST-4 are really lightshoes: 206 grams in size 9 USA for men and 172 grams in size 7 USA for women. These light weights and great comfort give us the feeling of running barefoot.

Cheapest Topo Athletic ST-4 prices

Although it is a shoe designed for asphalt for short distances or quality workouts, it is a great candidate for gym workouts or crossfit sessions, although in our tests we have subjected it to many other situations such as mountain running on not excessively rocky terrain and I have even loved them for walking around the city (I think they look great in terms of design) or as a restshoe after intense sessions of mountaineering or endless days of standing (being so light and flexible they fit perfectly in the backpack or suitcase).

All in all, I found the Topo Athletic ST-4 to be a very versatileshoes.

Who is the ideal runner for these Topo Athletic ST-4?

If we think coldly about the ideal runner, he/she should have a profile of a runner with good technique, light and with a very well-built musculature to run mainly the intrinsic musculature of the foot, the great forgotten of the runners.

It is also a fantastic option for those runners looking for a transitionshoe to a much more natural or minimalist way of running who want to move away from shoes with a lot of overpronation.

I even see it as a great option for those runners looking to come off a stubborn foot or lower extremity injury and need to retrain their musculature or are looking to modify their running technique. It is a shoe that gives you midfoot or forefoot support when running. If we go to the heel, we notice that the midsole does not absorb the impact and increases the vibration in the leg (a major risk of injury). Of course, this is always supervised by a specialist who will advise you.

If you are a fan of crossfit and are looking for a mixed model that allows you to run with certain guarantees during training and at the same time gives you security and great stability when performing dead weight exercises, jumps... this is a fantastic option.

Ideal distances for the Topo Athletics ST-4

In this section I think you may be quite surprised, since the comfort zone of the Topo Athletic ST-4 would be the asphalt, short distances or workouts with changes of pace. I can imagine running medium or even long distances on trails where the surface is a thin layer of dirt.

Of course the distances could be extended if the runner has a good technique and has a foot made for low profile and very flexibleshoes.

What we liked most about the Topo Athletic ST-4

Above all, I would highlight its great versatility. I think it's a very versatile shoe, not only for training or competition, but also for many other activities outside of athletics. I always explain to my students that the last thing to look at is the aesthetics of the shoe, but unfortunately, when we look at a shop window full of shoes, it is often the first thing we look at. Well, Topo Athletic's ST-4 are very cool.

When I first analyzed the sole and saw how thin the lugs of the sole were (normal for this profile of shoes) it didn't give me much confidence, but the reality is that the rubber of the sole grips very well, even on wet surfaces.

Finally, I was surprised by the midsole material. Despite having a low profile, it feels quite protective when running and it doesn't deform too much when subjected to sudden changes of turns or running on inclined areas.

Opportunities for improvement for the Topo Athletics ST-4

Continuing with the topic of the midsole and although we are aware that what I am going to explain below would be out of the recommended use for these shoes, I find a drawback that may not affect everyone, simply because as we have already explained the ideal athlete profile for these shoes would be a light runner with good technique, but if you go over 75 kg or perform an intensive use, the midsole fatigues easily and needs recovery times above 72 hours, otherwise the degradation will be very high.

If you have a narrow forefoot, the upper material in that area will probably wrinkle. With a more adaptive material this could be avoided.

And if we look at the collar part, it is quite generous and without foam, so very thin ankles may have a problem to feel some support in that area.

Both problems are solved thanks to the design of the eyelet and the material used in the buttress area (something similar to neoprene): taking advantage of the last hole of the eyelet we close the collar of the shoe and it holds very well the forefoot area so that the foot does not move forward mainly in descents. However, with this solution we lose part of the natural running sensation, as the pressure exerted by the laces can be uncomfortable.

What are the direct rivals of the Topo Athletic ST-4 in their segment?

Saucony Kinvara 13

Altra Running Escalante 2.5

Saucony Type A9

Merrell Bare Access XTR

Mizuno Wave Shadow 5

Final Conclusions of the Topo Athletic ST-4

Possibly they are the natural or minimalist shoes that I liked the most, mainly because of their versatility, opening the range for use in races/training as well as for many other activities. If your philosophy is this type of shoes, without forgetting that what we wear on our feet is not a shoe for everyone, especially if we have recurrent injuries of all that would be the back of the leg.

One piece of advice I would give you if these are your first minimalistshoes, is to have a little patience, as the first few weeks will be a transition and you will probably notice stiffness or muscle overload throughout the body. The transition will be much faster than with other more radical models.

The Topo Athletic ST-4 can be one more tool when coming out of an injury, as it will help you to work your muscles in a totally different way.

RUNNEA TEAM tester's rating

• Lightweight: 9.
• Responsiveness: 7
• Cushioning: 7
• Stability: 8.
• Flexibility: 9