Meet the HOKA Zinal, a brand-new shoe from HOKA designed to provide a nimble, responsive ride in a package with plenty of security and protection for fast trail racing and running.
HOKA athlete Ashley Brasovan says, “To me, trail racing is pure exhilaration.” Brasovan recently found plenty exhilaration via her win at the 2021 Speedgoat 50k, her first ultramarathon.
Ashley Brasovan in the HOKA Zinal. All photos: HOKA
The shoe was named after the Swiss mountain village Zinal, which is not only perched in the middle of the Alps, but which also hosts the finish line for the historic and competitive Sierre-Zinal trail race.
Joe Gray, a HOKA athlete who’s finished as high as second place at the iconic race, and who has been a USATF national trail racing champion more than 1.5 dozen times says, “You’ve got to trust your gear. The shoes I race in can mean the difference between first and second place. Ten seconds into my first run, I knew the Zinal was different from anything HOKA had launched to date.”
Joe Gray in the HOKA Zinal.
As HOKA describes the shoe, you can attack technical terrain with confidence in the grippy, ‘gecko-like’ Zinal. A responsive trail runner geared for shorter distances, this nimble trainer delivers the perfect blend of speed and agility. Made from recycled yarn, a stripped-down mesh upper has been designed with a gusseted tongue to keep out debris. Featuring the PROFLY™ dual-density midsole with ultralight foam on top and rubberized EVA on the bottom, the Zinal is finished with a Vibram™ Litebase outsole for maximal traction and minimal weight.
Use the Zinal for your next trail run or race, be it a Vertical K, a 50k, or something even longer.
It’s time to fly on the trails.
To learn more, read our full HOKA Zinal review.
[Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored by HOKA. Check out more about the men’s and women’s versions of the Zinal. Thank you to HOKA for its sponsorship of iRunFar, which helps to make iRunFar happen and free for all to enjoy. Learn more about our sponsored articles.]
