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Since its inception in 2019 the Phantom has become one of Topo Athletic’s top-selling road trainers. The Phantom 4 looks to be enough of an update to lure in curious new runners, while not so much an overhaul that it will turn away dedicated fans of the shoe.
The Phantom 4 is a high stack daily trainer with the ability to go long. Its foot-shaped toe box and softer midsole also make it a capable recovery run option.
With the Specter 2 becoming Topo’s tempo trainer and the introduction of the max cushioned Atmos, the Phantom 4 has moved away from a firmer feel to more of a comfort-oriented one, while still maintaining the ability to let you run efficiently at moderate paces.
Wide Feet: Absolutely, unless you’re overly bothered by a more structured arch support
Heavier Runners: The soft midsole could pose problems for those with stability needs when running at slower paces
Long Runs: If you’re after comfortable long miles with the option to turn up the dial just a bit, yes!
Front of the Pack: This could be a good recovery day option for front of the pack runners
Buy Topo Phantom 4
Topo Phantom 4 Overview
I would consider myself somewhat familiar with Topo’s offerings. Prior to purchasing the Cyclone – one of my current favorite short distance speed trainers – I tried out the Phantom 3 and Atmos.
I was coming out of a marathon training block and I had some issues with trainers with extremely narrow toe boxes and needed some breathing room for my toes.
The similar look and aesthetic of the New Balance Rebel v2 from a few years ago, but with a nice PEBAX midsole made the Cyclone the winner over the Phantom and Atmos. I’ve often referred to this as my mid-life crisis shoe purchase; I went with the Porsche 911 when I maybe should have gotten the Honda Civic.
The midsole was where I noticed the biggest change from the Phantom 3.
Topo has updated this year’s Phantom 4 with a softer formulation of their signature ZipFoam midsole compound.
The softness is a bit misleading, however. When giving it the squeeze test it feels just about as soft as the original New Balance “Fuelcell” foam (versions 4 of their Fuelcell line are different compounds), but underfoot it responds much differently.
On the run you get a nice soft landing with just a hint of bounce to it. When running at the faster end of my easy pace range I noticed a firmer ride, but a softer ride at slower paces.
I did, however, find it quite easy to set a pace and lock in. The rocker is mild, its main function is to keep you rolling through your stride rather than launching you forward.
The outsole coverage is different from previous versions. Gone is the segmented rubber coverage, replacing it is the single piece with very subtle flex grooves that allow some flexibility while keeping enough stiffness to compliment the rocker. 
There are also 2 rubber strips on either side of the heel for a bit of traction for heel strikers. Grip was good, and the exposed midsole in the midfoot still looks mostly unscuffed after testing.
Topo’s recent color offerings have seen some improvement. I really like the Navy Blue and Citrus colorway I received.
It’s not quite the loudness I prefer but it beats the Black or Orange from top to bottom of past iterations. The increased midsole heel flare adds a little…flare…and brand synergy as it brings the silhouette closer to the current looks of their road models such as the Specter, Cyclone, Aura, and Atmos.
Topo Phanton 4 Fit
I could tell right away Topo prioritized blending comfort with their classic Topo fit.
It fit true to size in my men’s size 11. The toe box is spacious and roomy, giving you plenty of room for toe splay, while the heel and midfoot are snug but not constricting. The step-in feel offers comfort all around.
The upper is extremely soft yet holds the foot snugly with a slightly offset lacing system that leans towards the medial side of the foot, not nearly as aggressively as the Vaporfly 2, but it’s noticeable.
The tongue is not gusseted, but Topo’s use of lace loops keeps it from sliding around.
The soft padding around the ankle collar amps up the comfort. The molded plastic heel counter helps hold your heel in place without any unwanted pressure or rubbing.
I’m not one who is sensitive to heel counters, but if you are, take note that the padding under the heel collar is not as plush and might be noticed. Topo added an exterior molded layer covering the heel and extending all the way up to the last 3 lace holes, adding a little structure.
My one big knock on the upper is the lack of airflow. No matter the weather or the thickness of my socks, my feet were always warm.
Very slight sidewalls hug the midfoot on both sides, although it is more noticeable on the medial side. I believe this to be partially due to the raised arch support found in most Topo shoes.
Similar Shoes to the Topo Phantom 4
All right, let’s talk about what might be similar to this comfy cushioned trainer.
Hoka Clifton – Same feel as the classic Clifton (prior to this year’s increase to an 8 mm drop), both on the run and for walking
Saucony Ride – The ride (pun intended) feels similar but with an 8 mm drop and a few feathers heavier
Brooks Ghost Max – Firmer underfoot feel, modest rocker, and a bit more stack
Buy Topo Phantom 4
78%
Maybe a little unfair to the shoe, but there’s nothing flashy to make us say “OH MY GOSH” so it didn’t hit the 100 mark. And yet, it’s a really trusted go to trainer that we would not hesitate to recommend!
Who Tried it?
I’m Tim, a 44-year old Clydesdale runner traversing the roads and beach paths in Sunny Long Beach, California. After many years of brain-damaging contact sports I found a love for running later in life. My favorite distance is the half marathon, but for some reason I’ve a healthy disdain for the 5k/10k distances. A typical week involves finding time to run 15-25 miles per week when I’m not in training. When I’m not out running you can find me with my significant other. You can find me on instagram @thetimharrison.
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