Going from your average running shoe to a Hoka One One is like updating from turn of the millennium dial-up to modern day wifi—your new connection (to the trail) is mind-bendingly pain-free. 

Tech: Rocker on a running shoe? Yup. Hoka describes “Meta-Rocker,” their proprietary, easy-to-spot technology, as a “rocking chair for your foot,” and that analogy is adequate. For runners with heel strike, the progression of rocker from the heel through the toe combines with the cushy outsole (24mm in the toe, 29mm in the heel) to distribute force without flaming up tendons and ligaments. In fact, our Active Junky tester wouldn’t have been able to complete the tri without Hoka in his corner; over-training led to a painful case of runner’s knee and switching over to the Challenger ATR was his saving grace. As he eased back into running, his physical therapist noted the benefits of the Hoka rockered sole when analyzing his stride. In fact, going into the race our gear tester feared the run would be his worst event—yet it happened to be his best. Coincidence? We think not. 

Note: If you’re running a seriously rocky course, the high platform of the Hoka might not be your best bet—you’ll want something more agile and less likely to roll.

Finish Line: There’s a reason why distance runners and folks who rack up heavy mileage turn to Hoka One One. A new favorite trail runner

Tech Specs