Topo Athletic Atmos 2 Review
By David Salas and Andrea Myers
Topo Athletic Atmos 2Price: $164.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.9 oz, 280 g (men's size 9), 8.0 oz, 226 g (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 40 mm heel / 35 mm forefoot
Drop: 5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training, Maximum Cushion
Pros: Balanced rocker with acceptable cushioning for long miles, good traction, anatomic fit of the foot
Cons: Volume is a touch low at the distal tongue and toe box, midsole takes 20-30 miles to break in and starts out very firm (Andrea)
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 is their maximum cushioned daily training shoe that you can use for either running or walking. The Zipfoam midsole is softer and more plush than other Topo models, but does run a touch firm when compared to the rest of the market. The shoe operates off of a gradual rocker and subtle guidance measures throughout the shoe. Though it is a neutral shoe, it runs decently stable because of its elements. The Topo Atmos 2 is a shoe that runs smooth at easy running paces and can also double as a nice standing and walking shoe.
SIMILAR SHOES: HOKA Bondi 9, Altra FWD Via 2 (review coming soon)
PAST MODEL: Topo Athletic Atmos
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Topo Atmos 2 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. One thing I noticed quickly in comparison to the first model was that this model fits a little more snug throughout. I actually really like it, but those who loved the highly spacious fit of the first model will find that the update has a lower volume through the lacing system and beginning of the toe box in the Atmos 2. Otherwise, the Atmos 2 fit is classic Topo. The heel and midfoot width is normal to slightly snug, with the forefoot having a large amount of width. The taper into the forefoot is very gradual, and you have plenty of space for toe splay.
The upper material is an engineered mesh that feels plush on foot without feeling too warm. The tongue is padded well and I had no issues with biting from the laces. I personally did not have any issues with the volume comment that I made earlier (I'm actually a fan of the change), but I could see some people that are sensitive to the lower volume through the midfoot and forefoot having a creasing moment on the dorsal part of their metatarsal heads. I believe Nate has had some issues there with the update. I would not say the volume is low, rather not as spacious as the previous counterpart. The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 does have a stiff heel counter, but is padded and positioned well, as I had no issues with rubbing or irritation. The material has some slight stretch to it, but I had no issues with foot security. The upper of the Topo Atmos 2 is one of my favorites so far.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Andrea: The Topo Atmos 2 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. Topo shoes generally fit comfortably and true to size for me, thanks to Topo's wide toe box and snug midfoot and rearfoot, and the Atmos 2 is no exception. I have a full thumb's width from the end of my big toe to the front of the shoe, and the anatomical toe box provides sufficient width for my MTPs, without being too wide or too high volume. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal width and fit securely. There is a semi-rigid heel counter with moderate internal padding. The non-gusseted tongue is on the thicker side and stays securely in place thanks to a lace loop. The padding provides sufficient protection from the laces. It is easy to achieve secure lock down in Atmos 2 and I have not had to stop on any of my test runs to re-adjust the laces. The overall upper fit is a little more snug than Atmos 1, but I find Atmos 2 just as comfortable as Atmos 1.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mild
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Good
PERFORMANCE
David: I have been very happy with the Topo Athletic Atmos 2 so far. The Atmos 2 operates off of a gradually rockered platform that also has some gentle guidance elements. The Zipfoam is a little on the firmer side for being a maximum cushioned shoe, but I like it for daily and long efforts. The midsole provides plenty of protection for long outings or for standing all day. The shoe feels like it has a sense of structure to it, and it holds its shape well across the whole shoe. The upper lockdown is good and very secure under load. The outsole rubber is very thick and feels like it can take a hit. The midsole also feels like it can take a hit and does strike a nice balance between firm and soft. Zipfoam does not have the most bounce to it, but the cushioning is sound and the Atmos 2 is easy to fall into rhythm when running at easier paces.
The heel is beveled well and I have had no issues with initial contact while running. The forefoot rocker is very gradual, but noticeable. For easy efforts, this shoe has a nice shuffle to it. I did find myself wanting a little bit more rounding to the forefoot though when I was out for longer efforts. I would start to slap the forefoot a little harder than I ideally would when transitioning off of the quick heel when I got tired during longer outings. Otherwise the geometry was fine. At 9.9 ounces, the weight is competitive with other plush options that are also geared for easy outings. The 5mm drop feels accurate. The general feeling of the shoe is a balanced and well structured rocker. For me this is a very solid daily training shoe for easy miles and/or a standing and walking shoe for those on their feet all day.
Andrea: I have 250 miles on the original version of Atmos and it is one of my favorite easy day shoes. I was excited to test Atmos 2 and see if it lives up to its predecessor's performance. Topo uses their EVA-based ZipFoam in Atmos 1 and 2, and for me, ZipFoam requires several runs to break in. The ZipFoam in Atmos 2 required about 20 miles before it softened up and started feeling more like Atmos 1. Atmos 2 is not a huge update over v1, gaining 2mm of stack in the rearfoot and forefoot, a slightly different mesh upper, and an updated outsole that Topo says will improve traction. I do not feel a big difference in the midsole or geometry in version 2, and the 2mm increase in stack height is not particularly noticeable. After the breaking in period, the midsole feels mildly compliant at initial contact through push off. This makes it ideal for easy runs where I am looking for underfoot protection and a little softness, but not a marshmallow shoe. The later forefoot rocker provides gentle guidance into push off, but definitely does not feel aggressive or like the shoe makes me run faster than I intend to.
The shoe feels like its stated 5mm drop and is well suited to midfoot landings. The rearfoot does not get in the way at all, even at slow recovery paces. It feels lighter on foot than its stated weight of 9.9oz for a men's 9. All of my test runs in the shoe have been at recovery or easy paces (for me 8:00-9:00/mi pace) and, like Atmos 1, it feels well-suited for this effort level. I would not use it for faster paces due to its weight and the combination of a late forefoot rocker and stiff forefoot platform.
I have 35 miles on my pair and there is no visible wear on the rubber outsole or exposed midsole. Traction has been excellent on wet roads and I find it similar to Atmos 1, even though Atmos 2 has more rubber outsole coverage in the middle of the rearfoot and forefoot.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 is a neutral shoe, but does have some solid stability elements built in. The upper lockdown is very good and foot security is great. The outsole traction is good and reliable in reasonable footings. The midsole provides good cushioning, but is not super compliant compared to other premium trainers. Because of this it also feels relatively good in the stability category. The sole flaring and sidewalls are also very well integrated into the platform for some gentle guidance. In the Topo Athletic Atmos 2, you never feel like you are trying to find your balance. The stability is quite good.
Andrea: Topo Atmos 2 is a neutral shoe with mild centering/guidance features. The wide platform and balanced sole flare that runs the length of the shoe helps to provide a stable landing area regardless of where a person lands. The later forefoot rocker provides mild guidance into push off without forcing push off to occur early. The firmer platform further contributes to forward motion. Like most Topo shoes, there is a medial midfoot sidewall that provides mild support, without being intrusive. Overall, it remains a neutral shoe that does not force motion in any particular direction.
Thoughts as a DPT: What Makes a Good Recovery Run Shoe?
By Andrea Myers
"Keep your easy runs easy, and your hard runs hard."
"Train hard, recover harder."
"Recovery is where the real gains happen."
Hopefully most runners have heard at least one of these common sayings and take them to heart. For racers, we do hard interval sessions with the goal of improving a particular aspect of our fitness, but if we do not give our bodies adequate time to recover from these hard sessions, we will not see the full benefit of the hard work we do. This is because the harder running provides the stimulus for our bodies to build back stronger, but the building back part only occurs when we are not training hard. Getting adequate sleep and nutrition are the most important aspects of recovery - a runner will never get the most out of their training if they are sleeping 5 hours a night and not eating enough.
Another important aspect of recovery for runners are easy runs, which provide the opportunity for our bodies to build back up while still getting the benefits of low intensity movement. While we have racing shoes for racing and lightweight performance trainers for workout days, the best shoes for easy runs are of course different than shoes that are optimized for faster running. For me, there are two categories of easy run shoes that I like. When I was marathon training and running 55-65 miles/week, I was often quite fatigued for some of my easy runs, particularly those immediately following a long run. I appreciated shoes with high stack heights, firmer midsole material, and significant rocker geometry to give my legs a boost when I was most fatigued. The New Balance SC Trainer v1 was definitely my favorite shoe in this category, and more recently the Puma MagMax Nitro v1 (I haven't received v2 yet) and the On Cloudboom Max.
Now that I am running about 20 miles/week less than I was during marathon training (and instead focusing on mid distance track racing), I am not as fatigued for my easy runs and find myself looking for a different type of shoe. When I just need to run slowly to recover from the previous day's speed workout or tempo run, I want a shoe that is protective underfoot (but not necessarily max stack), a firm midsole, and minimal rocker geometry, so I can just focus on running without feeling like the shoe is propelling me along.
The Topo Atmos 2 is a good example of this type of shoe, with a firm midsole, a mild forefoot rocker, and enough midsole stack to protect my feet from the ground, without feeling tall or unstable. It is a sign of the times that a shoe with 40mm/35mm stack height doesn't feel that tall, but after testing shoes like the Nike Vomero Premium at 55mm/45mm, the Atmos 2 feels much closer to the ground. Over the past year, I have found it more comfortable to do my easy runs in shoes with fewer guidance features (like aggressive rocker geometry or bouncy foam) and to just enjoy running slower on my easy days. My top easy run shoe is still the Brooks Hyperion 2, but since that shoe is discontinued my runner up is definitely the Topo Fli-Lyte 6. Both shoes have lower stack heights (34/26 for Hyperion 2 and 23/20 for Fli-Lyte 6), muted forefoot rockers, and firmer midsoles, which result in a ride that is unobtrusive and allows me to do the work.
I hope that writing about my easy run shoe preferences will help you think about the specific features and ride quality you like in an easy run shoe, and make your next shoe buying experience a little easier. I also hope this serves as a reminder to actually keep your easy days easy!
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 is a nice daily training option, but I do have some recommendations. Although the upper fit does work for me, I know that if I can feel that crease at the dorsal tongue someone else who is sensitive to those things won't love it. I think increasing the volume slightly could make for a more forgiving fit in that area. The other things I would like to see is a slightly sharper forefoot rocker. Especially since the foam is not incredibly bouncy, the sharper rocker could give this a really nice rolling feeling later into runs. The rocker is good currently, but found that I wanted a touch more in the forefoot when I got tired during long runs.
Andrea: I have enjoyed testing Topo Atmos 2 and expect to put many more miles on it, just as I have with Atmos 1. I like the fit of the shoe, although those with higher volume feet who liked Atmos 1 may find Atmos 2 too snug. Many Topo fans like myself buy the shoes primarily for the comfortable fit, so I would recommend that Topo increase the volume in v3 to that of v1, to make the shoe comfortable for a greater number of runners. Otherwise, I like the firmer midsole and less aggressive rocker design of Atmos 2, which makes it ideal as an easy run shoe.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 is a well-cushioned daily training shoe for someone that wants a balanced and structured ride. The Atmos 2 does a good job of providing some stable elements to the geometry. The Zipfoam has good cushioning, but can be a little firmer than other max cushion shoes on the market. This combination gives that structured feeling that I am describing. This makes it nice for both rhythmic miles and for standing and walking. The volume is a little lower in the Atmos 2, but Topo still provides plenty of width in the forefoot like they do in all of their other models. I really like the Topo Athletic Atmos 2 as an easy day training shoe and also as an all-day walking and standing shoe.
Andrea: The Topo Athletic Atmos 2 is a high stack, protective daily trainer with a mildly compliant, neutral ride. Those who like Atmos 1 will find only mild changes in v2, specifically a slightly snugger fit and an almost unnoticeable 2mm increase in stack height. The ZipFoam midsole took 20 miles to break in for me, so runners should keep that in mind if they try Atmos 2 and find it too firm out of the box - it will soften up with some miles. I also expect high durability from Atmos 2 based on the fact that my pair of Atmos 1s are still going strong at 250 miles. For $165, this makes the shoe an excellent value.
GRADES
David
Fit: A- (Great lockdown throughout without sacrificing comfort. The volume along the tongue and early forefoot might be a touch low though. Those sensitive to that may have problems with that.)
Performance: A- (Great for easy days and rhythmic runs. I would just like for the forefoot to be rounding a touch more for longer outings.)
Stability: A (Good execution of sole flaring, sidewalls, upper lockdown, outsole traction and thickness.)
Value: A (If you aren't looking to run fast in these, you will easily get your value. $165 is a fair price.)
Personal: A- (The forefoot thing keeps this from being an ideal long run shoe, but otherwise great for easy days at normal mileage.)
Overall Design: A-/A
Andrea
Fit: A (Classic Topo fit with a wide toe box and snug midfoot/rearfoot, but it does fit a little snugger than Atmos 1, which was not an issue for me)
Performance: A (Perfect for easy miles - mildly compliant midsole, later forefoot rocker, and high stack provide plenty of underfoot protection without being too soft or unstable)
Stability: [neutral] A (Wide base, balanced sole flaring, firm platform, and later forefoot rocker make this a neutral shoe that does not force motion in any direction)
Value: A (This shoe will eat up easy miles and will have high durability. Good value for $165.)
Personal: A (I love Atmos 1, and they didn't mess up Atmos 2 for me. I expect to put 250+ miles on this pair as well)
Overall Design: A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORTopo Athletic Atmos 2Price: $164.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
ASICS' maximal rockered trainer.
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