Hoka Zinal vs. Salomon S/Lab Pulsar (2021)
The Zinal is Hoka One One’s answer to the Pulsar, an ultralightweight trail running shoe crafted specifically for Kilian Jornet.
As a nod to Salomon, Hoka has chosen to name its shoe after the village of Sierre-Zinal where each year takes place a race whose record is held by… Kilian Jornet.
Even if on paper these two trail shoes seem very similar (low stack and drop), the cushioning of the Zinal is more comfortable overall.
Testers also noted that the Zinal’s upper is more protective, as is the overall platform.
Also, while the Pulsar’s fit is rather narrow, the Zinal’s is more accommodating and should even suit runners with wider feet.
Finally, in both cases, the outsole offers an effective grip but can fall short on the most challenging technical terrains like mud.
Zinal or Pulsar: which one to choose?
As the testers noted, the Pulsar is a much more streamlined and cutting-edge racing shoe with reduced comfort and protection as a downside.
Thus, the Zinal is a bit heavier but has the merit of being more versatile, which makes it more accessible to the average runner.
Therefore, we recommend the Zinal, although the Pulsar may be suitable for experienced racers willing to sacrifice a little comfort for performance.
Side-by-side comparison
Hoka Zinal
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar
Technical Specs
| Terrain | Trail | Trail |
| Pronation type | Neutral | Neutral |
| Drop | 5 mm | 6 mm |
| Heel stack height | 32 mm | 21 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 27 mm | 15 mm |
| Weight (men) | 244 g/8.6 oz | 174 g/6.1 oz |
| Weight (women) | 218 g/7.7 oz | 156 g/5.5 oz |
| Release year | 2021 | 2021 |
| Athlete | Kílian Jornet Burgada |
Technologies
| Outsole | Vibram MegaGrip | Contagrip MA |
| Midsole | Early Stage Meta-Rocker Geometry, PROFLY | Energy Surge, Profeel Film, EVA sockliner |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Anti-debris mesh, Matryx, seamless design, Quicklace |
Cushioning
| Softness (1-5) | 3 – Moderate | 2 – Firm |
| Bounce (1-5) | 3 – Moderate | 4 – Bouncy |
Use
| Speed | Moderate, fast | Fast |
| Distance | Short, mid | Short, mid |
| Workout | Competition, daily runs | Competition |
