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Hoka Shoes - Who Is Wearing Them and Why?

John StarkJohn Stark
in General Training Discussions

Hi Folks:

Because of my knee issue (minimal meniscus left) I was told to try out Hoka shoes to help me get to the finish line at IMTX in May.  I have never heard anything about them.

Who is wearing them and why?  For injury prevention?  For comfort?  Do tell.

Thanks.

Stark

Comments

  • Peter WickPeter Wick
    I started wearing Hoka Stinson Evos last June and will likely never go back to another type (or at least class of shoe). It has helped me tolerate a metatarsal problem in my left foot that has never gone away. These shoes have given me a lot of comfort over the miles. Compared to last year, I can now hit all the run workouts to their full time lengths and even extend them. Last OS I had to bag about a third of them and some were swapped with an extra bike ride. My knees and ankles experience much less trauma in them and I'm a lot more willing to workout the next day after a long run.

    I did the HRC this time and racked up over 100 points, averaging almost 9 miles per day in that stretch including a 13 miler on rocky trails and an 18 miler on the road. I've also done another 18 miler last week. Unless I'm going to be doing hard intervals or long tempo work, my usual expected time running is now 70-80 min instead of 40-60 min.

    Totally devoted. Those shoes helped me take almost a whole hour off my marathon at IMMT.
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    I didn't have any run/injury issues and was perfectly happy with my "old" running shoes. I had been running in the On Cloudrunners. I tried the Hoka's just to see what all the buzz is about. Now that I've used them for about 4 months, I don't think I'll be going back to any other shoes. I've run in the Bondi Speed S2, the Stinson Evo, the Mafate 3 Trail, and for the first time yesterday the new Conquest. Until yesterday, the The Bondi Speed S2 were my favorites, but that was replaced in 1 run by the new Conquest. The Stinson is much "softer" than Bondi's with the Conquest falling somewhere in between. The Mafate 3 were too unstable for me to run trails in, but my Bondi's were perfect for trails. I do all my runs in them now, including shorter speed work. Sorry for all that, but I really have been converted to the Hoka Cult.
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    Long thread on Hoka's here: http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/10810/Default.aspx
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Johnny boy! Me being a big dood, I used to feel thrashed after each of my long runs. Just took forever for my legs to recover.

    I was still using other shoes, mostly my Nike Free 5s, for all my runs shorter than an hour, but decided to switch to the Hokas full-time and have never looked back.

    I can now do my long run on Wed morning, and be completely fresh for hard bike intervals on Wed afternoon (my usual in-season schedule).

    You'll never look back!
    What size are you thinking? I've got a buddy who bought a pair of 11.5s and decided against them after one run, so he might be willing to let go cheaply.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Had a pair last year that I really liked and intend to pick up another at the Gasparilla running expo later this month. I want to try the Conquest.
  • harrastharrast
    Been wearing the 2013 Bondi B2s I picked up cheap from REI this fall. Legs feel better than ever. Never looked back to minimalist shoes. I'm a 160 Lbs. guy with a history of Morton's Neuroma. Minimalist shoes seemed to make it worse. Hokas feel good.
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    @steven, if you want a story of Morton's neuroma, I've got a doozy for ya! Let me know!
  • harrastharrast
    @Scott, let me have it. I've never had mine treated. The doc has offered to remove it, but there are too issues with the surgery for me right now.
  • John StarkJohn Stark

    Thanks for all the feedback, folks.  I went and bought some Hoka Stinson Tarmac's yesterday.  I tried on several pairs and the Tarmac's felt very stable like a good trail shoe.

    First run in them will be this morning.  Wish me luck.

    Thanks again.

    Stark

  • Leslie SchneiderLeslie Schneider
    Do any of you wear them with an orthotic? I usually wear one. I am always looking for more comfortable running shoes.
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    Leslie- I wear orthotics all day and have used them in all my past running shoes... But... I don't wear them in my Hoka's. I tried them in there, but they just seemed too high and unstable with them. It's weird, but I like the Hoka's better without them.
  • harrastharrast
    x2 on what John says--too high and unstable with the orthodics. I feel better without them. For a while I experimented--I kept one pair with orthodics and the other pair without. I found myself going to the non-orthodic pair. That's all I run in now. Feet feel good.
  • Brad MarcusBrad Marcus
    Another Hoka related question: I typically run in shoes with 10-11mm drop. Would I expect a major transition (soreness in the heel, Achilles) by moving to the Hoka's which have a more modest heel from?
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    @Brad, my suggestion... transition slowly to such a shorter drop. Maybe run once/week to begin with, then twice, three times, etc, before switching fully.

    Also, get into a routine to stretch your calves and strengthen your Achilles (and supporting musculature), otherwise you could potentially get some tendonitis (like I did).
  • Leslie SchneiderLeslie Schneider
    Thanks John and Steve.   I plan to try on a pair.  Too many positive reviews to ignore.  And glad to know orthodic wearers can wear these without.
  • novaavantnovaavant
    If you are looking to try them out http://www.runningwarehouse.com is cleaning out the older models right now and you can save a couple of bucks versus buying the 2014 models. They still seem to have a decent selection, I just pulled the trigger on a pair of bondi 2.
  • Bob IrwinBob Irwin
    Leslie - I wear orthotics in my Hokas and they work fine. Not sure what John and Steve tried, but I always replace the standard insole with the thinnest one I can find. Usually the Spenco flat green ones. I have a history of PF and the orthotics keep it away - always afraid to go without.
  • Leslie SchneiderLeslie Schneider
    Hokas arrived Tuesday and I tried them out on an easy 30 min run. Like riding on pillows! Thanks for the recommendation guys! Very pleased...and no orthotic used.
  • mrslicemrslice
    When I first got them, I thought they were great. I then started to get some knee issues while running in them. Like my knee wanted to go left to right instead of stay fixed. I swapped out my Hoka Bondi's for the On Cloudrunners and the knee issues subsided. I felt the Hoka's detached me from the road too much. I've been 100% thrilled with the On's. I was able to run the Disney marahon after only running in On's once prior. This just goes to show we will all have different experiences with the same product.
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