These are the best Hoka One One Trail Running Shoes
Now that you know that you want to get some Hoka One One trail running shoes, you want to know which are going to work best for you.
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These are 3 that I recommend that you start with.
Women’s – Hoke One One Trail Running Shoes
Men’s – Hoka One One Trail Running Shoes
Whenever I recommend shoes, I try to think of what might be best for the average runner. I have my own preferences. For instance, I prefer low-rise shoes. Shoes that have no lift are my favorite, but they are very difficult to find. So, I try and get shoes that have the lowest rise possible.
The average running shoe has a 4-8 millimeters decline from heel to the forefoot in the sole. I get shoes that are 4 mm or less.
When I am running my foot will fall squarely in the middle of my foot. I used to have knee pain from running, and changing my running strike was a game-changer.
With this bias acknowledged and out of the way, let’s get into these shoes.
The only downside of all of these shoes is that they tend to hold odor. So on a hot day, they may get a little ripe. I recommend either washing them or using a dry powder to absorb moisture before you go out on a trail.
Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Women’s
Provided by Amazon
This is not only a beautiful shoe, it is one of the most well-designed trail running shoes on the market. There are various specifications you can look at on Hoka’s website that will tell you all about the shoe and it’s technology.
But, I want to talk about the functionality and the design of the shoe.
The upper mesh is a synthetic fiber that is great at wicking moisture from the inside of the shoe. But, the added benefit of the shoe is repelling water or mud from easily passing through the fibers. Of course, they are not waterproof. If they were they would be very hot in the slightest bit of heat.
One of the biggest aspects of trail running is keeping water off of the skin on your feet. Besides the uncomfortableness of having wet feet, there are benefits to keeping your feet dry as possible when they’re in shoes.
There are all kinds of microbiology that can start proliferating inside the shoe if you keep your feet wet for too long. This leads to potential foot issues and just a really bad odor.
Running on a trail is definitely not always going to include rain or mud puddles.
This shoe does allow you to have flexibility of having dry days and wet days on your trail runs.
Men’s
Provided by Amazon
These are my top choice because of the shoes’ design, versatility on dry and wet trails, durability and 4 mm toe to heel rise.
- Cool colors and design
- Tread works well with dry and wet terrain
- Wide forefoot
- 4 mm toe to heel rise
The Speedgoat 4 are Hoka One One’s unnamed flagship trail shoes. That is why there are so many versions of it. Version 5 is coming out soon. So, check those out when they are available.
Why Buy Them
They have Vibram treads. Vibram has come a long way to provide patented soles for running shoes. These soles are super durable.
They are very responsive and they give a good balance of rigidity and comfort. They are rigid enough to prevent a rock from pushing up through the sole, yet they provide good cushioning with each step.
I also love the design details of this shoe. The design of the laces reminds me of a bungee cord. It adds a more woodsy feel. Like I am about to go camping.
The inner mesh is made of a tough/durable synthetic cloth that will wick moisture. Eventually, it will wear-down, but this should not happen unless you have super abrasive socks.
Hoka One One Challenger ATR
Women’s
Provided by Amazon
The women’s model and the men’s model are the same. The only difference is the sizing and the coloring.
I personally really like the baby blue sole color and the orange strap.
Here are the benefits of this shoe:
- Better breathability on the upper mesh
- Tougher material on the upper toe
- The tread seems to be designed for rockier surfaces
Another great thing about this design is that it is very soft and cushioned. Yet, it is built with stability in mind. You don’t have to worry about your foot rolling everywhere.
Due to the way the treads are designed, you can kick off dried mud more easily.
And on the other side, if you are in a very dry dirt trail, you can have a sure grip when moving in a forward motion.
Men’s
Provided by Amazon
The men’s version of the Challenger ATR 5 are exactly the same as the women’s version.
The differences lie in the colors used and the sizing. The gray, blue and red styling that is depicted above is one of my favorite color combinations of this shoe.
The interior mesh is durable. The exterior materials are designed to withstand rubbing against rocks and roots. The laces are also durable and are not easily frayed.
The joining material that is used to connect the sole with the upper mesh, is design so that it will not separate easily.
You can go through many mud adventures and rely upon the upper and lower parts of the shoe to stay together. As many experienced trail runners will inform you, lots of trail shoes will begin to break apart at the sole because of the constant wedding and drying of the material and glue that holds shoes together.
Another feature that I really like is the design of the tongue. It is thick, yet it is not overly protruding from the top of the shoe.
Breathability
Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, it’s important for our feet to be able to have ventilation.
The entire forefoot and midfoot sections of the upper mesh are designed to allow hot air to escape from the shoe. It also allows a good amount of air to blow into the shoe. This is common in a lot of modern running shoes. But what’s great about these is that they also prevent large amounts of water from entering through the mesh. They’re not waterproof, but they do allow for more ventilation. So, if they do get wet, they’re much easier to dry out.
Hoka One One Torrent
Women’s
Provided by Amazon
These are the beautiful Hoka One One Torrent trail running shoes. They are listed as a trainer on some websites. But, they are a true trail running shoe.
I like them because of their simple design, durability, and air flow. They are made of a synthetic upper mesh that allows air to enter and exit your shoes easily. Yet, along the edge of the shoe, where the sole meets the upper mesh, there is a generous layer of protection that does not allow much air or water to seep in.
When you are running through a muddy patch or you splash the side of your shoe inadvertently with some water, you have a shallow layer of protection.
These shoes are not my favorite on this list because of the color combinations available. But, I do feel like these are great basic shoe for moderate to light trail running.
Men’s
Provided by Hoka One One
You can go right to Hoka One One’s website to check out the men’s version of the Torrent. They are built with the same design as the women’s version. The colors are a little different. But, I am still not a fan of the color combinations.
Again, these are a very good basic trail running shoe. They will last you a long time.
In Conclusion
Be sure that you try on these shoes to make sure that they will work for you. Most of the process of trying Hoka One One’s or any other trail shoe on, is being sure to make sure they fit your feet and work for your stride.
Hope you have a great time on your next trail.