Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. When a shoe’s name reveals exactly what it’s built for, you know what to expect. In the case of the HOKA Zinal, its namesake is Switzerland’s famous Sierre-Zinal 31k mountain race, and the shoe was designed specifically for fast and agile movement over relatively short (by ultra standards) distances on steep and technical terrain.
The third iteration includes significant updates like the use of a supercritical EVA foam midsole and a new proprietary outsole compound replacing the Vibram Megagrip. The shoe also has a modified upper, a narrower profile in the forefoot, and comes in slightly heavier than its predecessor by just under one ounce.
The Zinal’s uppers are constructed with something called a leno weave, also known as a cross-weave. Getting into the details, a leno weave combines paired warp yarns (aligned vertically) that are twisted like a double helix and interwoven with separated weft yarns (aligned horizontally) to create an open mesh fabric that maintains its structure and strength while providing exceptional breathability. The result is a fabric that breathes very well in hot conditions and dries quickly after being immersed in water. The openings of the mesh are quite small, and while the uppers are susceptible to dust intrusion, they otherwise keep out dirt and debris better than we anticipated. The fabric doesn’t have much inherent stretchiness, which is why a dynamic vamp is added to the forefoot. HOKA has used a similar stretch vamp on trail models in the past, and it’s an effective mechanism for providing extended flexibility when conforming to odd foot positions on irregular terrain. The Zinal 3 also loses the extended gaiter collar seen on version 2 in favor of a traditional ankle collar.
The most critical changes to the Zinal are seen underfoot, starting with a new midsole compound of supercritical EVA. This is the same compound used in HOKA’s new Speedgoat 7 shoe, but with a lower stack height on a narrower platform. The Zinal 3 actually gains just over 1mm of stack height compared to its predecessor and more importantly, in our testing, the stack height feels greater than it actually is, thanks to the amount of protection the new EVA compound provides. Its overall ride quality is firmer than previous Zinal models – and any previous HOKA model with conventional EVA – but there is much less feeling of foot and leg impact than we have experienced in similar stack height shoes. Recalling the primary function of this shoe, the new midsole works very well to allow agility while moving fast, especially on technical terrain.
Another significant adjustment to the Zinal 3 is the departure of Vibram Megarip outsole compound in favor of what’s called HOKA proprietary sticky rubber. We’ll admit that this was a concern for us prior to testing, as Megagrip is well established as a gold standard for outsole traction and durability, but in practice, there wasn’t a huge discernible difference. The outsole grips very well on gravel and steep climbs or descents, thanks in part to aggressive 5mm lugs in key contact areas, which are offset by lower 3mm lugs elsewhere for improved ride quality. Positioning of the lugs has been tweaked a bit compared to the Zinal 2, and the overall coverage area on the Zinal 3 is greater, which also contributes to a sturdy grip. One noticeable area where the new compound has room for improvement is on wet surfaces, particularly on slick granite in creek crossings, where we had to take an extra beat to secure footing. We haven’t noticed any unusual wear in the compound after about 75 miles of testing, but overall durability remains to be seen in comparison to Vibram compounds.
All of the changes to the Zinal 3 help it lean more heavily into the specific use it was designed for, in a largely effective manner. It could be a great option for sub-ultra races and single-day summit efforts, or any training day when you’re looking to push the pace while maintaining a solid amount of comfort and protection.
HOKA Zinal 3 shoes are available in men’s and women’s versions at www.hoka.com.
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 8.9oz men’s / 7.6oz women’s
- Stack Height (heel/toe, in mm): 31/26 men’s, 30/25 women’s
- Heel-Toe Drop (mm): 5mm
- Upper: Textile mesh with dynamic stretch vamp
- Midsole: Supercritical EVA foam
- Outsole: HOKA proprietary sticky rubber with 5mm lugs
- Two colorway options for men and women
- MSRP: $150