Topo Athletic Phantom 4 Initial Review

Article by Sam Winebaum

Topo Athletic Phantom 4 ($145)

Introduction

The Phantom is Topo’s finest promoting shoe. It’s a every day coach that includes Topo’s signature anatomical broad toe field, a tender and fairly energetic Zip Foam EVA/TPU midsole foam and average (in these instances of max and tremendous max towers of froth) stack top of 35mm heel / 30mm forefoot.

Releasing Could 2025, the Phantom provides 2mm extra stack top of a barely softer Zip Foam and a brand new outsole design whereas staying the identical in weight at 9.2 oz / 260g in my US8.5 pattern. The result’s a nice softer driving however not mushy or vitality sapping, splendidly becoming (any foot form must be joyful right here), possibility for average tempo runs and health strolling. Let’s get into the main points on this preliminary overview with a full multi tester overview to come back quickly.

Professionals:

Uncommon: safe snug match for nearly any foot form and quantity: Sam

Versatile and pleasant every day coach: enjoyable, tender however not mushy with a decently energetic experience: Sam

Supreme restoration runs possibility and health strolling shoe as a consequence of flexibility, consolation and cushion: Sam

Cheap Stack Top: 35/30 with loads of cushion and suppleness: Sam

Lowish 5mm drop completed proper: no low heel really feel at any tempo: Sam

New outsole provides some effectively built-in response, entrance stability and a little bit of a rocker: Sam

Pretty Priced: $145 for high quality development, versatility and luxury: Sam

Cons:

Most comparable footwear

Brooks Ghost Max 2

New Stability Contemporary Foam 880

ASICS Cumulus 27

Saucony Journey

Stats

Approx. Weight: males’s 9.45 oz / 268g US9

Pattern Weight: males’s 9.2 oz / 260g US8.5 (v3: 9.18 oz / 260g US8.5)

Stack Top: males’s 35mm heel / 30 mm forefoot (mm drop spec)

Platform Width: 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot

First Impressions, Match and Higher

As all the time, that Topo match! The broad anatomical toe field instantly stands out because it all the time does with Topo footwear. All the time seemingly too broad, with the higher too unstructured to carry my slender to medium toes, their uppers all the time work for me with notable consolation and throughout maintain and right here within the newest Phantom, as all the time I’ve an ideal match that balances room and lock down good.

The mesh isn’t notably skinny however tender and pliable.

Topo by no means has a gusset on their tongues as a substitute relying right here on a flippantly padded however substantial tongue with their trademark twin lace wire loops simply earlier than the ultimate lace up holes. This strategy retains the tongue in place and helps tie the midfoot to the rear of the shoe.

The ankle collars are reasonably padded with an exterior pliable molded piece close to the highest edge which extends from the lace up space all the best way across the semi inflexible heel counter space.

So as a substitute of the same old inflexible heel counter then tender and infrequently unsupportive areas ahead, Topo places average and efficient assist all the best way from the rear of the shoe to the lace up.

It completely works with no heel slip and loads of assist with out making the rear of the shoe over inflexible.

In fact the well-known Topo anatomical toe field! Loads of room and maintain for nearly any foot form or quantity. The maintain is assured in what is basically an unstructured entrance of the shoe by fairly inflexible lengthy however fortunately vertical toe bumper with a small however excessive off the toes brief curvature again.

All in all an excellent higher for a consolation targeted average to slower paces every day coach

Midsole & Platform

The midsole is Topo’s ZipFoam, an EVA TPU mix which for the Phantom 4 is softer and this was famous in check. The midsole balances softness with sufficient responsive bounce to not really feel mushy and vitality sapping. We don’t have affirmation but however v3 was a twin density Zip Foam however right here by really feel (flexibility and consistency underfoot) and with 2mm extra stack top on the identical weight as v3 I believe we have now single density midsole.

Whereas not a supercritical foam as many 2025 at the moment are getting for his or her vitality return and lighter weights, Zip Foam can nonetheless maintain its head excessive as the most effective EVA blends on the market. It’s considerably extra managed and constant in really feel than Saucony’s all TPU PWRRUN, much less boring and vitality sapping as I principally discover New Stability’s Contemporary Foam. It’s much less springy in really feel however softer than adidas Dreamstrike PEBA blends and extra forgiving than adi’s Lightstrike 2.0. It feels most just like Diadora’s Anima foam if a bit softer.

The platform is “cheap” in stack top at 35/30 and in platform width at 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot. We go up 2mm in stack top over v3 however stay out of the area of max and tremendous max cushion stack heights with their stiffer flexes and fewer secure rides. There’s loads of pleasant cushion right here, good flexibility for simpler runs (and strolling) with out overdoing it. I notably like that whereas a 5mm drop the heel doesn’t really feel low even at slower paces because the transitions are clean and simple off the rear.

Outsole

The outsole strikes to fuller extra linear upfront protection and a extra decoupled rear to ease landings. Each adjustments in design are clearly felt and particularly up entrance the place the outsole clearly supplies some “not in your face” response and even a gentle rocker to go together with loads of flexibility.

The rubber thickness could also be considerably thinner than earlier than but when our expertise with related Topo outsoles within the Cyclone 2 and Specter 2 maintain true, and we expect it’ll, sturdiness must be simply tremendous.

Journey, Conclusions and Suggestions

Sam: Searching for a softer driving, average to slower paces every day coach (or strolling shoe) with a particularly snug broad toe field uppers that by miracle appears to suit all shapes of toes whereas holding the remainder of the foot so effectively? The refined, nice becoming, now softer and barely larger stack top Phantom 4 is a best choice.

It matches properly within the Topo line up between the identical stack top, extra uptempo targeted and about 1 oz lighter Specter 2 (RTR Evaluate) with its PEBAX midsole and 3mm larger stack however considerably firmer Atmos (RTR Evaluate), the long term shoe within the line up.

For the quicker runner it is a perfect “restoration” run shoe however it isn’t restricted to that. For a lot of it may be a stable selection as a every day coach in the event you desire a softer experience and one, in contrast to many “tender” footwear, didn’t have me slowed down or sinking even at slower paces as a consequence of its flexibility, geometry and new outsole.design which helps stabilize and supplies effectively built-in entrance toe off response. And all of those strengths for working make it a wonderful health strolling shoe as effectively.

“Little” Topo is rising quick and for good causes with anatomical becoming footwear with loads of room but nice maintain and nice but efficient rides. The primary few Phantom have been fairly stiff and fairly agency and never that a lot enjoyable to run, bordering on stability footwear. Model 3 was a giant enchancment and right here in model 4 they refine but additional to fit the Phantom 4 because the mellow driving every day coach of their line up.

Preliminary Rating: 9.15 / 10

Slight deductions for weight and extra restricted versatility past straightforward runs for me.

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Detailed comparisons to come back in our multi tester overview however most comparable footwear in my preliminary take are:

Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Evaluate)- very related in experience and functions, significantly heavier with a heavier higher and a extra dense much less bouncy midsole, however shut.

New Stability Contemporary Foam 880 v15 (RTR Evaluate) – the 880 is larger stack top, firmer and stiffer and more durable to show over at slower paces. Decrease quantity higher with wides accessible.

ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 (RTR Evaluate)- Cumulus is firmer ( much less bouncy), stiffer and extra responsive. Decrease quantity higher with wides accessible.

Saucony Journey 18– (RTR Evaluate)- additionally TPU based mostly (100%) so bouncy, the Journey is softer, larger drop at 8mm with the identical 35mm heel top and never as rear secure.

Diadora Cellula (RTR Evaluate)- extra secure, barely decrease stack top, extra energetic if a bit firmer, extra versatile with a wider vary of paces potential. $25 dearer than the Topo with a decrease quantity higher.

The Topo Phantom 4 might be accessible Could 2025

Watch our 2025 Topo Previews from The Operating Occasion

Aura Stability, Phantom 4, New Vista Max Path, MTN Racer 4

Tester Profile

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Highway Path Run. He’s in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 53th 12 months of working roads and trails. He has a many years previous 2:28 marathon PR. As of late he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he isn’t having fun with too many tremendous New England IPA’s.

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