Hoka Torrent 4 trail running shoes

The Hoka Torrent 4 trail running shoe is a lightweight, neutral running shoe with good breathability and good grip. It has good stability and a comfortable, medium-soft midsole. The good grip of the outsole makes it suitable for running on heavy, technical terrain. All parts have been changed compared to the previous version, it’s a bit heavier, but it’s still an inexpensive trail running shoe with a good price / value ratio.

Hoka Torrent 4 Upper

The upper of the Hoka Torrent 4 trail running shoe is made of a mesh material with good breathability. The mesh material is reinforced with rubber in several places to protect the foot. The upper fits true to size, with a roomy toe box, but the upper can be narrowed at the midle for wider feet. The tongue of the shoe is comfortable, cushioned and gusseted for great protection and comfort. The heel collar is a little more cushioned than average, hugging the heel and locking the toe well. It’s a small thing, but for me, who often hits my ankles, it makes a difference that there is padding on the upper outside of the heel area. The Hoka Torrent 4 trail running shoe is made with Active Foot Frame technology, which means that the sidewalls of the midsole are raised and hug the sole like a half-tube, which greatly improves stability.

Hoka Torrent 4 Midsole

The Hoka Torrent 4 trail running shoe midsole is made of a CM EVA (i.e. compressed EVA) foam. The height of the midsole is 33mm at the heel, which is 2mm higher than the previous version, but still average (perhaps lower than average for today’s trail running shoes). This makes it softer and more dynamic than its predecessor. It is more versatile and can cover longer distances than its predecessor. This doesn’t mean it has a soft sole, just a softer than the previous version. The ground feel is still there (though slightly reduced), the stability of the shoe is great and it still has good shock absorption. Since the Torrent remains a lightweight trail running shoe, it is also suitable for fast runs. The midfoot has a rocker, rolling geometry that makes it even faster, but can cause some discomfort on longer runs than half marathons.

Hoka Torrent 4 outsole

The Hoka Torrent 4 Trail Running Shoe Outsole is made of a rubber compound with good abrasion resistance. The outsole is split in two, which prevents the midsole from becoming stiff. The outsole has multiple cutouts, which improves traction, makes it harder for mud to stick, and makes the shoe lighter. The outsole has large 5mm rubber lugs for traction on wet, muddy surfaces. The outsole has changed significantly from the previous version, but that doesn’t mean it’s better or worse. The previous version had more, smaller and differently shaped rubber lugs pointing in different directions. In contrast, the Torrent 4 outsole has larger and more evenly spaced rubber lugs.

Summary

Overall, the Hoka Torrent 4 Trail Running Shoe is still a lighter trail running shoe with good grip and stability than previous versions, and it’s no problem to run in the summer heat as it has good breathability. You can run fast in them and they are very comfortable for half marathons. It has changed a lot from the previous version, with a higher midfoot, better breathability and a completely different outsole. If you don’t plan on running longer than a half-marathon on the trail, but you do enjoy the occasional run, the Torrent 4 could be a good choice for you.

Compare

If you’re having trouble making up your mind, it’s worth comparing the Torrent 4 running shoe to the Speedgoat 6 trail running shoe. From the comparison below, it is probably clear that the Torrent 4 is a lower midfoot trail shoe than the Speedgoat 6. The advantage is that it is slightly faster, has a better ground feel, and is more stable; the disadvantage is that it is not the best shoe for longer distances. The Speedgoat has the advantage of better traction thanks to its Vibram outsole, but the Torrent 4 is (partly because of this) a cheaper trail running shoe.