ShoeGeometry

Hoka Zinal 3 vs Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneHoka Zinal 3: heel 31 mm, forefoot 26 mm (drop 5 mm); toe rocker 43 % of length, radius 65 % of length; heel bevel 9 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Hoka Zinal 3: toe rocker 43 % of lengthSalomon S/Lab Genesis 2: heel 31 mm, forefoot 25 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker not measured, typical shape drawn; heel bevel 9 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).
  • Hoka Zinal 331/26 mm · toe rocker 43 % · heel bevel 9 %
  • Salomon S/Lab Genesis 231/25 mm · toe rocker not measured · heel bevel 9 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offSalomon S/Lab Genesis 237.2 vs 42.4 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same31 vs 31 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same26 vs 25 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropHoka Zinal 35 vs 6 mm drop

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricHoka Zinal 3
Trail · Trail
Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop5 mmDerived6 mmDerived
Heel stack31 mmStated31 mmStated
Forefoot stack26 mmStated25 mmStated
Weight237 gStated283 gStated
Toe rocker43 %est.—
Rocker radius65 %est.—
Rocker rise angle21 degest.—
Rocker angle at toe51 degest.—
Toe tip over ground37 mm*est.42 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset72.2 %est.—
Toe spring (relative)16.7 %est.—
Heel bevel length9.3 %est.8.7 %est.
Heel bevel height17 mm*est.20 mmest.
Toe box shape73 %est.—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamSupercritical EVAoptiFOAM2 (supercritical) over optiFOAM EVA, with Active Chassis
List price$150$200

Key differences

  • Hoka Zinal 3's heel-to-toe drop is 5 mm, 1 mm lower than Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2's 6 mm.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 31 mm for Hoka Zinal 3, 31 mm for Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2.
  • Hoka Zinal 3's forefoot stack is 26 mm, 1 mm thicker than Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2's 25 mm.
  • Hoka Zinal 3's weight is 237 g, 46 g lighter than Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2's 283 g.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Hoka Zinal 3

Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2

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Hoka Zinal 3 details · Salomon S/Lab Genesis 2 details · Add more shoes