Are Hoka Shoes Worth It? We Investigate If They’ve Rightfully Earned Their Place as a Sneaker Mainstay
· Vice
If you’ve spent any time near a running store, a theme park, or even just a crowded food hall, you’ve undoubtedly overheard someone evangelize about Hoka’s absurdly oversized soles.
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Admittedly, I’ve never really seen the charm. Maybe it’s just because options are limited for my size 14 feet, and my 6’2” height certainly doesn’t need any sort of help from a giant, lift-like sole. Or, maybe it was just the fact that I’ve been a Nike wearer all my life. But, alas… a recent pair of new Nikes significantly dropped the ball in terms of their comfort and support. So much so, that I decided to reconsider Hoka.
I went in mildly skeptical of a shoe that looks like a marshmallow strapped to your foot. Then, I wore a pair through four of the least forgiving walking days I’ve put my feet through in years—and came out the other side mostly converted, with one asterisk worth knowing about before you buy.
A Little Background
Hoka is a French brand founded in 2009 by two Salomon veterans—one a former company president, the other its marketing director—who set out to build an oversized outsole with more cushioning for running downhill than anything else on the market at the time. Ultramarathoners adopted the brand first for its support, stability, and surprisingly light build given the size of the sole.
Since then, Hoka has become an everyday shoe for nurses, retail workers, travelers, and anyone else on their feet all day, not just competitive runners.
My Feet Went Through It, So Hoka’s Foam Didn’t Have To
I took a pair of Bondi 9s (Hoka’s plushiest, most maximalist model) on a whirlwind trip that had no business being kind to anyone’s feet. Just a week ago, I spent two full days at Disneyland, from rope drop to well after the fireworks, followed by two all-day stretches roaming the exhibition hall at San Diego Comic-Con. I knew my newest Nike purchase wouldn’t hold up based on another recent trip roaming around the party-fueled streets of New Orleans.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Bondi 9 (opens in a new window)
$228.05 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window)The Bondis? They held up. It felt like walking on a cloud, and even with a sole that’s almost comically thick, I didn’t notice it messing with my balance or stride at 6’2″. That’s no small feat (you’re welcome for that dad jokey-wordplay). That’s also the whole promise of Hoka’s oversized midsole in a nutshell. You’re getting more foam between you and the pavement, without making you feel like you’re wearing a platform shoe. You’re probably not a Spice Girl, after all.
The catch showed up after four days. I had blisters on the toe between my middle and pinky toes on both feet. The crazy part, though, is that my toes never felt squished and the shoes never felt tight going on. I’m confident that it ultimately boils down to this issue being more of a wide-foot problem than a Hoka problem. Which, as it turns out, tracks with what a lot of other Bondi 9 wearers with wider feet have reported.
It’s a common enough note in reviews and retailer feedback that Hoka’s standard width on this model runs noticeably snugger through the toe box than earlier Bondis did, with several reviewers pointing wider-footed buyers toward the wide or extra-wide version instead. My takeaway is the same as theirs: size up in width, not length, if your feet (like mine) aren’t narrow.
It’s hard to imagine going back to my lifelong staple of Nike after this. Next pair, I’m just opting for the extra-wide-foot version from the jump.
What It’ll Cost You
Hoka shoes aren’t cheap… the third reason why I avoided the brand for so long.
Running-shoe review sites put the brand’s average price around $150+, roughly $20 above the category average, and the max-cushion Bondi line typically runs closer to $180, but when they’re in high demand (like right now), they might cost upwards of $250. For the record, I paid $182 on my Bondi 9s directly from the brand’s website, and that included free shipping thanks to it being my first order.
That premium buys heavier R&D, higher-grade cushioning foam, and (fair or not) a brand that’s currently having a real cultural moment.
What Reviewers (Not Just Me) Actually Say About the Current Lineup
You don’t need to buy all of these to know whether the hype holds up. The review circuit has already done a lot of that work:
Hoka Clifton
Clifton (currently the Clifton 11, plus the newer Clifton Pro): Widely considered Hoka’s most versatile daily trainer, it’s lighter and more flexible than the Bondi, and the one most reviewers point to first if you only want one Hoka in rotation.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Clifton 11 (opens in a new window)
$154 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window) (opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Clifton Pro (opens in a new window)
$165 at HOKA Buy Now (opens in a new window)Hoka Bondi
Bondi (currently the Bondi 9, with a Bondi 10 rolling out this year): The max-cushion flagship, and the one I tested. Reviewers consistently praise the shock absorption and all-day comfort, and just as consistently flag the narrower toe box as the thing to watch for if you have wider feet.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Bondi 9 (opens in a new window)
$228.05 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window)Hoka Mach
Mach (currently the Mach 7, with the plated Mach X 3 above it): The line for people who want Hoka’s comfort without the bulk. Built for speed, the Machs are lower to the ground, more responsive, favored for tempo runs and as an everyday trainer that doesn’t feel like a marshmallow.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Mach 7 (opens in a new window)
$144.95 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window) (opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Mach X 3 (opens in a new window)
$160 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window)Hoka Gaviota and Hoka Arahi
Gaviota and Arahi: Hoka’s stability options for runners who overpronate, offering guided support without losing the brand’s signature softness.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Gaviota 6 (opens in a new window)
$162.35 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window) (opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Arahi 8 (opens in a new window)
$149.95 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window)Hoka Rincon
Rincon: The budget pick, but still a good one. It’s noticeably lighter than the rest of the lineup at a lower price point, without giving up much cushioning.
(opens in a new window) HOKAHoka Rincon 4 (opens in a new window)
$133.84 at Amazon Buy Now (opens in a new window)Foot Doctor-Recommended
Dr. Miguel Cunha is a podiatrist at Gotham Footcare in New York City, and he attests that the shoes do have major ergonomic benefits. “Hoka is one of my favorite brands of sneakers that I commonly recommend to my patients particularly when they have wide feet,” he said via Today. “These sneakers stand out compared to other brands because they have a wider toe box and can more comfortably accommodate a wide forefoot to minimize the formation or aggravation of conditions commonly associated with wide feet including bunions, hammertoes, ingrown nails, and neuromas.” Dr. Cunha specifically recommends the Cliftons for people who suffer from Insertional Achilles Tendonitis given “they’re designed with a plush collar that reduces the pressure placed on the back of the foot providing increased comfort and support,” while the Bondis are great for alleviating pain in the balls of the feet.
Dr. Cunha listed all the reasons why these shoes are superior, including a rigid shank (they won’t bend in half), a rigid heel counter (they should be incompressible), a spacious toe box, a well-cushioned footbed and arch support, deep heel cups for alignment, a lightweight sole, and shock absorption.
Physical therapist Dr. James Higgins of Integrative Physical Therapy of NYC, offered up a different take—while he loves Hokas for running, he makes the case that some styles are not great for everyday wear. “I have personally witnessed an association between patients that wear Hokas for everyday use and foot pain and discomfort,” he says. “This may be due to the Meta-Rocker—the rocker essentially braces the bottom of the foot, and with bracing comes acquired weakness of the extrinsic and intrinsic foot musculature. Therefore, everyday use of the Meta-Rocker, over a long period, may contribute to general foot musculature atrophy which can lead to foot pain, and plantar fasciitis in some cases.” But again, he also agrees that Hokas are fantastic for running. He even wears the Mach model himself.
Finally, VICE spoke with physical therapist Jimmy Williams of Finish Line Physical Therapy, a business that specializes in treating runners and triathletes. In a previous life, he managed a running store. Now, his patients and athletes go through a running gait analysis before he offers a personalized shoe recommendation. “The list always includes a Hoka model, but the type depends on the person’s foot and how their foot moves when they run,” he said. Williams went on to say he buys his dad a new pair of Hoka Bondi shoes every Christmas because, according to him, they’re the comfiest shoes ever. “I do think that people who walk would benefit from the extra cushion, especially if they are dealing with any type of big toe pain or generalized foot soreness,” he adds.
So, Are They Worth It?
Yes… with a fitting caveat for my fellow wide-footed brothers and sisters. The comfort is kind of unbelievable, the hype is largely earned, and there’s a reason that ultrarunners and anyone spending all day on their feet end up in the same brand.
But “worth it” comes with homework. You need to know which line matches what you’re actually doing (Clifton for daily wear, Bondi for max cushion, Mach for speed, etc.), and if you could use your wider feet as water skis on their own, start with the wide width instead of learning it the hard way over four days at Disneyland.
*Slams gavel.* Hokas are worth it. Just get sized right first.
The post Are Hoka Shoes Worth It? We Investigate If They’ve Rightfully Earned Their Place as a Sneaker Mainstay appeared first on VICE.