Topo Athletic Specter 2 Review (2024) (2024)

FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out ourfull podcast on fitby Matt Klein.)

Matt: The Topo Specter 2 fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. It feels slightly short when walking around due to the moderate-to-high amount of toe spring. On the run, this evens out and the shoe feels true to size. The fit is classic to Topo with a wider toe box and more normal width midfoot and heel. The toebox is wide with a normal volume. The mesh upper provides some stretch both side to side and vertically, but it is secure. This transitions into a normal width midfoot with a thinner, non-gusseted tongue. The tongue does stay in place but there is not much structure to the midfoot. This has caused me some slight sliding during quick turns but is fine going forward. This finishes in a normal width heel that has mild heel collar cushioning. The heel is quite flexible and there does not appear to be a counter. Those with heel sensitivities will love this shoe as it has been extremely comfortable against my heel bone. The inner liner of the upper is highly comfortable and has been excellent for sockless wear. I have worn this shoe sockless up to 7 miles and full days casually without issue. However, once it gets wet or sweaty it takes a long time to dry as it is quite warm and absorbs moisture quickly. So those wanting to use it in wet weather or who are sweaty should know this shoe takes time to dry.

Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fitsnug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5

Andrea:The Topo Specter 2 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. This is in contrast to the original Specter, which I tested in a size 10 and definitely needed the 1/2 size up for length. In Specter 2, I have a full thumb's width from the front of my big toe to the end of the shoe. The anatomical toe box provides sufficient width, but definitely has less volume as compared to the original Specter or Cyclone 2. This did not bother me, but was a noticeable change. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal width and I did not need to crank down the laces to achieve sufficient lockdown. The non-gusseted tongue is held in place with lace loops and I did not have any issues with the tongue slipping while running. The flexible heel has mild padding and fit comfortably. The recycled mesh upper is on the thicker side and I was aware of lack of breathability on my longer runs this summer. The upper took a full day to dry after a particularly hot 15 miler, despite being placed next to an air conditioning vent.

Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fitsnug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)

PERFORMANCE

Andrea: The Topo Specter 2 is a high stack, highly rockered performance trainer. The rocker profile feels significantly different than the original Specter because of the more aggressive toe spring and the large posterior sole flare of v2. The large posterior sole flare made the shoe feel less nimble for me as a midfoot striker. While I liked the original Specter for 10k-marathon paces, I found Specter 2 to be better at easy to marathon paces. I tested Specter 2 at a variety of paces, ranging from easy pace to threshold. While I liked the firm ride and rolling feel for easy pace-marathon pace, I found the shoe a bit sluggish at threshold effort. The posterior flare makes the shoe feel more like an 8mm drop than its stated 5mm drop. The full length Pebax midsole is very firm and has low compliance and resilience. It feels just as firm as the original Specter, which had a Pebax core in an EVA frame. It feels nothing like the bouncy Pebax midsole of Cyclone 2. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but do not expect Specter 2 to feel like a higher stack Cyclone 2. The shoe does feel lighter on foot as compared to v1 and I found it to be most ideally suited to uptempo longer runs. My longest run in the shoe was 15 miles on a combination of paved road and dirt rail trail, and I appreciated the high underfoot protection and rolling ride.

I was also pleased that the rubber outsole provided sufficient grip on the dirt, even in muddy spots. I have 40 miles on my pair and there is no visible wear on the rubber outsole or exposed midsole, which is more impressive considering some of those miles were on dirt. I would expect higher than average durability from the outsole. For midsole durability, I got 250+ miles on my first pair of Cyclone 2s, so it is likely that the thicker Pebax midsole of Specter 2 will have similar or better durability. The midsole has softened mildly after 40 miles, so it is possible that it will break in further and perhaps provide a little more compliance than it does currently.

Matt: The Topo Specter 2 is a lightweight trainer with a full PEBAX midsole. The ride is on the firmer end as the midsole is neither resilient or compliant. It is highly cushioned thanks to the tall stack height but it not bouncy. The geometry is quite aggressive with a large posterior heel flare, a large forefoot rocker and toe spring. Although there is a large posterior lateral heel bevel, the posterior flare makes the rear half of he shoe feel a bit clunky. There is a 5mm drop listed and the flare also makes it feel slightly higher than that. The heel transitions into a normal midfoot and the solid forefoot rocker makes for an easy transition off the toes. This large rocker and firmer sole (relatively) makes the shoe feel best at easier and uptempo efforts. I have tried to do faster workouts and struggled to push them any faster than fartlek efforts. Easy and longer efforts are good but this shoe does not turn over quick. It feels like a training companion to the Cyclone 2, rather than a more cushioned version.

The smooth outsole and exposed PEBA midsole foam make this a shoe best for roads and not uneven or aggressive terrain. Unfortunately, I caught the posterior lateral outsole piece after 20 miles and it has begun to come off. The rest of the sole has worn well, but those who scuff or shuffle during their running gait may have reduced durability in this shoe.

STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in ourfull guide)

Matt: The Topo Specter 2 is a neutral shoe with a few guided elements. There are no traditional methods of stability and no sidewalls throughout the length of the shoe. The midfoot is wider and does not have a taper on the medial side. The geometry is also quite rockered and promotes a good transition off the toes. The heel has a large posterior lateral bevel but is offset slightly by the large posterior heel flare. This causes a slightly early initial contact that can pitch the foot forward and medial. The PEBAX foam is not soft but does compress. By itself, the midfoot is not unstable but with the added posterior flare, those with medial motion may feel themselves pushed medial quickly. This is accentuated by the sole flaring at the heel, which makes the heel stable but sometimes accelerates motion at the midfoot. The forefoot's sole flare and rocker makes the shoe neutral to slightly guided up front. Those with neutral mechanics will do best in this shoe, particularly in the midfoot. However, those with mild guidance needs in the forefoot may also do well.

Andrea:

RECOMMENDATIONSMatt: The Topo Athletic Specter 2 is a decent upgrade with the full length PEBAX midsole and weight drop. However, there are several places that would benefit from improvement. The large posterior heel flare is the first place that could be removed. While the bevel is in a great position, it needs to be moved forward. The heel flare only gets in the way and is not appropriate biomechanically for most heel strikers. It also adds unnecessary weight and make the shoe feel weirdly biased toward the rearfoot. The PEBAX foam is also firmer than expected. I did not find this shoe to be that resilient or compliant. Finally, ripping off the posterior lateral outsole piece in 20 miles is not great for durability. A longer coverage of outsole material, a midsole with more resilience and compliance and reduced heel flare would make for a far smoother and more versatile shoe. Topo definitely has a unique portion of the market making anatomic toe box shoes with full length PEBAX, so I hope they continue to improve this shoe as it provides a special option for those interested in the unique things it has.

Andrea: I enjoy running in Specter 2 and will definitely continue using it for easy runs and uptempo long runs. That being said, the midsole performance falls short of what I would expect for a high stack, non-plated Pebax midsole. This shoe is very firm and has very little bounce, which limits its use for me to slower paces. We know that Topo can make a bouncy Pebax midsole because the Cyclone 2 is an incredible performance trainer. I would like to see Topo give v3 a little more compliance and resilience. I also would recommend that they trim down the unnecessary posterior flare and increase the heel bevel slightly to make the shoe perform like a shoe with 5mm drop. The shoe could also lose a little more weight by refining the mesh upper and hopefully making it more breathable. Otherwise, I think this is a nice update on v1 and I always appreciate the stellar Topo fit.

WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?

Matt: The Topo Specter 2 is a high stack height, non-plated lightweight trainer that works best for easy runs, long runs and mild uptempo paces. The firmer PEBAX and long geometry make it best at easier efforts as the heel can get in the way during faster things. Those who like a low-drop shoe but don't want it to feel low will do best in this shoe as it feels like a higher drop than the listed 5mm, Those who do well with firmer rides will also like this rare PEBAX option, especially if they want a wider toe box. The sole is plenty protective, but those who are light on their feet and do not scuff the sole will do best from an outsole durability perspective. I (again) feel that this a is a training companion to the Cyclone 2 given its firmer, easy pace biased ride and higher stack height. It functions best as a higher mileage/workhorse shoe rather than the advertised performance trainer. That is not bad but instead provides a unique, wide-toe box option for those who want a PEBAX midsole without the mushiness.

Andrea: The Topo Athletic Specter 2 is a maximalist, non-plated performance trainer that is best for easy pace to marathon pace. Despite its full Pebax midsole, it has a very firm ride which limits its use to slower paces. The large posterior sole flare will make this feel less like a 5mm drop shoe and more like an 8mm drop, particularly for those who land further forward. That being said, I have enjoyed running in the shoe and appreciate its classic Topo fit and protective ride. At $165, it is less expensive as compared to similar shoes, but is also the firmest and least responsive by far. There are also several non-PEBA shoes that provide more compliance and resilience and are better suited to a range of paces. Specter 2 will work best for those who are looking for a firm, workhorse shoe for marathon pace and slower.