REASONS TO BUY
Very comfortable
Lightweight
Waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the best traction
Questionable durability
Hoka Tor Summit WP - Women's Review
An exceptionally cushioned shoe that is also lightweight and waterproof
Credit: HOKA ONE ONE
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
Hoka is known for making super plush running shoes that are both cushioned and comfortable, and they are also making inroads to the hiking market. It turns out that people like supreme comfort and cushioning in a stable ride. They have oversized soles and may look a little funny until you get used to them, but clearly, our testers are fans, as their shoes are often tapped for Top Pick or Editors' Choice awards in many categories that we've tested them in, from hiking boots to running shoes.
The Hoka Tor Summit WP is an excellent hiking shoe that is perfect for anyone who likes to be comfortable first and foremost, or anyone who benefits from extra cushion. They're waterproof and work well with a heavy pack. The main issues with this shoe are traction, which is good but not great, and its durability.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Tor Summit has a nubuck and suede leather upper with an eVent waterproof liner. The midsole is oversized EVA and rubberized foam, and the sole is Vibram rubber.
Performance Comparison
Super comfortable, lightweight and waterproof! We love the Tor Summit.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Comfort
We value comfort in a hiking shoe, which is why this metric accounts for 25% of the total score. The Tor Summit WP delivers comfort all day long, even with a heavy pack. It got nudged out of the top spot for comfort, but this shoe is still one of our faves and one of the most comfortable shoes in the test.
The Tor Summit provides a well-cushioned ride that is balanced and supportive. We hiked both with and without a pack with this shoe, and even carrying a 20-pound pack we never felt like the shoe was being overpowered.
The Tor Summit is comfortable with weight, especially on consolidated trails.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Support
These shoes have a relatively thin insole, but they also have built-in arch support. The thick and wide soles may appear to be unstable, but we never experienced any instability. Indeed, the foot is cradled in the midsole for added stability. The standard laces are adequate for securing a good fit, though if you have very narrow feet you may have trouble adjusting them for a perfectly snug fit. The foam midsoles held up perfectly over long days, and these could work well for multi-day trips.
Traction
The traction on the Hoka Tor Summit WP did leave a little to be desired. Other shoes by Hoka use the same rubber on the soles with a different lug pattern and we felt more secure scrambling in those, which reminds us that lug shape matters, too. However, for compacted and even loose dirt trails that are not particularly technical, these shoes never let us down.
The Sky Arkali's multi-directional lugs (right) had noticeably better traction than the Tor Summit (left) even though they are made of the same material.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
If you do a lot of scrambling on technical trails and rock slabs, you may want to look for a shoe that uses stickier rubber for the sole.
Weight
This shoe is big but not heavy! Hoka has perfected lightweight cushion in running shoes, and now they are sharing the love with their hiking shoes. It weighs in just over 1 lb 8 oz for a pair of women's size 7. It is not the lightest shoe in the test, but it is far from the heaviest and provides excellent cushion and waterproofness.
Water Resistance
The Tor Summit WP is waterproof. It also has one of the tallest upper of all of the shoes we tested (3 3/4"), which aids in keeping water out when splashing through streams and puddles. We were also pleased that the nubuck and suede leather upper absorbed very little water in our bucket test, unlike other leather shoes we dunked, which absorbed up to a full ounce of water per shoe.
The Tor Summit (foreground) absorbed very little water in the bucket test.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Durability
We know from experience that hiking shoes wear out on the toe box and the sides first, where they come into contact with rocks and vegetation. We didn't see any durability issues with the Tor Summit WP while we tested, but they are not built to be super rugged, with minimal protective rubber on the upper, and we wonder how they will hold up over time.
If you spend a lot of time in rocky, technical terrain, all of that exposed EVA could also be vulnerable to dinging, snagging, scratching. If you are dedicated to rugged terrain, you may want a shoe with more protective rubber.
So much exposed EVA midsole gives us pause as to the durability of the Tor Summit.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Value
This pair has a retail price in the middle of the pack, and provides excellent waterproofness. If you think comfort is queen, then these are a great value.
The Tor Summit is supportive enough for long excursions, but it is great for short hikes, too.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Conclusion
For maximum comfort in your hiking shoes, the Hoka Tor Summit WP are one of the best. These are a great choice for anyone that prefers or needs extra cushion and waterproofness for short or long hikes.
—
Laurel Hunter
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