What You Want To Know
- Weighs 6.9 oz. (196 g.) for a US M9
- There’s one thing… rebellious about it
- Goodbye Zipfoam, good day Pebax
- We’re thinkin’ it’s a Topo turning level
- Accessible February 2023 for $150
ROBBE: I’m gonna be sincere right here — today, 9 out of ten footwear that are available for evaluation are a facet hustle by a mattress firm. A lot of consolation, numerous cush, and typically they lull you to sleep in the midst of a run. We’re most likely partially chargeable for this — for years, we decried any shoe with lower than 25 mm of stack top as being too harsh, begging for a bit extra underfoot safety on the roads.
It’s most likely a web optimistic total, however that doesn’t imply we’d like it in each shoe. Typically it’s good to have a shoe that simply looks like working in its easiest type. I feel that’s the rationale why Atreyu resonated with so many individuals. There wasn’t any of the bullshit, it was only a easy shoe with a easy higher and easy midsole that made working really feel like working once more.
The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 is just like the premium model of Atreyu. Its elements and building are of upper high quality, nevertheless it doesn’t masks the thrill of working. In truth, it enhances them. That’s a little bit of a spoiler, however let’s get into what makes the Cyclone 2 each old style and new faculty in the identical bundle.
For starters, the shoe has a full “Pebax Powered” midsole, based on Topo Athletic. This implies it’s legit, 100% genuine Pebax. It’s additionally good that it’s not a core of Pebax wrapped in an EVA service just like the Topo Athletic Specter, which we thought was a poor try at utilizing Pebax and a shoe that I didn’t perceive. The Cyclone 2 is apparent and easy, and it’s very good, as you’ll see.
The stack top is affordable at 28 mm within the heel and 23 mm within the forefoot; nevertheless, by 2022 requirements, that’s nearly barefoot working. The 5 mm drop is per just about each Topo Athletic shoe. To name this shoe light-weight doesn’t do it justice. It’s one of many lightest footwear on the market, coming in at 6.9 oz. for a US M9.
In line with Topo, the shoe is constructed for up-tempo every day mileage and racing as much as the half marathon distance. A kind of is true, the opposite I’m nonetheless on the fence about.
However, this shoe might be probably the most thrilling Topo highway shoe up to now, and the one I most loved working in, so let’s get into the why.
JARRETT (WIDE-FOOT): Each time I speak about the perfect huge footwear, there are feedback about Topo Athletic and why I haven’t included them in my favorites. The reality is, I’ve tried a number of and located the toe field to be good and spacious, however the midfoot has been too tight. I’ve received that meaty midfoot, so that they haven’t been my cup of tea. These diehard Topo followers can be greater than happy to know that the Cyclone 2 has modified my thoughts about Topo, and I stands out as the latest convert.
SAM: If you happen to’re like me, you’ve seen Topo round and by no means worn one (when you’re not like me skip forward). What are these footwear? Why are they formed like that? Who’s sporting them? What’s Topo? The reply to all these questions lies in one other query: Who’s Topo? Topo’s founder, Tony Put up (get it: To Po), is the engine behind this model’s imaginative and prescient.
Like Miley Cyrus, their purpose is to make a shoe that will get the perfect of each worlds. It permits for pure toe splay with a historically cosy midfoot and heel. I’ve a wider foot and a midfoot touchdown, so I used to be excited to do this shoe out. Learn on to see the way it labored.
RYAN: Not like Jarrett and Sam, I’ve had my justifiable share of Topo encounters. Some, just like the Specter, have been spooky, whereas others left me underwhelmed. Possibly it was the Zipfoam or the general model, however I by no means discovered the shoe for me. Then, I heard I’d be getting the Cyclone 2. A Topo Athletic shoe? With Pebax? And a New Steadiness Insurgent v2-style higher? Signal me up.
Just like the 2007 hit from Child Bash of the identical title, the Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 has all of the fixings to be a banger. Good options (like T-Ache), a stable base (or bass), and sufficient climate references to make Al Roker spin. Am I singing within the rain? Let’s discover out.
The Good
ROBBE: I really like a very good becoming higher, and for some purpose, they will usually be arduous to search out — particularly in light-weight footwear that save ounces by stripping it down. Topo Athletic has at all times excelled on the higher sport, in my view. One thing about their lacing system and tongue creates an ideal wrap across the high and sides of the midfoot. The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 isn’t any completely different (for probably the most half). The mesh is ultra-breathable and light-weight and may be very harking back to the New Steadiness Insurgent v2, each within the design and supplies, and I undoubtedly don’t hate that.
Since we’re speaking concerning the mild weight, we must always point out that this shoe is featherlight at 6.4 oz. for my US M7.5. A ladybug’s fart may blow this factor over when you’re not cautious. And that’s a very good factor. The shoe looks like a slipper and fully disappears on foot.
Underfoot, the shoe shines with the Pebax-powered midsole. It’s the proper stability of consolation combined with a responsive highway really feel. Rattling, I really like a very good highway really feel shoe, and this one delivers completely. Some individuals will need extra stack top, however this sort of shoe is nearly extinct, so I welcome it for the place it’s at. A standard EVA midsole would make this shoe both too heavy or too agency, so the Pebax prescription was mandatory for this shoe to hit the mark.
I took this shoe for a number of six-mile runs at slower paces however actually wished to check it for quicker paces since that’s the place it reveals its true colours as an up-tempo shoe. So I did a 9-mile exercise with a dozen 400s at 5K tempo, hoping it could carry me to my supposed instances. It did all that and extra. As I mentioned within the intro, this shoe looks like pure working. The sunshine weight, mixed with the bounce and rocker geometry of the midsole, permits you to simply go — and go quick — no matter your “quick” could also be. There aren’t any bells and whistles right here, no plates or rods or the newest in propulsion know-how, and that’s okay. It’s a easy shoe that returns the easy joys of working.
I discovered that on my cooldown miles, I nonetheless wished to maintain working quick within the shoe, so I did. It was nice.
For these Altra individuals on the lookout for a greater Escalante or who’re simply turned off to Altra slowly ghosting its pure toe field, it is advisable to transfer to the Cyclone 2. No, it’s not zero-drop, however give it up already — a 5 mm drop isn’t going to kill you.
Whereas there isn’t full rubber protection on the outsole, the rubber they used right here may be very cheesy, and it’s an honest quantity in each the forefoot and heel. It feels remarkably just like the Adidas Continental rubber used on the Adios Professional and Takumi Sen, which is without doubt one of the greatest outsole formulation within the sport.
Lastly, that is far and away the best-looking Topo highway shoe up to now.
JARRETT (WIDE-FOOT): Topo ditched the ZipFoam foam for Pebax. Not only a twin compound midsole, however the Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 incorporates a 100% Pebax midsole. This enables the shoe to offer a bouncy and responsive experience whereas holding it tremendous mild. My US M10.5 weighs simply 7.4 oz. (209 g.). With a 5mm drop (28 mm heel and 23 mm toe), I by no means needed to wean my means in like individuals recommend with 0 mm drops.
The Cyclone 2 is supposed to be an uptempo coach, and I agree fully. Positive, my slower straightforward miles have been nice, and I felt the softness of the Pebax, however the footwear felt nice when choosing up the paces. I felt just like the footwear got here alive, and I used to be shifting with relative ease.
This new tightly woven higher is mild and skinny. My toes took a number of miles to heat up on among the colder days. I can see the breathable mesh being incredible when the temperatures decide again up. The midfoot had a pleasant, cosy match, and the toe field was exceptionally spacious. I didn’t really feel like my toes have been cramped, nor have been they sliding round. That is for certain an authorized #WideFootFam match.
The tongue is padded and has two lace pass-throughs to maintain it from sliding round. The heel can be properly padded and feels nice across the ankle. Individuals who had points with the OG Cyclone heel collar can be pleased with the replace.
Beneath is a skinny rubber overlaying the forefoot and heel, with uncovered Pebax midsole within the midfoot. I believed the traction was good on the highway in dry circumstances. On the 2 moist runs, I used to be a bit extra hesitant when taking corners. Clearly, the uncovered midsole was to avoid wasting weight, though I ponder concerning the life expectancy. Though it’s not a priority proper now, I do have some (hopefully simply) beauty put on after 40 miles.
Lastly, I like how these look. Topo does a very good job making the roomy toe field design look glossy and quick. Nonetheless, there’s no denying these look fairly just like the New Steadiness Insurgent v2…
SAM: Let’s begin with the apparent. This shoe is outrageously mild. The higher is skinny, cosy, and very snug. I additionally was an enormous fan of the lacing system, and the general match of the shoe doesn’t really feel impacted to avoid wasting weight, as my US M9.5 got here in proper round 7 oz. however feels far more luxurious than 7 oz. footwear normally do.
As soon as the shoe was on, I seen how a lot bounce and cushion the “Pebax Powered” midsole had. This shoe offers you round 28 mm of stack within the heel and 23 mm within the forefoot for a 5 mm drop. Whereas strolling round, this was snug, nevertheless it was not as cushioned or bouncy as I might’ve hoped whereas working. Extra on this later.
Working within the shoe, I additionally seen how a lot I preferred the huge toe field whereas working. It gave my toes sufficient room to splay however by no means felt free. This is a matter I’ve had with Altras, the place the toe field is huge sufficient for my foot, however all the shoe finally ends up feeling like I borrowed it from a clown as a result of I can barely maintain my foot in. The heel and midfoot have been additionally cosy sufficient for me to don’t have any points with heel slippage or any rubbing from free becoming factors. Moreover the stable outsole rubber, that is the place the professionals cease for me. The Cyclone 2 has many nice components, however the entire is just not higher than the sum of them.
RYAN: Because the different guys have lined the load and Pebax midsole fairly effectively, I’m simply gonna hit the seems to be. That is a fully attractive shoe, in my view. Simply the best-looking Topo Athletic shoe up to now. Possibly it’s simply because it seems to be just like the New Steadiness Insurgent v2, however that’s considered one of my favourite footwear of all time. If New Steadiness had dropped this similar colorway, I most likely would have purchased 5. Oh, wait, they very practically did.
Sadly, the seems to be are all I’ve received. I put my 20 miles within the Cyclone, and I’m unsure that the shoe beloved me again, so let’s transfer on.
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The Unhealthy
ROBBE: Pure toe field — good, to a sure extent. I felt that the standard “quick match” of an uptempo shoe was lacking due to the huge toe field. Cornering lends to a little bit of motion up entrance, and I didn’t really feel the chew I like from different conventional uptempo or pace footwear. The design of the higher additionally creates a bit an excessive amount of cloth bending/bunching within the toe field, and I felt just like the huge toe field was a bit too roomy. It wasn’t an enormous deal, nevertheless it simply wasn’t an ideal match for me in that regard.
No rubber on the midfoot space of the outsole might be not the perfect, however I’m not too fearful about it, contemplating the forefoot and heel are accomplished up proper.
Partially resulting from Topo’s steadfast loyalty to the 5 mm drop and the shortage of a plate, the shoe doesn’t have the identical ahead propulsion as different footwear within the vary, particularly the Saucony Endorphin Pace or Asics Magic Pace 2. Then once more, the Cyclone 2 is $20 lower than the Endorphin Pace, and the Magic Pace 2 is rubbish, so who cares.
After all, at $150, it’s additionally a $30 improve from the value level of the final Cyclone, nevertheless it’s additionally a very completely different shoe. Nonetheless, for a easy shoe, that could be arduous for some individuals to swallow (although I feel it’s honest).
Some will need extra cushion underfoot, and I query racing on this shoe for a half marathon. If you happen to’re on a finances, you undoubtedly may, however I’d nonetheless go for one thing with a bit extra cushion or propulsion. That’s the place it does fall in need of footwear just like the Endorphin Pace or Takumi Sen.
JARRETT (WIDE-FOOT): It’s a bummer that the Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 has jumped from $120 to $150, however that’s clearly due to the total Pebax midsole. I suppose I’m so used to seeing costs bump about $10 (i.e., the 2022 inflation tax), so the $30 was a bit jarring. With nice Pebax comes nice prices. On this case, it’s price it.
SAM: The Cyclone 2 is mild, snug, and decently cushioned, however when the components are put collectively in motion, the shoe doesn’t blow me away. I hoped for a clean and bouncy experience so mild I forgot it was there, however each run after sporting the Cyclone 2, all I actually felt was “meh.” Not like Robbe and Jarrett, I discovered this shoe very tough to select up the tempo whereas working, which isn’t what I anticipated for a shoe meant to be a short-distance racer.
The core of the difficulty for me resides within the midsole construct. The Pebax is barely bouncy by itself, however there may be not sufficient there to offer an excellent spring, and there’s no plate or shank to make up for the pop that the shoe is lacking. This shoe compares intently to the Skechers GoRun Razor 4. They’ve comparable midsole builds, stack heights, and weight, however one thing concerning the half-plate within the Razor units it other than the Cyclone. There’s a slight pop that provides to the shoe however doesn’t get in the way in which, and I felt like I used to be lacking it within the Cyclone. In an age the place each shoe is made with tremendous foams and plate applied sciences, not having both means you aren’t doing sufficient, in my view.
Whereas I preferred the huge toe field and the match of the heel, I didn’t like the 2 of them collectively whereas working. The Cyclone 2 was not clean going by way of my stride, and I may really feel the purpose the place the shoe transitioned from cosy to huge. This transition level additionally bothered my foot into the subsequent day, which I didn’t get pleasure from. I feel this may very well be an excellent shoe with a bit extra stack, a plate, and a smoother heel-to-toe transition. However for a racing shoe to be used as much as a half marathon? You could find one thing extra thrilling than this.
RYAN: The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 arrived simply earlier than New Yr’s, and I instantly took it out for 9 miles. Was that an excellent concept? Possibly not. I’m certain it really works for some individuals, however I appear to be coping with some tendinitis in my left foot that solely began when the Cyclone 2 confirmed up. I, in fact, don’t know that the Cyclone 2 set my foot off — it may very well be something from touchdown humorous to dangerous luck — however the timing left me a bit suspicious.
On a extra normal word, I don’t assume pure toe containers are for me. Like Sam talked about, one thing didn’t at all times really feel clean, and the shortage of forefoot lockdown round corners made me slip and slide a bit. The midfoot and heel have been positive, however I like that candy, candy toe safety. It was an issue that I additionally had with the Specter, although I feel the decrease stack top helped with the general safety at the least.
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Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 Conclusion
ROBBE: For certain, that is the perfect Topo shoe up to now. It’s not as flashy as among the loopy shit coming from Saucony or Adidas, nevertheless it’s a rattling positive shoe (and hot-looking, too). It bridges the hole completely between the standard feeling of pure working and the trendy feeling of racing in Pebax.
Followers of Atreyu, Altra Escalante or Rivera, or the New Steadiness Insurgent v2 will love this shoe and will give it an opportunity. I do know I’ll be reaching for it on these brief and fast runs or on uptempo days with intervals or fartleks. It’s a turning level for Topo Athletic, and it’s thrilling to see them keep true to their mission as they evolve, and within the course of, present worth and pleasure to their clients (one thing that Altra has fumbled over the past couple of years).
JARRETT (WIDE-FOOT): I’ll not have tried all of the choices from Topo, and even the latest ones, however I might nonetheless guess that the Cyclone 2 is the perfect shoe that Topo has launched. The Topo Athletic Cyclone 2’s match is good and locked down within the midfoot, and the toe field is roomy and really accommodating. The star of the shoe is the Pebax midsole which provides a enjoyable and quick experience. Plus, at 7.4 oz. for my measurement 10.5, this is without doubt one of the lightest huge becoming footwear I personal. Topo has began 2023 off with a bang with the Cyclone 2.
SAM: Like Jarrett, I undoubtedly must attempt extra Topo footwear. The thought of a roomy toebox and a cosy midfoot/heel had my curiosity, and after working on this shoe, it has my consideration. I’m unsure I’ll come again to this shoe particularly, but when I’m on the lookout for one thing mild and environment friendly, I do know the place to go. If that is really a turning level for Topo Athletic, I’m glad I received clued in as a result of, with a number of extra adjustments, this shoe is a success. Hold pumping them out, Topo, your time is coming quickly.
RYAN: I feel the Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 marks a step ahead for the model, nevertheless it stays a try-before-you-buy possibility for me. The pure toe field received’t work for everybody, however the transfer to a Pebax foam is thrilling both means. I’m prepared to miss my foot ache as a result of I feel that Topo is unquestionably taking strides in the appropriate path, and the Cyclone 2 is an indication of a brilliant future. You’ll be able to’t make a tiger change its stripes, so don’t anticipate Topo to maneuver away from that toe field.
You’ll be able to decide up the Topo Athletic Cyclone 2 in February 2023 for $150 by utilizing the store hyperlink under.
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Robbe is the Senior Editor/Assessment Supervisor for BITR. He lives in Baltimore along with his spouse and two sons and runs with the Quicker Bastards. When he’s not working in bizarre locations or getting injured in odd methods, he will be discovered mountaineering, tenting, bikepacking, or hanging with mates.
