STAFF
Hiking
A shoe that lets you go into the mountains with a barefoot feel.
A shoe that lets you go into the mountains with a barefoot feel.
When I'm running or moving quickly through the mountains, I pick shoes by weighing things like sturdiness, protection, cushioning, and grip all together.
But on a more relaxed hike, I want to walk using my own body's senses as much as possible. That's where the CONNECT fits perfectly.
With the insole removed, your foot sits just 5.5mm off the ground — it's like walking the mountains barefoot with only a sole attached.
Even so, it still has a Vibram outsole, so you get a minimum amount of grip even in the mountains. Of course it doesn't have the grip or protection of a typical trail running shoe or hiking boot, but for me that's part of the fun too.
The shape of the ground and the feel of the rocks come straight through to the sole of your foot, so you naturally start paying attention to where you place your feet and how you load your weight. There's also a real sense of using your own arches and ankles properly to walk, which makes for an interesting, different way of using your body than usual.
Topo's founder was also deeply involved with Vibram FiveFingers, and Topo itself started from combining the natural movement of minimalist shoes with the comfort and protection of regular running shoes.
It's a different thing from a shoe built for running fast — it's about enjoying using your own body to walk through the mountains. The CONNECT might be about as close as it gets to Topo's roots.
For me, it's a shoe I rely on for having fun in the mountains.
When I'm running or moving quickly through the mountains, I pick shoes by weighing things like sturdiness, protection, cushioning, and grip all together.
But on a more relaxed hike, I want to walk using my own body's senses as much as possible. That's where the CONNECT fits perfectly.
With the insole removed, your foot sits just 5.5mm off the ground — it's like walking the mountains barefoot with only a sole attached.
Even so, it still has a Vibram outsole, so you get a minimum amount of grip even in the mountains. Of course it doesn't have the grip or protection of a typical trail running shoe or hiking boot, but for me that's part of the fun too.
The shape of the ground and the feel of the rocks come straight through to the sole of your foot, so you naturally start paying attention to where you place your feet and how you load your weight. There's also a real sense of using your own arches and ankles properly to walk, which makes for an interesting, different way of using your body than usual.
Topo's founder was also deeply involved with Vibram FiveFingers, and Topo itself started from combining the natural movement of minimalist shoes with the comfort and protection of regular running shoes.
It's a different thing from a shoe built for running fast — it's about enjoying using your own body to walk through the mountains. The CONNECT might be about as close as it gets to Topo's roots.
For me, it's a shoe I rely on for having fun in the mountains.
