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Hoka Shoe Review

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f{{DISPLAYTITLE:A review and comparison of Hoka One One running shoes}}
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.
{| <gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="wikitable" |- valign="topcenter">|[[File:HokaHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|400px|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.]]|[[File:ShoeHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|400px|This image compares the Hokas with other shoes.]]|- valign="top"|[[File:HokaRocker.jpg|none|thumb|400px|Here the outline of the foam midsole has been highlighted in red. This helps reveal how the Hoka midsole narrows at the front and back to create a 'rocker' effect, making it easier for your foot to roll. ]]|[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|400px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Bondi. You can see the difference in the way the midsole tapers towards the front of the shoe.]]|}</gallary>
=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.
* I didn't like the speed [[Lacing]] system that comes with the Hokas, but it's easy to replace them with traditional laces. Hoka includes alternative laces, but I found they were too slippery to stay knotted.
=Hoka Blisters=
[[File:Hoka Blisters.jpg|nonecenter|thumb|300px|An image of a runner with the distinctive Hoka blister pattern I saw at the [[2013 Umstead 100]].]]
I've seen a distinctive pattern of blisters associated with the Hokas, where the blister forms part way along the toes, normally between the big toe and the next toe along, and sometimes between the little toe and its neighbor. I saw a disproportionate number of Hoka wearing runners with this blister pattern at the Umstead 100. This can be avoided by [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box]], but far too few people do this.
=Recommendations=
My recommendation depends on what type of runner you are.
[[File:Hoka.jpg|nonecenter|thumb|300px|Click for a larger image.]]
The numbers in the decision chart above correspond to the notes below:
# Do you suffer from twisted or weak ankles? Hokas are likely to make this problem worse.
I'd suggest getting your shoes from somewhere with free shipping both ways, like http://zappos.com, who also have one of the best selections of Hoka shoes I've found. http://www.roadrunnersports.com has the advantage of letting you run in shoes and still return them for an exchange, but the return shipping is not free.
=Hoka or Altra?=
[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|nonecenter|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
While Hoka was the first company to produce the Maximalist 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 Maximalist shoe than the Hoka range, but things may change as each manufacturer evolves (or devolves) their product range.
[[File:HokaOrAltra.png|nonecenter|thumb|500px300px|A tongue-in-cheek look at the different shapes of the Hoka and Altra shoes.]]
=The Meta-Rocker=
Because of their thickness, Hoka shoes have to have more of a taper towards the front of the shoe. They call this the 'meta-rocker' and place it in various different parts of the shoe depending on model. A late meta-rocker has a more abrupt taper under the toes, and early meta-rocker has a more gradual taper starting just behind the ball of the foot, and the balanced meta-rocker is in between. However, even the early meta-rocker has a far more abrupt and late taper than some of the Altra shoes.
[[File:CliftonStinson.JPG|nonecenter|thumb|500px300px|The [[Hoka Stinson]] above, which has a late meta-rocker with the [[Hoka Clifton]] that has an early meta-rocker. If you look at the front of the midsoles, you can see the blue foam of the Stinson tapers rapidly and more extremely.]]
=The Hoka Range=
Hoka have started to use a new type of foam called [[RMAT]] that lasts much longer than traditional EVA foam, but it's heavier and much firmer. The result is a shoe that looks like the usual Hoka, but is far too firm. You can find shoes weighting the same that are vastly softer, or shoes that are similar in cushioning that are vastly lighter. I avoid any Hoka that uses RMAT in the midsole, but RMAT can also be used in the outsole, where it can provide remarkable grip on pretty much any surface. (Some of the Hoka range are only available through specialty running stores, while others are targeted at large chains like sporting goods stores or department stores.)
* '''[[Hoka CliftonClayton 2]]'''. This newer shoe has replaced The Clayton just edges out the Bondi is Clifton as my favorite of the Hoka range, though it's really close. Both are reasonably light, and was have outstanding cushioning-to-weight ratios. They're both nicely neutral and smooth to run in, but the bestselling running shoe at Running Warehouse Clayton trades slightly less cushioning for slightly less weight. However, there're more to it than simply a cut down Clifton. The Clayton's outsole is RMAT, which provides better grip, especially in 2014the wet. It feels just like a BondiHowever, but because RMAT is significantly lighterheavier than EVA, and a little the Clayton's upper is rather more durableminimalist than the Clifton, so some runners may prefer the added comfort of the Clifton. Like all Hokas, the Bondi Clayton has a horribly small toe box, it's easily [[Shoe Modifications| modified]]. * '''[[Hoka Clifton 3]]'''. The Clifton was a breakthrough shoe for Hoka, and was the bestselling running shoe at Running Warehouse in 2014. It feels just like an early Bondi, but is significantly lighter, and a little more durable. The Clifton and its variants are all have an early meta-rocker.
** '''Challenger ATR'''. This is the trail version of the awesome [[Hoka Clifton]], but it doesn't have much more aggressive outsole than most road shoes, so look to the Mafate if you want a trail shoe.
** '''[[Hoka Odyssey]]. '''The Odyssey is superficially identical to the Clifton, but with a thicker sole (35/30mm) and firmer foam. The Odyssey is sold in larger chain stores.
** '''[[Hoka Clifton| Clifton 2Tracer]]'''. The update tracer is a firmer shoe, with a worse weight-to -cushioning ratio than the better Hoka shoes. You'd get more cushioning from the Clifton adds [[New Balance RC5000v2]] which weighs only 4.0oz. It's a bit more paddinggood shoe, but it also gets a little fatter's not one of the greats. (I know this is "damned with faint praise", so the original but this really is slightly bettera good shoe. )* '''[[Hoka Bondi| Hoka Bondi 5]].''' Until Hoka produced the Clifton, the Bondi was my favoriteHoka. They're were well cushioned and lighter weight than you'd expect for their size, but later iterations seem to be firmer and they are rather heavy when compared to the Clifton or Clayton. The Bondi has an early meta-rocker. ** '''Valor[[Hoka Mafate]].'''. This The Mafate is a Hoka that only uses EVA foamhuge shoe, not and the harder [[RMAT]], with a 36/32mm sole heaviest and probably in the middle thickest of the Hoka weight rangeHokas. The Valor appears to be the large chain store variant of the Bondilatest iteration is great on pretty much any surface, including roads, mud, cobblestones, and slick rocks. * '''[[Hoka Stinson]].''' The Stinson is a little heavier and thicker than the Bondi variants, and is now only available in road (Lite) and trail (ATR) versions. The Stinson is one of the few Hoka road shoes that have a late meta-rocker. ** '''Stinson 3'''. The latest update to the Stinson is claimed to be now on its fourth version and is a complete redesignheavy shoe (way too heavy for me.) I'd recommend using the Clifton/Clayton for mild trails, the Challenger for moderate trails, but and the only significant change appears to be a balanced rather than late meta-rockerMafate for anything needing more traction. * '''[[Hoka MafateHupana]].''' . The Mafate Hupana is a huge shoeuses the [[RMAT]] foam for the entire sole, and the heaviest and thickest of not just the outsole like some other Hokas. The latest iteration is great on pretty much any surface, including roads, mud, cobblestones, and slick rocks. I don't normally review trail This has the advantage that the Hupana lasts rather longer than shoeswith EVA cushioning, but it also makes the Mafate is so impressive I had to include itshoe less cushioned for its weight than EVA shoes. The Mafate has an early meta-rockerHupana is fairly light, but you can get a much lighter shoe than the Hupana with the same cushioning.* If you want longevity, I'''[[Hoka Conquest]].''' While this is as big and heavy as d recommend looking for a TPU foam shoe like the [[Hoka BondiAltra Escalante]], the overly firm rather than RMAT foam ruins the shoe. The Conquest has an early meta-rocker. ** '''Hoka Vanquish'''. This shoe has a combination The latest version, the Vanquish 3, uses two layers of EVA foam and [[RMAT]], with a 34mm/30mm sole, and may be on the heavy sidesofter layer over a firmer layer. The Vanquish appears to be the large chain variant of the Conquest.* is rather heavier than I'''[[Hoka Huaka]].''' The Huaka, d like the conquest, uses RMAT foam that is hard wearing, but excessively firm. The Huaka has an early meta rockerI may test this shoe in more detail; let me know if you're interested. * '''ConstantHoka Arahi/Gaviota'''. This looks like a Hoka is trying These shoes are intended to add a medial post interfere with your biomechanics, aiming to prevent reduce pronation. [[The Science of Running Shoes]] Gaviota has shown these techniques are ineffectivemore intrusive mechanisms, using an RMAT medial post, and making it more likely to cause problems can helpof a "motion control" shoe, while the Arahi uses firmer EVA foam in its medial post. I'd expect m not a fan of this type of approach, and the shoe typical Hoka tends to be less cushioned and heavier, especially with the inclusion of the dreaded [[RMAT]]. (The Constant has a late meta-rocker.)This promises have enough passive stability without resorting to be a truly awful shoemedial posts. * '''Speedgoat'''. This shoe is named after Karl Meltzer and his race, the [http://karlmeltzer.com/speedgoat-50k/ Speedgoat 50K]. It's a true trail shoe, with 5mm lugs on a Vibram outsole. With a 30/35mm stack height it's a little shorter than the Mafate and it's lighter, but even with my obsession with weight I'd go for the Mafate because of its sticky [[RMAT]] outsole.
* '''Hiking Boots. '''Hoka have started to produce hiking boots that look impressive. They all have a minimal drop, and use an eVent waterproof liner. I don't think I'd want to run far in these, but I will be picking up a pair for my next hiking trip.
** '''Tor Summit. '''This is lowest of the range, and is more of a hiking shoe than a boot. It has the RMAT outsole, so it should stick well.
** '''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 has nearly the weight=The Best Hokas={{FastBlr|hoka-toone-cushioning ratio of the Clayton, weighing in at 8.3oz with 20one/24mm stack height. This 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 is a firmer shoe, with a worse weightclifton-to2-cushioning ratio than the better 1062|1062|Hoka shoes. You'd get more cushioning from the [[New Balance RC5000v2]] which weighs only 4.0oz. * '''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=If you want to price compare, these widgets will allow you to find the best price in your size:Clayton 2}}{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 24}}
{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/mafate-speed-1085|1085|Hoka One One Mafate Speed}}
{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/bondi-4-1083|1083|Hoka One One Bondi 4}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}