Hoka One One Torrent 2
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By Tara Summerville Editor’s Conclusion
If you have shied away from Hokas because you can’t quite get on board with the super thick midsoles, you may want to give the Hoka One One Torrent 2 a look. This shoe is hailed as one of the best trail runners out there on the market, and for a very good reason. It has a midsole that is thinner to give you excellent agility and movement, while still offering that plush step-in feel that Hoka fans have come to love.
One big change made to this design is that it has shaved off quite a few ounces to provide a lightweight and easy ride. It boasts a sticky rubber outsole with multi-directional lugs that are ideal for sharp and uneven terrain and a plush upper that offers 360 degrees of comfort and protection. It’s lightweight, cushioned, and nimble which makes it ideal for race days, snappy sets, or even long distances.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Hoka One One Torrent 2 a perfect shoe no matter where your trail runs take you.
One big change made to this design is that it has shaved off quite a few ounces to provide a lightweight and easy ride. It boasts a sticky rubber outsole with multi-directional lugs that are ideal for sharp and uneven terrain and a plush upper that offers 360 degrees of comfort and protection. It’s lightweight, cushioned, and nimble which makes it ideal for race days, snappy sets, or even long distances.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Hoka One One Torrent 2 a perfect shoe no matter where your trail runs take you.
Hoka One One Torrent 2 Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Lightweight
Responsive PROFLY midsole
Cushioned upper is made from recycled Unifi REPREVE yarn
Sticky rubber outsole
Great for speed or long distances
Affordable price point
Cons
Thick upper can get a little hot
Not as highly cushioned as other Hokas
Key Features
Key Features
MIDSOLE
Hoka has a reputation for very thick and chunky midsoles that are super comfortable, albeit a little cumbersome and clunky. What I love most about the Torrent 2 is that it boasts a shaved-down midsole that gives you a good deal of comfort without a lot of extra weight and bulk. Hoka is known for its thick stability shoes, but this shoe performs more like a snappy race-day shoe with the added cushion and comfort that you have come to expect from Hoka.
The midsole is made from PROFLY foam materials that are divided into two sections. It boasts a higher concentration in the heel for cushioned landing and a lower concentration of foam in the toe for snappy toe-offs. It expertly walks that fine line between cushioning and responsiveness. It also boasts a carbon fiber plate to help guide you through a nice and even gait cycle, even on those rocky and difficult trailheads.
UPPER
One of the biggest changes made to the Torrent 2 is that the upper is thick and more cushioned. When you squeeze this upper between your fingers, it has a soft give that squishes between your fingers and then springs back to life. This gives you a customized fit to your feet that wraps your feet in 360 degrees of plush cushioning. It’s super soft and comfortable, and the unique lacing system allows users to really lock these trainers in place on their feet.
The downside to these two layers of soft and cushioned Unifi REPREVE yarn is that it runs pretty hot. While runners felt like the original Torrent was lightweight and breathable, the upper of the Torrent 2 is a little thicker and hotter. When running on cold and rainy days, this extra layer of cushioning and protection is incredibly beneficial, but some runners find that it is a little too hot in the summer months.
OUTSOLE
If you are worried about maintaining confident traction on your runs, the Torrent 2 has you covered. The outsole is wrapped in a thick layer of tacky rubber that really grips the trail under your feet. Whether you are running in dry and rocky conditions, or you are plowing through wet leaves and slush, the tacky finish to the rubber will really grip the ground under your feet.
I also appreciate that these trail runners have deep multi-directional lugs that aren’t too aggressive. They are deep enough to grip the trails and scale rocky terrain, but they aren’t so deep that you’ll be fishing little bits of gravel out of your shoes every mile. Hoka also placed the lugs in key areas to give you a little boost through your gait cycle. The light and easy design of the outsole is designed for confident high speeds as well as long distances.
PERFORMANCE
The Torrent 2 is built for just about anything. The lightweight design and flexible frame make it a great choice for race day, or simply for speedy sets. The tacky outsole gives you an added level of confidence when quickly scaling hills, or for snappy downhill descents. Often with trail runners, you are faced with a shoe that is either good for speed or distances. The Hoka One One Torrent 2 is built for both. It’s important to note, however, that the build of the midsole isn’t as plush and supportive as other Hokas. This design is slimmed down and boasts a lighter frame, but that also means it doesn’t have as much cushioning.
While you will certainly be able to reach high speeds in this shoe, it is also made for long distances as well. The highly durable outsole holds up insanely well over hundreds and hundreds of miles and shows little signs of wear and tear. The PROFLY foam midsole also gives you just enough protection and comfort to protect your joints on those long runs as well.
FIT
Overall, the Hoka Torrent 2 fits true to size. It boasts a wide frame with a strong lacing system to help you craft that perfect fit for your foot. The upper has a lot of stretch to it, which wraps your foot in 360 degrees of comfort, whether your foot is a little narrow or wide. It also boasts a wide toe box that allows your toes to naturally splay inside of the shoe, and prevents painful toe jamming.
Normally, I would suggest heading to your local shoe store to give these shoes a try before you buy them. However, Hoka has developed a very detailed sizing system that helps you find the right size online. By opening their sizing chart, you are asked to answer a few questions, such as your current brand of trainers and what size you wear. Using the information provided, they will find the size that is perfect for your feet.
STYLE
Many runners often shy away from Hokas because they boast a very large and clunky design that performs well but doesn’t exactly look stylish. What I love most about the Torrent 2 is that it boasts a slimmer and more sporty overall design. It looks like the Hoka Clifton that went on a diet. I also appreciate that this option comes in a wide variety of bright and punchy color options. If you love sneakers that can be seen from outer space, you are bound to love the color options in the Torrent lineup.
PRICE
I was pretty pleased with the price point of the Torrent 2. Hoka One One is often considered on the higher end of the price spectrum, but the price of the Torrent 2 is pretty competitive when compared to other trail runners from other popular brands. It’s by no means the most affordable option out there on the market, but when you consider the overall durability and performance of this shoe, it is well worth every penny!
Hoka has a reputation for very thick and chunky midsoles that are super comfortable, albeit a little cumbersome and clunky. What I love most about the Torrent 2 is that it boasts a shaved-down midsole that gives you a good deal of comfort without a lot of extra weight and bulk. Hoka is known for its thick stability shoes, but this shoe performs more like a snappy race-day shoe with the added cushion and comfort that you have come to expect from Hoka.
The midsole is made from PROFLY foam materials that are divided into two sections. It boasts a higher concentration in the heel for cushioned landing and a lower concentration of foam in the toe for snappy toe-offs. It expertly walks that fine line between cushioning and responsiveness. It also boasts a carbon fiber plate to help guide you through a nice and even gait cycle, even on those rocky and difficult trailheads.
UPPER
One of the biggest changes made to the Torrent 2 is that the upper is thick and more cushioned. When you squeeze this upper between your fingers, it has a soft give that squishes between your fingers and then springs back to life. This gives you a customized fit to your feet that wraps your feet in 360 degrees of plush cushioning. It’s super soft and comfortable, and the unique lacing system allows users to really lock these trainers in place on their feet.
The downside to these two layers of soft and cushioned Unifi REPREVE yarn is that it runs pretty hot. While runners felt like the original Torrent was lightweight and breathable, the upper of the Torrent 2 is a little thicker and hotter. When running on cold and rainy days, this extra layer of cushioning and protection is incredibly beneficial, but some runners find that it is a little too hot in the summer months.
OUTSOLE
If you are worried about maintaining confident traction on your runs, the Torrent 2 has you covered. The outsole is wrapped in a thick layer of tacky rubber that really grips the trail under your feet. Whether you are running in dry and rocky conditions, or you are plowing through wet leaves and slush, the tacky finish to the rubber will really grip the ground under your feet.
I also appreciate that these trail runners have deep multi-directional lugs that aren’t too aggressive. They are deep enough to grip the trails and scale rocky terrain, but they aren’t so deep that you’ll be fishing little bits of gravel out of your shoes every mile. Hoka also placed the lugs in key areas to give you a little boost through your gait cycle. The light and easy design of the outsole is designed for confident high speeds as well as long distances.
PERFORMANCE
The Torrent 2 is built for just about anything. The lightweight design and flexible frame make it a great choice for race day, or simply for speedy sets. The tacky outsole gives you an added level of confidence when quickly scaling hills, or for snappy downhill descents. Often with trail runners, you are faced with a shoe that is either good for speed or distances. The Hoka One One Torrent 2 is built for both. It’s important to note, however, that the build of the midsole isn’t as plush and supportive as other Hokas. This design is slimmed down and boasts a lighter frame, but that also means it doesn’t have as much cushioning.
While you will certainly be able to reach high speeds in this shoe, it is also made for long distances as well. The highly durable outsole holds up insanely well over hundreds and hundreds of miles and shows little signs of wear and tear. The PROFLY foam midsole also gives you just enough protection and comfort to protect your joints on those long runs as well.
FIT
Overall, the Hoka Torrent 2 fits true to size. It boasts a wide frame with a strong lacing system to help you craft that perfect fit for your foot. The upper has a lot of stretch to it, which wraps your foot in 360 degrees of comfort, whether your foot is a little narrow or wide. It also boasts a wide toe box that allows your toes to naturally splay inside of the shoe, and prevents painful toe jamming.
Normally, I would suggest heading to your local shoe store to give these shoes a try before you buy them. However, Hoka has developed a very detailed sizing system that helps you find the right size online. By opening their sizing chart, you are asked to answer a few questions, such as your current brand of trainers and what size you wear. Using the information provided, they will find the size that is perfect for your feet.
STYLE
Many runners often shy away from Hokas because they boast a very large and clunky design that performs well but doesn’t exactly look stylish. What I love most about the Torrent 2 is that it boasts a slimmer and more sporty overall design. It looks like the Hoka Clifton that went on a diet. I also appreciate that this option comes in a wide variety of bright and punchy color options. If you love sneakers that can be seen from outer space, you are bound to love the color options in the Torrent lineup.
PRICE
I was pretty pleased with the price point of the Torrent 2. Hoka One One is often considered on the higher end of the price spectrum, but the price of the Torrent 2 is pretty competitive when compared to other trail runners from other popular brands. It’s by no means the most affordable option out there on the market, but when you consider the overall durability and performance of this shoe, it is well worth every penny!
Comparisons to Previous Versions
Comparisons to Previous Versions
There isn’t a whole lot that has changed between the Torrent and the Torrent 2. When the Torrent hit the scene in 2018, it made a huge impact on dedicated trail runners. Hoka knew that they struck gold with the design of the shoe, and left most of the beloved performance features alone when it came time to roll out the Torrent 2.
One of the biggest changes made to this design is the construction of the upper. It is composed of dual layers of recycled mesh that cradle your foot in 360 degrees of comfort. While the upper of this design is more cushioned and comfortable, it runs a lot hotter than previous versions, which could be a deal-breaker for runners that like light and breathable uppers on hot summer trail runs.
One of the biggest changes made to this design is the construction of the upper. It is composed of dual layers of recycled mesh that cradle your foot in 360 degrees of comfort. While the upper of this design is more cushioned and comfortable, it runs a lot hotter than previous versions, which could be a deal-breaker for runners that like light and breathable uppers on hot summer trail runs.
Verdict
Verdict
If you have always wanted to give Hokas a try but can’t quite get past the thick and clunky design, the Torrent 2 is worth checking out. This is one of the best trail runners out there on the market for a very good reason. It boasts Hoka’s proprietary plush cushioning in the midsole, but it has been shaved down a bit for added agility and speed. Runners can expect a very soft and supportive ride while the lightweight frame and ample traction on the outsole help runners to pick up speed on race day. What I love most about this design is that it walks that fine line between cushioning and responsiveness.
Whether you want to run far, or you want to run fast, the Torrent 2 is able to adapt quickly and easily without skimping on support and protection. Plus, it also comes in at a fairly affordable price point that makes it an excellent value!
Whether you want to run far, or you want to run fast, the Torrent 2 is able to adapt quickly and easily without skimping on support and protection. Plus, it also comes in at a fairly affordable price point that makes it an excellent value!
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