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Are Hoka Shoes Worth It? We Investigate If They’ve Rightfully Earned Their Place as a Sneaker Mainstay

I wore Hoka’s comfiest shoe at Disneyland and Comic-Con for four days straight. Here’s the verdict on them, once and for all.

By Sam Watanuki | Reviewed by Ysolt Usigan

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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. 

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.

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.

Hoka Bondi 9 (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........

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