Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 Review: Ultra, Once Again

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4

TAYLOR: I’ve been in this game long enough that I have to sit and think about the when, where, and how we got here. No, this is not me typing out my memoir. By here, I mean this day and age of footwear and gear. When the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 graced my doorstep, I had a brief flashback to the original version. It was a surprisingly awesome shoe for the time. In 2024, it’s become something entirely different yet holds closely to the ethos of the line.

As with all Topo launches, some love it, and some hate it. I stick closer to the love side. If you find yourself in the latter category, just bop on over to the Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 review. Like a turkey is to the T-rex, the Terraventure 4 is the closest living relative to the original Ultraventure.

Now, if you’re seeking a more modern take on the quest to ultra, get cozy and read on.

The previous version of this shoe, the Ultraventure 3, is one of our all-time favorites. It was such an easy shoe to throw on for a cornucopia of miles that I recommended it to anyone who wanted the combination of cushion and room in the toe box.

The updated Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 is eerily similar to its predecessor. I say eerily because it’s a scary game to play since there hasn’t been an update in two years. Then you come out with virtually the same shoe? It’s the same stack (35/30 mm) and formula of ZipFoam in the midsole. Vibram XS Trek is still on the outsole, too, but what’s new is the upper. It’s still a recycled mesh but gets a few strategic overlays.

The true risk Topo Athletic runs is becoming a has-been. I want to remember the series as it was — well-cushioned, smooth ride, and so dang comfortable. With shoes like The North Face Altamesa 500, Brooks Caldera 7, and Nike Zegama 2, this may not be a “special” shoe anymore.

But, with trepidation, I put in the miles. It took somewhere between a quarter and a half a mile for me to come to a conclusion on that.

SAM: Two years ago I pulled the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 out of the box and took it out on one of the Baltimore area’s local 50k races after only one short test run. That shoe delighted me that race, and it remains one of my all-time favorite shoes to this day. The fit, cushion, weight, and grip were just exactly what I needed, and I’ve been firmly on the Topo Train ever since.

So, when the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 showed up at my door and that same race was marked on my calendar, I figured the perfect test would be to do like Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow and relive that last day. The only change this time around was that I got the Ultraventure 4 earlier, so I was able to get a few more runs into it before the race.

You’ll see below that not all that much is different between this version and the last — really just a slightly reworked upper and a new heel construction. I had some lofty expectations for this shoe, especially if it was going to be so similar to the last, but I went into the race with some trepidation after my initial runs. I’ll break out why below, and hopefully, that will help you figure out whether or not to pull the trigger on this model. Spoiler: you probably should, with caveats.

MICHAEL: While my fellow Topo-loving compatriots (are we the Topo trio?) have had some previous experience with miles in version 3 of the Ultraventure, this will be my first time trying the max-cushioned cruiser of Topo’s award-winning trail lineup. I’ve kept back no secrets over the past few years about my love of these great shoes, and I expect this one to be no exception.

That being said, Taylor mentioned something in his intro that I want to echo, and that’s that with each new Topo Athletic release, the results seem to be, well, a bit derivative. Of course, when new models are derivative of our Best in Gear winning models, that’s nothing to really complain about. It’s just that, with all of the great new models being released from other brands, we can’t help but be just a smidge skeptical of some stagnant repetitiveness in a competitive market. But hey, who are we to doubt Topo Athletic? It’s time to lace ’em up and let the miles do the talking.

What we like about the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4

TAYLOR: There are two things that I love most about the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4: the overall fit and ride. This shoe quite literally picks up where version three left off. We could pretty much copy and paste everything we wrote about that shoe and insert it here.

I’ll get to all that rehashing soon enough. What’s new is just as exciting, albeit subtle. In the previous version, the upper mesh stretched a little, which allowed for trace amounts of slippage but not enough to say it was bad. This time around, the updated mesh and overlays create structure enough to support the supreme fit and initial lockdown.

The previous version had fairly solid lockdown capabilities because of the overall fit, which is akin to the foot itself. Topo Athletic’s classic anatomical toe box leads to a fitted midfoot and finishes with a structured heel.

With the updated upper, the Ultaventure 4 goes from solid to rock-solid because the consistent fit equals function. A unique aspect of the Ultraventure is that even though the profile is wider in the toe box, the ceiling is fairly low. It was a little bit of a sandwich effect that allowed my forefoot to splay comfortably but not move about the cabin too much.

Another distinct feature is Topo Athletic’s lacing chain. For starters, there are more loopholes than the average shoe, giving more of a possibility for a tweaked and secure fit. A couple of extra loops are integrated into the tongue, ensuring that the tongue itself is held accountable for staying in place and assisting with overall foot security. Having such a comfortable and equally secure fit gives me a boost of confidence from the start – maybe even more than I should have in a high-stack trail shoe.

Zip Foam, which I’m guessing is named after having a “zippy” quality, has a lot to offer in this recipe. Overall, the midsole does have some sense of responsiveness. However, its most forward note is simply feeling light. Airy is one word I’ve used to describe it, and I’d use it over again. It’s not the pillowy cushion like in the North Face Altamesa 500 or the Nike Zegama 2, but it isn’t exactly bouncy yet stable like the Speedland GS series or Brooks Caldera 7 either. The Ultraventure 4 finds a unique spot somewhere outside of those bounds by having some of each of those qualities at a much less dense sensation.

Stats can add more to the story. The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 is a half-ounce (or more) lighter than any of the aforementioned contenders. My US M10.5 weighed 11.0 ounces (312 g).

Like many other modern high-stack stack shoes, the Ultraventure 4 achieves stability with a wider outsole profile. The foam’s density (medium soft) also helps keep the shoe upright on various terrains.

Not only is the ride airy, but it also has a very smooth transition thanks to its rockered profile. The more extreme curved toe gives more of a “toe spring” feeling than a full-on rocker. This is a late-stage rocker that retains efficiency for those slower ultra paces. Whether hiking or running at a consistent clip, the efficient and smooth toe-off — no matter the pace — was most notable.

When all things are considered, the ride of Ultraventure 4 feels closest to that found in the Speedland GS:PDX although this Topo Atheltic shoe is much lighter.

Lastly, the Vibram XS Trek outsole comfortably allows access to a variety of terrain. For starters, it’s beautifully mapped on the foot. The stubbier lugs made running on pavement an easy task, while the tackiness of the rubber and 5mm lug depth were adequate for most trail conditions. There really is no need to cover the whole outsole in a shoe like this. Contact and weight are maximized in a minimal way. Does that make sense? No, but I’m sticking with it.

SAM: The “too long, didn’t read” here is that everything you love in the Ultraventure 3 is still in the Ultraventure 4. Taylor really dug into the meat of this, so I’m going to keep it brief to avoid lots of repetition.

The breathability and protection of the upper are definitely improved. The overlays are beefed up where they need to be, but the updated mesh is very solid. Where breathability is concerned, this is a so-remarkable-you-don’t-think-about-it kind of shoe. That’s certainly aided by that great Topo fit, which is always just the chef’s kiss of the trail shoe world. As Taylor said above, the Ultraventure platform is wider than some other Topo models, like the MTN Racer 3 or the Pursuit 2. The fit on both of those was far from bad, but the midsole undercut the medial ball of my foot towards the arch just barely and could create discomfort if I wasn’t careful. No sign of that here.

Topo has also reworked the top of the heel since the Ultraventure 3. Here it is slightly more plush and flares out slightly, instead of the harder in-cut from that model. I didn’t have any problems with the old heel, but I know others did, and they’ll be happy with this change.

The toe box is plenty wide but never quite feels super wide, like what you find in an original fit Altra. The integrity of the fit through the upper helps keep the chunky midsole secure to your foot, and the Ultraventure 4 always feels more nimble than it should for its stack height. Over rocks and roots and through at least four stream crossings, this shoe kept my feet fresh. There wasn’t even a hint of a hot spot or that pounded soreness that can sometimes come with distance.

Honestly, I can chalk most of that up to the Zipfoam midsole. Here, it feels unchanged, and it’s still the perfect soft step with just a little pop. It offers just enough trail feel but never so much as to compromise protection. Once or twice, I’d land on a particularly sharp rock and question whether the Ultraventure 4 needed a rock plate, but it was mere steps before those thoughts would be left well behind me on the trail.

This Vibram XS Trek outsole is the same found on the Ultraventure 3 and Topo’s MT-5 road-to-trail shoe. It shines in road and trail use here. I had confidence in my steps, even thigh-deep in a river. As with the MT-5, this isn’t a perfect road outsole, but it doesn’t get in the way on those tarmac stretches.

MICHAEL: Okay, so I’m going to sound like a bit of a broken record here, and it’s a fate I’ve basically resorted to when it comes to Topo trail shoes. First things first, I’m going to maintain my take that ZipFoam is a near-perfect midsole foam for 90% of runs. Sure, there’s flashier stuff out there now, but the trifecta of balancing softness, energy return, and stability that was all true of shoes like the Pursuit 2 and Mtn Racer 3 is absolutely here in the Ultraventure 4, albeit in larger proportions.

Typically, adding more and more midsole foam to a shoe results in a lack of stability, but such is not the case here. The updated upper of the Ultraventure 4 is magic and does a great job of giving the shoe a secure feel despite the high stack. Particularly, I found the heel cup and tongue to really be on point with this model — it boasts just the right blend of structure and comfort to keep hotspots at bay without sacrificing the locked-in feel we expect from Topo.

While the rest of the Topo trio covered basically everything else I loved about this shoe, there is one point in particular that I want to harp on some more, and that’s weight. Seriously, it’s been a while since I’ve stepped in a shoe this comfortable with that low of a weight. My US M9.5 came in at 10.3 oz (292 grams), which, when compared to the competition, sits in a category all its own when we’re just talking about an ounces/stack ratio. For reference, this max cushion recovery day shoe is the same weight as The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 2, which is easily one of our top racing shoe picks from this year.

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

TAYLOR: Like the last iteration, we’re getting down to the minute details to put something in this section. It is so rare to find the outsole in the “bad” section whenever Vibram is part of the equation. Here, it’s not necessarily bad, I just found myself wishing for a little more dig from the 5 mm lugs. They’re shaped to be versatile and I love that aspect about them. At the same time, even low to moderately technical trails will come with some adverse conditions like sandy bouts, mud, and water crossings. These lugs simply didn’t claw into conditions like that.

SAM:  So here’s the caveat: where I could find nothing wrong with the Ultraventure 3, the Ultraventure 4 has just a few small issues. And if it sounds like I’m about to derail the Topo Train, hear me out through the conclusion of this review because these are far from deal breakers.

First, while this fit of the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 is still sublime, I really struggled to get the familiar Topo lockdown (which, when it’s there, is the best in the industry). My foot just moved around some, especially front-to-back. The insole felt slippery, although it’s essentially the same Ortholite insole from the last model. Working on the lacing helped some but didn’t completely solve my issues.

Second, hoo boy, does this shoe hold onto water. After any full submersion, I squished water out of the stack for at least two to three miles. There was a bubbly, audible squelch like squeezing a sponge, and the extra weight was noticeable. Even before dunking this into the river four times, I wished Topo had stuck their water-resistant FKT insole from the Traverse and Pursuit 2 into the footbed here. After, I dreamed of it while squishing up climbs 27 miles in.

MICHAEL: With the way we left things off in the good section, you might be thinking that a shoe with that low of a weight, with that level of comfort, and that comfortable of a toebox would be blurring all kinds of lines as a do-it-all quiver killer, on par with the Hoka Speedgoats of the world and, if you’ll allow me to compare within the Topo line, the Mtn. Racer 3. Unfortunately, there are a few minor gripes that keep it from being the most versatile shoe of this year.

For starters, I just didn’t find the fit to be nearly as secure as Topo’s best, like the Pursuit 2 or Terraventure 4. While the upper last was great, the upper material itself was just stretchy enough to never feel really, truly locked down in the midfoot. Don’t get me wrong though, this fit is still good – just not great. Also, this issue is where things start to get interesting because Sam found the fit to be one of Topo’s best. I think this is probably just a practical example of everyone’s differences. Apparently, Sam and I have different foot shapes. That and one of us probably makes a better cup of coffee.

Enough about differences, though. Like Sam, I, too, wish this shoe featured the TPU beaded midsole we’ve come to love on other models.

Lastly, the outsole of this shoe, while it is still great, lacks some of the versatility of Topo’s cousins. The classic 6 mm Vibram MegaGrip outsole has been foregone here in favor of a 3(ish?) mm Vibram XS Trek outsole. The result is a shoe that runs much smoother on pavement and light trails yet lacks the tacky, aggressive, lugged purchase offered in the 6 mm Megagrip option. Simply put, if you’re running trails that are super technical or muddy, just buy the Mtn Racer 3 instead. The Ultraventure 4 is still a great shoe and, understandably, doesn’t excel in areas it’s not intended to excel in.

Final thoughts on the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4

TAYLOR: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it many more times: Reviewing shoes isn’t just ranking the various aspects of a shoe. We need to compare our experience to what the company claims it to be.

In the case of the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4, both the overall review and intended use comparison are really positive. It’s hard to knock any of what Topo Athletic has designed the Ultraventure 4 to be. It’s certainly one of those shoes that punches above its weight.

Ultraventure is such an appropriate name. Even though this shoe has evolved quite a bit since the first version, it feels modern and provides all the necessary components to go far with comfort and confidence in most terrain.

SAM: Even with the caveats above, my feet have never felt better after 30 miles than they have in the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4, even better than in my precious Ultraventure 3. This exemplifies something about Topo’s trail line that keeps them near the top of our shoe rankings, year after year: consistent dependability that never compromises on the promised performance. Even if I wanted a few things to be slightly different, the end result was still one of the best experiences I’ve had with a shoe over longer distances.

The Ultraventure 4 is an ideal choice for comfort and dependability for any distance on trails – and even some roads – and it certainly holds its place in the pantheon of high-stack trail shoes available right now.

MICHAEL: As with any Topo trail offering, the Ultraventure 4 has lots to love. From copious comfort to a fairly versatile grip, the Ultraventure 4 has everything you need to enjoy every mile of your gravel or light trail recovery days. This shoe stands out as an excellent option for a PCT thru-hiker or anyone looking for a little more comfort from their daily driver. Not to mention, the weight of the Ultraventure keeps this in consideration for non-technical 100-milers and beyond.

You can pick up the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 for $150 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.