Shoe Review: Topo Hydroventure waterproof trail shoe

I had never heard of Topo Athletic until coming across their posts on Instagram recently. They are a newer company based out of Massachusetts, "with a mission to develop footwear that honors the shape and biomechanics of the human foot". 

Always on the look out for the best trail running gear, I was intrigued by their design, as well as their claim to being waterproof.  Here, in the Pacific Northwest, that last part could be useful!

Having a shoe sent that you have only seen on the Internet can be like rolling the dice. I requested a ladies 10, though I normally wear a 10.5. I didn't see an option for my usual size. Surprisingly, they fit very well right out of the box! 

 

I love these colors! 

My first goal with any waterproof shoes is to see if I can get my feet wet. Solely for the love of product testing, I went to the wettest place I could think of with trails: Mildred Kanipe Memorial Park in Oakland, Oregon.

It turned out conditions were perfect for trying out the Hydroventures. Not only was there weeks worth of rain on the ground with the soil completely saturated, but there had been numerous cattle and horses winding their way through the park churning up the trails into a soggy muddy mess.

I might have got in a little over the top here...

The shoes were fantastic! Comfortable and light, very flexible, my feet felt right at home from the beginning. The shoes don't have super deep lugs on them, but what they lack in lugs, they make up for in protection from water. Through the wet grass and mud my feet stayed dry! 

Please note: the industry standard for waterproof shoes is that the upper is impenetrable from water. With their eVent DVdryLT material, these certainly are! However, like any rain boot, the Hydroventures will fill up if you decide to go for a swim. So, I don't suggest doing that. 

For another test I took them out to the logging roads. I was quite at home in them! Their combination of cushion, foot shape, and ground feel made a comfortable ride that wasn't clumsy the way some other shoes with a roomy toebox are. 

I can't think of too many drawbacks to the shoes. They are on a low platform (3mm drop), which I really like, but could take some easing into from most traditional running shoe styles. The colors are fantastic in the women's choices! I do wish there was a 10.5 available.. But maybe with more demand.?

Overall, I'm quite impressed, to the point that I wore them in a race (next post!) after only having them for a few days. 

I'm looking forward to trying some of Topo Athletic's other models, though I plan to wear these even when it's dry outside.  No need to save a shoe this good for a rainy day!

***

Topo Athletic Hydroventure: 

Specs (from topoathletic.com)

Retail :  $130

4.5 MM RUBBER OUTSOLE

13.5 MM (HEEL) // 10.5 MM (BALL) MIDSOLE

5 MM FOOTBED

TOTAL STACK HEIGHT 23 MM X 20 MM (3 MM DROP)

WEIGHT: 8.1 OZ. (SIZE 7)

Have you ever tried a Topo Athletic shoe? What did you think?