HOKA Zinal 2 Review

Upper

Jon: "For me, the upper fit snug in the heel and the midfoot and ran long in the toe box. I was fine with the snug fit given the fact that this is meant to be a fast and nimble shoe, so the upper worked well for that purpose.

In terms of the length, I only experienced foot slippage on steep downhills, and even though I think a half-size down would have been ideal, it was not a huge issue. The lightweight mesh offered great breathability and held up well in terms of durability, but I would not categorize it as a protective mesh design. With HOKA's emphasis on lightweight speed, the Zinal 2 is not a shoe I would want to bump into rocks or jagged edges. Lastly, I enjoyed the stretch knit collar, finding it very comfortable, secure, and protective against loose trail debris."

Kaleb: "I have tested a handful of HOKA trail shoes over the years, and the Zinal 2's engineered mesh might just be my favorite upper design so far. I have read other reviews, and it seems that the fit can be a bit hit or miss depending on one's foot shape, but for my relatively average size 8 feet, the fit was very comfortable. 

The highlights for me were how secure and lightweight the Zinal's upper felt. Immediately upon step-in, I felt locked in and ready to go, and this feeling was not lost on the trail, regardless of pace or terrain. The execution of the stretch-knit collar was excellent, and I enjoyed a lot of iteration-free trail runs while testing these trainers.

The one call out I do have is that the upper is very thin to keep weight down to a minimum; because of this, I recommend avoiding trail debris and jagged edges while zooming around the trails."

Midsole

Jon: "With supercritical foams becoming more and more prevalent on the roads and trails, it was hard to get overly excited about the Zinal 2's CMEVA foam midsole. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the Zinal 2's underfoot experience. Even though I would not categorize the Zinal 2 as a road-to-trail shoe, I like to avoid driving to trails, so I ended up putting some road miles on the Zinal 2, finding that the midsole felt softer on the pavement than I had anticipated. Also, transitioning from road to trail was not an issue.

I did most of my testing runs on single-track rocky trails and sprinkled in some easier groomed trails as well. The Zinal 2 was fast and nimble on both surfaces but was most comfortable on less technical terrain, as I felt the impact of the rocks more than I would have liked on more technical surfaces. I mixed in a variety of paces throughout testing as well, and unsurprisingly, these felt best at faster paces. The responsiveness of the foam and overall flexibility of the shoe made it easy to keep up my pace on all types of terrain, which was a huge plus for me.  

My longest run in these was 14 miles, and I was very happy with how good my feet and legs felt by the end. I would not hesitate to take these on even longer training runs in the future, and I also believe they would be a great option for half-marathon trail races. However, I personally would not use them in a race longer than that, as I would prefer more stack and a carbon plate in that situation."

Kaleb: "Regardless of whether I was running road to trail, completing short efforts on technical trails, or cruising on fire roads, the Zinal 2 always delivered a consistently responsive ride. Furthermore, given how lightweight the shoe is, I was surprised by the level of protection the midsole afforded me. 

That said, the midsole is on the firmer side, and the overall construction of the shoe is geared for speedier efforts. If I were going to run beyond the 7- or 8-mile mark, I would go with a different shoe to preserve my legs a bit for the next run.

For shorter trail races, I think the Zinal 2 is a great option. I know it does not have the "super" features like some other recent trail releases, but the shoe does not lack any speed, and runners will have no issues pushing the pace with the stable CMEVA midsole, highly secure upper, and 5-mm lugs. For runners like myself who like to split time between road and trails, the Zinal 2 is an excellent training shoe for faster, shorter efforts while you look to build strength, power, and ultimately more speed. I may not pull the Zinal out for every daily effort, but when I want to test my strength and speed on the trails, this is a shoe I will consistently reach for."

Outsole

Jon: "The Zinal's Vibram Megagrip outsole is the highlight for me. The lug pattern and overall design were outstanding, and the micro lug additions to the outsole were the cherry on top. The superior grip allowed me to keep my momentum on the climbs and gave me full control when faced with a downhill.

Given the sunny weather in California right now, I did not get a chance to test these out in wet and muddy conditions, but I feel confident the Zinal 2's outsole can handle almost any surface or weather condition. The rubber is very sticky and grabs hold of the surface every step of the way."

Kaleb: "The Zinal 2's outsole provided excellent traction while adding to the firm responsiveness of the ride, helping maintain pace and remain stable on a variety of surfaces. The rubber also offered an extra layer of protection while running on rockier, more technical trails.

I have completed roughly 30 testing miles, and I have not seen any signs of abnormal wear, and even with a handful of road miles, the outsole has held up very well."

Comparable Models

Hoka Zinal vs. HOKA Zinal 2

The Zinal has changed a lot from version one to two. The original offered a more roomy fit, and though the shoe could accommodate faster efforts, it was more versatile and catered to daily efforts. The Zinal 2 is much lighter and faster, with an upper that prioritizes performance over comfort. Whether you are comparing the uppers, midsoles, or outsoles, the Zinal 2 is more performance-oriented throughout.

HOKA Torrent vs. HOKA Zinal 2

Again, the HOKA Torrent weighs more than the Zinal, with a more adaptable, more built-up upper and a slightly softer midsole. Because of this, the Torrent is better for daily efforts, whereas the Zinal 2 offers a lot more speed and performance. Both shoes are very agile thanks to their sticky outsoles, but the Zinal 2 takes the slight edge. If you are a runner who wants a more versatile, more accommodating shoe for a variety of daily runs, the Torrent is the shoe for you. If you want to tear up the trails and hit new PBs, or need a speedy shoe to grind through tough training efforts, the Zinal 2 has you covered.

Saucony Peregrine 13 vs. HOKA Zinal 2

The Peregrine offers more foam underfoot and is more protective over longer distances. The outsole traction is comparable, but the Peregrine performs a bit better on technical trails and loose terrain. The Peregrine is better for runners who go longer distances and need a more protective ride. Like the other comparisons above, the Zinal 2 is the faster, lighter option.