I tried to buy into them, and ran in them for about two years. But the love affair gradually wore off, and now I’m back to more conventional shoes.
The biggest problem I had was injury. I’m 43, and have been running since I was 13. Over that time, I’ve - astonishingly - had zero significant injuries. Covering a track/X-C career, marathon, ultras, IMs, etc.
Variety of
I got two injuries while wearing Hokas. Knee and ankle. Both related, I think, to the cushion height of the heel. As a lifelong trail runner I’ve rolled my ankle a lot. And for my whole life I’ve always maybe just hobbled for a couple steps after rolling, then hammered onwards. But when I was rolling my ankle in Hokas, it was a Big Deal. I think the extra height just puts that much more torque on the ankle when it rolls.
Also I wasn’t running any faster, or able to train noticeably more miles.
These issues could be entirely specific to me. But I’m done with this type of shoe.
Really no achilles issues? They all seem to be 6mm or less heel drop which for me just spells achilles doom. It’s the only thing that has me not giving them a try.
Anyone else come from a 10mm drop shoe to them? How did it go?
Yep! no issues! I’m not saying the Hokas took the pain away. The eccentrics and a lot of stretching and walking did. However, returning to running I have had no pain. The cushion has really helped me.
Really no achilles issues? They all seem to be 6mm or less heel drop which for me just spells achilles doom. It’s the only thing that has me not giving them a try.
Why would this be? I genuinely don’t know, not being a smart ass.
Really no achilles issues? They all seem to be 6mm or less heel drop which for me just spells achilles doom. It’s the only thing that has me not giving them a try.
Why would this be? I genuinely don’t know, not being a smart ass.
Yeah, I went to a 6mm shoe just on a whim for a trail shoe. I ran about a weeks worth of training and voila my achilles was a mess. I read up on what was happening and everything pointed to the lower heel drop. Of course, it was the internet so it could be fake but I went back to my 10mm shoes and achilles pain stops. Maybe it was the shoe’s other features but that was the main difference…
even folks who were still very skeptical of Hokas just a year ago are showing up to runs wearing them!
Same for my area. I can’t decide whether to be annoyed by it or pleased with myself for being ahead of the curve. I began preaching about Hoka back in 2012 and most of my tri and running friends thought I was nuts and gave me crap about my “moon boots.” I persisted and now just about everyone runs in them in some form or another.
I explicitly remember you getting roasted during a Tuesday morning run about 2 years ago for wearing your “moon boots”
I’m wondering on the benefits of something like a Clayton on a forefoot runner. It always seemed to me that the Hokas were to balance out the damage that a heel strike run form does to your kinetic chain, am I mistaken?
I’ve been doing long runs in my New Balance Zantes and honestly, my legs are beat up for a day or two afterwards, which has been impacting my training. Is there a Hoka that I can take a flier on to see how it works for me? I tried a Hupana on a treadmill and liked the cushion in the forefoot, but wasn’t sure how they’d hold up for serious run mileage. Should I look into the Claytons, or just try the Hupana and see how it goes?
Really no achilles issues? They all seem to be 6mm or less heel drop which for me just spells achilles doom. It’s the only thing that has me not giving them a try. Anyone else come from a 10mm drop shoe to them? How did it go?
first, unless you came from something like vibram five fingers or a newton or an altra you came from a 10mm or more drop shoe. second, using your reasoning, everyone who runs up any grade for any significant period of time is placing their achilles in peril, no?
and finally, how is running in pumps good for your achilles?
I always recommend the cliftons first. They are easily my favorite hoka. They will feel weird as shit the first time you walk around in them though, but give them a chance. After a week or two of running in them everyone seems to love them as much as I do.
I run the tried and true bondi/clifton/clayton lineup. Bondi for junk miles (they don’t wear as fast but not quite as cushiony), clifton faster training runs or if my legs are feeling beat up, clayton for racing.
i say fad… they are great for injured runners (like me, especially with achilles) . so it brought many people back into running who thought they were done. others looked at this and thought they should wear them. Although over using them as my injury undid itself, led to poor running form and more injury…
I have a bad knee issue from a bike accident I had 10 years ago. 3 years ago the pain was really getting bad and the doctor told me I should run no more than once a week. Since switching to Hoka’s I can run twice a week if I want and have even have run 3 times occasionally with no issue. I do most of my training in Bondi’s for the cushion and then race in the Clifton’s. I love my Hoka’s and believe they have been able to keep me running.
X2!
I am also definitely intrigued as to how they work with forfoot runners as I don’t heel strike at all.
Also I too bought the nb Zante based on glowing reviews. I find them quite firm and not soft at all. Tempo runs or something they would be fine but they do leave your legs battered. For long/easy stuff I use the brooks launch 3, but have always wanted to try the Clifton as a training shoe and Clayton as a racer
Can you compare and contrast the Bondi and Clifton? In other words, what should we consider when choosing between those two shoes?
Scott
I find the Bondi’s are really soft and unlike anything I had ever run in before. They give you zero feel, but are great for what I use them for which is training to get some miles. The Clifton’s are much lighter, and while they have more cushion than a standard running shoe, I do not think they feel that different. My normal walk around shoe is a Brooks Ghost 9 which is also a pretty soft shoe.
If looks factor in, my Bondi’s have the Moon Boot look where several people have commented they would never wear those no matter how comfortable they were. I figure we are triathletes and regularly wear spandex, I would rather people be looking at my feet :). The Cliftons, do not look that unusual to me, and not as many people comment on them.
I tried switching to them but they pissed off my Achilles. I’ve been battling Achilles tendinitis for years and the Adidas Energy Boosts are my go to shoes and any time I deviate, it’s no good. The 6mm drop in Hokas mean they are not an option for me.
even folks who were still very skeptical of Hokas just a year ago are showing up to runs wearing them!
Same for my area. I can’t decide whether to be annoyed by it or pleased with myself for being ahead of the curve. I began preaching about Hoka back in 2012 and most of my tri and running friends thought I was nuts and gave me crap about my “moon boots.” I persisted and now just about everyone runs in them in some form or another.
I explicitly remember you getting roasted during a Tuesday morning run about 2 years ago for wearing your “moon boots”
Now I’m half tempted to give them a try.
Ha, you are forbidden from trying them. The last thing that anyone needs around these parts is anything that might make you faster.
Pretty much the same here. I have been hoarding Bondi 3s and Cliftons in size mens 11.5 for years now. Hokas have been a game changer for me. I can do IM training with 50-55 mpw in them and live to tell the tale.
I actually had to change my gait to be close to 100% forefoot strike to make Hokas work for me. Once I got that down, it has been nothing but smooth sailing for me.