text: I'm not sure where some of the negative reviews here are coming from. No shoe is going to be perfect for everyone, and no shoe is perfect for every type of run or terrain. I've tried a lot of different trail shoes, and really love the Topo MT's for light to moderate trail running (packed dirt, some rocks/boulders, not a lot of sharp rocks or scree). To me, these have the perfect amount of protection from the trail--not too thick and squishy or too thin. The near-zero drop is great if you're not a heel-striker and looking for a more natural gait. The grip is impressive and good enough for the trails I run in Texas hill country, but they can also work on the road too. The laces are excellent--no double knotting required. So who would most like this shoe? Probably not the Hoka/maximalist crowd, and probably not the Vibram/barefoot group, but those of us in the middle who like just the right amount of firm cushion to protect the feet over a variety of terraine while encouraging a mid/forefoot landing.