Intro

UPDATED 3/16/2023. For a few race day options, check out our Best Wide Foot Plated Running Shoes review as well.

PSA: This is Jarrett’s wide foot running shoe roundup, and this is a safe space. As all wide foot runners know, we’ve been shunned for far too long. There are dozens of us, dammit! So this is a place where my fellow wide fam can view all the good options that work for us folk who can’t squish into those “normal” width shoes.

Now, this is technically not a “Best Of” list (although my favorite shoes are indeed in here). Instead, this is a list of almost every wide shoe that I’ve run in that’s currently available. I’ll give you the good, the bad, and everything in-between. Some shoes will have links to my full review, and others will offer summaries of shoes I have worn but received after others on our team reviewed them (it turns out very few companies care about doing pre-production runs of wide shoes).

As any runner with wide foot problems knows, the list of companies who cater to us is pretty brief. You’ll also notice that the following list is New Balance-heavy, as they consistently offer the most diverse options in the wide segment (for that, we thank you, New Balance).

We’ll keep updating this list throughout the year (organized alphabetically, btw), so check back for new additions from time to time. Should you have any questions or shoe requests, leave a comment below or hit me up on the gram!

I have been wanting to try the Adidas Prime X Strung for some time now, even though it only comes in a standard width. I had tried on the original, non-Strung Prime X and the fit was uncomfortable, but I heard from plenty of people that the Strung upper was better. Would that be enough for the #widefootfam?

The Prime X Strung is Adidas’ version of the Prime X, but with a wild new fiber threaded upper. Visually it is one of the most interesting uppers I have seen. Different color strands are moving every which way and the Adidas logo is sublimated on.

One of my biggest concerns was regarding the strength of this upper, and it surprised me with how strong it is, kind of like when I arm-wrestled BITR editor Robbe, who definitely didn’t write this sentence. While in California visiting Running Warehouse, Meg and I took these out on a run and we somehow ended up on a trail. While I do not recommend these for trail running, the upper held up phenomenally during the infinite amount of times I almost rolled my ankles. If I were ever going to blow out the shoe, it would have been then.

I had no problems with the thin tongue, but the heel collar was another story. It tore up my Achilles pretty bad and I had to wear a Band-Aid when running. I haven’t seen anyone else with this problem, so I hope it’s just my pair being rude to me. If I can get this figured out, I wouldn’t have had any problems on my 13.1 mile run.

The fit is pretty generous in the toebox for a standard width racer. There is barely any arch support for those who need it. Both sides of my midfoot extend over the shoe, but the upper manages to keep my foot in place. It reminds me of how my foot feels in the New Balance racer shoes with my arch hanging over. 

Within the giant 49.5 mm stacked midsole are three layers of Lightstrike Pro and some carbon EnergyRods. We’re talking zero ground feel here. Instead of running, I equate it more to going for a morning bounce around the neighborhood. I locked in to a quicker pace without even trying and my effort didn’t feel as high.

Underneath is a Continental Rubber outsole that provides some good traction. I’m kind of shocked I haven’t had any problems or pain with how narrow the outsole is. These are not for the weak ankled runners as they are insanely wobbly if you land on your heels. Also, I had more success on runs with more straightaways and less turns. Good luck keeping some sort of speed at turn around points. I made sure to be extra cautious because of the lack of stability. 

It may have sounded like there were a handful of issues, but I am seriously loving the Prime X Strung. Even with the Achilles rubbing, I want to keep running in this shoe. The $300 price tag is brutal, however you can find them on sale or with a coupon on the Adidas website. The Prime X Strung could be the moon shoes you’ve been searching for.

When I saw the updates to the Metaspeed series, I knew I had to try it out, even if it was a standard width. I loved the Metaspeed Sky for running fast workouts and races. Hell, I even PR’ed my 5k in them and went sub 20 minutes for the first time.

The Metaspeed Edge+ is for the cadence-runner who increases their speed by increasing the number of strides (as opposed to the stride-runner who takes longer steps and may like the Sky+ more). Asics increased the drop to 8mm, added 16% more midsole foam for more cushion and bounce, and moved the carbon plate lower to the ground.

The upper is very similar to the prior Metaspeed series with the polyester jacquard upper, super thin tongue, and lightly padded heel collar. I still have to play with the tongue to make sure it doesn’t fold over itself when putting on the shoes. The laces are ribbed and hold well. 

Asics fixed the length issue, and while I had to size up to an 11 in the original Metaspeed Sky, I went with a 10.5 in the Metaspeed Edge+ and the length is perfect. I find the toe box to be a little tight, just like the Metaspeed Sky, and the midfoot is snug. I’m able to make the Edge+ work because the midfoot logo is sublimated and lacks any harsh overlays. The biggest problem I have with the upper is that I get some heel slip unless I heel lock lace tight. I’ve had to retie my shoes at the beginning of a run to get a good secure lock down.

The midsole gets the FlyteFoam Blast Turbo treatment. This new midsole is supposed to be more cushioned and give a more reactive bounce. The carbon plate was moved towards the bottom of the shoe to help make the ride feel a little less harsh and there is a noticeable toe spring for a smooth transition. The Edge+ is made for speed and doesn’t feel as good when going at an easier pace. I also think people who heel strike may find it to be unstable as the heel is more narrow than the forefoot.

ASICSGRIP outsole rubber mostly in the forefoot. If you tore up the original Metaspeeds in the heel, you’re probably going to have the same issue. If you found it to be very loud, you’re probably going to have the same issue. Otherwise, the forefoot grip works very well.

My first run in the Edge+ was for the Falmouth Road Race. I was a little nervous running in a new shoe for the first time, but they worked great. I had no pain or blisters, and besides it being stupid hot, my feet were happy. My speed workouts have also been extremely fun. The Edge+ feel so fast when pushing and they have a snappy pop that I don’t get in some of the more cushioned and softer plated shoes. For me, there’s no doubt that the Metaspeed Edge+ is a top contender on race day.

It’s safe to say the Nimbus has evolved from a boring and old school option to a top choice in the cushioned daily trainer world. The new Gel-Nimbus 25 received a top-down refresh in the best kind of way. The change is the brand new FF Blast+ Eco with an increased stack height of 5+ mm.

FF Blast+ Eco is similar to FF Blast+, but made with 20% bio-based materials, so it’s better for the world. With the extra midsole height added, the Gel-Nimbus 25 has moved into the max cushioned category, and it fits right in. This version does feel softer than the last, and while running, it has a very nice underfoot feel. I think the ride is more on the softer and squishy side, as opposed to softer and bouncy. 

When compared to the Gel-Nimbus 24 2E, my Nimbus 25 2E does feel more spacious in both the midfoot and forefoot. Some may not find it on the super wide side, but I have had zero issues with fit on my pair and have put in some longer runs to make sure it still felt good after more time on foot.

The knit upper is really nice and does the job with a secure lockdown. After having my Achilles destroyed by some other thin heel collar shoes recently, I love the luxurious comfort of the Nimbus 25 heel collar padding. I can’t comprehend why companies keep trying to change this. It works. It doesn’t cause any slipping. There are no blisters. It’s what we want! As for the tongue, it’s the same extremely stretchy tongue as in the Nimbus 24, but slightly shorter. I still think it’s weird, but haven’t had any real issues with it.

Lastly, I really like how the shoe looks aesthetically. My wide all-black colorway is pretty boring and standard for us wide-footers, but I look at the tooling of the midsole and I see clouds and feel comforted. On the other hand, I look at the Novablast tooling with the sharp edges and flat surfaces and my brain thinks aggressive. The Asics designers did a great job here.

I wouldn’t use the Nimbus 25 for faster miles, as I struggled to pick up the pace. It almost feels like the shoe has one or two gears. However, those two gears are great and this shoe shines as a daily trainer on the easy miles (no matter the distance). I really like how the Nimbus has evolved, and as cliche as it sounds, I think the 25th version is the best yet.

It has only taken 5 iterations of the Mach and a offshoot Supersonic to get Hoka to spread the love to the #WideFootFam. The Mach 5 is a lightweight daily trainer that can be used for tempo work and even race day. 

The upper is a jacquard mesh that is light and breathable. It sports a super thin, lay-flat, gusseted tongue, and a plush heel collar. I’ve had issues with wide Hoka shoes in the past being too narrow which caused pain and discomfort. I found the Mach 5 wide width to be just enough for my midfoot. It’s a little tight, but causes no irritation. The forefoot also has enough room for me. I get a solid lockdown without any heel slip. The biggest issue I have with the upper is how short the tongue is. When the shoes are tied, I can barely grab the tongue. The guessetting thankfully keeps the tongue from moving around, otherwise it would be a disaster.

The Mach 5 has a dual density midsole. The upper layer features the ProFly+ foam, while the bottom is a denser layer of rubberized EVA foam. I’m loving the underfoot feel while running. It gives a light and nimble ride that has a snappy bounce to it. I’m not sure I would pick the shoe out for a recovery day, but damn it runs well at an easy and moderate pace. Also, with the wide base, it feels very stable.

I’ve definitely got some concerns with the durability, as the outsole is that rubberized EVA. The traction was great in both dry and wet conditions, but my pair has some wear and I haven’t even reached 50 miles yet.

If you’re looking for a lightweight daily trainer that can easily be used for faster miles, the Hoka Mach 5 just might be the shoe you seek.

The Mach 5 was the first indication that Hoka was truly committed to the #widefootfam, so I was super happy to see some extra side space come into the Clifton. In the past, Hoka’s wide models were wide only by volume; the actual platform seemed to be in the same narrow range that Hoka has always been known for. But that seems to have changed this time around. Which is good, because as Hoka’s most iconic trainer, the Clifton is a great shoe for everything you need on your run, providing comfortable and reliable daily training miles.

With a new formula of Profly EVA, it does indeed seem softer and bouncier, while keeping the shoe relatively lightweight. While I wouldn’t take this out for speedwork (save that for the Mach 5), I would take this out for just about everything else.

Point being– this may be one of the better wide foot shoes out there, and you if you’re reading this list, you can now find a comfortable seat on the Hoka wagon.

Well, #WideFootFam, we’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel. New Balance provided us a ticket to the ball in the form of the SuperComp Trainer. This carbon plated shoe review will be done using the WIDE option. 

The upper is a nice lace knit material with a bit of stretch to it (not as extreme as the hypoknit). I tried on Thomas’ standard width pair over a month ago and thought it felt too tight in the midfoot. The extra upper material of the wide version makes the fit so much more comfortable. It may just be the best fitting plated shoe I’ve tried. The midfoot is a little snug, but not tight, and the toe box has more space. Besides the lateral midfoot logo, there are no overlays to cause excessive pressure. The gusseted tongue is nice and I didn’t have any problems with the collar.

The SC Trainer is the evolution of the FuelCell TC. This go around, New Balance decided to blow past the legal World Athletics height limit of 40mm with 47mm of FuelCell goodness. A massive midsole doesn’t come without some extra weight. My pair weighed 11.5 oz. I’d be more upset if it was a racer, but this is for training, so weight isn’t the end all problem.

New Balance is touting their energy arc midsole technology, which contains a cambered carbon plate that’s sandwiched between two layers of FuelCell foam. The bottom layer contains a void going down the center of the entire length of the shoe. This allows the shoe to maximize energy return. 

I was pretty concerned about how stable the shoe would be with the huge void. However, I’m pleasantly surprised to say it’s even more stable than the FuelCell TC and RC2. The width of the heel is a good amount wider than both those shoes and it helps with the pronating. Just keep in mind that this isn’t a stability shoe and if you pronate bad, you may have some issues. I was extremely hesitant when taking corners fast. I found it nearly impossible to avoid slowing down as I didn’t want to roll my ankles.

The midsole foam is absurd with how soft it is. It may just be the softest shoe I own. While people talk about the compression, I’m fairly confident the technical term would be “the squish.” In the SC Trainer, the squish factor is next level. Paired with the carbon plate, I get a soft landing that has excellent energy return to keep me moving. 

My miles have been excellent. I had mile pickups with Thomas during a long run and other days I took it slow and easy. The shoe can perform at higher paces if needed, but shines on easier everyday running. 

The more I run in the SC Trainer, the more I like it. Sure, the weight is up there, but this is a high performance trainer and is going to keep you feeling fresh on those long runs where you’re just going for distance. Oh, and did I mention it freaking comes in wide?! I’ve got a feeling the SC Trainer is going to get pulled off the shoe rack a lot. It’s a winner. Simple as that. 

It’s not often I receive a pair of wide shoes in bright orange. By “not often,” I mean literally never. I love the wide, fun colorway, even though it’s throwing me for a loop. I don’t usually look down while running and see such bright shoes.

The Hypoknit upper is comfortable and form-fitting. It has a ton of stretch, which allows it to conform to more foot shapes. I think the 2E width is excellent for the wide footers out there. My midfoot doesn’t feel cramped, and the toebox has plenty of space. The issues I had with the v11 causing pain on the top of my foot from either the medial “N” overlay or lacing are gone. New Balance also went with a more traditional padded heel collar seen on the Vongo v5 instead of the previous iteration’s dreaded UltraHeel.

The Fresh Foam X midsole is pretty much unchanged, which means the cushioning is excellent. It’s softer than the 880, but not to the level found in the More V3. As expected, I enjoyed my daily easy miles in the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v12 and the shoe started to feel even smoother when I picked up the pace. If you don’t care about weight, this is a do-it-all shoe.

The sizing seems to be off on this shoe. I got lucky and was sent a pair half size down, and it fits me perfectly. For reference and as far as I can tell, my US M10 2E 1080v12 is the same length as my 10.5 2E 1080v11 and 10.5 2E Vongo v5.

My other small gripe is that the shoe clocks in at 10.9 oz. when my pair from last year weighed 10.2 oz. I’ll gladly take the added weight in exchange for New Balance sending the UltraHeel to a farm up north.

I may not have been a big fan of last year’s 1080v11, but I’m certainly sold on the updated 1080v12. The wide fit is excellent once you have the right size, and it’s extremely comfortable on the run. I’m ecstatic New Balance scrapped the UltraHeel and went with a more traditional heel collar as it works so much better. By now, it should be pretty obvious that I think the 1080v12 is a daily trainer star.

The Rebel v3 has a new lace knit upper, and while the tongue is similar to v2, it received the gusseted treatment. I know some people had issues with blowing out the midfoot area of the upper on the v2, but I never experienced that. When comparing the 2 versions, I do feel that v3 is reinforced with the more traditional upper compared to that paper thin v2 material.

The length of v3 seems just about the same as the v2. It runs a little short, so while I normally have a thumbs width of room in my shoes, these are about half a thumb which is how the v2 was. The toebox is a little more rounded and the upper on my wide fits me wonderfully in both the toebox and midfoot. On my first 2-3 runs the toe bumper was dimpling right on the sides of my big toes and caused a blister. After that, it seemed to have broken in and softened because the irritation disappeared. 

The midsole is the FuelCell we came to love in the v2, but New Balance added an extra 1.5 mm of stack. The base was also widened to create a more user friendly Rebel. This makes it feel like more of a daily trainer than just a speed day shoe.

The ride has a really comfortable and light feel to it. We’re obviously not talking max cushion, although it is slightly softer than the v2. I took the v3 out for runs ranging from half marathon distance to shorter speedwork. I felt comfortable taking corners quickly and while the fast miles had some pop, the slower paces were well cushioned.

I’m aware that New Balance had a goal to make the Rebel more cohesive in looks to the rest of the FuelCell collection, but I was a huge fan of the Rebel v2 design and had a love affair with the mango habanero colorway. It was (and still probably is) the best looking wide shoe I’ve ever had). Personally, I think the Rebel v3 doesn’t look nearly as good as its predecessor and it loses some of its uniqueness as it blends in. This whole take is my personal opinion though. 

The Rebel v3 continues to shine bright. While the v2 was more of a tempo shoe, v3 has now moved into the daily trainer category thanks to the extra midsole stack and wider, more stable base.

Some people may be struggling with all the New Balance daily trainer options, so I see the Rebel v3 fitting the runner who wants a versatile, lightweight, and minimal shoe, compared to the chonky More or traditional 880. Plus, at $130 it’s a great value!

After seeing a plethora of On shoes everywhere, from airports to races to farmers’ markets, we have finally been blessed with an expansion into the wide foot running shoe world (try saying that five times fast). The Cloudflyer is marketed as a high cushioned, medium to long run trainer.

The engineered mesh upper is actually very comfortable — it’s both soft and breathable. The Cloudflyer has an absurdly padded tongue and heel collar. On even advertises that this is their most plush tongue on their website (kind of a weird flex). 

As for wide width, On did a great job with their first attempt at catering to our people. The midfoot has enough room, and the forefoot is accommodating. On states that it’s 4 mm wider at the ball of the foot compared to the regular width. What I appreciate most is that there are no overlays right where the ball of the foot is located. Anyone with bunions should be happy.

The midsole is made of On’s Helion foam in the signature CloudTec pod design. Right above the midsole is a Speedboard for more support. This all sounds nice and dandy, but the reality is that this shoe is harsh on the feet. You wouldn’t notice this at first, thanks to the comfy insole, but once you get running, it’s apparent. Each run I did was borderline uncomfortable.

With the Cloudflyer, I found the heel firm and the forefoot hard. The forefoot flexes well because of the break with the pods, but that doesn’t help too much. It’s firm. That’s the best way to describe the ride. The longest run I ended up doing in the Cloudflyer was a little over 6 miles solely because my feet were getting beat up so bad.

I never quite understood what Robbe and other reviewers talked about with On and firmness, but I get it now. Advertising the Cloudflyer as cushioned is perplexing. It’s not cushioned. I could run barefoot, and it might feel just the same. If you don’t like a softer shoe, you could try the On Cloudflyer. However, you might be better off investing that $160 in some $ONON stock.

Starting off, I have to say the On Cloudmonster are not 2E shoes and do not come in wide. However, I find them to be very accommodating so they could be a solid option for someone who wants a wider standard width or less roomy wide shoe. 

The upper is a recycled polyester. It’s light, breathable, and holds my foot well. I’m a big fan of the thin gusseted tongue which sits comfortably on top of the foot and doesn’t bunch up when pulling the laces tight. 

The lack of excessive overlays allows my wider midfoot to have some space without being constricted. For a standard width shoe, I’ve got ample room in the midfoot and enough space in the forefoot. My only complaint with the upper is that it bags a little bit on the medial side of the midfoot. It’s a purely cosmetic complaint because I don’t notice anything while running. Speaking of cosmetics, the Cloudmonster is one of the best looking monster I’ve ever seen. It’s less of a Frankenstein (no offense, Mr. Frankenstein) and more of a sophisticated Dracula.

On presents the Cloudmonster as their max cushioned… monster. The midsole is a softer Helion foam with larger CloudTec pods compared to other On models. Above the midsole is the familiar On Speedboard (a TPU plate). I have to say, the Cloudmonster does have a nice soft landing with a very smooth transition through the toe-off. My stride felt great and instead of stomping, I was rolling right through my stride. Underneath each pod is a dab of rubber for the outsole and the traction is solid.

The Cloudmonster may be a max cushioned shoe per On standards, but to be completely honest I find it to fit better into the daily trainer category. The landing is soft, but there’s not a super cushioned underfoot feel when landing because of the Speedboard. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t feel at all like you’re running on a piece of wood strapped to your foot like with some of On’s other options. Hopefully this makes sense and I’m not completely contradicting myself.

I took the Cloudmonster on a variety of runs and enjoyed all of them. Since I know the #WideFootFam is reading this, my 10 mile run in wet conditions saw no pain nor blisters. I was able to pick up the pace if I really tried, but it feels way better at a more relaxed pace. On has something here with the Cloudmonster. It’s unlike any of their other shoes and is definitely a winner. If I was using it solely as a max cushion recovery shoe, I may be a tad disappointed, but thinking of it as a daily trainer has me very pleased and impressed.

Note: wide sizes seem to be scarce right now, so you may have to dig a little deep to find a pair.

The Endorphin Pro 3 is Saucony’s elite racing shoe. It has all the fancy bells and whistles you’d expect from a top tier racer. Here we’re looking at a carbon plate, an almost illegal midsole stack height, and a barely there upper. Mix it all together and somehow Saucony still managed to keep it in the featherweight division.

The upper is made of an incredibly light and thin single layer of mesh. Upon closer look, the holes in the mesh have tiny tinsel looking threads that give the shoe its sparkly shine. The gusseted tongue is paper thin and has 3 large holes punched out to reduce weight and have it even more breathable. All these weight reduction decisions paid off because my size M10.5 came in at a measly 7.9 oz. (223 g.).

The padded heel collar sits up pretty high on the ankle. On my long run, I noticed rubbing on my Achilles that was on the verge of causing a blister. My next run was a speed workout and I decided to wear higher socks and pull the laces tighter while heel lock lacing, and that helped.

On to fit, which is why you’re probably here! I have a chunkier midfoot. My longest run while testing was 13.1 miles and I didn’t have any problems or pain with the width. The toe box feels slightly better than the Endorpin Speed 1 and 2, but it’s not as spacious as a true wide shoe might be (as expected). The midfoot is definitely more accommodating than the Speeds were. I haven’t run in the previous Endorphin Pros, but if you have wide feet and are able to make the Asics Metaspeed Sky or New Balance RC Elite 2 work, you can definitely live it up in the Pro 3.

The midsole is a massive stack of PWRRUN PB. Saucony pushed the stack height to the legal race limits with the 39.5mm heel and 31.5mm forefoot drop. I love how bouncy and soft the foam is. To provide more rigidity and pop, Saucony uses a S-curve carbon fiber plate. Additionally, the Speedroll rocker works in unison with the carbon plate to propel you forward. Saucony has so much going on in the midsole and it works flawlessly. 

Underneath is a XT-900 rubber outsole in the forefoot and heel for added durability and I thought the traction was fantastic. It was a little nerve wracking taking sharp corners at high speeds. Even though it may be more stable than the Endorphin Pro 2 because of the wider midsole, that massive 39.5mm of PWRRUN PB still wobbles. 

If I haven’t made it apparent enough, Saucony crushed it with the Endorphin Pro 3. The thiccc stack of PWRRUN PB, along with the carbon plate, provide a bouncy and snappy ride that feels oh so good to run in. If you can run in any of the other shoes on this list, I don’t see why you would have a problem here. These pink shoes get the green light.

The Ride 16 is the flagship daily trainer for Saucony. I was a fan of last year’s version, and this year is no different. Part of that reason is because the shoe is almost no different. The Ride 16 has the same PWRRUN midsole, while the upper has been tweaked ever so slightly. 

The fit of the wide is solid, without being overly tight or excessively baggy. I don’t have any problems with the midfoot or forefoot. The updated upper has a new tilley system (whatever that means) to help with the lockdown, although I didn’t really notice any difference from the 15 while running. I will say, I love my burnt orange wide colorway and I think it looks miles better than my previous pair. 

I’ve noticed that the PWRRUN midsole tends to skew towards the firmer side. It doesn’t provide much cushion or bounce, but is relatively smooth through stride. With great firmness comes great stability, and although the Ride 16 is a neutral shoe, I don’t think pronators would have much problem.

As much as I’d like the Ride 16 to be a little softer, Saucony offers so many other options for that preference. The Ride 16 is a pretty standard daily trainer that doesn’t take any chances to mess up the legacy. 

For those who want to move on and get the newest model, don’t expect any surprises. Otherwise, save a few bucks and snatch up the remaining Ride 15 as they are extremely similar.

The Triumph is Saucony’s highly cushioned daily trainer. The 20th iteration underwent some big changes with a new upper and midsole. 

The engineered mesh upper is soft and the tongue and heel collar are plush. You want a good step in comfort? You’re in the right place. I think the fit of the wide is pretty good. The toe box isn’t huge, but it has enough space, and the midfoot has a nice snug fit. The biggest problem is the lacing. I like to heel lock lace all my shoes, and there’s just barely enough lace to get the job done. 

The Triumph 20’s midsole features a fat stack of PWRRUN+, measuring 37 mm in the heel and 27 mm in the toe. While walking, the underfoot has a very nice cushioned, but not soft, feel to it. While running, the PWRRUN+ has a slightly springy feel to it that is softer in the heel and a little firmer in the forefoot. 

Saucony says this is the lightest-ever PWRRUN+ foam cushioning. My 10.5 2E weigh 10.5 oz., so it’s not super light, but is right in line with the wide daily trainer pack. 

Saucony’s Triumph 20 is a great option for the runner looking for cushion, but not an overly soft shoe. The upper is luxurious, and the midsole is responsive and smooth. Oh, and did I mention the all blue looks pretty sharp too??

The diehard Topo fans will be more than pleased to know that the Cyclone 2 has changed my mind about Topo and I may be the newest convert.

The Cyclone 2 features a 100% Pebax midsole. This allows the shoe to provide a bouncy and responsive ride, while keeping it super light. My 10.5 weighs just 7.4 oz. (209 grams). With a 5mm drop (28mm heel and 23mm toe), I never had to wean my way in like people suggest with 0mm drops. 

This shoe is meant to be an uptempo trainer, and I completely agree. Sure, my slower easy miles were nice and I felt the softness of the Pebax, but the shoes felt great when picking up the paces. I felt like the shoes came alive and I was moving with relative ease. 

The tightly woven upper is light and thin. The midfoot had a nice snug fit and the toe box was exceptionally spacious. I didn’t feel like my toes were cramped, nor were they sliding around. This is for sure an approved #WideFootFam fit.

The tongue is padded and has 2 lace pass throughs to keep it from sliding around. The heel is also nicely padded and feels great around the ankle. People who had issues with the Cyclone 1 heel collar will be happy with the update.

Underneath is a thin rubber covering the forefoot and heel, with exposed Pebax midsole in the midfoot. I thought the traction was good on the road in dry conditions. On the 2 wet runs, I was a little more hesitant when taking corners. Obviously the exposed midsole was to save weight, although it has me wondering about the life expectancy. It’s not a concern right now, but I do have some (hopefully just) cosmetic wear after 40 miles.

Lastly, I like how these look. Topo does a good job making the roomy toe box design look sleek and fast. However, there’s no denying these look pretty pretty similar to the New Balance Rebel v2…

It’s a bummer the Cyclone has jumped from $120 to $150, but that’s obviously because of the full Pebax midsole. I guess I’m so used to seeing prices bump about $10 (i.e. the 2022 inflation tax), so the $30 was a bit jarring. With great Pebax comes great costs. In this case, it’s worth it.

I may not have tried all the offerings from Topo, or even the recent ones, but I would still bet that the Cyclone 2 is the best shoe that Topo has released. The Cyclone 2’s fit is nice and locked down in the midfoot and the toebox is roomy and very accommodating. The star of the shoe is the Pebax midsole which gives a fun and fast ride. Plus, at 7.4 oz. for my size 10.5, this is one of the lightest wide fitting shoes I own.

The Speedgoat is usually in the conversation when trail shoes get talked about. It’s a shoe I was never able to wear because of the standard width, so I got pretty jazzed when I saw it was finally coming in wide. Spoiler alert: the width is great!

The EVA midsole cushion is impressive, and I didn’t feel rocks or sticks while on the trails. This is usually a worry because I’ve gotten a super gnarly bruised heel before, which kept me from running for a week. I will say the Speedgoat did feel a bit unstable because of the lack of ground feel.

If I were to buy another pair, I’d probably size down half a size. Between the super-thin tongue, weirdly obnoxious overlay right above the middle of the toe box, and struggle to get a good tight fit, I ended my runs with a few blisters. I think a lot of that probably came from my feet sliding forward at times.

The Vibram MegaGrip outsole provided some super solid traction while running down the trails, around switchbacks, and over wet rocks.

Our standard width reviewers love this shoe more than almost any other trail shoe because of its versatility on any terrain, whether that’s in an ultramarathon or a three-mile Saturday hike. There’s a reason it’s a legend in the trail scene.

There aren’t too many trail options that come in wide. Hoka throwing the Speedgoat into the 2E ring is a game changer!