Topo Athletic Atmos Product Review

The internet is filled with reviews of running shoes, apparel and running vests and they all feel the same. I want to do something a bit different. This review of the Topo Athletic Atmos running shoe will give you the insight you need. With a twist of humor. After all, if we aren’t having fun then what are we actually doing?

Let’s take the typical product review of is this shoe and answer the questions we all actually have.

Reliability

Is the Topo Atmos the running shoe equivalent of that friend who never flakes on your early morning long run — even if you’re questioning your life choices at mile 2?

You know who that friend is. Your alarm goes off and smashing snooze is more preferable than going to run. In that moment, you know that they are waiting for you. You also know that despite the hatred that when the run is done your day will pick up because the run is done. Nothing hanging over your head.

Here is your answer: It is a reliable shoe in different circumstances. I like to take a new shoe through a number of different runs as test. Then I will put my fingers on the keyboard.

Saturday Stairs: A 45 minute workout where I am running up and down the stairs at the Hollywood Bowl plus doing body weight exercises like jumping jacks, planks, walking lunges and more. The shoe stands up to all of these scenarios. It also doesn’t require me to ask myself, should I have worn ________ instead?

Treadmill: I am a fan of the treadmill and am running on it 1-2x times a week. When I get on the treadmill (standard or assault) I want to run and not take a single moment to think about my shoes. In the miles that I have spent on both treadmills this has been exactly the case.

Long Run Sunday: This can be the true test of a shoe. It is one thing to work for 45 minutes but another to feel good for 1.5 hours and up. The Atmos is reliable here as well. I found the cushioning to feel soft and the toe box to feel VERY roomy. This is even after my feet swelled and I had been running for 1.5 hours.

Comfort, Cushioning And Overall Support

Does this shoe support your foot like a good race volunteer supports your ego with cowbells and compliments?

The shoe is marketed as a max cushioned trainer and has the most cushioning that Topo has ever used.

My first reaction to running in them is that the cushion felt great. I was an early adopter of the Hoka running shoes and having this cushion feel great means something. Max cushioning is something I really want to make sure I can feel and this shoe nails that.

Another component about the comfort of the shoe is the lack of pressure on the upper part of my foot. I am pointing to the area where the leg meets the foot. I have found in the past that some shoes, regardless of how loose I tie my shoes, seem to put pressure in that spot. This shoe does not do that one bit.

Lastly, here is how I know I am enjoying running in the shoe. I forget that it is on my foot despite me thinking about the product review I’m going to write. If the shoes melts away from my conscious thought then I know the shoe is doing what it is supposed to do. Let me run without thinking about the shoe? Yes, that is what the Atmos has done for me.

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Versatility

Can the Atmos handle the ‘Oops-I-accidentally-signed-up-for-another-5K’ weekend or is it more of a ‘strictly base training’ kind of shoe?

When you read that sentence did you nod and say…..yup, that’s me?

And if that is you, then I think this is the shoe for you. Despite being max cushioned this is not a heavy shoe (7.9 OZ.) That means that you can use it during that 5K or enjoy the cushioning during a marathon.

I understand that budget is a thing for a lot of us. Trying to find the shoe that you can run 30 minutes up to 5 hours in can be tough. You also do more than just run.  You’re also a member at Orange Theory and go to the grocery store. When on a budget each of these has to be taken into consideration.

Think no more and get your hands on the Atmos. In other words…..it is versatile.

Toe Box Comfort

Is the toebox roomy enough for your post-brick foot swell, or will your toes start their own group chat to file a complaint?
I remember putting my feet into the Topo Specter 2 and saying: Holy Fuck this is comfortable. While I didn’t utter those exact words my thought process was: This feels roomier than the Specter.

As I have run in them on various occasions and in varying circumstances, the toe box has felt very roomy. There is no pinch on the big or little toe at all. I can wiggle my toes as I run and am amazed at how comfortable the shoe is in that area.

Confidently Recommend?

So… is the Topo Athletic Atmos the training partner you never knew you needed or just another shoe in the pile of “well, it looked good online”?

This is not the shoe that you take for a spin or two and try to convince yourself that it is worth another run. You will not bring the shoe back to the running shoe store for an exchange.

The Atmos has provided me with excellent cushioning and comfort. This shoe has created a situation where I have to make a hard decision. Do I want to take them or the Specter 2 out for a run?

While I haven’t made a definite decision in that area, I do have some ideas. As of this moment, the Atmos will be used on those long road runs that cover up to 2.5 hours. If I am planning on running longer than that then I’ll go with the Specter 2.

I hope that this review of the Topo Athletic Atmos running shoe has helped you in making a decision on whether or not they are the shoe for you.

If you have any questions about the Atmos, drop me a line HERE.