Hoka’s New Affordable Trail Shoe Goes Big on the Brand’s Signature Ingredient

More cushion, better value.

Close-up of a white HOKA sneaker with a green sole and orange-yellow gradient detail on the side.

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By Jack Seemer

Published June 3, 2026

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Updated June 3, 2026

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The Hoka Torrent has always felt like the odd shoe out. The popularity of high stacks, plated midsoles and super foam hasn’t helped.

Previous versions have all sat rather close to the ground, making the franchise one of Hoka’s rare exceptions to the mantra of more is more, especially when it comes to cushioning.

The brand is famous for its thick but curiously lightweight platforms, dating back to the original Mafate in 2009.

Well, the Torrent finally got the memo.

The Torrent 5 features the thickest midsole in franchise history.

Hoka

A new version arrives this month with the largest update in franchise history. Keyword: large.

Though still built with EVA foam, the midsole of the Torrent 5 grows by an additional 5mm throughout the length of the shoe.

Gray and blue athletic shoe with thick white sole and neon green lace loops. — The shoe gains an addition 5mm in height across both the heel and toe.

Pair of gray and blue athletic shoes with thick white soles viewed from the back. — The heel now measures 38mm at its thickest point.

That means it now measures 38mm in the heel and 32mm in the toe, maintaining the 5mm drop of the Torrent 4.

The new shoe also features a revised engineered mesh upper, supported by a rand overlay that brings durability and light water protection.

Pair of navy blue and tan Hoka running shoes viewed from above on a white background. — The Torrent also features a new engineered mesh upper.

White and light green running shoe with mesh upper and thick sole. — A supportive rand runs around the perimeter of the upper, where it connects to the midsole.

Despite the increase in materials, though, the weight comes down nearly 20 percent. The Torrent 5 has a listed weight of 8.1 ounces versus 9.8 for the previous version.

Black Hoka trail running shoe with textured sole and pull tab at heel. — The Torrent 5 weighs just 8.1 ounces, despite thick 5mm lugs on the outsole.

Availability and pricing

One thing that didn’t change: the Torrent’s notorious value-oriented price tag.

The Torrent 5 costs just $130, making it not just one of the best buys in Hoka’s catalog but across the industry at large.

The shoe launches this month in a handful of colorways, including “Black Outer Orbit” and the women’s exclusive “Frost Neon Yuzu” (pictured below).

White and neon green Hoka running shoe with orange and yellow gradient detail on the heel.

Hoka Torrent 5

$130 at Hoka

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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