Topo Athletic Aura Review: A Truly Mystifying Aura

Introduction to the Topo Athletic Aura

CHAD: Topo Athletic has now been around for just over a decade, and it has really started to hit a groove with its offerings. The Specter 2 was a great release in 2024, and the Cyclone 3 has picked up some solid reviews thus far. With the release of their new model, the Aura, Topo has now added another style to the lineup, a max stack stability trainer.

This shoe’s specs largely mirror the build of Topo’s first swing at a max stack shoe, the Atmos, one of my favorite max cushion shoes for bigger runners. It has the same stack height, the same midsole foam, and the same drop. By and large, other than having a slightly different design aesthetic from a colorway perspective, they look practically the same. But do the similarities end at looks alone, or did they carry over to performance? As the Tootsie Pop owl says, “Let’s find out.”

AUSTIN: “Car names are so stupid, aren’t they?” quips Jerry Seinfeld in the opening monologue of S6:E8. “No baron has ever owned a LeBaron.” A few moments later, he notes the practice of adding positive words to a car’s name for added appeal. “The Integra. Oh, integrity? No, Integra. The Supra. Or the Impreza. Well, I hope it’s not a lemona, or you’ll be hearing from my lawya.”

Likewise, running shoes have quirky names. Take Brooks — it has the Glycerin, Hyperion, and Adrenaline. Or Hoka, with the Clifton, Stinson, and Rincon. In short, simply add the letter N (or a vowel) to the end of an unconventional word and see what sells.

Which brings me to the Topo Athletic Aura. Despite the abundance of vowels, I was intrigued by this shoe: ample cushioning, a low drop, and a spacious toe box. Not to mention that Jon Voight regularly runs in it (IYKYK). Let’s get under the hood.

SAM: As an educator of children, I am well-versed in aura. There are some great examples of aura I can provide. This photo of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. Jimi Hendrix performing live. This plate of Buffalo wings. Aura is not something that can be described. It has to be witnessed. Experienced. Its glory taken in and accepted. This brings me to the Topo Athletic Aura. A shoe named after an experience. A word that has taken over our collective consciousness and vocabularies. Does the Topo Athletic Aura have… aura?

What we like about the Topo Athletic Aura

CHAD: I usually like to start my reviews with a dive into the fit, and this one will be no different. Like every Topo shoe that I’ve reviewed, the upper is as close to perfect as it gets. The anatomical toebox is such a relief sometimes after running miles and miles in shoes that have a traditionally shaped footbed. As always, that extra room for the toes is much appreciated. The upper is a traditional engineered mesh and features a nicely padded tongue. While it’s not gusseted, Topo includes some extra loops on the tongue that hold it in place. The midfoot and heel do narrow out a bit (not too much, but enough to be noticeable), so widefooters like Jarrett may need to be aware. However, for me, the fit of the upper is perfect (I’ll address the feeling underfoot later).

On the road, the shoe feels pretty close to the ride I got in the Atmos. The Aura uses a modern posting system called a Y-Frame to keep the feet and ankles in line and provide guidance, and the stability provided is notable. I have found that Topo shoes like the Phantom 3 and the Atmos are definitely in the stable-neutral category so I had very little issue with overpronation in my right ankle in them, the right one being the ankle that normally gives me trouble in unstable shoes.

Between this extra guidance and the rocker profile, the Aura was a very nice cruiser for easy and recovery runs. It’s definitely not something I would lace up if I was looking to do any tempo work, or my long run had intervals or speedwork built in, given it is heftier than the comparable Atmos.

AUSTIN: I haven’t run in a Topo model in a few years, but I’m glad they’re continuing to carve out a robust fanbase and provide more established companies some competition in the process. Out of the box, I received the grey/charcoal colorway. I like the minimal design on the upper and the faded look on the heel and midfoot. The Aura features an engineered mesh upper, modestly padded tongue, and secure footbed.

I normally add Currex insoles into my shoes, but Chad and I agree that the lift under the arch is quite high. Consequently, I left the Currex on the garage shelf and didn’t snatch them back for any runs. While the tongue isn’t gusseted, Topo added two loops about an inch and a half from the top of the tongue to keep it from migrating in either direction.

Before reading more about the Aura, I wasn’t aware that it provides mild stability for overpronation. Credit this to the Y-Frame Guidance System, which doesn’t feel intrusive like harsh medial posts of the past. According to Topo, the Aura provides maximum cushioning; on the run, I generally agree. The ZipFoam felt responsive, but I thought there would be a touch more plush in the forefoot. Still, I enjoyed the ride. The outsole is thin, and while there’s some minor scuffing beneath the forefoot, I don’t anticipate this impacting durability or traction.

I stuck with easy runs and recovery runs based on the heavier weight. The rockered geometry in the Aura felt great at quicker tempos, but shoes of this sort are best suited for easier efforts.

SAM: I am going to focus mainly on the stability aspect of this shoe because that is the only positive I had, and it is my bread and butter. The Topo Athletic Aura checks all the boxes for what I look for in a stability shoe. As Austin mentioned, there is no medial post in this shoe. Its stability comes from an outwardly angled heel bevel, a firm heel clip, and multi-density midsoles. Similar to some of our favorite stability technologies, Topo’s Y-Frame technology provides just enough stability to keep your stride on the right path through the running gait. Every type of stability runner will get enough support out of the Topo Athletic Aura, and that is a huge pro.

To quickly summarize the other positives I have, I’ll start with the colorway. I love neutral colors in shoes, and the grayscale look of the Aura absolutely knocks it out of the park. I love the look of it and I wish I liked the shoe more so I could get compliments on it. I also was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the Zipfoam. I found it to be a solid balance of soft and responsive. It pairs perfectly with the goal of this shoe to be a soft, supportive max cushion trainer. Outside of how the shoe looks, the midsole, and the stability features (in theory), I have few positives for this shoe.

What we don’t like about the Topo Athletic Aura

CHAD: Holy arch support, Batman! Immediately upon putting this shoe on, the thing I noticed most was how intense the arch of the footbed was. I figured it was all part of the guidance system, and I wouldn’t be bothered by it on the run, but I was wrong. I have fairly regular arches, and they were super achy after my first few runs in the shoe. Someone with flatter feet might feel the pain even more than I did. I ran in this shoe several runs in a row so I think my feet got used to it, but it’s worth noting.

Also, despite being largely the same as the Atmos, it gained over an ounce in weight, coming in at 10.9 oz. for a US M9. While that isn’t the heaviest we’ve seen here for a max cushion shoe, it feels a bit heavier than the Atmos did, especially underfoot. I imagine the extra weight comes from the guidance system, so it’s a necessary evil.

AUSTIN: I have narrow feet, so I had to cinch the laces tight for a midfoot lockdown. I achieved this at the cost of encountering some instep pain at the end of my second run. Going forward, I tied the laces off early before reaching the top loops to allow my right foot time to heal. Also, the laces are too long. I recognize that a longer length can help with a runner’s loop, but these can still be shortened.

SAM: Look. There’s a shoe for every foot and a foot for every shoe. This is not the shoe for me. I am not going to get on here and complain because that is what my Strava is for. To be as objective as possible, I find the fit of Topo Athletic’s shoes extremely uncomfortable and irritating on my feet. The arch support was so pronounced I felt it was bothering my foot with every step, and I ended my 14-mile run in this shoe with a 2.5-inch blister spanning the length of my arch. I do have flatter arches, hence my need for stability shoes, but the hot spot created by the massive arch support and narrow heel/midfoot is just outrageous.

Moving on, I found the ride of this shoe to be very clunky. The transition from the narrow heel to the wide forefoot just didn’t feel natural in my stride, so I had to constantly adjust my running to feel like I had a smooth heel-to-toe action.

If the fit of Topo Athletic Aura works for you, then great! On the other hand, for me, and for runners with feet similar to mine, the few positives do not come close to outweighing the negatives. The mark of a good running shoe is a shoe that you do not think about once you start running. I couldn’t forget the Topo Athletic Aura. As hard as I tried, it literally left a mark on me when I was done.

Final thoughts on the Topo Athletic Aura

CHAD: All things considered, the Aura is a decent option for someone who wants a max cushion shoe but needs some extra support that other max stack shoes don’t provide. Despite the intense arch support (which some people may need or enjoy), the stability elements are unobtrusive and do not alter the ride of the shoe in a negative way. It’s a bit heavier than the Atmos but provides a similar running experience. So, if you’re a runner who needs stability and wants the max cushion experience, Topo has the shoe for you in the Aura.

AUSTIN: In summary, I liked the Aura. Despite the initial instep pain, I appreciated the wide toe box, secure heel lockdown, and smooth transition in subsequent runs. According to Topo, the Aura is comparable to the Hoka Gaviota and Asics Kayano. Personally, I think it’s closer to the Gaviota based on the heel drop and stack height specs since the Kayano has a higher heel drop at 10 mm but a softer ride. As I’m fond of saying though, if you’re curious about all three, try on all three and discover the differences for yourself.

SAM: Sorry, Topo. I cannot say that the Aura has “aura.” It might be fairer to say that it has a negative aura. As much as I had high expectations for this shoe and wanted to love it, 24 miles is all I’m going to get out of it because I refuse to wear it again. If Topo’s shoes fit your feet and you are in the market for a max cushion stability trainer I would recommend this. If you are unsure about Topo Athletic’s shoe shape and are wondering whether the arch support would bother you or not, do yourself a favor and pick up one of the last two Gel-Kayano models. Trust me, they’re the better shoe.

You can pick up the Topo Athletic Aura for $165 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.