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As a runner with incredibly narrow feet (I joke with my fiance that he and I both have "snake feet"), I felt like I was taking a big risk with a wide toe-box shoe. The final piece of information that made me land on the Topo Cyclone 2 was runner feedback on Reddit that referred to the midfoot construction as "quite narrow". I purchased the Cyclone 2 in hopes of adding a low stack, lightweight, natural ride shoe to my rotation. So far, I've logged 113 miles in the Cyclone 2 and I have a sense for how they perform at a range of paces and how they wear over time.
Before jumping into the review, here are a few worthwhile specs to consider:
Topo markets the Cyclone 2 as their all-around neutral road shoe. It's made for daily running, tempo runs, and races. Personally, I wouldn't use them for any road race longer than a half marathon since they have a pretty minimal stack height and you feel everything underfoot. I usually prefer something with more midsole stiffness and protection for anything longer.
On easy runs (8:30-7:20 min/mile), I've enjoyed the Cyclone for up to an hour and 40 minutes. That being said, the shoe is so light and fun that it certainly entices faster paces. From 10K pace work to 15s strides, I've enjoyed its smooth transitions and the mild rocker that doesn't interfere with my natural mechanics. I'm a forefoot to mid-foot striker with a tendency to over-pronate as my mechanics deteriorate with fatigue, so I enjoy the Cyclone 2's stable platform; despite the soft and flexible midsole, there is substantial arch support inside and the wide toe-box allows for the big toe to do its job.
Topo did a fantastic job designing this upper. I wish I could take this upper, clone it, and attach it to every single shoe I own. The mesh allows plenty of airflow--admittedly a bit too much for severe cold and/or wind. I appreciate that the upper, much like the shoe as a whole, walks the line between performance and comfort. The tongue is lightly padded and doesn't create unnecessary pressure or slide on the top of the foot. From the first run, I haven't had any issues with hotspots or rubbing.
One aspect of this shoe's upper that I found particularly appealing was the flexible heel counter. During my recent increase in running volume, I began having some discomfort in my Achilles. While I don't have a full blown Haglund's deformity, I have a slight boney prominence that can cause discomfort when I've been placing more demand on the Achilles. I am able to rely on the soft heel counter of the Cyclone 2 to treat my Achilles nicely even when it's irritated.
On a less positive note, I have found that the Cyclone 2 upper doesn't have the best lockdown in the heel. I tend to slide around in the shoe over time. Usually if I'm running for longer than 60 minutes, I have to re-tie these to minimize movement of my foot inside the shoe.
The first iteration of the Cyclone included Topo's TPU/EVA ZipFoam in the midsole, so the Cyclone 2 is a huge upgrade! Since the Cyclone 2 is plateless, I wondered if the PEBAX foam would be too soft underfoot without some form of stiffening agent. After putting miles into the shoe, I wouldn't describe it as squishy or undesirably soft. The foam gives back what you put in--particularly for the first 100 miles. Now that I've hit 113+ miles, I will say that the PEBAX has already lost some snappiness, which is a bit disappointing since this shoe retailed for $150 when I purchased it.
Maybe it's just because I'm a trail athlete, but the outsole on the Cyclone 2 is perhaps the most underwhelming feature of the shoe. I realize that road shoes forego quality outsoles in favor of shedding ounces, but this rubber doesn't perform as well as I would have hoped on wet surfaces.
The Topo Cyclone 2 is a versatile, low-drop trainer for runners who want a more natural, flexible ride with plenty of toe room. While I personally wouldn't want to race in this shoe due to the low stack and flexibility, I appreciate it for tempo runs, strides, and easy miles. I hope to see a 3rd iteration that won't change too many features.
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