I was one of the people who laughed when I saw Hokas the first time - especially in the floral color ways early on. I thought they were completely ridiculous. I trained in Adidas Tempos (lightweight trainer with a small amount of stability). I was also chronically injured early on in my running career, and assumed I just wasn't made to run more than 25mpw without getting hurt.
I got a pair of the Speedgoat on a whim when I was sidelined by an IT band issue - at the time I was training in the Lunaracer (all-time favorite shoe) and the Tempos. I hated them at first, used them briefly (maybe 2wks) to get over the injury and then tossed them in the closet. A few months later I was trying again to boost my mileage to 40+ for a consistent period (figuring it was the definition of insanity to expect a different result after trying so many times), started to feel some of my common aches and pains, and pulled out the Hokas to give them a shot. They completely took the beating off of my legs.
The negative for me was that the super soft feel created a brief bout of PF, which I'd never dealt with before (was usually a sfx & tendonitis victim). I switched the insoles for a set I pulled out of my lunaracers (instead of the stock ortholite), and it went away (I would also assume that dampening the cushioning over more miles helped).
I can't give all the credit to Hokas for allowing me to finally train running with some vigor (consistent 40-60mpw pretty much ever since that buildup), because I used them as a tool to rotate with other shoes, which I think is their best use. Additionally, I made some other changes (increased cadence, slowed down my easy pace from 7-7:30 to 8-9:00, 5k race pace was 5:35 at the time). I still use them routinely for recovery runs, and I don't find them comfortable for anything fast (albeit again, I use the Speedgoat). High cushion shoes have a permanent place in the toolbox.
I currently am not using them due to a financially unsustainable affinity for the Nike Pegasus Turbo, which I think are one of the best all-around shoes available, super cushioned but also so fast. I rotate them with the New Balance FuelCell Rebel - not sure if those are considered high cushion.
"Don't you have to go be stupid somewhere else?"..."Not until 4!"
I got a pair of the Speedgoat on a whim when I was sidelined by an IT band issue - at the time I was training in the Lunaracer (all-time favorite shoe) and the Tempos. I hated them at first, used them briefly (maybe 2wks) to get over the injury and then tossed them in the closet. A few months later I was trying again to boost my mileage to 40+ for a consistent period (figuring it was the definition of insanity to expect a different result after trying so many times), started to feel some of my common aches and pains, and pulled out the Hokas to give them a shot. They completely took the beating off of my legs.
The negative for me was that the super soft feel created a brief bout of PF, which I'd never dealt with before (was usually a sfx & tendonitis victim). I switched the insoles for a set I pulled out of my lunaracers (instead of the stock ortholite), and it went away (I would also assume that dampening the cushioning over more miles helped).
I can't give all the credit to Hokas for allowing me to finally train running with some vigor (consistent 40-60mpw pretty much ever since that buildup), because I used them as a tool to rotate with other shoes, which I think is their best use. Additionally, I made some other changes (increased cadence, slowed down my easy pace from 7-7:30 to 8-9:00, 5k race pace was 5:35 at the time). I still use them routinely for recovery runs, and I don't find them comfortable for anything fast (albeit again, I use the Speedgoat). High cushion shoes have a permanent place in the toolbox.
I currently am not using them due to a financially unsustainable affinity for the Nike Pegasus Turbo, which I think are one of the best all-around shoes available, super cushioned but also so fast. I rotate them with the New Balance FuelCell Rebel - not sure if those are considered high cushion.
"Don't you have to go be stupid somewhere else?"..."Not until 4!"