The Atmos is Topo Athletic’s first max cushioned road shoe and it’s my first-ever Topo shoe. After waiting ten years to try Topo, I’m happy to report, the pair has been a welcome addition to my running shoe rotation as I train for the Virginia Beach Shamrock Marathon. Find out how the shoe has given my feet the warmest of greetings and my runs the funnest of rides, in this Topo Athletic Atmos review.
Introduction
First off, I greatly appreciate Topo for making their shoes in my size 15. Many brands, including On, Adidas, Skechers, and Salomon, stop at size 14. I’ll never understand why companies ignore a customer base like that. We may have big feet, but we’re not Bigfoot—we do exist!
Founded in 2013 by Tony Post (Vibram FiveFingers), Topo distinguishes itself from other brands by designing shoes with lower drops (5 mm is their largest), a narrow and secure midfoot and heel, and wider toebox design. Topo believes these features help the feet move more naturally. I can confirm, the shoes do, in fact, “feel real natural, and they’re spectacular!”
As someone with standard foot width and who typically opts for shoes with higher drops, I never went out of my way to try Topo. But as a sucker for shoes with massive stack heights, I knew I had to give the pair a go. Read the Topo Athletic Atmos review to discover why I’m very glad I did. Or, save some time and just take my word for it. After all, it’s 2024: who reads blogs anymore?
Topo Athletic Atmos Review
Weight: 9.7 oz/275 g (US M9) 7.9 oz/224 g (US W7)
Stack Height: 38/33 mm (5 mm drop)
Price: $160
Ride
Although a max cushioned shoe, the Atmos is quite versatile and can handle a variety of paces and mileage. I’ve successfully used it for recovery runs, daily training, and even a long run—the shoe doesn’t miss a beat. It’s not a stability shoe, but the Atmos has a sole flare and sidewalls that will delight neutral runners who like some stability. While just a tad on the firmer side, the Atmos strikes the right balance between a soft and firm ride—often a tall task for companies to achieve, but Topo rose to the occasion.
Midsole
The Atmos provides a good amount of pop on the run thanks to Topo’s new ZipFoam™ midsole formula. The EVA-blend foam incorporates thermal plastic material to make it springier and more durable than traditional EVA.
Speaking of “zip,” the lightweight, soft, and responsive foam, coupled with the shoe’s rocker geometry/toe spring and heel bevel, make it rather easy to accelerate in. I can really feel the rocker in this shoe, and it does its intended purpose better than other more well-known shoes with more pronounced rockers.
Ortholite™ performance insoles cradle the foot and provide “long-term resilience and anti-microbial properties.”
Upper
The recycled engineered mesh upper is comfortable enough and quite breathable, but my one gripe with this shoe is the lack of tongue. [insert your favorite tongue joke] I wish it extended further up my foot for a more secure fit. As is, the tongue sits too low and, at times, can feel like it’s just slightly digging into my foot. But it’s a minor issue that doesn’t impact my decision to lace it up time and again. Fortunately, as with all Topo shoes, the Atmos has a roomy anatomical toe box to allow the toes to spread naturally.
Outsole
Another way Topo distinguishes the Atmos from other shoes is through the outsole. Typically, max cushioned shoes are already heavy enough with ample foam and a plush upper. The last thing runners need is rubber weighing the shoe down even more. Fortunately, Topo didn’t overstuff the outsole with unneeded amounts of rubber. It’s got just enough in high-abrasion areas for increased durability. With no visible wear after 65 miles, I expect to get close to 400 miles or more out of this shoe.
I had no issues with traction in wet conditions—then again, I never have with any shoe in two decades of running. I can’t comprehend how so many runners seem to have grip issues in the rain. And here I thought only vehicles could hydroplane! Perhaps “superhuman grip” is my superpower? Kind of lame, if you ask me. It doesn’t help others in any way, and it’s not that even useful to me.
Weight
The Atmos is one of the lighter max cushion shoes and you can sure tell on the run. But its sub-10 oz weight (US M9), shouldn’t come as a surprise: there’s a well-ventilated upper, light midsole foam, and minimal outsole rubber.
Design
I’ll say this: Despite owning a couple dozen pairs of shoes, I don’t have any that look like the Atmos. It’s a unique design, and the Navy/White colorway, while quite simple, stands out on my feet and on my shoe rack—or, more accurately, in the heaping pile of shoes overstuffing my closet. My wife despises me for it, but loves me dearly, anyway. Ok, maybe not “dearly.” Although I have no idea of its significance, Topo’s logo of three (crescent?) moons is one of my favorites in the “shoe game.” Who says looks don’t matter?
Price
$160 is the new $150 and, unfortunately, has become the standard price point for max cushioned shoes. By that logic, the Atmos is priced exactly where it ought to be given the current market. Especially considering it offers a livelier ride than most other similarly priced max cushion trainers. It’s available for purchase on Topo’s website.
Conclusion
If you couldn’t tell already, I love the Atmos. So much so, that I named it one of my six favorite shoes of 2023. From the upper to the outsole, the Atmos is one of the most underrated shoes, max cushion or otherwise. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Topo succeeded in making its mark on my feet and in my mind as a shoe brand to watch. I certainly won’t be waiting another decade to try my next Topo shoe.
Topo provided the Atmos to me at no charge for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review and Topo had no input or influence on what I wrote. Topo did not get a chance to see this review before publishing.
