Hoka Running Shoes
By Katie Benzan
November 19, 2021
Image Credit: Courtesy of whoisjohngalt for Wikimedia Commons
Fitness TikTok has been overrun by a fad with Hoka running shoes.
Hoka prides itself on its advanced padding and a targeted-engineered midsole to provide smooth, soft and efficient shoes. Its principal objective is to ease running.
Jillian Rhae on TikTok said, “I think they’re so great and so comfy. They make your feet feel really good.”
Rhae owns two pairs of Hokas - the Hoka Bondi 6s and the Hoka Bondi 7s. Her third pair is on its way.
Hoka Bondi shoes are the most cushioned shoes of the Hoka brand.
The 6s offers an ethylene vinyl acetate midsole, breathable mesh materials and unique Meta-Rocker technology that permits a consistent ride for all distances.
Assembled with the same EVA midsole, mesh materials and technology as the Bondi 6s, the Bondi 7s is modernized with a lush collar. The collar stabilizes a variety of ankles and holds the Achilles in cushy comfort. Made from soft memory foam, the 7s contains a narrower heel.
Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard founded Hoka running shoes in 2009, just as the minimalist shoe trend began. Despite that pattern, Hoka running shoes presented a contradiction: maximalist cushioning that hugged runners’ feet.
According to Hoka blogger Michael Charboneau, the two founders designed their shoes to bring a “floating feel” to running. Hoka shoes provide enough cushioning to protect from hard terrain and rebound energy without weighing the runner down.
French trail runners Mermoud and Diard built their company based on three principles: more padding, light-weight materials and a wide, stable midsole to preserve momentum and produce a smoother, more comfortable run.
Princeton track and cross country runner Mari Noble wears the Hoka Carbon X shoes during her workouts.
Noble said, “the ones I have - the carbon X - are super lightweight and have a carbon plate that makes for a faster shoe…they are the perfect lightweight shoe that is both comfortable and supportive enough to avoid injury.”
Dr. Crystal Haskin, a New York podiatrist, said on TikTok, “my favorite sneakers for flat feet are Hoka sneakers.”
The shoes’ extra cushioning supports low arches and promotes stability, according to Runners World freelance writer Caitlin Giddings.
Sarah Peng, a freshman information science major, said she would buy Hoka shoes again because of how comfortable they are and how they make running easier. She wears the Hoka Bondi 7s.
“The chunkiness and the comfiness of the shoe stood out to me the most,” Peng said.
Mike Wardian of Arlington, Virginia, is a Hoka athlete. Wardian, who won first place at the 2017 World Marathon Challenge and is the Guiness World Record holder for 50k in 2015, explained why he chose Hoka.
“I run in Hoka for the cushion, support, comfort and style. I have been super happy with the way Hoka has allowed me to achieve my goals and do so without having to redefine or compromise,” Wardian wrote on the Hoka website.
Hoka running shoes are sold on their website, at Urban Outfitters and local running stores. The prices range from $100 to $200 depending on the style.
Hoka prides itself on its advanced padding and a targeted-engineered midsole to provide smooth, soft and efficient shoes. Its principal objective is to ease running.
Jillian Rhae on TikTok said, “I think they’re so great and so comfy. They make your feet feel really good.”
Rhae owns two pairs of Hokas - the Hoka Bondi 6s and the Hoka Bondi 7s. Her third pair is on its way.
Hoka Bondi shoes are the most cushioned shoes of the Hoka brand.
The 6s offers an ethylene vinyl acetate midsole, breathable mesh materials and unique Meta-Rocker technology that permits a consistent ride for all distances.
Assembled with the same EVA midsole, mesh materials and technology as the Bondi 6s, the Bondi 7s is modernized with a lush collar. The collar stabilizes a variety of ankles and holds the Achilles in cushy comfort. Made from soft memory foam, the 7s contains a narrower heel.
Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard founded Hoka running shoes in 2009, just as the minimalist shoe trend began. Despite that pattern, Hoka running shoes presented a contradiction: maximalist cushioning that hugged runners’ feet.
According to Hoka blogger Michael Charboneau, the two founders designed their shoes to bring a “floating feel” to running. Hoka shoes provide enough cushioning to protect from hard terrain and rebound energy without weighing the runner down.
French trail runners Mermoud and Diard built their company based on three principles: more padding, light-weight materials and a wide, stable midsole to preserve momentum and produce a smoother, more comfortable run.
Princeton track and cross country runner Mari Noble wears the Hoka Carbon X shoes during her workouts.
Noble said, “the ones I have - the carbon X - are super lightweight and have a carbon plate that makes for a faster shoe…they are the perfect lightweight shoe that is both comfortable and supportive enough to avoid injury.”
Dr. Crystal Haskin, a New York podiatrist, said on TikTok, “my favorite sneakers for flat feet are Hoka sneakers.”
The shoes’ extra cushioning supports low arches and promotes stability, according to Runners World freelance writer Caitlin Giddings.
Sarah Peng, a freshman information science major, said she would buy Hoka shoes again because of how comfortable they are and how they make running easier. She wears the Hoka Bondi 7s.
“The chunkiness and the comfiness of the shoe stood out to me the most,” Peng said.
Mike Wardian of Arlington, Virginia, is a Hoka athlete. Wardian, who won first place at the 2017 World Marathon Challenge and is the Guiness World Record holder for 50k in 2015, explained why he chose Hoka.
“I run in Hoka for the cushion, support, comfort and style. I have been super happy with the way Hoka has allowed me to achieve my goals and do so without having to redefine or compromise,” Wardian wrote on the Hoka website.
Hoka running shoes are sold on their website, at Urban Outfitters and local running stores. The prices range from $100 to $200 depending on the style.