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!

Vibram Settles Lawsuit for False Advertising of the Benefits of Barefoot Running

Vibram, the company behind FiveFingers shoes, just settled a $3.75 million class action lawsuit over false claims that its running shoe yields health benefits, Runner's World reports. The thin-soled, flexible shoes, which cost about $100 a pair, are said to mimic the experience of running in bare feet, and thus "improve foot health" -- an unsupported claim the company falsely advertised. This was also reported in the Huffington Post on 5/10/14. 

The company extensively advertised that their shoes would strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improve range of motion in the ankles, feet and toes; stimulate neural function important to balance and agility, eliminate heel lift to align the spine and improve posture, and allow the foot and body to move naturally.

Does this mean that all of these claims are false? Does it mean that we should get rid of all of our "zero drop" minimalist shoes? No, but it means that not everyone benefits from the use of these types of shoes and that caution should be taken when transitioning from traditional running style to more of a "barefoot feel".

Personally, I have seen some benefits from sprinkling in barefoot running and using a more minimalist shoe for tempo runs and track workouts. I also have many patients who praise the change to a more minimalist shoe; but I also have lots and lots of casualties from minimalist running. At one point in my Grapevine, Texas office, we had a tally going on a white board of the number of stress fractures linked to Vibram-type shoes.

Bottom line: Minimalist running should be approached with caution and pre-hab strengthening of your feet before shedding your traditional running shoe is a must; but just like very other fad that has passed throughout he running community, its not all bad!