Topo Cyclone 3 Performance Review

Topo’s great-fitting anatomical toebox and a Pebax midsole? Yes, please. Like we mentioned with the Specter 2, that’s a combination that excites us. The Topo Cyclone 3 is built more minimally than the Specter 2 and targets different types of runs while still sporting the signature Topo shape and sweet, sweet Pebax underfoot. The Specter 2 was a mixed bag, mostly due to its heel geometry, but it was overall a solid shoe (with many fans around the world). Let’s find out if the Cyclone 3 can be even better.

What is the Topo Cyclone 3?

Topo says the Cyclone 3 is “a lightweight speed trainer built for uptempo runs and racing up to the half marathon distance.” While the half marathon distance may be a bit optimistic given the shoe’s stack height (28mm in the heel and 23mm in the forefoot), the Topo Cyclone 3 is set to compete with other uptempo-focused running shoe models like the New Balance Rebel and Brooks Hyperion.

Cushion

Drew: The beaded Pebax midsole on the Topo Cyclone 3 reminds me of Saucony’s PWRRUN PB. It’s a little firmer than raw Pebax but still has good bounce. There’s just not a lot of it underfoot. As a result, you won’t get much squish (like other Pebax-based midsoles), instead getting a light and quick feeling that makes it easy to pick up the pace. Like the Brooks Hyperion 2, the Topo Cyclone 3 is a modern day track flat: minimal in terms of cushion, but what is there, feels fast.

Similar to the Hyperion 2, the Cyclone 3 is built well for track workouts and is mostly useful for the shorter/faster stuff. But it’s also a shoe whose luster fades the longer the run. When you’re as big as I am, taking this shoe above 6-8 miles feels like a chore. But maybe Annie (and her decidedly smaller frame) has more to add.

Annie: I can definitely understand Drew’s experience here. As a small human (or at least smaller than Drew), I was indeed able to get more protection-over-distance out of the Topo Cyclone 3’s Pebax midsole, despite its modest stack. Its geometry, upper materials, and overall fit also just really line up well with my personal needs and preferences (more on all that in the sections to follow), so it just checks a lot of boxes for me in such a way that allows me to get a tad more versatility out of it.

I could comfortably take the Cyclone 3 on runs of 90+ minutes, which is longer than was optimal for me in the Brooks Hyperion 2, for example. That may be enough to get those who prefer a more minimal feel through their half-marathon races; but I still think it might be pushing it for plenty of other runners (including myself).

“Peppy” was the word that kept coming up for me while testing the Topo Cyclone 3. There is a hint of squish that is very immediately followed by a lively response. The result is a super fun and lightweight feel which, frankly, I loved every time I took the Cyclone 3 out for a spin – whether it was for prescribed speed work, for a sort of unplanned and unexpectedly boisterous mid-distance effort, or anything in between.

Support

Drew: The Topo Cyclone 3 doesn’t pack a heel counter, your foot won’t sit inside the midsole at any point, and the upper almost disappears on foot. BUT, Topo knows how to build a shoe. The wide base, the fit, and the lockdown all work harmoniously to keep the foot rooted to the footbed. 

Corners aren’t a problem, nor are less-than-ideal conditions like rain or snow. The fit keeps the foot where it needs to be – which is perfect when viewing the Cyclone 3 as a modern track flat. It needs to feel secure while being minimal and lightweight so that the wearer feels comfortable rocketing through his or her workouts. 

It’s even stable enough for weight room lifting. I mean, it’s not a cross training shoe, but it’ll do the job if you want one shoe that can do a lot of things serviceably.

Annie: The Topo Cyclone 3 is about as perfect for me as it gets when it comes to its build (and fit, but we’ll get into that). While you couldn’t fold it in half (nor should you), I’m obsessed with the amount of flexibility the entire shoe offers from top to bottom.

Drew nailed it: the upper disappears on-foot. And it combines so beautifully with the other aspects of the shoe that it provides security and confidence while also allowing your feet to articulate fully.

So, in essence, all the support comes from how freakishly well the Cyclone 3’s lightweight and effective materials fit rather than from any overbearing structural elements. Bless you, Topo.

Traction

Drew: Continuing with the modern track flat theme, the smooth rubber outsole is grippy as long as conditions are good. While the Topo Cyclone 3 is stable enough for adverse conditions, the outsole slips in rain, snow, or other adverse conditions. It’s not a huge slip with each push-off, but it’s enough to lose a generous amount of power. The Cyclone 3 is best used in dry conditions.

Annie: This is an interesting one, because I had a slightly different experience with the traction on the Cyclone 3. Like Drew said, the grip was great in dry conditions. And, having also taken it out on roads with lingering snow, I agree that it wouldn’t be a smart choice to do that again (in part due to the aforementioned minor slip when pushing off and in part due to how breathable the upper is).

But when it came to rainy conditions, I actually had a ton of confidence running in the Topo Cyclone 3, even when taking corners at a clip. The trouble came when temps were cold enough for all that moisture to freeze. To be fair, Drew is a much faster and more powerful runner than I am, so the amount of force he’s pushing off with may make him more susceptible to slipping. But the rain didn’t present any problems for me. In fact, I was impressed with the Cyclone 3’s grip in the rain as well as with how quickly the entire shoe dried out after suffering such wet conditions.

Upper

Drew: I’ve already mentioned it a few times in passing in the other sections, but Topo’s anatomical toebox is here in all its glory. There’s plenty of room for big (or little) toes to spread out. As always, that’s the best part of a Topo upper.

But the Topo Cyclone 3’s upper also fits well throughout, doesn’t have any bulk, packs a soft tongue that doesn’t move (despite a lack of gussets or stitching), gets tons of airflow, and brings a feel of minimalist comfort. There’s also slight support underfoot through the arch that I didn’t feel while running but which heightened the sense of a 1-to-1 fit when walking around during warm-ups.

As is typical, Topo delivers an absolutely wonderful upper. Hopefully Annie enjoyed it as much as I did.

Annie: I SO did. I seriously love this upper. It hugs in all the right places and feels super secure, comfy, and breathable. And it also manages to be highly flexible without feeling flimsy or unreliable. There is simply nothing wasted and nothing extra. Drew said it perfectly with “minimalist comfort.”

Something to note is that Topo shoes (at least this has been the case for my testing pairs over the years) usually arrive with the penultimate eyelet skipped and the top eyelet laced – which is a bit unusual, so I’m pointing it out for those who may not notice this quirk. With the Cyclone 3, I found that backing the lacing down from the top eyelet and instead using that penultimate one (as is a bit more typical if you’re not employing a runner’s knot or some other technique) proved to allow better ankle flexibility without sacrificing an ounce of fabulous lockdown.

Is the Topo Cyclone 3 wide foot friendly?

Drew: The Topo Cyclone 3 fits true-to-size lengthwise and is wide-foot friendly. Though it narrows in the midfoot and heel from the roomy forefoot, it’s still quite accommodating and mirrors the fit found in the majority of Topo models.

Annie: Agreed.

I also want to take an extra moment to try to help out those who may often find themselves between sizes (like I frequently do)…

If you sit so squarely in the middle range of your shoe size that you never have to think about it, just skip on down to the next section of the review (and count yourself lucky)…

I first want to thank Topo for being game to send me the Cyclone 3 (as well as the Topo Aura) in both a women’s 6B and a 6.5B in order for me to tackle this question with more data points (keep an eye out for our upcoming review of the Aura to see how the sizing shook out in that new Topo model).

For context, I have one foot that is slightly wide (women’s C) and one that measures anywhere from slightly wide to wide (women’s D), depending on the day. Because of that and the fact that I also have a high-ish instep, I usually opt for a 6.5 when only a women’s standard B-width is available for testing so as to help mitigate the risk of cramping my feet unhealthily.

But since Topo already has that glorious, foot-shaped toebox in its standard-width shoes, it stands to reason that I might finally find my perfect fit…which, needless to say, was an unbelievably exciting prospect for me…

If I’d only had the 6.5 to test, I still would have had a very positive experience. While the 6.5 was comfortable and had great midfoot and heel lockdown, I experienced some movement within the forefoot of the shoe and therefore didn’t feel as confident cornering and tackling hills in my “larger” size.

As soon as I tried on the size 6, I felt like it was made for me. But I still had to be sure it had enough room through the ball of the foot (my trouble spot) for the longest distance I’d reasonably be doing in it. The midsole maxed out for me at around the 90-to-100-minute mark at a daily-run pace, and the width in the size 6 was indeed enough to carry me through those miles very comfortably.

Given that the best use case of the Cyclone 3 is likely mid-distance to shorter-distance uptempo efforts and workouts for most folks, it further cemented my confidence in the size 6 (my “smaller” size) being my preference.

So, my advice for those who often sit between sizes (when it comes to length) is as follows: unless you have a very wide and/or quite high-volume foot, I’d go with your “smaller” size in the Topo Cyclone 3. The well-fitting but flexible setup will move with you seamlessly, and you’ll still have plenty of room for toe splay.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…

Is the Topo Cyclone 3 worth $150?

Drew: I’m on the fence about this one. $150 is in the general ballpark, but I’d feel a lot better about the value proposition with the Topo Cyclone 3 if it were priced at $135 or $140. It’s just not a versatile enough shoe to compete with some of the more well-rounded models at the $150 price point.

Annie: I get Drew’s take here. If the Topo Cyclone 3 were priced at $135, I think I’d be telling people with feet/preferences like mine to double-up on pairs.

Though, in addition to being a fun speed shoe for intervals and Fartlek-y uptempo runs, I also enjoyed extra daily miles in the Cyclone 3. Since I got that bonus use out of it, since it has a Pebax midsole, and since it essentially has a Holy Grail-type fit for me, I’m slightly more forgiving of the $150 price tag…

But, to Drew’s point, take a look at the $140 New Balance Rebel v4 (or, if you’re me and feeling wild, maybe even the $135 Asics Noosa Tri 16). Interestingly, the New Balance Rebel v4 only has 2mm of additional stack height in the heel and a measly 1mm extra in the forefoot compared to the Cyclone 3. But I was able to take the Rebel and its blended midsole well over the 2-to-2.5-hour mark in comfort.

So, while the Topo Cyclone outpaces the Rebel when it comes to top-end speed (for my running style, anyway), it falters in comparison once you approach longer runs or are looking for an option that can more adeptly handle easy days. In that instance, the extra $10 (or $15) for the Cyclone 3 starts to look iffy.

When it gets down to it, the Topo Cyclone 3 is a great shoe that I can enthusiastically recommend based on its fit, pace-y performance, and fun factor. Whether or not the $150 is worth it will come down to not only your own ride preferences and unique fit needs (because dear god, the fit is oh-so-very-good for those of us living in the size margins), but it may also just depend on what you’re currently missing in your rotation.

How to use the Topo Cyclone 3

The Topo Cyclone 3 is at its best when picking up the pace and not going too long. Track workouts, uptempo sessions, and other speed work that only lasts for single-digit mileage is its sweet spot. But those who can get away with a little less underfoot may find some additional range in the Cyclone 3.

Topo Cyclone 3 Summary

Drew: The Topo Cyclone 3 is a modern day speed work shoe that’s bouncy but minimal. The Topo fit is a huge draw, but the limited use case and subpar traction will likely shrink its potential market. That said, the Cyclone 3 feels modern, but takes wearers back in time to when they had to depend solely on leg strength for speed, without super foam/carbon plate combos to fall back on.

Annie: At this point, it’s no secret that I’m rather smitten by the Topo Cyclone 3. It offers an awesome fit and a flexible, peppy ride whose lively response translates smoothly across uptempo efforts due to the unobtrusive nature of the shoe’s geometry and build. The Topo Cyclone 3 is a light and fun companion for your toughest speed workouts as well as some upbeat daily miles for those who prefer a modern, Pebax foam with a more minimal feel.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Disclosure

While Topo did provide a pair of the Topo Cyclone 3 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.