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{{DISPLAYTITLE:A review and comparison of Hoka running shoes}}The [http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one Hoka] shoes started the 'maximum cushioning, minimum drop' style of shoe with their thick, softly cushioned soles. They reduce the pounding on the soles of your feet, but they are not without their downsides. The Hokas are one of my [[Shoes| recommended running shoes]], but I think the Altra Olympus is a 'better Hoka'. However, highly cushioned shoes are not without their downsides and [[Are your running shoes injuring you| may be responsible for some running injuries]]. I've included some recommendations to help you evaluate if Hokas are right for you.
=Introduction=
Hoka One One, pronounced "Hoka O-nay O-nay", means "now it is time to fly" in [http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/index.cfm?dictionaryKeywords=hoka&search.x=0&search.y=0&n=1&idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan= Maori]. These shoes have midsoles that are much thicker and softer than traditional shoes. The soles are also wider to prevent the higher soles making the shoes unstable, like stilts. However, the sole is not as thick as it appears from the outside, as you can see from the image below. The foam in the midsole comes up the sides of the shoe much higher.{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:HokaHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|500px|The Hoka Bondi cut in half, showing the outside and inside views. You can see that the midsole foam is a lot higher on the outside than the inside.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:ShoeHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|500px|This image compares the Hokas at the top with a traditional shoe in the middle and a minimalist Saucony Hattori at the bottom. (Note that the traditional shoe is a smaller size than the other two. I'll correct that when I get some traditional shoes in my size to dissect.)]]|}
=The Hoka Advantages=
* The Hokas provide remarkable protection for the soles of your feet. This protection is most noticeable on trails, where you can ignore far more of the stones and bumps. I've found this protection to be wonderful, as it has allowed me to run trails again, which would not otherwise be possible. Even on smoother surfaces, the Hokas can protect your soles, which is a factor over longer distances.