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The 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 [[Hoka Clifton]] is one of the most impressive shoes I've come across recently, with remarkable levels of cushioning at a light weight. 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.
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* Most of the Hokas are very softly cushioned, though Hoka are using a firmer RMAT foam in some of their shoes that seems hard by comparison.
* The Hokas have far less of a drop between the heel and forefoot than a traditional shoe. The Hokas have claim 3-4.5mm of drop, but measurements suggest it's more like 6mm. Compared with a traditional running shoe like the [[Asics GT 2000]] which tend to have 9-14mm of drop, the Hokas seem quite flat. I've found that running in Hokas is a little like running barefoot on a padded track, which is quite impressive.
* The Hokas are remarkably light for their size, and they are comparable with a slightly heavier traditional running shoe. The [[Hoka Clifton]] is actually quite a light shoe and comparable with some [[Minimalist Running Footwear| minimalist shoeshoes]]s.
* The thick sole tapers from the forefoot to the front of the shoe, creating an effect that encourages a good forward lean and toe off. I've been surprised how much this has helped my biomechanics. (See the section on 'meta-rocker' below.)
* There are many reports that the Hokas reduce [[Muscle]] fatigue, but I found no obvious difference in muscular soreness between the Hokas and the [[Modified Nike Free]]. Opinions of other runners going to Hokas from minimalist shoes varies, with some seeing a benefit and others not.
* The thick sole of the Hokas produces a greater ankle stress on uneven surfaces. The wider sole reduces this problem a little, but when trail running this is still an issue. In the past I have never had trouble with twisting my ankles, but the Hokas did cause some ankle stress and pain.
* The added cushioning protects the soles of the feet, but I've found I've had joint stress with the Hokas that I've never had with my [[Modified Nike Free]]. This is in line with the research that has shown [[The Science of Running Shoes| greater joint stress with greater cushioning]].
* Even though the cushioning of the Hokas is far softer than other shoes, the thickness makes them quite stiff. This reduces the natural flexing of the foot, but it also puts extra stress on some areas of your foot. The skin on the back of the heel has more friction and the tendons under where the laces are tied have more pressure. I've found that [[Lacing]] the Hokas loosely limits the tendon stress, and my [[Blister Prevention and Socks| favored sock combination]] mitigates the [[Blister Prevention| friction]].
* I've found my [[Running Form]] tends to degrade while running in the Hokas rather than my [[Modified Nike Free]]. When I swap back, it takes a few miles for my form to recover. I've also noticed that my [[Cadence]] is lower in the Hokas, but this might be due to the extra weight.
* The toe box of the Hokas is rather tight for many people which causes blisters (see below).
# Try the [[Hoka Mafate]] if you want more protection (it's an outstanding trail shoe).
# You're probably best staying with the minimalist footwear, though it may be worth trying out a pair of Hokas.
I'd suggest getting your shoes from somewhere with free shipping both ways, like [http://www.zappos.com/ Zappos], who also have one of the best selections of Hoka shoes I've found. (While [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/ Road Runner Sports] has the advantage of letting you run in shoes and still return them for an exchange, they don't stock Hokasbut the return shipping is not free.)
=Hoka or Altra?=
[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
While Hoka was the first company to produce the Minimax style of shoe, but Altra has started to produce comparable shoes. The Altra key selling points are zero drop (no high heel) and a shape that matches the human foot. Initially the Altra shoes were minimalist, with thin, firm midsoles, but they have introduced some thicker, softly cushioned shoes such as the [[Altra Olympus]]. At the same time, Hoka has moved to thinner, firmer shoes such as the Rapi Nui, Conquest or huaka. I've run in both Hoka and Altra shoes, even swapping between them during 100 miles races. As you can see from the picture of the dissected shoes above, the shoes are quite similar, but the Hoka has a much more abrupt taper of the midsole at the front of the shoe. By comparison the Altra tapers more gradually from further back. I find the Altra a better Minimax shoe than the Hoka range, but things may change as each manufacturer evolves (or devolves) their product range.
[[File:HokaOrAltra.png|none|thumb|500px|A tongue-in-cheek look at the different shapes of the Hoka and Altra shoes.]]
=The Meta-Rocker=
** '''Tor Summit Mid.''' This is a version of the Summit that comes up the ankle a little further and so provides a little more protection from water coming over the top.
** '''[[Hoka Tor Ultra]]'''. This is a high top hiking boot and is styled a little more like a modified Hoka running shoe than a traditional hiking boot. I'm really impressed with this boot, and it's far better than any other I've tried.
* '''[[Hoka Clayton]]'''. This is a lightweight shoe that has enormous potentialnearly the weight-to-cushioning ratio of the Clayton, weighing in at 8. Hoka claim it will be around 7oz, 3oz with 20/24mm stack height. This could provide good levels of cushioning in a lighter shoe and complement complements the Clifton nicely in the Hoka range. The outsole is RMAT, which might provide good grip, or it might just give an overly firm ride. (Due in 2016)* '''[[Hoka Tracer]]'''. The tracer appears to be similar to the Claytonis a firmer shoe, but with a reduced stack height of 18/22mm, but a similar worse weight-to-cushioning ratio than the better Hoka shoes. You'd get more cushioning from the [[New Balance RC5000v2]] which weighs only 4.0oz. (Due 2016)
* '''Carbon Rocket'''. This shoe has a carbon fiber "propulsion plate", which might be a great advance in shoe technology, or just another gimmick. Hoka claim it will only have 1mm drop and be around 6oz.
=Best Prices on the Best Hokas=