Mizuno Neo Lumina vs HOKA Torrent 5

Mizuno calls the Neo Lumina "perfect for entry-level runners, especially trail runners", and it is the most approachable shoe in the brand's off-road line. Where the high-stacked Neo Accera is Mizuno's "super trail" shoe with a rock plate and Vibram rubber, the Lumina is a simpler daily trainer for forest tracks, gravel and light trails, sharing its Enerzy foam family with road shoes such as the Wave Rider 30.

The midsole is Mizuno Enerzy, a foam the brand says is designed for softness and rebound, with no plate. The outsole combines Mizuno's W-Grip pattern for traction on forest and gravel paths with X10 carbon rubber in high-wear areas such as the heel. The sole uses Smooth Speed Assist geometry, and the insock is removable. It weighs 290 g, has a 6 mm drop and a 32 mm heel, and a GORE-TEX version is sold for wet conditions.

Specs and features from emea.mizuno.com, sportsshoes.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.

HOKA describes the Torrent 5 as a versatile and nimble trail running shoe, and it serves as the brand's everyday trail all-rounder. It has a simpler build than the Vibram-shod Speedgoat 7 and more foam underfoot than the race-focused Zinal 3, with retail listings naming rocky, technical and soft, muddy trails among its surfaces.

The EVA midsole is about 5 mm taller throughout than on the Torrent 4, yet HOKA says the shoe is lighter than its predecessor. There is no rock plate. HOKA's classic MetaRocker curls the sole up at both ends, and the outsole uses high-abrasion rubber with 5 mm lugs. The revised engineered-mesh upper gains a protective rand, a band of reinforced material wrapping the base of the upper to improve durability. It weighs 264 g in a men's UK 8.5, with a 5 mm drop, and comes in a single standard width.

Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.