Topo Athletic Phantom 3 Review

Upper

Caroline: "The Topo Phantom 3 has a plush upper with generous amounts of room in the forefoot and heel collar. Runners with wider feet will appreciate Topo's signature anatomically shaped toe box that offers more than enough space for toe splay.

As someone with a narrower foot shape, I would have preferred a more structured, more secure hold throughout. While the Phantom does not have a gusseted tongue, the padding was light and stayed put, which helped with the lockdown in the midfoot, delivering a comfortably snug hold that felt secure despite my narrow feet. The upper could have also been a bit more breathable; I got a couple of hot spots while testing in warm, humid Atlanta weather."

Colvin: "The Phantom's recycled mesh upper was not exactly my favorite part of the shoe, but it did its job. It just did not deliver the highly plush feel I typically enjoy, and at the beginning of the testing period, I struggled a bit to find a lockdown to my liking. More specifically, the heel was not the most secure, and I felt slight heel slippage while testing the shoe. That said, the Phantom's anatomical toe box was comfortable, and I appreciated the level of cushioning provided by the collar and tongue."

Grace: "When I first opened the box, I was worried that the Phantom would not work for a more narrow-footed runner like myself, especially given Topo's wide toe box construction and the seemingly spacious heel cup. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how the Phantom fit on foot. Topo did a good job offering a spacious toe box while providing the secure lockdown I needed to run with confidence. I had no issues with the fit, and I really appreciated that the lacing system offered additional eyelets, allowing me to get a secure hold. The engineered mesh is plush yet breathable, with a comfortable amount of padding throughout. The only thing I was missing was a heel tab, but that is by no means a deal breaker."

Midsole

Caroline: "There is an immediate soft step-in feel, which is always a good first introduction when I am about to test a new shoe. The dual-layer midsole offers a ride that's balanced between soft and responsive. The Phantom provides some ground feel and firmness from the bottom EVA layer, allowing for some responsiveness while providing adequate underfoot protection.

The ZipFoam is not overly springy or bouncy, so runners will not get the snappy, propulsive feeling of a more performance-focused shoe, but that is not what the Phantom is designed for. This shoe is a dependable workhorse intended to deliver a supportive ride with a lightweight feel."

Colvin: "I enjoyed the lightweight nature of the Phantom's midsole. While running, it felt practically weightless, and the ride was very comfortable for daily runs and walks. The Phantom's midsole offers a little bounce to help keep the ride fun and engaging, but this is not the most explosive or most protective shoe. The Phantom is a well-balanced shoe with the versatility to adapt to different types of daily runs."

Grace: "The Topo Phantom 3's midsole provides the perfect balance of protective cushioning and firmness. This shoe has noticeable arch support; this is something I rarely notice while testing shoes, but I appreciated it on my longer testing runs. The whole shoe sort of disappeared underfoot during my test runs. The Phantom has a 5-mm heel-toe offset which is in my sweet spot. The ride was very smooth and allowed me to keep an efficient and consistent turnover. Also, the Phantom's midsole is fairly flexible, keeping things very natural on the run. For my daily training runs, the Topo Phantom 3 will continue to be a great option in my rotation."

Outsole

Caroline: "The rubber outsole offers dependable grip and traction with notable durability. The Phantom's outsole also did not feel heavy or clunky, contributing to the shoe's overall lighter feel. I experienced no issues with slippage and felt sure-footed on every run."

Colvin: "The outsole's traction was excellent when running on road surfaces in dry conditions. I had no concerns in terms of traction and grip. However, while running in wetter conditions, there were times when I was a little more mindful while cornering. Granted, I never did lose grip."

Grace: "The outsole has a 3-mm layer of rubber, which offers excellent durability while remaining light in weight. For me, the Phantom's traction was not the highlight of the shoe, and I think Topo could have designed the outsole with more texturized rubber to provide more substantial grip. While running in normal, dry conditions, I had no issues, but I experienced some slippage on wet surfaces. Besides that, the rubber has held up very well throughout testing. The outsole delivers everything most people need for daily training runs — just be mindful while running on wet surfaces."

Comparable Models

Caroline: "When it comes to daily trainers, there are so many options available, and what shoe works best for you will come down to your running and training needs. 

For versatile, all-around daily trainers at similar price points, the Topo Phantom and the HOKA Clifton are on par with one another, offering comfortable cushioning that's great for cruising mileage. However, the Clifton has a higher stack height and provides a little more protection, while the Phantom is a bit firmer and offers more responsiveness.

To offer a different comparison, the ASICS Gel Nimbus is a classic max-cushion shoe with a higher heel drop, but it was just too much shoe for me, even for easy runs. The Nimbus is also heavier, and I felt like it was weighing me down a bit over longer runs, whereas the Phantom is lighter and offers more energy return. The Phantom 3 delivers comfortable cushioning without all the extra bulk, which as a fan of lightweight and low-drop shoes, I typically gravitate toward."

Colvin: "These Phantom 3s are built with the versatility and durability to be reliable daily training shoes. Compared to other shoe models, the Phantom reminds me of the Altra Provision 7 with slightly different geometries and underfoot feel. They are both moderately cushioned, but I feel the Altra Provision 7 edges the Phantom out slightly over distance, with a more breathable upper. However, the lightweight nature of the Phantom 3 makes it better for slightly faster efforts, and it feels more versatile underfoot."

Grace: "The Phantom's midsole is on the firmer side and feels similar to the Brooks Ghost. However, the Topo Phantom features a 5-mm stack, whereas the Brooks Ghost has a 12-mm one. Between the two, the Topo Phantom 3 works best for me overall.

The Ghost is another neutral daily trainer that offers noticeable arch support, but it does not disappear on foot like the Topo Phantom. The Ghost's 12-mm drop also does not work best for me and my gait, and I tend to heel strike in any shoe with a drop over 10 mm. However, the Ghost's outsole offers more substantial traction in all conditions."