Topo Athletic Phantom 4 Review: More Treats Than Tricks

Introduction to the Topo Athletic Phantom 4

CHAD: I go by the pseudonym of TheClydesdaleRunner on my social media profiles like Instagram and Threads, a nod to the nickname of Clydesdale given to me by Robbe after I joined the Believe in the Run review team. However, it may be time for me to workshop a new tag. I’m thinking either “Mr. Natural Footshape” or “Sir Anatomical Toebox”…why, you ask? Well, because these days if there’s a shoe that comes out (other than Altra) that has a natural footshape or anatomical toebox, rest assured, it will show up at my doorstep. And as long as those shoes are made by Topo Athletic, like the Phantom 4 I’ve been running in the last few weeks, I’ll be happy as a clam.

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Phantom 3, a trainer that stayed in my rotation even after I finished my review. The Phantom 4 makes some noticeable tweaks to its predecessor, including adding 2 mm of foam to the forefoot and the heel, bringing the stack up to 35 mm / 30 mm while maintaining the 5 mm drop. Despite having more foam, the Phantom 4 comes in a skosh lighter. The question becomes, did these modifications improve the shoe when the rubber meets the road?

CARYN: When Topo shoes show up on my doorstep these days, I’m pretty happy to oblige with a review. Topo has been one of the biggest surprise finds in this shoe review journey — a brand I had never tried previously but have really come to enjoy. While the Atmos has been my all-time favorite, the Phantom 3 was a really solid shoe as well. The anatomical foot shape can draw some criticism for being a bit, um, dorky, but the reality is it’s profoundly comfortable, and actually quite good for your gait.

Turns out it’s far easier to use your big toe when it’s not squished into a traditionally-shaped toe box. Anyway, I digress. The Phantom 4 adds 2 mm of Topo’s ZipFoam to create a 35 mm stack, somehow also decreasing the shoe’s weight from the previous version (the math just isn’t mathing). The aesthetics look, well, the same, but perhaps these minor updates will make a major difference? Let’s check it out.

JUSTIN: I feel like I need to crack my knuckles and watch 8 Mile, because I’m about to get into a review battle with my fellow big man, Chad. Before I get too far into the weeds, I appreciate what Topo is all about. Natural footshape, minimal drop, anatomical toe box, I get it, it works for a lot of people. I, unfortunately, do not appear to be one of them. Now, that’s not to say that this isn’t a good shoe, but as a fellow large horse breed runner, I want to get into why the Phantom 4 may get ghosted out of my rotation.

What we like about the Topo Athletic Phantom 4

CHAD: Man, Topo took a good thing in the Phantom 3 and made it even better in the Phantom 4. I feel like it improved the fit by slightly widening the midfoot so the taper from the wide toebox isn’t as drastic. There were times running in the Phantom 3 where I felt like the combination of the narrow midfoot and Ortholite insole irritated my arch a bit; that is not the case with the Phantom 4. The upper is a similar mesh material, which is comfortable and holds the foot well over the reasonably wide platform. If you’re looking for a shoe in the stable-neutral category, look no further than the Phantom 4.

Not only is the comfort improved, but the ride of the Phantom 4 is even better than the previous version. The extra 2 mm of midsole and the slightly softer ZipFoam provide just enough squish underfoot to increase the comfort while still retaining the responsiveness and rocker profile to aid in a seamless transition from heel to forefoot. Right out of the box, I took this shoe on a 7.5-mile run, and it felt great from the first step all the way through the last.

I also feel like Topo has improved its outsole traction. You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers, and we’ve had our fair share of April showers here in Central PA. Two of my runs have been in light rain, and one was the day after a soaker. I had absolutely zero issues with traction, even when running on the painted lines of the road, something that was not true in the Phantom 3.

Lastly, I do think Topo has improved the Phantom’s aesthetics. I received a dark blue to light blue gradient that looks significantly better than what I got in the Phantom 3. However, as I’ve said over and over, it’s hard to make a shoe with a natural footshape look cool.

CARYN: Right off the bat, this shoe was downright comfortable. The fit was perfect — the materials of the upper are simple yet so functional. The mesh is soft and flexible with simple traditional laces that lock down and stay put. I love the functional toe box with the foot-shaped design, as I have a slightly wider forefoot, yet nothing feels cramped or restricted.

On the run, I completely forgot about the shoe, which is the sign of a fantastic daily trainer. I didn’t have to make any adjustments on the run — no hot spots, rubbing, or heel lift. I think Topo’s ZipFoam is wildly underrated — for a shoe with a 35 mm stack, it feels much more significant. The foam is soft, but not mushy and dull, making it great for easy running. One of the things I had lightly griped about in the Phantom 3 review was the shoe’s lack of stability, making it a truly neutral daily trainer. That has changed for the better in this version, with a slightly more blown-out heel and midsole that offers quite a bit of stability without compromising the smooth ride. I would go so far as to call this version “stable neutral,” which makes it accessible to a much larger group of runners. Inclusivity, we love it!

JUSTIN: Listen, it’s a cool-looking shoe. I feel like shoe brands are not straying away from the blue colorway as their stock releases, but at least the blue is more palatable in the Phantom 4. I’m big on how a shoe looks from my elevation, and one thing I can really get behind is the toe box presentation. It’s giving “hey, you have this whole platform to launch yourself off of, it’s going to be okay. I have always enjoyed the logo, too.

When it comes to the fit, I really appreciate the heel-lock. I’m a stickler for that, and the placement of the eye holes in the upper portion of the lacing system really helps to keep that thing snug as a bug. And of course, my toes feel as if they’ve come into some generational wealth from a long forgotten aunt in Kentucky, as there are about 2 acres of plush meadowlands for my toes to roam as they please. The upper has a great deal of structure, giving the shoe a “tuck you in, sweet dreams” vibe. It’s very plush and premium feeling. I’d almost equate it to a fresh pair of Ghost or Adrenaline, if you need something other than my silly metaphors.

I feel that this shoe would be very comfortable, functional, and accommodating for many people. For those who are fans of the Topo brand, I can see this shoe being a nice addition to their mid-week miles rotation.

What we don’t like about the Topo Athletic Phantom 4

CHAD: To be completely honest, there is nothing that I don’t like about this shoe. I guess possibly they could try to make it a bit lighter, which might make it more versatile, but Topo has a few lighter options in its lineup already (see the Specter 2 or the Cyclone 3), so that’s sort of moot.

CARYN: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — the aesthetics of Topo shoes are mid, as the kids say (and that’s being generous). I’m hopeful, perhaps, that one of these days Topo will read my reviews and come out with a rockin’ redesign, but in the meantime, it won’t keep me from enjoying the product. Otherwise, this isn’t a knock, but the 5 mm drop certainly isn’t for everyone. Other design elements of this shoe (notably, a very minimal rocker profile) make the drop more noticeable, so if you’re coming from that high-drop life, proceed with caution.

JUSTIN: Okay. Now. This may be a little rough, but please, it’s just my opinion after trying a lot of shoes to find the ones that work for me: my foot shape, pronation, expectations of energy return, sensitivity to foam density, etc. etc. I am to a Shoe Retailer as a Gluten-Free, Vegan, Raw Vegan hypochondriac is to a fine-dining restaurant. Eyes will be rolled, but I know what I want and what keeps me happy and healthy.

The Midsole. I’d just love to start by saying I really appreciate the names that companies use for their materials. ZipFoam is one of my favorites to date. But it only goes as far as that. For me, this foam feels like it’s just graduated from college and is on a cross-country road trip with their friends Ashleigh and Braxton to “find themselves” before ultimately getting matching tattoos in Vegas and returning to work at Starbucks in their hometown. I just don’t know what it’s trying to be. It doesn’t feel soft/plush enough to be a daily trainer, it’s not bouncy enough to be a tempo day workhorse, and it’s not snappy enough to be a race day shoe. TL;DR: There is nothing really. (Maybe that’s why it’s called Phantom?). Maybe people enjoy that? The more “Born to Run” minimalist feel that allows people to be in touch with their ancestors, but I don’t think that’s how Topo wanted to market this shoe.

The Ride. As I have talked about in shoe reviews, I’m big on shoes that allow all types of runners to thrive in them. The heel striker, the mid-foot maniacs, and the fore-foot fanatics all deserve a chance to find their true love. I’m not sure where this shoe falls. As I got some miles under me, I was trying to figure it out, which is always a huge red flag for me. I never feel like I should have to alter my gait to have the shoe “work” for me; it should be the other way around. And believe me, I tried them all. The one that seemed to work the best was landing directly on the forefoot, where the midsole is widest and provides the most stability. I found the heel quite narrow, which for me created a back-to-front movement that just wasn’t enjoyable. I felt like I was fighting for my easy pace.

Final thoughts on the Topo Athletic Phantom 4

CHAD: It’s only May while I write this review, but do not be surprised in December when this is near the top of my personal list of shoes of the year, and possibly my favorite daily trainer of the year. It has the perfect blend of softness and responsiveness in the ZipFoam on a wide, stable platform that features a rocker that makes running seem effortless. What more can you ask for in a daily trainer?

Not much if you ask me, especially since it’s priced right in that perfect daily trainer range at $145. So, just like the Phantom 3, I imagine the Phantom 4 will stay in my rotation long term, including during my Chicago Marathon build this summer and fall.

CARYN: The Phantom 4 certainly holds up against some of my other Topo favorites, and iterates on an already great Phantom 3. The light updates here make a serious impact with an additional 2 mm of soft, responsive ZipFoam. With a stellar fit and an unobtrusive, stable ride, the Phantom 4 is a great trainer for anyone looking for reliable simplicity in their daily miles.

JUSTIN: Well, I think it’s pretty clear how I feel about this shoe. For those who like the brand and have been sitting at the dinner table with their Ouija boards waiting for the new Phantom to drop, I’m sure this is exactly what you have been waiting for. For me, and with the full disclosure that this was the first Topo shoe that has ever been put on my foot, it’s just not for me. In the land of organic, natural footshapes and anatomical toe boxes, I think I’m the GMO, apples bigger than my head kind of guy. Unfortunately, this shoe just won’t be at the top o’ my list this year.

You can pick up the Topo Athletic Phantom 4 for $150 from REI by using the buttons below.