Episode

Topo’s Big Year: Tariffs, Trail Running & Staying Authentic

Podcast
The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary
Published
Nov 22, 2025
Duration seconds
1684
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://rockfight.co/
Audio
https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/307b136b-116f-4194-9a6c-23cf832324b2.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-rock-fight-outdoor-industry-adventure-sports-commentary-5816981/episodes/topo-s-big-year-tariffs-trail-running-staying-authentic
Markdown
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Summary

Today on The Rock Fight, Colin, Eoin, and Producer Dave sit down with Tony Post, founder and CEO of Topo Athletic, live from GOA Connect in Kansas City, to talk about the booming trail running market and Topo’s big year. Topo has quietly become one of the most talked-about brands in trail running. Growing 70% last year and expanding into 25 countries all while staying true to its specialty roots and never running a sale on its website in 12 years. In This Episode Trail Running’s Not New: Why today’s hype is really the second (or third) wave. From Leadville in the ’90s to the Born to Run era to now. Surviving 145% Tariffs: How Topo shifted production from China to Vietnam without sacrificing fit or durability. A 13-Year Overnight Success: Why Topo focused on authentic growth , not blowing up fast. Run vs. Outdoor Specialty: Why the brand refuses to choose. Silent Flex: Zero discounting… ever The Up-and-Comers: Tony weighs in on Speedland, Norda, and Mount to Coast and why entering the category is harder than it looks. Why Topo Will Still Be Here in 10 Years: Tony’s philosophy: deliver a better experience, every time. For The Parting Shot presented by Garage Grown Gear, Colin struggles with the glut of poorly executed maximal midsoles. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight , LLC. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to [email protected] .