HOKA Tracer 2

Name: HOKA Tracer 2
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.3 (6 reviews)

Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 7.2 oz · 24/20mm stack · 4mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Tracer replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Tracer 2’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 6 runner reviews so far, with product line history also informing the score.

Below average

Overall

Below average 69

Cushioning

Decent 79

Comfort

Decent 74

Durability

Below average 61

Appearance

Below average 60

Value

Bottom-tier 59

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

72 Moderate

Moderate 72

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“The durability is horrible! The outer sole after only 60 miles is already started to wear down. Won't last much past 150 to 200 miles.”

4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7

“The cushioning is plush, but firm enough for a racer. Nice and bouncy.”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

“After those initial miles, the midsole becomes softer and "mushy", and loses a great deal of responsiveness”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Responsive, NOT sloppy, lock down achieved”

4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7

“Fits big and is pretty sloppy around the midfoot, laces and collar area”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

“The midsole consistently wears out at a fairly early stage”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Rigid fore/aft stiffness—excellent response on push off, plenty cushioned and supportive on landing”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

“Relatively firm and responsive for the first 200-250 miles”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Too many overlays in the forefoot which over long runs creates a bit of heat”

4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7

“It's the lightest of the Hoka lineup”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

“Still relatively light for the amount of shoe underneath”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Right amount of cushion for the response”

4/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7

“A good balance between stability, weight, and responsiveness”

4/5 Full review training for a half marathon

“The upper is relatively narrow, but not uncomfortably so”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“The tuning of the midsole foam is just right”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

Prefer this shoe over another

20% 1/5

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Two reviewers describe the cushioning as firm and responsive, with plenty of bounce.
At 7.6 oz reviewers find it light for the amount of cushioning underneath.
Reviewers use it for track work, longer workouts and half marathons.

Cons

Two reviewers report early wear, one seeing the midsole go mushy by 250 miles and one the outsole wearing at 60.
Reviewers disagree on the fit, one finding it big and sloppy around the midfoot and another finding it narrow.
One reviewer raced a marathon in it, and found it hard enough on the legs by the last 10K to prefer something softer.

Tracer 2 rates 69. This shoe has moderate confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Tracer

Each dot is one version of the Tracer, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

66 2017 69 2017

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Tracer 2 This shoe

2017 · 6 reviews

69 Below average

72 Confidence
Tracer

2017 · 6 reviews

66 Below average

75 Confidence

Runner Ratings

6 ratings

5/5 2

4/5 4

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.2 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 7.6 oz · Women's 6.7 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $130
Stack: 24/20mm
Drop: 4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Everything the Clifton 6 isn't

4/5

Overall

I tried the Clifton 6's, horrible shoe for running. Very sloppy, unresponsive, couldn't get a good lock down without cinching the laces to the point of pain. Exchanged for the Tracer 2's and what a difference! Responsive, NOT sloppy, lock down achieved. I like the Tracer 2's a lot, tongue isn't too thick or thin, right amount of cushion for the response, a lot to like here. The bad; too many overlays in the forefoot which over long runs creates a bit of heat. Could be a hair wider Durability!! The durability is horrible! The outer sole after only 60 miles is already started to wear down. Won't last much past 150 to 200 miles.

Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019

20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Well balanced cushion / weight ratio

4/5

Overall

The Tracer 2 is a great lightweight workout shoe when it's fresh. While it put on weight compared to it's predecessor, it's still relatively light for the amount of shoe underneath. It doesn't have the overly-soft feeling Hoka is known for, but is relatively firm and responsive for the first 200-250 miles. After those initial miles, the midsole becomes softer and "mushy", and loses a great deal of responsiveness. While the rest of the shoe is otherwise durable, the midsole consistently wears out in this way at a fairly early stage. I've been happy with the Tracer for workouts with less than ~45min. of speedwork. For longer workouts (10mi @ MP, etc.), it does the job but leaves my legs unnecessarily shredded. If one of the more advanced shoes wasn't available to me, I'd still probably use the Tracer for racing a half. I've raced a marathon in the Tracer before, and feel that it was hard enough on the legs by the last 10K that I would have been better off with a similarly lightweight, but softer shoe (NB Beacon, etc). The upper is relatively narrow, but not uncomfortably so; the whole shoe drains well and does fine with wet conditions.

Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019

50 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 4/5

A high cushioned, well rounded distance racer

5/5

Overall

I really like this shoe because it's great for long distance races on pavement, such as the half or full marathon. It's the lightest of the Hoka lineup, which means it's just right if you are looking for a racer, but with a lot of cushion. The fit is just ok--I think they need some refinement on the upper because it fits big and is pretty sloppy around the midfoot, laces and collar area. But, it feels fine when running. The real magic is the cushioning. It's plush, but firm enough for a racer. Nice and bouncy. Rigid fore/aft in terms of stiffness so the response is excellent on push off, and it's plenty cushioned and supportive on landing. The weight is ok--right in the middle between a typical light road racing flat a standard trainer. 8.5oz for a men's size 11. The tuning of the midsole foam is just right. The rubber on the bottom is strategically placed and overall the shoe has great traction. I really, really like this offering from Hoka.

UA Runner · Jan 24, 2019

55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4