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By Rebecca Trachsel and Brian Metzler
Calling all runners seeking training shoes with sub-maximal cushioning, a low heel-toe drop, or a spacious forefoot.
The versatile Topo Fli-Lyte 6 might be a great match for you.
Topo Athletic designs all of its shoes with a wider toe box to allow the toes to spread naturally. Most models, including the Fli-Lyte 6, also provide an enhanced feel for the ground through either a lower stack height or a low heel-toe offset. Bottom line: Topo believes in more space for your toes—so they can optimally flex and splay, not to mention have room to breathe and be comfortable—and creating a platform to allow for a natural, uninhibited stride pattern.
The Fli-Lyte 6 is a striking departure from the high-stack daily trainers most of us have been running in lately. While it doesn’t fit the definition of a minimalist shoe, it’s certainly lower to the ground and, as a result, has great inherent stability.
Ultimately, this shoe can provide a lot of options to different types of runners, depending on personal preferences and needs—even if you prefer maximally cushioned shoes. To those who prefer lower-to-the-ground shoes, it could be a do-everything daily trainer, including long runs and speed sessions. To those who normally run in more extremely cushy shoes, this could be an alternative shoe for shorter runs, speed work, post-run drills, and strength training at the gym.
What’s New: The newest version of the Fli-Lyte features an updated mesh upper with an airy sensation as Topo smartly substituted the need for overlays with subtle, lightweight reinforcements integrated into the mesh. The Fli-Lyte 6 has the same 3mm drop as its predecessor, the lowest of all the shoe models in the Topo line, with only a little bit of rocker shape. The midsole is a sub-maximal layer of responsive ZipFoam (a dense blend of EVA and TPU), while the outsole has three segments of durable rubber.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Fli-Lyte 6 fits true to size with a medium interior volume that is more spacious through the entire forefoot. The wide and thinly padded tongue isn’t gusseted, but it has a special inner lace loop at the top that helps keep the tongue in place and cinch down the upper nicely. The step-in feel is somewhat sparse, but compact and comfortable. The upper is light and airy and it provides a modest amount of support when you lace it up.
The ride is smooth and uncomplicated with a semi-soft/semi-firm sensation in every stride. It’s soft enough to reduce the shock of impact, but it is firm enough to avoid bottoming out while also providing a hint of support to guide your foot through the gait cycle. It offers a mild amount of energy return as your foot rolls through a stride, but there’s no significant boost of energy on the way to the toe-off phase. The forefoot rocker is not quite as enhanced as some shoes, which makes this an ideal shoe for those who want to feel their feet closer to the ground. (Think Saucony Kinvara, only firmer.)
Rebecca: When I slid the Fli-Lyte 6 on my feet and laced them up, it was love at first step. Think Cinderella and the glass slipper. My foot eased in and settled down perfectly inside the shoe. I have a wide left foot because of a bunion, and it’s challenging for me to find high performance shoes that work with this situation. So to try a shoe and have it feel this good right out of the box is a minor miracle. I couldn’t wait to run in it.
The back of the shoe comes up high around the heel so it feels snug and firm once inside. I found the width of the shoe to be a bit narrow at the saddle despite the wider toebox. It really does feel like it’s anatomically shaped like a foot—in a good way.
Brian: I appreciated the comfort of the fit, but I have narrow feet so the forefoot of the Fli-Lyte 6 felt a bit too roomy for me. It didn’t make me dislike running in it, the fit just felt different (bordering on being a little too spacious) than what I’m used to running in. Overall, I like the spartan-like feel, the connection to the ground, and agile ride of this shoe.
Price: $130
Approximate Weights: 6.7 oz. (women’s size 8); 7.8 oz. (men’s size 9),
Heel-Toe Offset: 3mm; 23mm (heel); 20mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: It’s versatile. It’s a very good lightweight training shoe that can be used for most runs and workouts, but the lower stack height also makes it a great choice for the weight room. It’s capable of handling a wide range of distances and paces, especially if you have an efficient gait and good lower-leg strength. It also might be a great shoe to take on a trip if you only want to pack one pair. You can do all of your running, visit the gym, ride a bike, or wear it casually.
Why You’ll Love It: This is postmodern minimalism at its best, even though it’s not truly a minimalist shoe. The Fli-Lyte 6 is moderately cushioned with a low heel-toe offset (3mm) and has a high-performance ZipFoam midsole that provides sufficient shock absorption without a harsh sensation at impact. In other words, you can feel the ground, but your feet won’t get beat up from it. It serves up good flexibility, and a smooth transition from heel to toe, but it runs light and easy for midfoot/forefoot strikers. In essence, it’s a shoe that doesn’t get in the way of your stride, potentially reducing ground contact time, and allowing you to run with a natural, efficient gait.
Rebecca: You’ll love it because it meets all of your running needs in one shoe. For a very reasonable price, you get a daily trainer, a workout shoe and an easy pick for the gym. The shoe is so light and snappy. I can see it working really well for track workouts or long tempos. You’ll love it because it feels both fast and supportive. You’ll really love it if you have a wider foot.
Brian: I love the springy (but not bouncy) low-stack cushioning and proprioceptive feel for the ground the Fli-Lyte 6 provides. Not only is it a great departure from many of the maximally cushioned training shoes you’ll find at running stores, but it feels more agile and stable, and it allows me to be in control of my foot strikes, especially when changing paces.
Although it lacks the energetic pop of some daily trainers, it’s still a lively shoe. The difference is that the energy mostly comes from running with an efficient stride, not a bouncy slab of foam or a propulsion plate. The longest I’ve run in it is 9 miles, which is probably about the limit in this shoe for me. But I’ve loved it for shorter runs, both speedier (1K and mile repeats) and slower (recovery runs), especially because it’s so adept at quick-cadence running.
Why You Might Not Like It: If you don’t like shoes with a wider toe box, the Fli-Lyte 6 might feel overly spacious and a bit sloppy in the forefoot—especially if you have narrower feet.
Pro: It’s made with recycled materials and includes performance insoles with anti-microbial fabric and thread. It is also worth noting that these Topo shoes have been given the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance and Seal of Approval.
Con: If you’re looking for maximal cushioning or a shoe with a high amount of energy return, this Fli-Lyte 6 isn’t the shoe for you.
RELATED: Rotating Your Running Shoes Can Help You Prevent Injuries and Run Stronger
Boston-area editor-at-large Rebecca Trachsel is a mom, a competitive age-group marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, and music lover with a coffee problem. She’s still chasing big goals and having a blast along the way.
Senior editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,500 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2019). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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