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Hoka blew up in the running space, like, ten+ years ago. The first Cliftons were pretty novel for being extremely plush. Light-ish weight maxi shoes weren't r
by loeg 12d ago
Hoka blew up in the running space, like, ten+ years ago. The first Cliftons were pretty novel for being extremely plush. Light-ish weight maxi shoes weren't really a thing before Hoka popularized them. Now every running shoe brand offers something in that space.
More recently I think they've been adopted by the "active retiree" crowd? They're nice to walk in.
(I owned some of the original Cliftons myself. Did not love the flimsy tongue or cheap insoles that would slide around and crumple under your toes.)
- intrasight 12d agoMy orthopedic doc and Google doc both said to get Hoka for the foot pain I am having. I was at a small restaurant last week. Was chatting with the two owners. All three of us were wearing Hoka Bondi. I am an ex-runner (hip issues). Wore Asics gel kayano for 30 years. Now I'm a Hoka man.
- triceratops 12d ago> and Google doc A doctor employed by Google? A document you maintain and the AI autocomplete recommended Hoka? Something else?
- intrasight 12d ago"Google doc" is my girlfriend's term for asking Google medical questions.
- triceratops 12d agoLol thank you for the explanation
- CobaltFire 12d agoRan in Asics Gel Kayanos for 20+ years and I'm in Hokas now too.
- itomato 12d agoYes, for running mountain centuries and ultras. Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer broke the Appalachian Trail record in them, and whoever was doing marketing then really blew a big bubble with that result. Trad brands didn't stand a chance against that sole and backstory. https://thewalkahead.com/2016/09/21/karl-meltzer-crushes-at-record-in-hoka-shoes-my-feet-were-money-all-the-way/ https://thewalkahead.com/2016/09/21/karl-meltzer-crushes-at-... https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/run/clown-shoe-thats-changing-minimalist-running/ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/run/clown-shoe-th...
- Tarsul 12d agoThats interesting because what your first link tells is that he did change shoes twice as often as normal (every 122 miles instead of every 300 miles), which for me personally would be a clear sign to stay away from these shoes. But ok, I guess many runners are more fixated on their racing clock instead of longevity of their shoes.
- alamortsubite 12d agoI wouldn't let that concern me at all. Large sections of the Appalachian Trail (including all of PA) are extremely rocky. It's hell on shoes. Having said that, I much prefer my Nike trail shoes to the Speedgoats I had.
- itomato 12d agoYes it was a speedrun. Fresh kicks, more clicks.
- LysPJ 12d agoI think Hoka's Speedgoat trainers really do live up to the marketing. I do a lot of mountain and trail running here in Norway, and I've exclusively used Hoka Speedgoats for the last five years. Their performance is excellent. (Just walking around any Norwegian town, it seems like the majority of trainers are Hokas.)
- loeg 12d agoJust running in general. Not only ultras.
- jawilson2 12d agoI just posted something similar. I think Hokas are in Facebook territory now. My 75 year old dad has been wearing them for 3 years. We just hiked in Alaska, and every single person retirement age or older was wearing Hokas. I wonder if this is a market signal to short Hoka; old people wearing them will be dead in <10 years, and no young person will be caught dead wearing them because it's an old person shoe. What is the Instagram of shoes?
- voakbasda 12d agoGood thing for Hoka that the world keeps producing fresh batches of old people. They’ll do fine.
- b3ing 11d agoHoka was advertised as walking on clouds, I bought a pair just for walking and being comfortable. My knees were hurting me sometimes after physical exercise and these shoes are everything advertised.