Topo Athletic Specter 2 Review

Upper

Grace: "The recycled mesh upper fits my foot perfectly, providing a secure lockdown through the midfoot and a roomy, anatomical toe box. The shoe practically disappears on your foot as you run. The tongue is thin but offers just enough cushion for comfort, and the mesh is highly breathable.

The Specter 2 received some subtle updates that made a significant difference to its overall aesthetic. I loved the ombre color and how it seamlessly fades into the next shade. The larger, centered logo was another great design choice, in my opinion. The overall flow is excellent, even though the shape is a little unconventional, which makes these shoes stand out. This is probably the shoe that has garnered the most compliments and attention—people often ask about the brand or name, or even request to take photos of them."

Liz: "I love the fit of the Specter 2. Topo did an excellent job of offering an accommodating fit with a wider toe box, without sacrificing the shoe's performance feel. The engineered mesh design is highly breathable and thin, yet it delivers a very secure lockdown through the midfoot. The smooth padding in the heel and tongue adds just the right touch of plush comfort. I have a wide forefoot (with bunions) and a narrow heel, and this shoe does a fantastic job of allowing my toes to splay while eliminating hot spots, all while securely holding my heel."

Loucas: "For my feet and preferences, the Specter 2 is a perfect fit. Topo nailed the fit with their standard roomy toe box, secure midfoot, and heel. Everything is spot on. The tongue is perfectly thin and soft. It's not gusseted, but it doesn't need to be.

The light, minimal overlays and the midsole foam that wraps around the heel make it feel lightweight, yet provide dependable security, giving you confidence on the roads. Overall, I experienced zero irritation, a consistently secure lockdown, and excellent breathability, even in hot, humid, rainy summer conditions. The Specter 2 gets the highest compliment I can give: I forgot I was even wearing it."

Midsole

Grace: "The PEBAX-powered super foam midsole is bouncy and protective, offering a firmer underfoot feel, making it an ideal lightweight daily trainer or uptempo running option. The wider toe box design provides a stable base, while the prominent full-length rocker helped me find a comfortable stride. With 2mm more foam than the previous Specter, I found this shoe offers the perfect amount of protection for longer runs, while also providing the pace for faster efforts. I am a big fan of shoes with super foam and no plates; this one is a versatile, fast, and comfortable option that I can use for anything from daily runs and speed workouts to long runs and road races."

Liz: "The PEBAX midsole delivers the benefits of super foam in a simple and durable design. The Specter 2 does not have an embedded plate or any overly fancy new tech in the midsole. Rather, the Specter relies on the soft yet responsive foam and smooth-rolling geometry of the midsole to deliver a smooth and efficient ride at any pace. While not the softest shoe, the Specter 2 provides comfortable cushioning and enough protection to handle long miles without losing its ability to accommodate uptempo workouts."

Loucas: "The Specter's midsole is exactly what it is supposed to be. It is pure, unadulterated PEBAX. Before this, I had not run much in a full PEBAX foam midsole before testing the Specter and I expected it to be slightly softer. The Specter is not a plush shoe, and runners should not expect that when they get it out on the roads. This is a performance shoe, and I do not want my foot sinking into the midsole too much.

My somewhat delicate feet felt protected from impact, and I always felt like my foot was on top of the foam versus sinking into the midsole. The responsiveness is present, and there is nothing quite like charging up a hill with a legit super foam midsole. This shoe is so lightweight and responsive that it checks all the boxes for me. It just feels easier to run in. I often find that super shoes do not feel enjoyable at slower, casual recovery paces, but the Specter 2 feels at home at both slower and faster paces, which is another feather in the cap for this shoe. It is stable and does not push you to go faster than you want. The Specter 2 is simply happy to assist you when picking up the pace."

Outsole

Grace: "The outsole has a simple design of strategically placed rubber that delivers excellent traction and durability in the high-wear areas while keeping overall weight to a minimum. I have 40 miles on the Specter 2, and they still look like they came right out of the box."

Liz: "The smooth rubber covers just enough of the outsole to provide traction on most road surfaces. It may struggle on wet and slippery roads, but for this California runner, there was plenty of traction for my needs. The rubber coverage through the forefoot offers just the right amount of flexibility while providing a touch of tension, or stiffness, to help propel the runner forward at toe-off. While I believe this shoe will be very durable thanks to its PEBAX midsole, there is a good amount of exposed foam underfoot, which looks abraded and dirty almost immediately after taking it out for a run. While this is purely cosmetic, I think it is good for people to be aware of it."

Loucas: "Again, the Specter's outsole is what I expect from a super trainer such as this. The outsole design looks reminiscent of the ASICS SUPERBLAST and Novablast outsole. Topo utilized some micro-texture on the rubber, and the oval cutouts create higher confidence in wet conditions. I had 2 or 3 significantly rainy runs and never experienced slippage. However, I was not pushing top paces and was simply doing my normal training paces on pavement and grass. Small areas of the exposed foam are showing evidence of ground abrasion, but not concerningly so. Given that the rubber is thin, I do not expect this to be a 500-mile shoe for me, but it should confidently clear the 250-300-mile mark, which is the uppermost limit I would expect from any true performance shoe."

Comparable Models

Topo Specter 2 vs. Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

Grace: "The Pebax midsole foam in the Topo Specter 2 reminds me a lot of the PWRRUN PB foam in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. Both foams have a touch of softness while delivering a bouncy and responsive feel. I think the Endorphin Speed 4's midsole feels a little softer, helping balance out the shoe's winged nylon plate. The Topo Specter 2 lets its super foam midsole do it all, delivering firmer cushioning for high efficiency while still being protective enough for high mileage training runs."

Liz: "The midsole of the Specter 2 reminds me most of the Endorphin Speed 4. They have a similar balance of softness and responsiveness. I felt that the Specter 2 fit my wide feet better and had a smoother, most stable, and less aggressive ride that worked better for my daily runs while the Endorphin Speed feels a bit faster and more aggressive with the plate."

Topo Specter 2 vs. PUMA Deviate Nitro 3

Liz: "Right now, I am also testing the Deviate Nitro 3, and I feel that both shoes fulfill a similar need within my shoe rotation. The Nitro foam in the Deviate Nitro has a softer, more plush underfoot feel, but the geometries and plated design make the Deviate feel more aggressive and better for faster runs. Meanwhile, the Specter 2 has a more stable and grounded feel that is better suited for longer runs and a wider variety of my daily training efforts."