Picked them up last week from Gear West Run and Ski in Long Lake (best run store in the TC area, bar none. Ask for Jan, multiple IM finisher and elite AG’er).
Background, 59 years old, 6’3", 230ish with 15 to 20lbs winter weight. Currently, longest running event is half marathons. No real knee or foot problems, but both ache after anything over 3 miles and over 6 miles they still feel beat up the next day and I have pretty much stopped running back to back days. Best shoe for me has always been the ASICS Gel Nimbus, with Nike Vomeros second.
After Slowmans several articles on the Hokas, decided to give them a try,
First impression. Damn, they are big and clumsy looking but surprisingly about the same weight as my Nimbi.
Second impression: Spongy feeling, not in bad way, just different from any other shoe. Not a lot of support or structure.
Third impression, 8 mile run. Since I run very “flat footed” anyway, no stride adjustment issues mentioned elsewhere, no leg fatigue on the home leg otherwise typical.
Fourth impression: Got home, felt absolutely nothing, no aching or soreness, same next day, went for 3 mile run that felt good, still no aching feet or knees. Also no calf cramps in the middle of the night. Legs haven’t felt that good in at least 10 years.
Conclusion: Hokas are amazing, unbelievable difference. I have no doubt Hokas will reduce the wear and tear on my legs, knees and feet and extend their lifespan. If you are an older or bigger runner, I strongly suggest trying them out. Yes, they are more expensive but worth every penny.
Hoka’s are incredible!! Below is a excert from an email from one of my friends who i recommended Hoka’s to. He is almost 60 and a Doctor who literally obsesses on detail- He can tell you the exact workouts he did on any given day going back 30 years. He had been running the same 12 mile loop on Saturdays for the last 15 years and has always stopped in three differnet spots to stretch-like clockwork! Since he’s been running in the Hoka’s- no more stops, no more soreness or fatigue. Like many other have said, there is something different about these oversized shoes… I guess if it works for golf, skiing etc… it should make sense for running.
“As for Hokas: I had bought into the minimalist movement for over a year, and over time slowly started developing “mystery problems, aches and pains” I had never had before that started bothering me on every run. Began suspecting something rotten with the minimalist concept. And then Darren turned me onto the Hokas. Bought them the next day. Almost immediately all pain issues gone, never to return. And just recently, hadn’t run long in 3 weeks, so last weekend set out for a 1:20 – 1:30 run. Halfway thru hooked into some friends going the other way, lost track of time and ended up running for 2:15. Normally I would have “paid the price” for that indiscretion. Paid nothing. No bodily “repercussions” later that afternoon. Hokas deliver critical mass impact reduction. Hokas rule, at least for me. Take my Hokas away, you’re gonna need a knife. Or a gun. Thanks Darren, I owe you one.”
Agree totally. Total game changer. I have done the minimal thing for the last 6 years. I am 49 and have always been a pretty good runner. 5’9" 150lbs. The last few years I have been feeling more aches and pains and have done a lot less long runs. I chalked it up to getting older. No major injuries or other issues though.
I friend runs in Hokas and I saw Slowmans article. Intrigued I got a pair. I am not afraid to try something new and I am sure glad I did. My milage has gone back up to the pre minimal days of 30-40 mpw. I do a weekly long run now of 10-12 miles. Best of all I feel great. Recovery is much faster. My long standing achilles pain has vanished. Most importantly my enjoyment of running has significantly increased.
They may not be for everyone but I love love love those shoes.
this may be a dumb question and I’ll probably word it wrong, but I dont really know much about things of this nature:
Would running in Hokas still provide as strong improvment as running in another shoe, if your not as sore afterwards is it still as helpful?
For me, they have allowed me to put in more mileage and higher quality workouts with less recovery time! I get what you are saying and not sure what the simple answer is? I use them for road/trail running but not on the track.
Agree totally. My long standing achilles pain has vanished. Most importantly my enjoyment of running has significantly increased.
Now they have my attention. Unfortunately I just switched back to Asics Kayanos after running in lighter shoes for 3-4 years (and dealing wiht achilles issues). Hokas are definately on my radar - as soon as these TWO pairs wear out , grrr!
Ive recently been troubled with lower back pain and hip dispacement. Would any of you reccomend trying these shoes to help me out and if so are there any particular models?
The value of your training is certainly NOT measured in how stiff or sore you may be following the workout. Your cardiovascular and pulmonary system as well as your muscular and neurological systems are still taxed and that is the benefit that you get from running - whether in Hoka shoes or other shoes or barefoot.
Here is what I posted on the other thread about the Hoka’s…
I’ve been using the Bondi B2’s for about four weeks now. I’m 43 and have been dealing with all kinds of foot, achilles and calf issues for the last 18 months or so. I was barely able to do much run training last year, especially the second half of the year which made IMAZ training and racing an “experience.” I spent plenty of time in the ortho doc’s office.
I tried a zillion different kinds of shoes, PT, more stretching, foam rollers, massages, etc. Nothing helped the problem I was having with my foot/achilles/calf. Some shoes mitigated my issues more than others but there was no magical shoe to be found. I had pretty much scrapped the idea of training runs longer than 90 minutes because my legs could no longer take the pounding.
I read Dan Empfield’s article on ST about the Hoka’s and it really hit home for me. I had never even heard of the Hoka’s prior to that. “Mad Calf Disease” was exactly what was doing me in and I’m entering my mid-40’s and I want to be able to run 10 or 20 years from now.
I thought I would give them a try.
All I have to say is WOW! My issues have resolved themselves for the most part since running in the Hoka’s. The only “pain” I feel when running is typical muscle and joint stuff. It has been one hell of a turnaround.
I bought a pair of the Bondi Speeds for race day as they’re a bit lighter than the regular Bondi’s. Count me as Hoka converted!
My one and only issue with the Hoka’s is the sizing but it’s an n=1 problem. I’m really a size 11.5 when it comes to foot length but I have super wide Fred Flintstone feet so I always have to size up to a 12 in any running shoe since nobody makes running shoes in E widths. The size 12 in the Hoka’s seems a bit longer than size 12’s from other companies. I ordered an 11.5 in the Bondi Speeds to try and they do fit better.
The shoes are that good. Probably not for everyone but anyone dealing with similar issues would be remiss in not trying them out.
I’m 44, about 10lbs over my ideal, 6lbs over my typical weight and only 5 feet, 2 inches tall so they aren’t only for older, heavier runners. (If anyone says 44 is “older” I’ll reach through my monitor and poke you in the eye) This past fall, after taking about 10 months completely off from any exercise, I started running again. Eased into it very slowly. I was sore all the time. I never felt like I recovered from a run, even after 2 days.
I found a pair of Hoka Bondi for half off in December and decided to give them a try.
I ran 46 miles last week including smashing a goal pace in a 15k race. No rest days between the race last Sunday and yesterday. Did a 2 hour 40 minute run yesterday. Today is a rest day and I’m feeling tired but not sore. I hesitated to switch shoes for a long time. I’d been running in Brooks Glycerin for years and was very loyal to the brand. Since I switched to Hoka I’ll never go back.
I am a huge fan and advocate.
The only problem is the Bondi does not do well on a muddy trail. I’ve heard their trail shoe, the Stinson, gets gloppy with mud. Is the Mafate any better? Any suggestions for slippery, steep trail runs?
The Mafate has a very aggressive tread, but I found them to be too heavy and stiff, and they did not shed mud well at all, so I stick with my Bondis for trail running. I would go with the Stinson, but I have wide forefeet, and the Bondi is the only shoe other than the Mafate that has a wide enough toe box for me. If someone could combine the Bondi with a New Balance 1210 in 4E with the Altra toe box, I’d have the ultimate shoe! If Hoka ever releases their shoes in widths, I’d kneel down and cry with happiness!
Been running in Hokas for almost a year now and can do long runs (15 miles plus) with no residual heel/ankle/knee soreness like I used to have in all my other shoes. I’m 49yo and 5’8" 157lbs.
