Gear Review: Topo Athletic HydroVenture
Ah, Spring…the time of the year when the snow starts to melt and rain begins to fall from the sky. No matter where you are at (with some exceptions — I am looking at you Arizona!), Spring typically means copious amounts of mud and rain on the trails. Despite this annual occurrence, it has always surprised me that there isn’t a wider selection of waterproof trail running shoes on the market. Sure, there are a few, but a majority of waterproof gear comes in the form of a hiking boot and other clunky footwear. Well, that is no longer the case. Just in time for the wet weather of 2016, Topo Athletic released their waterproof shoe, the HydroVenture. As a member of the Topo team, naturally I was going to try it out…so I did and now I want to share my thoughts.
DISCLAIMER: I am a member of the 2016 Topo athlete team and this pair of HydroVentures was provided to me for free. However, my goal with every product review is to provide an unbiased review so that you can make informed decisions and I can help the company improve on their product.
Overview
The HydroVenture follows the same design principles as all of the other shoes in the Topo product line:
- A wide toe box allowing for freedom of movement and natural splay of the toes.
- A narrower mid foot and heel that provides a more snug fit throughout in order to provide a secure feeling without slippage.
- A low heel drop to promote natural foot motion.
In addition, the HydroVenture incorporates some additional features to round out the shoe and make it the lightest waterproof trail shoe on the market.
- A partnership with eVent incorporates a waterproof membrane that keeps water out without sacrificing breathability.
- A rockplate to promote underfoot protection in the front of the foot.
Specs
Release Date: March, 2016
Price: $130
Weight: 9.7 oz (M9)
Stack Height: 23mm/20mm (2mm Heel to Toe Drop)
Fit: True to Size to 1/2 Size Small
Design/Fit
The HydroVenture uses the same outsole lug pattern as the MT-2 and the RunVenture. After using both of these shoes extensively over the past year, I say if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it. The outsole has proven to be an extremely durable, multi-purpose choice for all types of terrain. The stack height, ride, and responsiveness are all very similar to the MT-2. In other words, it is a mid-cushion shoe that provides ample protection underfoot without sacrificing too much responsiveness. The upper is similar in appearance to other Topo trail shoes, but adds the eVent waterproof membrane. The special thing about this membrane is it gives you true waterproofing without a significant addition to the weight or without sacrificing breathability. In fact, the HydroVenture weighs only about a half ounce more than the MT-2.
As far as fit, I did notice a slight difference here. Whereas the upper on the MT-2 seems to have a little bit of stretch, the HydroVenture, likely because of the waterproofing, didn’t have as much give. As a result, the shoe felt just a slight bit tighter in the upper mid foot. I accommodated this by loosening the laces a little bit, which seemed to do the trick. Another option for some may be to go up a half size.
Performance
Light
The shoe comes in at 9.7 oz for a Men’s 9, which is middle of the pack for a mid-cushion trail shoe. I personally did not see this as an issue as the shoe still felt pretty light and responsive. Also, considering the trade-offs, dry feet are more important on some runs than a little bit of (barely noticeable) added weight.
Waterproof
Prior to trying on the shoes, I made a video illustrating the waterproof capabilities. I put a paper towel in the shoe and poured water over it. The end result, a dry paper towel. You can find the video here:
Now that is all fine and dandy, but how about real world application. I purposely delayed my review of the shoe until I could put it through the ultimate test; the Gorge Waterfalls 100K in Cascade Locks, Oregon. During the race, we crossed more than a dozen waterfalls and just as many stream crossings. While the race didn’t go as planned performance wise, my feet did not get damp in the least. Furthermore, the shoe provided great traction over the wet, mossy, rocky surfaces. Lastly, the shoe didn’t seem to sacrifice breathability. Most hiking shoes that I have that are waterproof trap in the heat…not these. My feet stayed cool the whole time. Honestly, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the performance of the shoe on the course. Here are some pictures and a link to the run on Strava:
Gorge Waterfalls 100K on Strava
Comfortable
My longest run in the HydroVenture was the 50 race miles on wet, rocky terrain through the Columbia River Gorge. During this run, I felt the shoe had more than enough cushion. Even on the pavement sections, they provided a smooth, comfortable ride. As is typical with Topo, my toes had plenty of room to move freely. What is even more important is that I experienced no blisters or hotspots thanks to the secure fit.
Conclusion
I am a big fan of Topo no doubt, but putting that aside, these are a game changer in my opinion. I clearly favor the the Topo design methodology, but beyond that, to release such an effective waterproof trail shoe in such a lightweight package is truly an accomplishment. If you haven’t found a reason to try out Topo yet, this should be it. As I said, most of us are in grave need for a waterproof trail runner that feels great and works without feeling like we are running in cement shoes. This is that shoe. I see these playing a key role in my shoe rotation anytime I am running in wet conditions. As far as pro’s and con’s:
Pro’s
- Definitely the waterproofing…it works!
- Lightest waterproof trail shoe on the market!
- Topo design more closely aligns with my foot shape and the natural mechanics of humans.
Con’s
- The upper is a bit more restrictive than their other shoes. You will want to loosen the laces or size up a half size.
- Speaking of the laces, they were a bit short. Double-knotting them was a bit iffy in a standard lacing configuration.
If this review wasn’t incentive enough to try the HydroVentures, how about a 10% off code at TopoAthletic.com. Just use TOPODEANJ10.
If you like this post and would like to stay up to date when future gear reviews, race reports, and other related posts are released, please follow my Facebook page at Ultrarunner Joe!