What is a Hoka? Is it the Right Running Shoe For Me?

What is a Hoka? Great question.

It turns out that even though they have been in the marketplace since 2010, the average runner, and definitely the average person, has not been introduced to the Hoka One One.

This is a revolutionary running shoe that looks absolutely ridiculous at first glance but the wow factor is in the fit and feel.  They are hugely popular in the ultradistance running community and are now starting to trend in the marathon category. The company will tell you that the Hoka was not developed to counteract the minimalist trend, but this is a maximalist shoe. They also hate that term!

Truly this is an innovative design that cushions and rocks the foot forward like a semi-wheel like construction. They have a very light EVA material with exceptional rebound and a meta-rocker midsole geometry that encourages a smoother ride and faster transition to the forefoot. A running shoe with tons of cushioning with dynamic control. Sounds too good to be true! It was recently chosen as the Editor’s Choice in Runner’s World. The company was acquired by Deckers Outdoors in 2013 and they brought them from the fringe into the limelight.

Is Hoka the shoe for you? Another great question. Like every other shoe, they are not for everyone.  There is no “one best shoe” and the average runner will scoff at the look but love the feel! They are not always the answer for runners who have repetitive stress injuries and are currently wearing minimalist shoes.  I have seen forefoot instability wear out the shoe outsole very quickly due to actually accentuating the unstable ride.

This is a great shoe for runners who are looking for an energetic yet cushioned ride. They encourage natural gait while protecting you from the concrete jungle.

The Hoka One One is worth taking a look and introducing yourself to the new shoe on the block. I think they will be here to stay. And I think we will see many more shoe type hitting the market in the next few years to try to answer the demand for more cushioning and yet stability. Hmmm....fun times in the running industry!