The midsole provides a remarkable blend of cushion, comfort, response and protection, while the outsole puts out confidence inspiring grip on just about any surface. The upper has a great fit, forgiving and comfortable, but secure and breathable. The Torrent runs very well on mellow terrain and even OK for short stretches of road, but really shines in rough, technical terrain, off trail and all around fast trail running. It is one of the quickest, most all around competent, versatile race ready trails shoes I have run in, as if Hoka threw a Speedgoat 2, Huaka and a Speed Instinct into a blender and this was the result. Jeff: The Torrent has been on my radar, but I will have to say that the all around performance of this shoe really caught me off guard. At least in the mileage I have put on them thus far, I don't see an issue with durability. Most of my time in the Torrent was spent on harder packed dirt trails typical of Colorado, and I saw no issue with unusual wear or signs that the lugs were on their way to being ground off as though by a cheese-grater, which often proves to be the case for more aggressive Trail shoes on harder, dryer surfaces. What I like about it though is that it felt great on everything from mud to snow to hard-packed trails. Shannon: To me, the outsole of this shoe is reminiscent to the Salomon Speedcross. Some shoes with very prominent lugs can also cause hot spots or pressure points underfoot on top of the lugs: I haven’t experienced this in the Torrent. My only concern is that there may be a trade-off with durability, as with most outsoles that have such prominent lugs. This is a substantial upgrade from the Speed Instinct 2, which seemed optimized for dry conditions and struggled outside its comfort zone. I really liked the balance of cushioning and ground feel in the Torrent.ĭom : I can’t think of a shoe that I’ve worn that matches the traction of the Torrent. I loved the low-to-the-ground feeling of the shoe, which gave a wonderfully nimble feel resulting from that sense of enhanced proprioception, but there was enough underfoot that I'd feel absolutely confident in doing everything from something short to grinding out longer miles. I’m going to race a 15 mile Trail Race next weekend in the Santa Monica Mountains because it is just that good! Shannon: The midsole provided a ride that was outstanding, so far the Torrent is really crushing it in my opinion. The ProFly has left my legs feeling mega fresh after every single run, no matter the distance. I spent a great deal of time landing perfectly midfoot forefoot, with each stride feeling powerful, yet effortless. The ProFly allows an uber smooth heel to toe transition that is real quick, just the way I like it. I covered rocks and roots quite well, never once feeling the impact of a sharp rock or root. The Torrent has the feel of a minimal trail shoe, but boasts the protection needed for longer runs in the dirt. To mimic what Jeff said, the ground contact is stellar. But whoa, Torrent doesn’t feel maximal to me at all. I like a ton of stuff coming from Altra for the trails, and as of late, I like the Superior 3.5. My feet were warm the entire 4 hours! To me, that is huge! Jeff: The heel cup has structure to it for a bit of protection and security, but is on the thin side and semi malleable.ĭave : The ProFly midsole is freaking nice! I was skeptical thinking this shoe would feel like to much cush on the trail. The snow was also in a melting stage so it was sticky and wet. The upper never once got wet when I hit the slop and mud. It was a 30 degree day, with sun, but cold in the shadows. If that wasn’t bad enough to test the Torrent, there was 4 to 5 inches of packed snow on the trails, with drifts of a foot or more in some spots. I ran for almost 4 hours in my hometown on trails that have a ton of elevation gain, river beds, dashes to summit and repeat, and rocky rooty single track as the East Coast is known for. Where the Torrent upper really shined is on the East Coast. The “bathtub” support makes every footfall very confident, yet smooth, not feeling bulky or sensing plastic overlays or support guards as some trail shoes have. Dave : Jeff is absolutely right….it’s like having your feet protected by a “bathtub.” The open air mesh upper does an outstanding job molding well to my foot, the way I like a trail shoe to be.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |