Hoka Stinson ATR - Women's Review

Hands-On Review

A maximalist women's trail running shoe, the Hoka Stinson ATR provides ample cushioning to give you tone of the most comfortable ride of any shoe in this review! It is built as a crossover shoe, feeling just as at home on the roads as it is on the trail.

Performance Comparison

Foot Protection

The Stinson ATR, like the Challenger ATR, has superior foot protection primarily because of its oversized CMEVA midsole. It absorbs the trail, making every step that you take seem flat and stable. The sole is pretty rigid dissipating unexpected shocks and impacts. The protective toe cap is hard and strong, similar to that of the Salomon Speedcross 4 - Women's, so you don't have to worry about stubbing your toes unexpectedly.

The upper, in combination with the quick lacing system, provide a precise and snug fit that will keep your foot from moving around, adding a little more protection in the way of stability. As a trade-off for great breathability, the ATR lost points on our sand hill tests. The featured air-flow mesh used on the upper did not keep out pesky little particles like sand and fine silt matter, losing it a point in the protection department. It did keep out the bigger stuff like pine needles, and regular dirt particles, though. In comparison, the Challenger performed similarly, but did a better job keeping the sand out.

Traction

The outsole is constructed with a hi-abrasion-resistant lightweight rubber that grips over most surfaces. The cool thing about its traction is that the lugs and tread in combination with the depth of the midsole assist to keep you in place. When moving over rocks or other small obstacles, the sole is moldable to fill in the cracks and absorb the trail around it. As a result, it performs well on rocky and rooted trails. However, if you add water to the equation, the rubber becomes slippery and unstable. Comparatively speaking, we would put the traction on par with the Altra Olympus 1.5. The lugs for both shoes aren't as deep, making them great crossover options.

Stability

The Hoka Stinson ATR is not a very stable trail running shoe - but it tries to be. We found that the platform was not wide enough (built to fit a narrow foot best) to support the added height. Furthermore, some of our reviewers experienced ankle rolling during runs and walking. The stability factors that aim to balance out the height include the shoe's low heel-toe drop of 6 mm, which gives it a flatter feel.

The three-layered weld support frame and the rigid uppers also provide a precise fit, and thus more stability. Even though these are great additions that do provide some support, we found that it didn't really balance out the extra height. This made this the least stable shoe tested. That said, we did find it was easier to run in these once you got used to them. If you're looking for a more stable maximalist shoe, check out the Hoka Challenger that hosts a lower stack height and better stability.

Comfort & Fit

Can you say that you've ever run on a cloud? We can say that we have! With the oversized CMEVA midsole, offering 50% more cushioning than a traditional shoe, this shoe deserves a perfect 10 for comfort.

The impact that you normally feel with any other shoe, whether you are a midfoot or heel striker, seems to be totally alleviated. Some trail runners have said this is their form of “health insurance” for their joints.

To top it off, not only is this one of the most comfortable shoes, but we also found that it was one of the most breathable of all the shoes tested. When holding them up to the sun, we can see through the mesh. This particular Hoka model is meant for crossing over to roads, which makes sense why the uppers are so breathable and thin.

You want to know something else? They also come with two different sock liners - one thick, one thin. This provides a more personalized fit that you can switch out at any time. Also, if you don't like the one-pull quick fit lacing system, there is a set of traditional laces provided.

Weight

Given the amount of materials in this trail running shoe, Hoka did an amazing job at keeping it lightweight. With a dry weight of 20.10 oz, they are comparable to the traditional lightweight Saucony Excursion TR8 - Women's. If you want an even lighter maximalist shoe, check out the Hoka Challenger.

Sensitivity

An intrinsic trade-off for superior comfort is a loss of sensitivity. The oversized midsole is squishy enough to feel rocks and roots underfoot, but we never felt all the small ins and outs of the trail. This shoe was built with this intention in mind, but it earned the lowest sensitivity rating as a result. You will not be getting an intimate trail experience like you would get with the Altra Lone Peak 2.0, Saucony Peregrine 5 - Women's, Salomon Speedcross, or La Sportiva Bushido - Women's.

Best Applications

The Hoka Stinson ATR is incredibly versatile. Built as a crossover shoe, it feels at home on the trail and road. The outsole and midsole provide enough traction for flat to moderately technical trail terrain too. Unlike the Salomon Speedcross 3, the lugs are not deep enough to accommodate nasty terrain like super slippery mud. Wear the Stinson ATRs on hot days, but avoid them on the blustery winter days.

The best use for the Stinson is ultra distance, marathon running, and normal wear around town. The cushion protects from impact, leaving some runners pain-free after distances of 20+ miles! This makes a huge difference as you're racking up the miles.

Value

With a hefty price tag of $160, we thought that these shoes were extremely expensive, and not quite worth the money. We did like it's durability when comparing to other Hokas. But If you're looking for a better value, check out the Hoka Challenger ($130), or you can take a look at the ultra wide and ridiculously durable Altra Olympus 1.5 ($135).

Conclusion

This is by far one of the most comfortable shoe tested! The Hoka Stinson ATR is breathable, protective, and versatile. We would recommend this model for hot to cool weather conditions and all sorts of trail conditions from flat and easy to steep and moderately technical. We like them for all distances, but especially long distance running. Not only that, but they work great on the road.