Cloud Comfort: These Hoka Shoes Will Make You Feel Like You're Walking on Air (2024)

Memorial Day Deal

Memorial Day features a deal on one of our favorite HOKA shoes. The HOKA Mach X (select colors only) is on sale.

The TL;DR on the Best HOKA Shoes

Sizes: 5 to 12 women's; 7 to 16 men's | Widths: Regular, wide, X-wide | Recommended For: Running, walking, comfort

Once you slip on the Bondis, you'll get why everyone's obsessed with HOKAs. "Our customers love the Bondi because it’s the most cushioned sneaker in HOKA’s lineup and it’s just as comfortable for walking as it is for running," says Caroline Bell, who oversees the Gear and Shoe Review process at Fleet Feet. The sneakers' ample cushioning and arch support make them a great option for people with foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis or flat feet, or anyone who's just standing all day.

"Not only are the Bondis cushioned on the bottom, but they're topped off with a plush, cozy upper that wraps around your foot like a soft hug," Bell says. And everyone's guaranteed to find the perfect fit for them, as the Bondis come in regular and wide widths.

Sizes: 5 to 12 women's; 7 to 15 men's | Widths: Regular and wide | Recommended For: Walking, running

The Arahi is one of the most stable shoes in HOKA’s lineup, as it achieves a balance between cushion and support thanks to its J-Frame cushioning, which wraps around the heel and extends up the inner side to provide extra support during walks or runs.This feature makes the Arahis great for folks with flat feet, Bell says. "Runners with flat feet tend to have more flexible arches, which is why Fleet Feet outfitters may recommend a supportive, stable shoe. The HOKA Arahi uses HOKA’s J-Frame technology, a J-shaped 'hook' of firm midsole foam around the heel and medial side of the shoe to reduce excessive pronation (or the inward rolling of the foot)," she says.

On our testing walks and runs, we did notice that the Arahis weren’t quite as responsive as other HOKAs we’ve tested. But what these shoes lacked in springiness, they made up for in stability — which was why we think they’re the perfect HOKA shoes for walking. If you’re looking for that bounce-back feeling, however, consider the Mach 5 instead.

Sizes: 6-11 | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Running

When you wake up on race day morning — whether you’re running a 5K or a marathon — you’ll want to reach for the Hoka Cielo X1 running shoes. The exaggerated rocker bottom is basically banana-shaped, and it’s super propulsive; you almost can’t help but run when you’re wearing these shoes. The cutouts on the sole add a little flexibility to your stride, and there’s a carbon fiber plate sandwiched between two layers of foam for extra energy return. You’ll feel bouncy and ready to PR wearing these HOKAs.

Sizes: 5 to 12 women's; 7 to 16 men's | Widths: regular and wide | Recommended For: Running, walking

If you're an avid runner, the HOKA Cliftons may become your new go-to running shoe. The breathable knit upper hugs your foot, offering support while ensuring your feet won't get sweaty during long runs. And the extra lightweight cushion helps you rebound off the ground with each stride. This shoe is crafted with an early-stage meta-rocker midsole, which sort of serves as a rocking chair for your foot. It cradles your foot and "helps you gently transition from heel to toe," Bell says. "Not only is the HOKA Clifton great for running, but it’s a top choice among walkers thanks to its lightweight cushioning that feels both plush and resilient," she says.

Sizes: 5 to 11 women's; 7 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Everyday running, race day

HOKAs are known for their layers marshmallow-like cushioning — so what sets a pair of HOKAs apart for plush performance? That honor goes to the HOKA Mach X, a neutral running shoe that wowed us in our tests. Even though the brand calls this shoe “responsive” and the heel-to-toe drop is merely 5 mm, we thought it felt cloud-like and soft on our feet. We did feel these shoes run a little narrow, and it’s not available in a wide width. While we loved wearing these shoes for everyday walks in addition to running, we think the price is a little high if you’re only going to use these shoes for walking.

Sizes: 5 to 12 women's; 7 to 15 men's | Widths: Regular and wide | Recommended For: Walking, running

Plantar fasciitis is no match for the super supportive Gaviotas that offer maximum stability and cushion. "If you [live with] plantar fasciitis, your feet can benefit from a high stack height (or the amount of material between your foot and the ground), extra cushion and additional structure. And these features make the Gaviota one of our top recommended shoes for plantar fasciitis," says Victor Ornelas, the senior director of vendor management at Fleet Feet. In our testing, we noticed that the Gaviotas offered excellent stability; the support was especially top-notch in the heel (perfect for runners with plantar fasciitis).

And like the Cliftons, these also feature an early-stage meta-rocker. The meta-rocker can also help with the stabbing heel pain that folks with plantar fasciitis are all too familiar with. "The thick cushioning feels comfortable under your feet, and you can further customize your shoe with additional support by adding a structured insole, such as one from Superfeet or Currex," Ornelas recommends. While we felt totally supported in this plush, stable shoe, they did feel a bit heavy on our feet. We’d use these for everyday training runs, but we’d probably pull a lighter pair for race day.

Sizes: 5 to 11 women's; 7 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Trail running, race

Trail running challenges both the body and mind, and you need a shoe that'll keep up with you through rough terrains and tough descents. "The Tecton X offers a responsive ride, thanks to two parallel carbon-fiber plates in the midsole, plus a grippy outsole that offers aggressive traction and durability," says Helming.

The Tecton X gained major points in our trail running tests because they're extremely grippy and provide excellent traction when transitioning between different types of terrain. And it's easy to switch direction and stay light on the feet with these on, and we actually really liked wearing them on paved roads, too. They're quite sticky on indoor floors and have a really nice grip, which makes them ideal for running over uneven surfaces.Fit-wise, these had plenty of room in the toe box; they didn't require any break-in time and still, we didn't experience sliding or rubbing while wearing these. Major bonus: We found it very easy to get dirt off the fabric — simply wipe it off or rinse it off under the sink — so these sneakers will stay looking relatively new.

Sizes: 5 to 11 women's; 7 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Trail running

The HOKA Speedgoat 5 GTX blew us away with its grippy outsole and nimbleness in slippery, wet conditions (although you can get the Speedgoat Low without the GORE-TEX covering). We were able to easily navigate different types of terrain on the trail, whether wet or dry. What's more, the gaiter helps keep loose gravel or debris from getting into the shoe, and the breathable, stay-dry material comes in handy, especially when traversing or short-jumping the occasional stream or brook.If you’re often running on snowy trails, try the Speedgoat 5 GTX Spike. The soles have 12 tungsten carbide spikes to help you dig into icy terrain (read: you won’t fall flat on your butt).

Sizes: 5 to 11 women's; 7 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Training, running

While most running shoes are notoriously hard to lift in, the Kawanas provide a good balance between stability and cushion that make them well-suited for pre- or post-lift runs."We love the HOKA Kawana for cross-training because it’s firm enough to hold its own in the gym, during HIIT workouts, or just about any workout you throw at it," says Bell. "It stands out from other HOKA models because the cushioning feels much stiffer, creating a stable platform for cross-training exercises like lunges, burpees, or squats."

These have less cushion than the Bondis but more stability than the Cliftons. So when you want to hop on the treadmill after your last set, you can count on the Kawanas to provide a smooth, responsive transition thanks to the balanced cushioning and sloped heel. However, if your feet are on the wider side, you may want to go up a half size as these aren't available in wide widths and tend to run a bit narrow.

Sizes: 5 to 16 women's; 3 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Recovery, lifestyle

Not your average recovery shoe, the Ora Recovery slide features a top layer of soft EVA foam for post-run bliss and an early-stage meta-rocker for smooth strides. "Fleet Feet customers love to treat their feet by sliding into these after tough races and workouts," Bell says. So instead of walking barefoot around your home, give your feet more support by slipping into these cushiony slides. But note that these do have a heel cup, or a raised edge by the heel, which some wearers note causes uncomfortable rubbing against the heel.

The Oras feature four air-flow channels for extra breathability as well as a wide base, a moderate amount of stability, a slip-resistant sole, and superior cushion for all-day comfort. And you can even wear these with socks thanks to their textured footbed that helps keep your foot in place. We also love that these are made of a renewable material, sugarcane, so you can take comfort in the fact that these are a bit better for the planet than your typical rubber slides.

Sizes: 5 to 15 women's; 4 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Walking, lifestyle

The Clifton Suede is a great option for those who don’t want to sacrifice comfort for style. These shoes combine everything we love about the Clifton, such as resilient cushioning, with a stylish suede upper for everyday comfort, Bell says. The chunky Clifton Suedes come in neutral monochromatic colorways, including a sandy beige and black-on-black, that will add some street-style flair to any outfit, says April Benshosan, SHAPE commerce writer and digital nomad, who relies on her HOKAs to comfortably explore new cities abroad.However, because suede can be difficult to clean, especially if it's a light color, you'll want to make sure to take extra care when trying to remove stains.

Sizes: 6 to 15 women's; 5 to 14 men's | Widths: Regular | Recommended For: Hiking

The HOKA Kaha 2 Low GTX shoes are highly cushioned, sort of like a firm pillow, and heavier than the Tecton X2 trail running shoes, mostly because of that extra cushion and tread. When testing the Kaha Low GTX, we noted that they have the heft and tread ruggedness you'd want from hiking shoes. They do run a bit large, but we noticed that they are very comfortable straight out of the box and didn't cause any blisters, which is surprising since hiking boots typically cause some pain when breaking in. Plus, these felt breathable yet warm thanks to the Gore-Tex material, so these would be great hiking shoes for chillier or wetter fall hikes.

This shoe's rigidity adds a nice amount of stability—both for the foot and the ankle. Its stack height (or the amount of material between your foot and the ground) provides plenty of shock support, too. Also worth noting: These shoes are really responsive. The Vibram Megagrip traction and ankle support will help you propel with ease without being uncontrollably springy. Overall, these would be the perfect boot alternative for hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which HOKA shoe is best for me?

  Although there are so many different types of HOKAs to pick from, choosing the right running shoe for you doesn't have to be complicated. The best way to know which features you need is to get fit at your local specialty running shoe store, like Fleet Feet.

  Learning about your foot length, width, and arch height helps you understand what features to look for in your running shoes, Bell says. And you can use these factors to help you decide whether you want a neutral running shoe, like the HOKA Bondi or Clifton, or a stability running shoe, like the HOKA Gaviota.

• Do HOKA shoes run big?

  HOKA shoes can feel roomy to runners with low-volume feet. "Think of low-volume feet as feet that don’t take up a lot of space within the shoe, and high-volume feet as feet that do," says Helming.

  Also good to know: Unisex shoes will fit differently depending on the type of last they are built around. A good rule of thumb is for men to wear their regular shoe size and for women to take their shoe size and subtract 1.5 or 2 off the men's sizing, Helming says. So if you're a women's size 7, you'll probably fit into a 5 or 5.5 in men's or unisex sizing.

• Where can you buy HOKA shoes?

  
  HOKA sneakers are available at a wide range of retailers, whether you prefer to shop online or IRL. If you want to shop their full range of shoes, including the latest (and limited-edition) releases, your best bet is to go on the official HOKA website. But the shoes are also available in sporting goods stores, specialty running shoe stores, and online retailers, such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Fleet Feet, Amazon, and Zappos.
  

• How much do HOKAs cost?

  Expect to spend between $140 and $220 on a pair of HOKA sneakers.