99 problems, Topos are one

I had a bad blowout with some asolos a few years back (dry rot) but they were ancient well used and got me home with some duck tape. … recently I have used topos and altras and they have been great, hopefully they will provide good customer service and replace or refund…shouldn’t come apart after 20 miles …..Unfortunately, I am finding poor customer service is becoming the norm (I had an experience with tarp tent that was dreadful)

Except for the midsoles, my Ultraventures held up really well for on/off trail hiking. Sadly, by the 150 mile mark the midsoles were totally packed out. They’re lawn mowing shoes now. According to a conversation I had with Topo customer service, the Ultraventure 2 uses a different foam and now has a rock plate, so I may at some point try Topos again.

The one thing I liked about these pros is the mesh is a little denser, so it lets far less dirt in. I do mostly off trail hiking. Probably a little more durable too compared to the lighter mesh.

I’ve had shoes/boots do that.  Cleaned ’em really well, dried ’em even better, then glued everything down with Shoe Goo.  It’s always held.

I had a pair of Topo shoes do that in 2019. Topo replaced them free of charge. I eventually tried what Todd T suggested above and that worked beautifully.

I had some trouble trusting Topo after that, but their shoes are so comfortable to me I bought more. They’re all I use for road and trail now. I’ve had many pairs since, and none have had the sole delaminate. Earlier today, Topo responded to a question I had emailed in just 3 hours, so no issues with customer service.

I had a pair of Patagonia shoes years ago that did that in the middle of a long walk in the UK.  I glued them back together to finish the walk but did not bring them back to the USA.  I had bought them on sale as a discontinued item and I suspected the problem was quality control at the contract manufacturer.

My Trailventure did/are doing that. Started at about 250 miles. I glued mine but now I notice it’s happening in more areas. I was disappointed in the Vibram sole quality. The rubber seems to dry out very fast. I was wondering if cleaning the rubber then spraying them with 303 protectant in between hikes would stop the drying out.

What do you mean by the rubber “drying out”?

I read several reviews on REI or somewhere that people were having that problem with the Ultraventure Pros shortly after getting them.  I have just started wearing a pair and will be looking out for problems.  If it happens they are heading back to REI.  I have been wearing Terraventure II’s with no problems like that and will go back to those if the Pro’s act up.

@simulacra Take a new vibram sole. Shiny, pliable rubber. Give it a few hundred miles, stiff, dry, shrunken. I’ll post pics.

Thanks for all the responses. I don’t know about the glue, I’ve tried that before and for me and the terrain I’m on it seems to only last for a few weeks…

I don’t know if I can trust topo after this. I’ll likely be taking them back to rei. Still no response from them. I’m interested in trying the Inov 8 terraultra 270, perhaps those will be next on the list.

I have the Terraventure. Used on rocky mountain slopes, swamps, mud, sand. Great fit, no issues. Love Topo. By comparison, had 3 pair of Already, all started coming apart. I hear the new ones are better, but why take 6 years to fix a known problem?

That’s frustrating. Shoe goo does work really well and will hold up forever. I’ve even applied it preemptively to areas of a shoe that looked suspect.

 I’ve even applied it preemptively to areas of a shoe that looked suspect.

I have done this with some silicone on my Salomon Triple Crowns (bought 2 pair, but did not treat the first pair and they are coming apart) I have high hopes it will help the second pair last a little longer. I wish Salomon would’ve just used heavier upper fabric, but it would’ve cost an extra 10 grams…