#running, Altra Torin 1.5, Hoka Clifton, running shoe review, Topo Magnify Yes, this is one of the things that I do enjoy about blogging - writing about the gear I am using and how it works for me. I am going to continue doing this on One Foot In Reality, although I probably will be doing "it" a little differently than I have in the past. The reviews will be less about the stats, numbers and brand's marketing speak, and more about what I liked or did not like about the product. I am going to get out of the long - drawn out canned blog posts and move to a more summary style of review. There are several other sites that go more in-depth about a particular product and they do that better than I do, so I will link to the better ones, especially when it comes to running shoe reviews. Enough talk and yammering on about nothing, let's get to talking about Clifton V1's and Torin 1.5's. Some background on my experiences with both Hoka's and Altra's. Honestly, I made fun of runners who were running in Hoka's until I started running in them in April.

I really loved the first pair of Clifton V1's that I got, enough that I got another pair 3 weeks later to add to the rotation and found another pair in July that I am currently running in. So I have had had 3 pair of Hoka Clifton's and have tried on several other styles. However, a common theme that I have found with the line-up so far is the snugness/narrowness in the toe box area. I am not a big fan of heavy-weight, inflexible shoes, which they have a lot of in their lines and prefer the lighter styles that they offer. I have run in several models of Altra - starting with the first Instinct and loved the wide toe-box, but the inconsistent sizing issues, the firmness of the ride and thinking that the flat zero-drop didn't help my Achilles or hamstring problems, caused me to stop running in them last year. So I haven't run in their newer models and I am seeing a bit of a change in their products - or at least I think I am. They seem to be moving towards higher stack height (thicker) soles and softer EVA type materials, but that is from the outside looking in and I have not tried any of their 2015 models to know if that is accurate or not.

So while I have run very well in the past with Altra running shoes, I just didn't believe that they were the solution I was looking for. However, with my unhappiness with narrowness of the Clifton's I needed to try something else and with my birthday gift certificates, I bought a pair of Torin 1.5's, because I knew that the toe box would work for me. Which brings me to the present. I now have about 70 miles on the Hoka Clifton V1's #3 and over 60 miles on the Altra Torin 1.5's and would usually to do a 50 mile review for both. Last night I got this crazy idea about comparing my likes and dislikes about these two shoes that I put in the same category (so-called light-weight cushioned trainers), even though the brands might not look at them as being comparable - for the way that I use these shoes they are. At some point we do not run in stats, we run in the shoes and that is what really matters. How have they worked out for me? Which one comes out on top?

If Bennie Chewed Up These Shoes Today, What Would I Do? The Reality is that Has anyone out there found a pair of running shoes that would more in line with what I am looking for the fit of an Altra and feel of a Hoka? I am asking a lot, but I can't be the only one looking for this combination.Jump to: , f The Hoka shoes started the 'maximum cushioning, minimum drop' style of shoe with their thick, softly cushioned soles. Homes For Sale Around Corning ArThey reduce the pounding on the soles of your feet, but they are not without their downsides. 4 Ton Ac Unit AmperageThe Hoka Clifton is one of the most impressive shoes I've come across recently, with remarkable levels of cushioning at a light weight. Houses For Sale In Snow Lake Manitoba

I've included some recommendations to help you evaluate if Hokas are right for you. Hoka One One, pronounced "Hoka O-nay O-nay", means "now it is time to fly" in Maori. These shoes have midsoles that are much thicker and softer than traditional shoes. The soles are also wider to prevent the higher soles making the shoes unstable, like stilts. However, the sole is not as thick as it appears from the outside, as you can see from the image below. The foam in the midsole comes up the sides of the shoe much higher. The Hoka Bondi cut in half, showing the outside and inside views. You can see that the midsole foam is a lot higher on the outside than the inside. This image compares the Hokas with other shoes. Here the outline of the foam midsole has been highlighted in red. This helps reveal how the Hoka midsole narrows at the front and back to create a 'rocker' effect, making it easier for your foot to roll. A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Bondi. You can see the difference in the way the midsole tapers towards the front of the shoe.

An image of a runner with the distinctive Hoka blister pattern I saw at the 2013 Umstead 100. I've seen a distinctive pattern of blisters associated with the Hokas, where the blister forms part way along the toes, normally between the big toe and the next toe along, and sometimes between the little toe and its neighbor. I saw a disproportionate number of Hoka wearing runners with this blister pattern at the Umstead 100. This can be avoided by cutting open the toe box, but far too few people do this. My recommendation depends on what type of runner you are. The numbers in the decision chart above correspond to the notes below: , who also have one of the best selections of Hoka shoes I've found. has the advantage of letting you run in shoes and still return them for an exchange, but the return shipping is not free. A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas. While Hoka was the first company to produce the Maximalist style of shoe, but Altra has started to produce comparable shoes.

The Altra key selling points are zero drop (no high heel) and a shape that matches the human foot. Initially the Altra shoes were minimalist, with thin, firm midsoles, but they have introduced some thicker, softly cushioned shoes such as the Altra Olympus. At the same time, Hoka has moved to thinner, firmer shoes such as the Rapi Nui, Conquest or huaka. I've run in both Hoka and Altra shoes, even swapping between them during 100 miles races. As you can see from the picture of the dissected shoes above, the shoes are quite similar, but the Hoka has a much more abrupt taper of the midsole at the front of the shoe. By comparison the Altra tapers more gradually from further back. I find the Altra a better Maximalist shoe than the Hoka range, but things may change as each manufacturer evolves (or devolves) their product range. A tongue-in-cheek look at the different shapes of the Hoka and Altra shoes. Because of their thickness, Hoka shoes have to have more of a taper towards the front of the shoe.

They call this the 'meta-rocker' and place it in various different parts of the shoe depending on model. A late meta-rocker has a more abrupt taper under the toes, and early meta-rocker has a more gradual taper starting just behind the ball of the foot, and the balanced meta-rocker is in between. However, even the early meta-rocker has a far more abrupt and late taper than some of the Altra shoes. The Hoka Stinson above, which has a late meta-rocker with the Hoka Clifton that has an early meta-rocker. If you look at the front of the midsoles, you can see the blue foam of the Stinson tapers rapidly and more extremely. Hoka have started to use a new type of foam called RMAT that lasts much longer than traditional EVA foam, but it's heavier and much firmer. The result is a shoe that looks like the usual Hoka, but is far too firm. You can find shoes weighting the same that are vastly softer, or shoes that are similar in cushioning that are vastly lighter. I avoid any Hoka that uses RMAT in the midsole, but RMAT can also be used in the outsole, where it can provide remarkable grip on pretty much any surface.