Topo Athletic is an up-and-coming sports brand that Sundried has reviewed a few times now. Their intelligently designed trainers are perfect for the more serious runner and their trail shoes have technical features that make them stand out from the crowd. Read our reviews of other Topo shoes here.

Features of the Terraventure Women's Trail Shoes

3mm Drop

The drop of a trainer refers to the height difference between the heel and the forefoot. A conventional drop would be considered to sit at around 10-12 millimetres but more trainer brands are now adopting a more minimal design with a lower drop. Topo is one of these brands and their Terraventure trail shoe features a very low drop at only 3mm. Advocates for the low heel-to-toe drop claim it can reduce the risk of injury as it discourages a harsh heel-strike. A low drop also encourages a more natural running style and a low heel stops you from being pushed forward while running, which is an important aspect when running on uneven ground like a trail.

Well-cushioned

Minimalist shoes with a low drop can often offer less cushioning, but that is not the case with these Topo trainers. It is also important to have well-cushioned shoes when you're heading out on the rough and uneven surfaces of the trails. The Topo Terraventure shoes feature extra cushioning to provide a smooth ride.

Wide Toe Box

The ergonomic toe box is one of Topo's flagship features. It is more anatomically-friendly than classic trainers and allows your toes to spread out naturally and comfortably. If you have wide feet, it can be tough finding trainers that are comfortable, but these shoes with their wide toe box have got you covered. I often suffer from squashed toes, especially when running downhill outdoors, so this feature is very important to avoid that.

Rock Protection Plate

Having a rock protection plate in your trail shoes is a must if you want a pain-free run. Running over gravel and stones can be hazardous and having shoes with a specialised rock plate will prevent you from injuring your foot on rocks. Stepping on a jagged edge, especially on the ball of the foot, can cause a lot of pain and can lead to metatarsal issues. These Topo shoes feature the classic ESS rock plate which can be found on many trail shoes these days and should be a standard feature that you look for when choosing this type of trainer.

Breathable Materials

Suffering from sweaty feet can lead to more than just some discomfort. Running in damp shoes for too long can lead to skin problems and will end up distracting you from your run. Finding a pair of trainers made from breathable materials is a must, and these shoes feature just that. The lightweight design offers a '2nd skin fit and feel' according to Topo, although this isn't quite the feeling I got when I wore them. They're quite chunky and bulky, definitely not smooth and light like a speed trainer, but that's not what I'd expect from a trail shoe anyway.

Testing the Topo Terraventure trainers out on the trails

Trail running is very different from running on paved roads and you want a trainer that's going to be able to keep up. The 'aggressive' lug design on these trainers means that you have fantastic traction and the supportive rock plate prevents bruising and damage from stones and other debris which are inevitable on the trails. 

I did find that they started to rub my little toes after a while and my feet were slipping around in the shoes because of the roomy design. When running up and down hills, especially on very rough terrain, I like my feet to feel like they're totally secure so that I'm not worried about twisting an ankle. These shoes could perhaps offer a little more ankle support to put my mind at ease.

Support and comfort

The foot support from these trainers is good and it doesn't seem to matter if you run with a forefoot or heel strike, they'll give you everything you need for a comfortable ride. If you have flat feet like me, it can be tough finding trainers which give adequate support, so I was a little dubious when trying them for the first time. I did get some ankle pain after the first few miles due to the limited arch support, and the low drop meant I ended up plodding a little towards the end. The roomy toe box does do the job well with regards to not squashing the toes so this is a big bonus.

Verdict

Sizing: 9/10

The trainers are pretty much true to size. I did get a half size up from my usual size as I anticipated they might be a little snug and I'm glad I did.

Comfort: 9/10

The cushioning is great as is the roomy toe box. The rock plate definitely does the job of preventing painful bruises from jagged edges and stones. 

Stability: 8/10

The stability is good and the lugs on the bottom of the shoe certainly provide plenty of traction. I felt that my ankles were a little exposed, though, so there could have been more support and stability there.

Appearance: 7/10

I personally don't like the colour of this particular pair of shoes but that's certainly subjective. They also come in a choice of light blue or purple. The colour is a little garish so I would've preferred a more subtle colour, or even just plain black. The actual design of the trainers looks good, though, and for a pair of trail shoes, they definitely don't look too bad. I struggled to match them with any of my Sundried kit, though!

Price: 6/10

The price of these trainers is £115. This is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum and puts the shoes on the same level as trail shoes from big brands like Asics and Hoka One One. Considering Topo is still relatively unknown in the UK and is quite a new brand, this seems a little steep, especially considering you can buy Karrimor trail shoes at a price of around £35 and those boast being water-proof. However, these are good quality trainers and feature everything you would expect as standard from a pair of trail shoes so I definitely don't think it's unreasonable.

Total: 39/50

I'm pleasantly surprised by these trainers as I often struggle to find ones that are comfortable enough to run in for an extended period of time. Topo is a brand that knows what it's doing and this shines through in these trainers. I'm looking forward to taking these shoes on more adventures and seeing where they take me next!

Where To Buy

Topo Athletic Website

Distributed in the UK by 2Pure

The Adidas Originals Tubular Shadow shoes are Adidas' latest addition to their ever-growing fashion trainer collection. The design of these shoes is a fusion of their famed tubular '93 runners and an updated, fresh style. These trainers take a classic and revamp them for modern tastes to compete with their contemporaries. The two-tone knit upper and contemporary wrap-around style is very popular at the moment making them one of the most popular trainers on the market right now.

Comfort

The thick, rubber sole means that these trainers stay comfortable even when you're on your feet all day. The enclosed 'booty' style that is found on most trainers these days prevents rubbing and chafing and the specialised sock lining stops blisters from forming.

The knit-style upper is flexible and comfortable and makes these shoes feel like you've barely got anything on your feet at all. While not necessarily suitable for long-distance running, these trainers will certainly be your best friend for a tough gym session or more functional workout.

Style

Adidas has clearly tried to specifically bring their classic 1993 runners into the 21st century. They've stayed true to Adidas style as these are fairly similar to the Boost trainers that proved to be very popular after the release of Kanye's Yeezy trainers. The knitted upper follows in the footsteps of something Nike has been doing for a long time in their fly-knit collection and is possibly a fashion that will fall out of favour in a few years. That said, they're a very chic, subtle pair of trainers with not too much going on and definitely very minimalistic branding. This means they'll go with most outfits and will add a stylish twist to any workout. The trainers are available in a range of monochrome colours like black, white, and grey, but the two-tone design means they're eye-catching and stand out from other standard monochrome shoes. 

Price

The price of £79.95 is actually very fair, considering a lot of trainers these days can set you back well over £100. These are fashion trainers after all as opposed to functional technical trainers, but it's still a very reasonable cost for such stylish, modern shoes. This price is direct from Adidas, and you'll find them even cheaper from other distributors. 

Verdict

The Adidas Originals Tubular Shadow shoes are a modern twist on a classic and stay true to the Adidas brand. They stay on trend perfectly and would not look out of place in any scenario. The comfort of the trainers is exceptional, even if you have particularly wide feet. They may not be the most technical trainers, but they do the job and look great while they do it.

These fresh, stylish trainers are available at £79.95 on the Adidas website

LoveRaw was developed by Rimi Dabhia in 2013 after leaving a passionless job in investment banking. She started the brand by hand-making and packaging snack bars in her kitchen and the rest is history! I was excited to try these organic, vegan snack bars for myself.

Cacao & Maca

This rich, dark, indulgent bar is somewhat like a brownie, so if that's your craving, you can reach for one of these bars guilt-free! It contains only 6 natural ingredients: dates, almonds, cacao, cacao nibs, cashews, and maca. Maca is an ingredient we've seen a few times in previous reviews of healthy snacks and boasts numerous health benefits. The bar is fairly dense but it's refreshingly not too difficult to chew and the crunch from the cacao nibs and cashews adds a great texture. The deep, chocolatey flavour is devilishly moreish but the 45g bar is plenty to leave you satisfied and not reaching for more.

Almond & Coconut

This flavour contains even fewer ingredients, with just dates, almonds, coconut chips, figs, and cinnamon. Figs are an ingredient I haven't seen before in my healthy snack reviews so it was an interesting addition. Figs are high in fibre and contain many essential minerals which promote increased bone density among other benefits. The cinnamon adds a flavourful kick which I personally really liked, although I know that a lot of other people are often put off if cinnamon is a listed ingredient because of its strong, spicy undertones.

Rosehip & Lemon

This bar is fresh and zingy thanks to the authentic lemon flavour and can certainly be compared to a tangy lemon drizzle cake. Rosehip is a fruit that is often made into tea thanks to its diuretic and laxative properties. This ingredient aids the immune system and contains lots of antioxidants which is great for fighting free radicals in the body. This bar is bulked out with the addition of sultanas which are not present in any of the other bars and the lemon oil gives a great flavour without being overpowering.

Cacao & Spirulina

Spirulina is a very popular superfood at the moment thanks to its health benefits and high protein content. It can often overpower a food so I was interested to see how well it would taste in this bar. The cacao again is delicious and dark and makes the bar just as satisfying as a naughty chocolate bar. There is a hint of citrus thanks to orange oil and the cashews again add a wonderful crunchy texture which I loved. The spirulina wasn't overpowering at all and adds a very subtle earthy element to the otherwise very sweet bar.

Verdict

I love the humble beginnings of this brand and I think its success speaks for itself. The bars are perfect in their simplicity, with only natural, vegan ingredients which mean you can't go wrong! They are not too chewy like some other healthy snack bars and they are satisfying enough to be perfect after a tough workout or just to satisfy a sweet craving! It's definitely a 10 for LoveRaw!

VITL is a vitamin supplement company who send bespoke packages to its customers based on their personal needs. Launched in 2015 by Jonathan Relph, VITL provides customers with boxes of supplements delivered through their letter box on a subscription service.

VITL has generic plans on offer as well as tailored plans available through their app. The generic plans provide a 28-day supply of daily vitamins. The Essential 2 package is one of the generic packages on offer and includes a multi vitamin which supports your immune system and improves your general health, an Omega 3 tablet to keep a healthy heart and brain functions, and a calcium tablet to support a healthy nervous system and help with muscle functions.This package also has a super greens tablet which includes 15 antioxidant-rich phytonutrients from superfoods such as kale to help fight free radicals in the body.

For the tailored package, you answer a series of questions about your life and general health, and a representative from VITL will then build you a package of vitamins and supplements which are bespoke to you and your needs.

The Essentials 2 is only £17.95 (the images are of this pack) and the Essentials 4 is £35.95. There is a Vitamin D pouch which costs £7.50 and is only available as a one-off purchase. You can buy on the Vitl website. 

Written by Matt Sladden

Mindful Bites was founded by Stephanie Peritore in 2014 with the intention of changing the way people think about snacking. Stephanie uses the practice of mindfulness to encourage people to think more about what they're eating and why in an attempt to become healthier. The products that Mindful Bites produce include snacks and nut butters which are made with superfoods and exotic fruits which boast natural health benefits and taste fabulous. I was lucky enough to be able to try a selection of their nut butters and give my verdict.

Cashew and Baobab 

Baobab is a superfood that we previously visited in our Oppo Ice Cream review. It is a superfruit native to Africa and Asia and boasts such health benefits as strengthening the immune system, releasing energy, and promoting healthy, glowing skin. I am a recent convert to loving cashew butter and Mindful Bites definitely cemented my opinion. Its decadent, creamy texture is very luxurious and it spreads really well. The sachets that Mindful Bites sell their nut butters in are well designed and are guaranteed not to spill or leak in your bag so you can have one on-the-go. This flavour has somewhat of a sweet undertone which may not be to everyone's liking, but I couldn't get enough!

Almond and Maca

Maca is another superfruit and it contains over 20 amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. It also contains lots of minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. All of these minerals are great for your health and boast lots of different benefits. The almond butter is very nutty and has a slightly deeper flavour than the cashew butter. Again, it has a lovely texture and the smoothness means it spreads very easily. This flavour is not as sweet as the cashew and baobab and instead has a more earthy flavour which tasted great on a bagel topped with sliced banana!

Hazelnut and Berries 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this flavour as I wondered if there would be whole pieces of berry and I've never had berries in nut butter before! In fact, the berries are just part of the flavour and this creation was as smooth and luxurious as the others. The berry flavour is not strong or overpowering but sits in the background, adding depth. The hazelnut base is rich and tastes fantastic!

Brazil Nuts and Caco Nibs 

If you like Nutella, then this flavour will immediately excite you! The lovely smooth texture spreads really well and it looks like a tasty chocolate spread. The flavour of the cacao nibs comes through beautifully and gives a very deep flavour. I've never tried a nut butter made from brazil nuts before but it works really well. It tastes slightly different from peanut or cashew butter and again has quite a deep flavour so it pairs very well with the cacao nibs.

Verdict

I love the ethos behind this brand because it's fresh and I haven't seen a company get so involved in the wellbeing of its customers before. Mindful Bites promotes not only healthy eating but healthy thinking and their tasty snacks and nut butters are perfect for the mid-afternoon slump or as a post-workout energy boost. All the products are plant-based, high fibre, and contain no palm oil so they are sustainable and ethical too. It's got to be a 10!