The Hoka Report

Well these are funny looking shoes. They look like a cross between platform shoes and a bag of marshmallows. What intrigued me to buying a pair was the fact that so many ultra runners love it and I just had to find out why. I am not an ultra runner but whatever they like I listen to. They know what works on the 'long run' (pun intended). Yes, it may not seem like the shoe for people who were born to run, but maybe for those who were born and then decided to run. or for those who run to be reborn.

So without any literary dissertation and scientific evidence based hypothesising (this is not a real word, don't quote me), this is what I think about the Hoka One One's:

- A funny looking pair of shoes needs a funny name.
- They look heavy but they are not. The spring-like effect on each stride makes you feel lighter actually.
- The bulky size encourages shortened but more frequent strides. This is good right? Textbook way to help avoiding injury (which I need badly!).
- For the above reason: not for sprinting. They are high mileage shoes. Hence the appreciation by ultra runners.
- Expensive. But competition will come in soon and drive profits to zero in no time. Buy stock now, sell when Fila makes a version of it, or when they show up at Modell's.
- Nice colors.
- Not just soft on landing but seems to give you a little spring-like push when leaving the ground.
- Very forgiving shoes, people with sub-par mechanics will love it (like me). Excellent for high mileage running.
- Not great for trail or uneven surfaces, despite the ads. The platform height makes it less stable. Even ultra runners recommend it for trails but if you are 6'1" and 185lbs like me then I would get a pair of ski poles as well to better balance. I often lost my balance while running on a rooty, rocky trail. I should mention that my ankles are almost as bad as my knees, so they do need more support.
- LOVE'EM on long runs on hard surface. Like during most urban races. LOVE THEM. (ok point taken...)
- Not for racing. If you want to go fast, even in a marathon, wear other shoes designed for speed. These are not designed for speed. They are high mileage training shoes. I will wear them to marathons because I am not that competitive in the first place. I may even pr with these, because my current marathon pr is pathetic (relative to the amount of running I do, no disrespect to those slower than me). If you are racing, trying to pr, forget these puppies.
- I can't wait to go running in them. I am actually excited about getting up in the am to put these marshmallow clogs on and go for a run. Yes, people do smile when they see me in them. But who cares? The day will come when they shed their rubber socks (toe shoes) and strap on these cloud joggers.
- Will they strengthen your feet and ligaments like the toe shoes? Probably not as much over the same distances. But if you run long enough they will, or if you mix in non-Hoka runs in your training you will...

All in all, I would recommend these to those who constantly struggle to find the right pair of running shoes. If bare foot running scares you. If support shoes seem to heavy and don't really seem to work that well. If you destroyed your knees growing up as a mad downhill skiing lunatic (yes, like me). If all of a sudden you decided the void in your life can be filled with running 75 miles a week but don't have a running background. I think you get the point...

Enjoy the flight!