Running specialty retailers entered 2026 facing a more difficult sales environment. Retailers are contending with softer traffic, pressure on unit sales, and increasingly competitive footwear assortments. Yet within that challenging market, some brands are finding ways to gain momentum.
Topo Athletic is one of them.
The latest publicly available industry data shows Topo growing significantly faster than many established brands in the run-specialty channel. That growth is particularly notable because it is happening in a market where several of the industry’s largest brands have experienced declines.
For specialty retailers looking for brands capable of generating incremental demand, Topo Athletic’s growth in specialty running deserves attention.
The Run Specialty Market Is Under Pressure
While the broader running category remains healthy, the 2026 Run Specialty Market has struggled in the first half of the year.
At the Running Industry Association’s 2026 Summit, retailers reported lower store traffic and fewer units sold, even as revenue remained relatively stable due to higher average selling prices. The feedback reflects a critical change in the specialty business: retailers can maintain dollars while still moving fewer pairs. Running Industry Association
That matters because unit velocity is one of the clearest indicators of what is actually happening on the sales floor.
When fewer pairs are moving, every brand has to earn its space.
For retailers, the question becomes less about simply carrying the biggest names and more about identifying brands that can create demand, differentiate the assortment and contribute profitable sales.
Overall, the running category is healthy, and most brands are reporting strong growth and sales. However, once you dive deeper into the data, you learn that’s not the case at the local level at run specialty stores. The bigger question is where consumers are buying their running shoes if they’re not buying them at their local running store. There are also several follow-up questions that we’ll dive into in a later post.
Topo Athletic Is Outperforming the 2026 Run Specialty Market
The strongest public evidence for Topo’s momentum comes from data presented by Karnan Associates and Circana at The Running Event.
That analysis showed a notable divide within run specialty. Brooks, HOKA, New Balance, ASICS and On—the leading brands in the channel—were experiencing declines, while several of the brands outside that group were growing.
Topo stood out.
In the 12 months through September 2025, Topo’s run-specialty sales increased 30.9%, while several of the industry’s largest brands recorded declines. Brooks was down 6.8%, HOKA fell 7.4%, New Balance declined 4.6%, ASICS decreased 2.1% and On dropped 19.7% in run-specialty sales. A Mile. A Minute.
That puts Topo’s performance in a very different category.
The brand wasn’t simply growing.
It was growing while much of the established specialty market was under pressure.
Public Data Shows Topo’s Momentum Continued in 2026
The trend continued into the first quarter of 2026.
Designer Brands reported that Topo Athletic grew 32% in Q1 2026. Management attributed the increase to several factors, including strong demand across core franchises, successful new-product introductions, momentum in specialty running and expanded distribution partnerships. Designer Brands Q1 2026 earnings
That combination is important.
Topo’s growth isn’t being attributed to one isolated shoe or a temporary product spike. The company is pointing to a broader combination of:
- Strong core franchises
- New product
- Specialty-running momentum
- Distribution expansion
That suggests Topo is building a broader consumer and retail presence rather than simply capitalizing on one product cycle.
Why Topo Athletic’s Growth Matters More in a Difficult Market
Growth percentages need context.
A brand growing 10% in a rapidly expanding market isn’t necessarily more impressive than a brand growing 10% while the market contracts.
The latter is gaining share.
That’s why Topo’s performance is worth watching closely.
The public run-specialty data presented at The Running Event showed Topo growing 30.9% at a time when several of the largest specialty brands were contracting. A Mile. A Minute.
That means Topo was not simply riding category growth.
It was outperforming the category.
For a specialty retailer, that’s the distinction that matters.
Topo Athletic Growth in Specialty Running Is Backed by Product Differentiation
Strong sales growth doesn’t happen without a reason for consumers to choose a brand.
Topo has built its identity around a distinctive approach to fit and geometry, including a roomy toe box, secure midfoot and heel, and low heel-to-toe drops. That gives retailers another footwear solution for runners who don’t fit comfortably or perform well in more conventional shoe shapes. Topo Athletic
This differentiation is especially valuable in a crowded market.
A specialty retailer doesn’t necessarily need another shoe that looks and feels like every other shoe on the wall.
It needs products that allow sales associates to solve different runner needs.
That can create incremental sales rather than simply shifting a customer from one established franchise to another.
Product Newness Is Expanding Topo’s Performance Position
Topo’s growth is also being supported by continued investment in performance footwear.
The Specter 3 represents an important step in the brand’s push into faster training and high-performance running. Topo positions the shoe around its RevFoam™ ATPU midsole, rocker geometry and 5 mm drop. Topo Athletic Specter 3
The brand’s Pro Series has also expanded, giving retailers a more complete performance story across training and racing.
That’s strategically important.
Topo is increasingly able to engage runners beyond its traditional reputation for fit.
The brand can now tell a broader story around daily training, speed, racing and trail, while maintaining the fit characteristics that distinguish it.
Specialty Distribution Creates an Opportunity
Topo’s growth is especially interesting because the company continues to focus heavily on specialty retail.
Topo CEO Tony Post has described the brand’s distribution strategy as being heavily concentrated in specialty and outdoor-specialty retailers, particularly stores that provide a sit-and-fit experience and product education. SGB Media
That approach aligns closely with how specialty running retailers create value.
The retailer isn’t simply selling a shoe.
It is determining:
Which shoe fits this runner?
What geometry works best?
What cushioning level do they need?
What product can solve the problem another shoe couldn’t?
That environment plays directly into Topo’s strengths.
Why Challenger Brands Matter to Specialty Retailers
The current market doesn’t necessarily mean retailers should replace their core brands.
Brooks, ASICS, New Balance and other established leaders continue to have enormous consumer recognition and strong product franchises.
The opportunity is different.
A challenger brand can provide incremental demand.
It can attract runners who want:
- A different fit
- A roomier toe box
- A lower drop
- A different ride
- A new performance option
- An alternative to the brands they have traditionally worn
That makes brands such as Topo particularly valuable when unit sales are under pressure.
The goal isn’t to replace the brands that already work.
It’s to add another reason for the customer to buy.
The Broader Running Consumer Is Still Active
The challenges facing run specialty don’t mean runners have disappeared.
Race participation continues to demonstrate meaningful activity within the sport.
RunSignup’s 2026 midyear data showed per-race participation up 5.9% in the first half of the year, with registration revenue per race increasing 9.9%. Running USA
That creates an important distinction.
The problem isn’t necessarily a lack of interest in running.
The challenge is converting that interest into store traffic, product trial and footwear purchases.
That’s where differentiated brands and strong local retail engagement become increasingly important.
Topo Gives Retailers a Different Story to Tell
In a difficult retail environment, the strongest brands provide sales associates with a compelling reason to put a shoe on a customer’s foot.
Topo’s story is easy to understand:
Foot-shaped fit.
Roomy toe box.
Low-drop geometry.
Performance-oriented cushioning.
Growing presence in road and trail.
Continued product innovation.
That gives a specialty running salesperson multiple ways to introduce Topo to a customer.
And once a runner tries the product, the specialty retailer’s greatest advantage—personal expertise—comes into play.
The Opportunity for Running Specialty Retailers
The current environment makes retail assortment decisions more important than ever.
When traffic is softer and fewer units are moving, every brand on the wall needs to earn its place.
The public data suggests Topo is doing exactly that.
The brand posted 30.9% growth in run specialty in the latest industry data presented publicly at The Running Event and followed that performance with 32% growth in Q1 2026. A Mile. A Minute. Designer Brands
More importantly, Topo’s corporate growth was specifically linked to specialty-running momentum, product newness and expanded distribution. Designer Brands
That makes Topo more than an emerging brand story.
It makes Topo a retail productivity opportunity.
The Bottom Line
Running specialty retailers are facing a difficult environment in the first half of 2026.
Traffic is under pressure.
Unit sales are challenging.
Competition for consumer dollars is intense.
But the market is not evenly distributed.
Some brands are losing momentum while others are gaining share.
Topo Athletic is one of the clearest examples of a brand outperforming the market.
The publicly available data shows Topo growing 30.9% in run specialty in the latest reported industry period, followed by 32% growth in Q1 2026. Meanwhile, several of the largest brands in specialty running were posting declines. A Mile. A Minute. Designer Brands
For retailers, that should prompt a simple question:
When the market is difficult, which brands are still creating demand?
The data increasingly points toward Topo Athletic.
The opportunity isn’t necessarily to replace the brands already selling well.
It’s to add a differentiated, growing performance brand that can appeal to runners looking for something different—and give the specialty retailer another tool for winning the sale.
In a contracting or highly competitive specialty environment, outperformance matters more than size.
And Topo Athletic is showing that it can outperform.
Interested in Carrying Topo Athletic?
Tri 2B Fit Agency works with specialty running, outdoor, and active-lifestyle retailers throughout the Southeast, helping retailers discover and grow with premium footwear and accessory brands.
If you’re interested in learning more about Topo Athletic or discussing whether the brand is a good fit for your store, we’d love to start a conversation.
Learn more about Tri 2B Fit Agency
Sources
Running Industry Association — Peer Sharing Sessions: A Time for Conversation
A Mile. A Minute. — TRE 2025: Retail Running Sales Rise to $5.3 Billion
Designer Brands — Q1 2026 Earnings Call
SGB Media — Topo Athletic CEO Tony Post Interview
