Hoka Torrent 3 review

We highly recommend the Torrent 3 for:

• Hoka road running shoe enthusiasts venturing into trail running for the first time.
• Runners seeking a versatile trail shoe that outperforms road-to-trail options.
• Trail runners with mild stability needs in search of a comfortable and long-lasting training partner.

If budget isn't a major concern, we believe there are superior options with additional features such as a Vibram outsole and enhanced cushioning. For example, the Hoka Speedgoat 5 or the Hoka Tecton X 2 are excellent alternatives.

Additionally, the Torrent 3 isn't the ideal choice for ultra distances, whether in racing or training.

In those scenarios, shoes with more responsive and thicker cushioning are preferable. Models like the Nike Ultrafly or the Saucony Endorphin Edge provide a ride that's both protective and more responsive, thanks to their premium cushioning.

We described the cushioning as "decent" just before because, at first glance, it didn't seem like it had an ultra-high stack. But it's important to note that you don't always need that, especially for short to medium-distance runs. Too much foam underfoot can add unnecessary weight.

The Torrent 3 is designed for medium distances, probably up to 30K at most. This is our assessment after measuring the heel at 29.5 mm, which falls below the average.

The forefoot of the shoe follows the same concept, being slightly thinner than what you'd usually find in an average trail running shoe, at 22.4 mm.

This means forefoot strikers looking for a shoe for longer distances might consider something more cushioned, like the Hoka Mafate Speed 4.

After taking these two measurements, we calculated the difference to find a 7.1-mm heel-to-toe drop.

This drop appeals to a wide range of runners, potentially accommodating everyone.

The midsole softness of the ProFly foam came in at 23.9 HA, which is a balanced approach, not aiming at the plush-feel of other Hoka shoes.

This makes the Torrent 3 a shoe catered for individuals who prefer a more traditional, firmer feel underfoot—and also a good choice for faster runs where a denser foam makes the difference.

When it's cold out, you can expect the Torrent 3 to feel the same. We tested this by putting the shoe in our freezer for 20 minutes. Afterward, we measured it again and got a 25.3 HA value on our durometer.

That's just a 5.7% difference, which is an outstanding performance. We can partly attribute this to the denser formulation of this particular ProFly variation.

As part of their effort to reduce weight, Hoka equipped the shoe with a thinner outsole, which we precisely measured at 3.8 mm. However, we didn't experience any discomfort with it.

The toebox didn't surprise us at all. It has the performance-oriented Hoka fit we're used to. It doesn't offer much room for toe splay, but it does provide confidence and enhances stability.

We carefully measured its widest point at 97.5 mm.

The big toe area has a regular taper that feels nice for those of us with regular feet. However, just like before, don't expect a lot of room for toe splay or swelling, as it measures 78.3 mm.

This is also why we think the shoe is better suited for shorter distances rather than ultramarathons.

In our opinion, if you're a neutral runner or even have mild pronation issues, the Torrent 3 will provide fantastic stability no matter what.

It combines multiple elements, which we'll discuss in this section, to offer one of the most stable rides we've experienced during our lab reviews.

Clearly, not having a super tall platform helps in providing a stable ride. But a larger part of the stability comes from the shoe's impressive torsional rigidity.

This prevents the shoe from collapsing and moving laterally. It really pays off in terms of stability while running on easy terrain; although, of course, there's a trade-off—less agility on technical trails.

The heel counter appeared quite average to us, providing sufficient flexibility to be comfortable yet stable. We rated it a 3 out of 5, which is in line with most shoes. 

With this shoe, we quickly realized that its stability comes more from rigidity than width. The reason behind this is to keep the weight as low as possible.

That's why we measured an average width in the Torrent 3 at just 112.8 mm.

The heel, however, is a bit wider than average at 93.5 mm, clearly designed to enhance stability for heel strikers.

We already mentioned the shoe's rigidity from a torsional standpoint, but what about its longitudinal flexibility? If it's just as rigid, this could make it really uncomfortable for easy runs or even hiking adventures.

Fortunately, in our 90-degree bend test, the shoe registered only 29.1N, which is pretty average. This level of flexibility allows the shoe to double as a hiking shoe if desired.

After freezing the shoe for 20 minutes, just as we did for the midsole softness test, we repeated the bending test. This time, the result was 33.5N.

That's just a 15.1% increase, which is again a top-notch result for EVA-based midsoles. Great work from Hoka here.

One of Hoka's standout achievements in the running shoe industry is creating shoes that are lighter than they appear, and the Torrent 3 is a prime example of this expertise.

Weighing in at just 9.1 oz or 258g, it's incredibly challenging to find trail shoes that offer a similar blend of decent cushioning and lightness.

The importance of lab testing shoes, like we do at RunRepeat, becomes clear in situations like our experience with the Hoka Torrent 3.

At first glance, the upper appears extremely breathable—there are huge ventilation holes in the toebox and a thin mesh. However, we were surprised when we used our smoke machine on the shoe.

The airflow was clearly more limited than we expected from its appearance. We rated it a 3 out of 5.

When we held the shoe under the light, it seemed really breathable again, thanks to the thin mesh—not just in the toebox but also in the medial zone.

We then used a microscope to take a closer look at the mesh. We saw the ventilation holes but noticed there's a mesh layer beneath them, which restricts pure airflow.

It's true that for a trail running shoe, breathability isn't critical, and even sometimes unwanted. Yet, this shoe could have easily scored a 4 out of 5 in our test if the internal fabric had also been perforated.

After completing our breathability test, we shifted focus to evaluating the durability of the upper. 

Our Dremel did cause some damage, but it wasn't enough to create a full hole in the engineered mesh. Thanks to this, the Torrent 3 impressively scored a solid 3 out of 5 in our durability test.

We then shifted our attention to evaluating the heel padding's durability with another round of Dremel testing.

This time, the outcome was disappointing. The heel fabric could only muster a below-average score of 2 out of 5, falling short of our expectations.

After examining the toebox and heel, we turned our attention to the outsole, a crucial component in all trail shoes.

We discovered that the outsole has an average hardness, measuring 84.0 on the HC scale.

With this level of hardness, we anticipated average durability. However, the Torrent 3's rubber outperformed our expectations with a mind-blowing performance.

The Dremel test only managed to erase a mere 0.3 mm, an incredible result that speaks volumes about its exceptional durability.

Despite having only 1.8 mm thickness in the outsole (+ lugs), the Torrent 3 might just be one of the most durably crafted shoes out there based on our previous test.

We have zero worries about wearing out the outsole.

Regarding the lugs, Hoka chose a classic approach aiming to be as versatile as possible, although this strategy risks underperforming in some terrains.

In our experience, the 3.6-mm lugs perform great on dry, smooth trails but fall short on technical or muddy trails, much like the Hoka Challenger 7. For wet and soft conditions, we recommend opting for a shoe with larger, chevron-shaped lugs, like the Salomon Speedcross 6.

We were disappointed to discover that the Torrent 3 has absolutely no reflective elements.

However, we were quite taken aback when we measured the tongue thickness. Shockingly, it came in at 10.0 mm, which is baffling to us.

If the shoe is designed for shorter distances and emphasizes lightness in every aspect, why opt for an ultra-thick, heavy tongue? We believe a single slab of foam with a thickness of just 5 mm would have been great.

Another sign that this is more of an all-terrain shoe is the tongue design. Instead of a protective, fully-gusseted tongue, it features a nimble and lighter semi-gusseted tongue.

The heel doesn't have the classic swallowtail design found on many Hoka shoes, nor a finger-loop heel tab.

The insole is fully removable since it's not glued to the midsole.

Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised to find that it's one of the few shoes that we have tested offering a perforated model, thoughtfully designed to enhance ventilation under the foot.