Gear Review | Hoka One One Torrent 2 | Trail Running
by Chase Parnell — April 30, 2020
Hoka has been good to me over the years. I made my transition to running almost exclusively in their shoes in 2017 when Pearl Izumi did away with their trail running collection, and with it, my beloved N2. After sampling the Hoka trail offerings, the Torrent was easily the best fit for my foot and style of running. It’s kept me healthy and worry-free; a versatile shoe I can train and race in.
Once I landed on the Torrent for the trails, I never left it. I pair it with the Hoka Rincon as my go-to road shoe so I have all my bases covered. After a long run of success in the Torrent 1, I was super excited to hear they were coming out with a re-vamp update in the Torrent 2.
I don’t do a lot of reviews, and this will actually be my first shoe review for Treeline Journal, but I’m not exactly a novice when it comes to running shoes. Back in the day, I spent three years working at a running specialty shop so I’m familiar with all the lingo and design features, although admittedly, it’s not something I typically geek out on for fun. But this shoe in particular is near and dear to my heart so it’s been fun doing a deep dive with the shoe I’m certain to become intimately familiar with.
When I heard the Torrent 2 was coming out, I reached out to a contact and was able to get a couple pairs for both Nikki and I before the May 2020 release date. Definitely be sure to give your local running shop a call to determine the exact date this shoe will hit their shelves. You might even be able to place your size on hold and request that they call you once they arrive.
I came up with an arbitrary rule that I wouldn’t do a review without first running at least 100 miles in the shoe. I’m well passed that mark so I’m ready to give you my report.
Overall Take
I’ll admit that I have a bit of an inherent bias because the Torrent 1 was so good to me, but all things considered, I LOVE the Torrent 2. There was a significant bump up in quality, feel, and aesthetic appeal. I’ll get into each of the parts of the shoe, but suffice to say, Hoka seems to have done what they were supposed to do: they had the Torrent 1 on the market for long enough to suss out its deficiencies, they listened to the feedback, and came back with a killer update.
If you run in the Torrent and the idea of change is giving you heartburn, don’t worry, the changes are subtle yet impactful. If you liked the Torrent 1, you’ll love the Torrent 2. Okay, let’s get into the minutia that all you gear heads love. We’ll start from the bottom-up.
Outsole
The rubber lug traction redesign on the Torrent 2 (left) was perhaps the biggest change of the entire shoe. Side-by-side, you can see the updated multi-directional traction scheme. The Torrent 2 has larger, denser lugs, that feel tackier and stickier upon impact. The pattern was updated with more lugs in the center of the outsole, which should give you even more security when navigating difficult terrain. Aesthetically, I love the tie-dyed look of the yellow and “evening primrose” colored rubber. I really tested this outsole on a recent run where I was trying to get a new Strava segment CR, which was essentially an all out sprint down a 1,000 foot hill on rocky sandy terrain. The shoe kept me vertical, which is all you can really ask for when doing something reckless like that. I was able to plant my footfalls with confidence and get the traction I needed to really bomb it down.
Midsole
While Hoka has definitely toned down its maximalist approach over the years, their shoes still provide that soft cushy feel under foot. But the great thing about Hoka midsoles is that they last. I’ve run in some other brands that feel nice and soft out of the box, but that cushioning compresses so quickly that after 50 miles you are already getting that jarring effect of impact radiating up your legs.
The Torrent 2 utilizes Hoka’s proprietary PROFLY midsole technology, a dual-density midsole, softer in the heel for a comfortable impact, and firmer in the forefoot for a snappy efficient take-off.
While I haven’t yet run through the entire life of the Torrent 2 (at about 150 miles so far), I’ve traditionally gotten 350-400 miles out of the Torrent 1’s before I start to feel signs that I might need to swap them out for a new pair. Compressed foam and exaggerated depressions in the midsole are the tell-tale signs for me personally. I then usually push the shoes to about 450-500 miles before heading to our running shop for a new pair. I should probably get a new pair at 400 miles, but honestly, I’m cheap and I go through a ton of running shoes.
Upper
The Torrent 2 has a tighter weave on the upper and more structural overlays to protect against dust and moisture entering the shoe. The new weave also diminishes the potential for tearing from snagging on sticks or other trail debris. Despite this new feature, they integrated a few strategically placed ventilated panels to keep some air flow and moisture wicking properties intact. Hoka thoughtfully uses recycled polyester fibers to craft its engineered mesh without sacrificing quality.
I love the Hoka heel-lock “bucket seat” of this shoe. It’s appropriately snug along the achilles tendon and provides some nice support, which prevents unnecessary lateral movements. The laces are excellent, although they are very long. Because I have a narrow foot, I have to synch my laces pretty tight.
I’d say this is a great shoe for a moderate to narrow width foot. I wonder if there might be some blowout along the forefoot seams if you have a really wide foot and need a very roomy toe box.
Comfort is king when it comes to uppers. When I slide my foot into this shoe and tighten up the laces, it’s a wonderful form-fitted feel; I hardly even notice the shoe on my foot.
Nikki’s Take on the Women’s Torrent 2
Nikki did what nobody would ever recommend: in her first run in the Torrent 2’s, she ran a 20 mile virtual race. And guess what, she got away with it! No blisters, hotspots, or rubbing.
She too has run in the Torrent 1 so when she slipped the shoe on she said it felt like home. And contradictory to what I said about the shoe being ideal for a moderate to narrow foot, Nikki said the shoe fits her wider forefoot great.
Nikki said she, “really notices the sticky outsole; you can hear the traction like a mountain bike tire when running on the roads.” For someone who’s been known to slip and skid out (and scream) on technical terrain, she really appreciates the new lug design and higher performing traction of the Torrent 2.
Okay, let’s talk shoes! Leave a comment below if you have any follow-up questions or comments.
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The Torrent 1 is one of my favourite shoes, and almost guaranteed to be on my feet at any marathon+ distance race, so I’m glad it gets the thumbs up. In the sole pic at the top of the review, then Torrent 2 looks a little narrower towards the front than the Torrent 1 – is this just the colouring of the outsole material?
Hi Pete, I just put the v1 on one foot and the v2 on the other (I assume my feet are roughly equal width!). The v2 MIGHT be a hair narrower, but almost indistinguishable. My pair of the v1 also has 400+ miles on them so this perception might actually be from more wear on the upper, instead of actually a wider toe-box. There does seem to be less give or “stretchiness” in the v2 upper as a result of the tighter weave. From the picture you mentioned, I see what you’re saying; there appears to be a slightly wider outsole platform but it’s not perceptible when the shoes are on my feet. Hope this helps!