The new, all-purpose Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 4 features a recycled engineered mesh, widened 23 x 20mm platform and upgraded midsole with ZipFoam™.
The Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 3 was one of my favorite shoes of 2019/20, logging over 1200 combined miles on the 2 pairs I owned. Naturally, when Topo announced the release of the Fli-Lyte 4, they instantly found their way onto my “shoes to buy” wish list.
Specs:
- Weight – 8.3 oz (Men’s 9), 6.9 oz (Women’s 7)
- Total Stack Height – 23mm/20mm (3mm drop)
Features:
- ZipFoam™ midsole
- 3mm drop
- Roomy toe box
- Lightweight breathable materials
- Ortholite footbed
- Recycled engineered mesh upper
- Updated lacing pattern
MSRP:
- $115
Here’s an introduction from Topo Athletic for the Fli-Lyte 4:
My thoughts on the Fli-Lyte 4
The Fli-Lyte 4s arrived in early August and I quickly racked up 50+ miles – usually enough to get a good feel for the shoe. First thing I noticed was a slightly more cramped toe box than my Fli-Lyte 3s. I typically wear a size 9.5 in all Topo shoes, but these feel more “squared-off” than previous iterations of the Fli-Lyte model, and actually contributed to a sore fourth sore on my right foot. Perhaps sizing up to a 10 would alleviate the issue, but for now I’ve made do with wearing the thinnest pair of socks made by Injinji – the Run Lightweight No-Show.
I do like the mesh upper which is soft, slightly stretchy and plenty breathable. Topo Athletic also report the upper is made using 30% recycled materials, which is definitely a good thing for the environmentally aware. It’s a no-frills upper, but adequately does this job.
The upgraded ZipFoam™ midsole was a bit of a disappointment to be honest. Compared to the Fli-lyte 2 and 3, the ride just feels “flat”. The ride is pretty smooth and consistent, but I find myself wishing the shoe was a little more responsive. Maybe things will improve with a few more miles?
The 3mm drop is ideal for my style of running, so no complaints here. The platform is pretty wide and compared to the Fli-Lyte 3, there’s more outsole rubber for improved grip and durability. I’m expecting at least 400-500 miles out of this shoe.
Color options are pretty basic, but I’m okay with the choice – 2 colorways for men (Blue/White, Black/White) and 2 colorways for women (PowderBlue/White, Black/White). Priced at $115, the Fli-Lyte 4 is competitive with similar shoes on the market.
All in all, the Fli-Lyte 4 is a decent, dependable shoe. Definitely not the most exciting shoe in my current rotation, but I’ve found it to be a solid performer on shorts runs, long runs up to 18 miles and everything in-between. Pretty much a classic daily trainer, and well worth a try.