Origins of Topo Athletic
A Shoe Company Designed to Help You Move Better
Founded in 2013 by Tony Post, Topo is a young company, but its story begins nearly 40 years ago on a track at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, where Tony fell in love with running. After graduating from university, Tony joined a group of top runners in Boston, with the goal of training harder and running faster. Unfortunately, his plans were often derailed by overtraining, injuries and... ill-fitting shoes.
After running 2:25 at the Boston Marathon, Tony put his competitive running days behind him and started working in the shoe industry. He joined The Rockport Company, a small family-owned business making comfortable casual and dress shoes using athletic shoe technology. It was here that Tony learned the art and craft of shoemaking, from last shapes to how to combine materials for a natural fit. As proof-of-design, he even went on to run 2:49 at the 1992 London Marathon while wearing a pair of Rockport dress shoes!
A new chapter began when Tony joined Vibram, the famous sole maker from Italy. During his time as CEO of Vibram USA, he helped grow the business, while revolutionizing running with the minimalist Vibram FiveFingers, an innovative shoe brought over from Italy.
Tony logged many miles with the FiveFingers, discovering that less cushioning with a low stack height changed his running form—he was now landing with a midfoot strike, and with a lighter, shorter stride. Almost like magic, his knees and back didn't hurt any more!
After Vibram, Tony saw that there was still something missing from the market... a shoe that bridged the gap between the minimalist and traditional offerings from the time. So in 2013, with the help of a small team, he launched Topo Athletic, a brand that would honor the body's natural abilities and aid athletes in the pursuit of their goals.
Topo's designs feature low heel-to-toe offsets, a secure fit, and a wide toebox that allows the toes to splay naturally, contributing to a more stable feel. If you're looking for road or trail shoes that provides superior fit with a natural feel, look no further and check out Topo's offerings.
