Top Athletic Specter 2 Introduction
Topo Athletic continue their philosophy of helping people move better with the Specter 2. Following this design ideal brings a roomy toe box to allow wiggle room while locking down the midfoot and heel. Their shoes have been a favourite among Meta Endurance testers over the past year. The Atmos, Magnifly and MT-5 have all garnered positive reviews.
The Specter 5 is an uptempo effort powered by pebax and built for the long run. Will it sit among the favourites so far? Read on to find out.
The Specter 2 gives room for the toes to wiggle
A roomy toe box in one of the cornerstones of Topo’s design philosophy. Allowing room for the foot to expand and the toes to remain uncrushed is the order of the upper. Here, it succeeds greatly. Step in comfort is excellent. The toe box lives up to its billing and the natural footshape will work well for the majority of runners. Unless your foot is extremely wide or narrow, this should be entirely accommodating. Furthermore, it fits the bill of the shoe being for longer efforts. When the foot starts to swell towards the end of longer runs, the Specter 2 has space.
Moving further back, the lockdown is secured with the snugger midfoot and heel fit. Here, we find a line of foam padding which, while not obtrusive, helps hold the foot in place. The heel cup itself has a slight inwards lean which also assists the hold. Whilst this has caused me some issues in shoes like the New Balance Pacer v2, the cut and softness of the heel counter have caused me no issues. The tongue is not gusseted but is held firmly in place with a dual lace loop at the top. While there isn’t a great amount of padding in the tongue, it has enough protection to tighten the laces without discomfort.
On the whole, the mesh material on the Specter 2 is very comfortable. It doesn’t have much give but it is soft against the foot. The breathability hasn’t been an issue although it is worth noting that my runs haven’t been in the warmest of conditions.
Overall, I have found the upper to be very accommodating and the lockdown to be pretty decent. The only issue I have had so far has been on longer downhills where the width of the toebox has seen my feet slide forward and knock against the toe cap. While this was an inconvenience, a shift to a runner’s knot fixed it entirely.
A Pebax Powered midsole rewards a forefoot strike
A lightweight, Pebax Powered midsole is always something I look forward to. In the Topo Specter 2, it is not a disappointment. The platform is wide throughout the midsole which helps to add a layer of stability to the softness. While there is no plate in the midsole, it is not overly soft. The forefoot has a good level of sink and bounce but it is not as soft as a ZoomX Invincible. It has more of a feel of an Endorphin Speed with maybe a little bit more give in the midsole.
Whilst I strike mainly on the forefoot, I have experimented with striking further back when running in the Specter 2. From this experience, I am definitely happy to be a forefoot runner. Whilst the heel is not bad, it is clear that the bulk of the softness and bounce is up front. The heel is not necessarily unpleasant but it does feel flat and firm in comparison to the forefoot.
Over a range of paces, I have found the Specter 2 to be a fun ride. I have mainly used it as a daily trainer and for some more unstructured fartlek style runs. At easy paces, the Specter 2 has a pleasant squish underfoot and the more aggressive rocker keeps you rolling through. On the other hand, when I wanted to pick up the pace, the toe off and energy return made it easy. Overall, it has been a fun do it all shoe and one I will reach for when I just want to run carefree.
That said, due to the lack of a plate and the slightly thinner forefoot stack of 32mm, it won’t be my choice for longer marathon workouts. Whilst it is perfectly capable of those types of runs, it is just not the preference of my old, tired legs. Although the removable Ortholite insole also adds to the overall comfort of the shoe.
In conclusion, the midsole offers a soft yet responsive ride which is probably best suited to a mid to forefoot strike. The Specter 2 is versatile enough for both daily running and faster paced workouts. Whilst it has good cushion, it would probably lose out to a plated shoe for a longer distance Canova style workouts in a marathon block. Finally, it also runs and feels very light on foot.
The Specter 2 has minimal but effective rubber coverage
There is not much outsole on the Topo Specter 2. Up front, there is a horseshoe shaped coverage of rubber. This protects the lateral and medial side of the pebax foam. In the middle of the forefoot, there is a further patch which is shaped roughly like the Oakley logo. At the rear of the shoe, there is a small patch on either side of the shoe. Once again, this shows the more forefoot intent of the Specter. Other than that, it’s all exposed midsole foam.
Despite the lack of rubber, I have not had any worrying issues with grip. On the many miserable mornings I have taken it out, it has held firm. Furthermore, the rubber shows very little sign of wear over the 80 or so kilometres I have in them so far.
Topo Athletic Specter 2 Conclusion: a fun versatile ride
Overall, Topo have created another very enjoyable shoe. Whilst it may lack the pure aggression of a dedicated race day shoe, it has a balanced and versatile ride. Comfort is very good and unless your foot is extremely wide or narrow, you should find a very welcoming fit. It is a capable shoe over a range of medium distances and a variety of paces. Furthermore, it is a good neutral ride which should make it accessible to most runners. The 5mm drop makes it a smooth ride.
For me, it is another great shoe from a smaller brand. I would be happy with a Specter 2 and Atmos rotation for my daily and recovery runs. All that is missing from the Topo line up is a carbon plated racer. Maybe next year?