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|- valign="top"
|[[File:HokaOlympusSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas.]]
|[[File:GTSliceConquestSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Asics GTHoka Conquest]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:FreeSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Nike Free]]
|[[File:HattoriSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Saucony Hattori]]
|[[File:GoRunSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Skechers GO Run Ultra]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:TorinSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Altra Torin]]
|[[File:CursorisSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Mizuno Cursoris]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GTSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Asics GT]]
|}
=What Style?=
! Notes
|-
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" rowspan="64" |Minimax
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Altra Olympus
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |10.0oz
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Top pick
|-
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-bondi-2-anthracite-grey-yellow Hoka Bondi 3]
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |11.1oz
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |5mm
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
|-
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-mafate-3-lime-anthracite-white Hoka Mafate 3]
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |15.1oz
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |6mm
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |5
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |Muddy Trail
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
|-
| style="background-color: #99FFCC;" |
|-
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.zappos.com/skechers-performance-go-run-ultra~1 Skechers GOrun Ultra]
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |9.5oz
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |A remarkable shoe with new midsole technology
|-
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/HKA116/mens-hoka-one-one-conquest/ Hoka Conquest]
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |11.9oz
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4mm
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |28/34mm
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road/Rocky Trail
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Thick, but too firm
|-
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-rapa-nui-2-tarmac-black-cyan-white Hoka Rapa Nui 2 Tarmac]
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |10.7oz
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |4mm
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |26/30mm
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |3
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Road
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |Lighter for a Hoka but overly firm
|-
| style="background-color: #CCFFFF;" |[http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Mizuno Cursoris]
{{Main|Hoka Shoe Review}}
[[File:HokaHalfs.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|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.]]
The Hoka shoes started the 'Minimum Drop, Maximum Cushioning' style of shoe and are still unique in their level of cushioning. The Hokas generally use extremely soft foam, with a wide base to improve stability. Their soles are thicker than most other shoes in this category, so they are quite heavy, though not as heavy as they look. Most of the Hokas do well on both asphalt and rocky trails, though the Mafate is designed for softer trails and does not like asphalt. The Hokas provide remarkable protection from rough trail surfaces, and the thick, soft soles mold themselves around stones to provide more grip on rocky trails than you'd expect. Other than the sole, the Hoka is a poor design, with a remarkably tight toe box and they are typically rather inflexible. * ===Bondi===The Bondi is my favorite of the Hoka range, with a nicely cushioned ride. I've found that the Original Bondi B, the Bondi 2, Bondi 3 and Bondi Speed are all round Hokaremarkably similar. I have a slight preference for the Speed, but the difference is mostly visual. I've run with a Bondi B on one foot and the Speed on the other without feeling any real difference. The Bondi has a horribly small toe box is tight, even for a Hoka, but once it's got cut open the shoe works quite well, and the Bondi has best balance of soft cushioning and reasonable weight. There is also in the Bondi Speed/[http://wwwHoka range.zappos.com/hoka-one-one-bondi-evo-brilliant-blue-hi-rise-citrus The Bondi Evo] that is quite similarnot available as a trail specific version, but I've found it works pretty well on most trails, as is though it lacks the lugs for slick, muddy tails. ===Stinson.===* The Mafate Stinson is the thickest available as a road (Tarmac) or trail version, and heaviest of the Hokas, and it firmer trail version has an outsole that is more aggressive than you might expect. Howeverthe road version, it has though I've found the most aggressive outsole for use in muddy trailstrail version is quite happy on roads.* The Conquest Stinson is a little lighter slightly heavier and thicker than the Bondi, but is not as softly cushionedby much. The Conquest There has been a 'Stinson Evo Low' which is using a newer foam (RMAT) thinner version that they claim is longer lasting. I rather liked, but I've not worn out my Conquest shoes yet, so I canseen it for sale for a while. ===Mafate===The Mafate is only available as a trail version and it't comment on s the heaviest and thickest of the longevity, but Hokas. I don't expect think the same softness as extra thickness and weight is worth it, and I prefer the Bondi. * The Rapa Nui 2 is lighter, thinner and Mafate does have a little cheaper more aggressive outsole than the other Hokas, trail Stinson but I found it far too firm 's not enough for me to be considered 'maximum cushioning'recommend the Mafate over the Stinson. In fact, the Adidas Energy Boost feels far more cushioned to meThe Mafate outsole is reasonably happy on roads, though it does not offer I've found the same level of protection from stones or uneven surfacesoutsole sometimes lacks grip on wet asphalt.
=Minimax Transitional=
These shoes are not quite 'minimum drop, maximum cushioning' of the Minimax category, but they're thicker than most shoes and tend to have less drop.
The Energy Boost is immediately comfortable, with a light, flexible upper with no noticeable seams. I'm thankfully Adidas has used a traditional tongue and laces, rather than a sock style upper or Velcro fastening. And while the sole has the traditional raised heel, there is none of the multi-density foam or other intrusions that are so common. I think a lot of people will buy the boost because of its immediate comfort, but stay with it for its extraordinary characteristics.
==Mizuno Cursoris==
[[File:CursorisCursorisSlice.jpgJPG|none|thumb|200pxx300px|The [http://www.roadrunnersportsMizuno Cursoris.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Cursoris]You can see the plastic wave plate in the forefoot as a thin blue line between the orange foam and the small black foam inset.]]
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/MIZ752/ Cursoris] is a light shoe with a soft sole, almost as soft as the Hokas, but only half the thickness so overall the cushioning is less. The Cursoris is clearly a road shoe, with little protection from stones, and no outsole grip. The toe box is the biggest and best designed of any shoe I've tried, even better than the Altra's. The upper is soft, which some people find strange and can result in them being over tightened. Once you get used to the feeling that they're barely there, they stay in place well. However, they wear as quickly as you might expect, so the cost per mile is quite high. <br style="clear: both" />
==Altra Torin==
[[File:TorinTorinSlice.jpgJPG|none|thumb|200pxx300px|The [http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-Altra Torin, showing the distinctive taper that Altra uses towards the front of the-torin-black-green Torin]midsole.]]
The [http://www.zappos.com/altra-zero-drop-footwear-the-torin-black-green Torin] is superficially similar to the Cursoris, with a similar shape and sole. However the Torin uses a firmer foam, so it feels quite different. Like the Cursoris, the Torin is a road shoe, with no outsole grip. While the Torin has a better toe box than nearly every other shoe, it's not as good as the Cursoris. The Torin has lots of space beside the big toe, but the smallest toe is more cramped and the roof of the toe box is low. There are a lot of complaints about the lacing on the Torin not coming up the foot high enough so it feels like there is too much movement around the ankle. While this feels a little odd, I did not notice any actual problems from this unless the laces are loose. The firmer foam will provide more protection from stones and uneven surfaces than the Cursoris, but it will not provide the level of soft cushioning. <br style="clear: both" />
==Saucony Virrata==
==New Balance Fresh Foam 980==
The [http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NBA1584/mens-new-balance-fresh-foam-980/ New Balance Fresh Foam 980] has less of a drop than a traditional running shoe, but it does not have the same soft cushioning of a Minimax shoe. This is not a bad shoe for someone looking for slightly less of a drop than a traditional shoe while avoiding the thin sole of a minimalist shoe.
==Hoka Transitional==
The Hoka Conquest and Rapa Nui are not like the Hoka shoes that started the Minimax category. These shoes are much firmer and lack the comfort that make Hokas popular.
===Conquest===
[[File:ConquestSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|The Hoka Conquest. Notice the holes in the top of the green foam, which I think are an attempt to soften the overly firm feel. ]]
The Conquest is a little lighter than the Bondi, but is not as softly cushioned. The Conquest is using a newer type of foam (RMAT) that Hoka claim is longer lasting. I only ran about 200 miles in the Conquest before I'd had enough. I can believe that it would last longer than the other Hokas, but the foam is also a lot firmer. You can see some deep slots cut into the foam, which I assume is an attempt to soften the shoe. The Conquest is not really cushioned enough to be considered a true 'maximum cushioning' shoe.
===Rapa Nui===
The Rapa Nui 2 is lighter, thinner and a little cheaper than the other Hokas, but I found it even firmer than the Conquest. In fact, the Adidas Energy Boost feels far more cushioned to me, though it does not offer the same level of protection from stones or uneven surfaces.
=Traditional=
I've included a couple of traditional running shoes, mostly for comparison.
