Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
Eliza Lockhart
A newer model to Hoka One Ones trail running line is the Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 $120. While most Hokas have a super cushy midsole, these have a more moderate approach and boast a light weight and a streamline design.
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
The Torrents have a slimmer profile and lower stack height than your typical Hoka shoe. They are more responsive and give you a firmness to push off of. This combined with the light weight make these race-ready. They’re a mere 7.6 ounces making them a nimble option for when speed is the name of the game.
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe Review
Im a huge fan of the sticky rubber outsole. It does a fantastic job on a wide variety of surfaces and I have full confidence in its ability to keep me from sliding out. I think I like this rubber more than the Vibram outsole which is found on the Speedgoats (also a fantastic trail shoe [link to review here]). The multidirectional lugs on the shoes are reliable on both the uphill and downhill and honestly, the whole outsole of the shoe is probably my favorite aspect of it.
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
I also really like the padded tongue which the Speedgoats don’t have. It allows me to really cinch the laces down without them digging into the top of my foot. Overall, this helps keep my foot super secure in the shoe and eliminates any slippage. My heel stays back and my toes don’t jam into the front of the shoe so I’m a big fan of how the lace/tongue system aids in that.
I spent one afternoon wading through a river at the end of a long run and I was really pleased with how quickly they dried. Since we were so close to the car they were pretty soggy still when I finished the run, but when I got home they dried out really quick and I can imagine if I were to keep running after some puddles they wouldn’t hold onto too much water. The mesh is great for draining some of this.
They have a 5 mm heel to toe drop which is pretty standard for Hoka. Their shoes typically have either 4 mm or 5 mm, so this is nothing out of the ordinary for them. I enjoyed the moderate drop but this is something that is really personal preference. Some folks swear by 0 drop shoes, some like something a little steeper, personally I’m happy with Hokas 4 mm and 5 mm options.
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
I was used to running in my Speedgoats so when I switched to the Torrents I started getting some shin splints due to less cushioning. Since a variety of factors can lead to this, I don’t want to be quick to blame the shoes, but I will mention it since I never got shin splints in my Speedgoats.
Overall I’ve been really pleased with the Torrent 2s. They are a well built shoe if you’re looking for something responsive and light. They give a lot of feedback on the trail and allow you to feel what the trail is doing beneath you better than the options with more cushion.
Hoka One One Women’s Torrent 2 Trail Running Shoe
Bottom Line: For $120 they are a moderately priced shoe that is worth the money. I plan to keep running in these when I’m looking for something lighter than my Speedgoats. I like to think of the Torrents as the sport car of my running shoe collection.
