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- The Zephyr Is Topo’s Own Take On the Plate Debate—Without the Carbon Fiber
- Lightweight, breathable mesh upper
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Price: $130
Type: Road
Drop: 7mm (M), 5mm (W)
Weight: 9.5 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W)
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RW+ Membership Benefits Fli-Lyte and Magnifly (lightweight shoes built to withstand long mileage), Topo Athletic’s brand new Zephyr is for those runners who desire three features above all others when it comes to long distance shoes: A lightweight package, moderately cushioned midsole, and turnover with snap. Like the carbon-fiber plate hidden inside more expensive trainers in the Zephyr’s category, an elastomer plate performs similar functions by providing support in your forefoot and propulsive delivery.
Pros
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- Lightweight
- Moderate energy return
Cons
- Firm cushioning
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You could roll your eyes at Topo’s term for this midsole tech—“plantar flexion stabilizer”—but we felt its function during testing. “The balance of soft cushioning and spring from the plate is definitely the standout part of this shoe, and it’s executed really well,” said one tester. “[There was] enough cushioning for longer runs but I really felt the snappy response from the plate when I pushed the pace.” That cushioning is Topo’s ZipFoam, which provides equal parts give and firmness.
Though the shoe was lauded for its fast and light ride and for its ample room in the toe box (an ideal feature when your feet start to swell while racking up mileage), that snappy base felt too stiff for some. This rigidity is likely due to the elastomer midsole plate.
Firm and Snappy
If it weren’t for the moderate heel lift (the men’s 9 is approximately 7mm, according to our shoe lab) and fairly cushioned midsole, the Zephyr would feel more racing flat than lightweight trainer. The elastomer plate promotes turnover snap, yet results in a stiff, firm fit and ride. Fortunately, the firm cushioning of the Zipfoam midsole provides support for your foot so you’ll get rebound as well as shock absorption when you’re pushing the pace. However, some of our testers still wished that the Zephyr had more give.
“Straight out of the box, I felt they were a little stiff in the sole,” said one. “I was sure with mileage they’d break in. However, even just yesterday [after weeks of testing], I felt they were still pretty stiff. Having said that, I did like the way it supported the forefoot. It felt quick underfoot, never sluggish.”
Testing the Zephyr on roads and a treadmill, I felt my cadence was slightly off due to the shoes’ rigidity. My arch couldn’t quite, for lack of a better word, “arch.” And my steps were noticeably louder because this inelasticity caused my feet to slap on the ground. If it weren’t for the Zipfoam’s firm cushioning, and the added protection and comfort of the Ortholite footbed, my body would have felt spent after my run. But that’s only because the shoe encourages you to go faster.
Wear Tester Feedback
mm M, 5mm W
Responsive midsole and a snappy elastomer plate
“One of my favorite Topo shoes that I’ve worn especially for up-tempo runs on pavement, asphalt, rail trail or the track. I wore them on a number of tempo runs on a rail trail without them missing a beat. They were also equally at home on the track where I took on a number of tough workouts at sub-7-minute/mile pace. It felt like they took qualities that I love from the MT-Racer (performance and overall fit) and merged them with the comfort (and performance) of the Phantom (cushion/comfort/fit).”
mm M, 5mm W
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“Honestly, I felt a little Goldilocks-ish with this shoe. Not quite perfect, but close. I had a chance to try them on the road, cindered trails, and the treadmill. I also ran in them in varying distances from 3 to 15 miles. I liked it most for the road and treadmill runs. I liked the way it cinched tight around my foot, while still giving me room in the toe box. I prefer the fit of these Topos to my Altras. They were more supportive, a better fit in the heel, and midfoot; plus, I appreciated the 5mm drop to the zero-drop. I loved the appearance of the shoe, and the color is killer. No it won’t make you run faster, but the bright pink definitely made it more fun. So for me the look is a win.”
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
