The 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes, According to Our Experience (2024)

When Hoka came on the market more than a decade ago, its maximalist midsoles and plush cushioning were a far cry from the standard running shoes, though the brand promised a smooth ride over varying terrain. The brand—and style—has exploded since then, with a range of shoes optimized for everything from trail ultras to tempo runs… and everything in between.

Founded in 2009 by French trail runners Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, Hoka was born out of their desire to bring the cushioned, floating feeling of skiing powder or riding a flowy mountain bike trail to running. After making some prototypes and working with a Chinese company to develop a new kind of EVA foam, Mermoud and Diard came up with the basic Hoka recipe: Shoes that are soft and well-cushioned to soak up impact forces but light enough to feel peppy. The idea caught on, and now Hoka makes some of the best running shoes around.

The best Hoka running shoes cover the full spectrum of running, whether you need versatile training shoes, an ultra-grippy trail runner, or a pair of speedy kicks for race day. To help you pick the right pair for you, we’ll walk you through the main technologies used in Hoka shoes and explain what those features do. We’ve also listed our top shoes for a variety of needs, and updated all of the relevant materials and fits for 2024.

More of The Best Running Gear: Best Running Shorts ● Best Running Shirts ● Best Running Accessories

• Best Daily Trainer: Clifton 9
• Best Value: Torrent 3
• Most Cushioning: Bondi 8
• Best for Tempo Runs: Mach 6
• Most Stable: Arahi 7

Michael Charboneau became a runner in middle school and has covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist. Running shoes is the category of gear he has written about the most, and he has firsthand experience with models from a range of brands. To write articles like this, he speaks with brand reps about the company’s latest shoes and tech, consults RW tester feedback, and draws on his own experience with the running shoe industry. With direction from RW editors, Charboneau combines all that info to choose what shoes make it onto this page.

Maggie Slepian is a Montana-based outdoor gear tester and trail runner with more than a decade of footwear testing experience. She runs and hikes in a variety of shoes during all four seasons, and has worked as a writer and editor for dozens of outdoor gear and apparel publications as well as thru-hiking thousands of miles. To write and update footwear guides, she draws on her own experience, RW testing, and consumer feedback.

Hoka develops its shoes around a few basic principles: Adding extra cushioning to absorb impact forces, using light materials, and creating a wide rocker sole to preserve momentum and create a smooth ride. If you like to really feel the padding underneath your feet when you run, you should consider a pair of Hokas. To compare models and zero in on the right shoe for you, it’s helpful to know a little more about the brand’s key technologies.

The models below represent the best Hoka running shoes available now. To select the original 10, we reviewed the Hoka shoe lineup and talked with a representative from the company to learn about its latest shoes. For this update, we reviewed our selections for technology, updated specs, and included our experience testing these shoes over the past year for any relevant feedback. Several models had minor updates, and a few (including the Mach 6) had some significant updates to both fit and materials.

We drew on RW reviews, RW editor feedback, our own testing experience, and knowledge of the running shoe market to narrow the list down to the pairs below. To create the most dynamic list and help the widest range of runners, Charboneau’s original options prioritized performance running shoes that showcase the brand’s best foams, midsole tech, and other innovations. For even more insight, check out our full-length shoe reviews (where available) to get detailed info on the performance of individual models.

The original Clifton is legendary among Hoka fans and marked a turning point for the brand—it proved that a shoe could provide maximum cushion without feeling clunky. The ninth iteration features even more cushioning–the stack height grew by 3mm–but it’s slightly lighter than the Clifton 8.

A new compression-molded EVA foam is tuned for responsiveness, a more streamlined upper helps save weight, and the Early Stage Meta-Rocker sole shape encourages smooth strides. It’s a solid pick for a neutral workhorse training shoe.

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s Full Review

Warning: The Torrent 3 might get you hooked on trail running. This affordable trail shoe is a solid pick for runners interested in venturing off the pavement and onto the dirt. It’s lightweight (especially for a trail model), and it boasts a lean cushioning profile that gives you a good feel for the ground.

The latest version features a revamped outsole for improved traction on varied terrain, and Hoka swapped in a single-layer mesh upper for a boost in breathability. The upper also includes a gusseted tongue, so it won’t slide around when scampering over roots and rocks, and it’ll help keep out trail debris, too.

Buy Men’s Buy Women’s

The Bondi is Hoka’s most cushioned road shoe with a downright beefy midsole. The latest version of the Bondi keeps the formula that has won this shoe such a devoted following: maximum cushioning for an ultra-plush ride. The midsole foam is lighter and even softer than that of the Bondi 7. Like with previous versions, an open mesh upper increases breathability, and a memory foam collar lends a better fit and feel around the ankle.

The eighth iteration also packs a new pillowy tongue. Lower down, Hoka extends and reshapes the heel to provide better shock absorption and stability. For a faster ride, consider the Bondi X, which provides a similar cushioned feel but includes an embedded carbon fiber plate for a snappier, speedier ride.

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s

The Mach line is built for speedwork sessions and race day. Our testers raved about the previous versions, and while Hoka made some big changes between the Mach 5 and Mach 6, it’s still a fast, responsive ride with an updated fit. The Mach 6 uses a fully supercritical foam midsole for even more energy return, along with a narrower fit, slimmer toe box, and creel jacquard upper for more breathability.

And while the shoe is still designed to be firmer than the brand’s ultra-plush models, a molded EVA sockliner adds extra step-in comfort and the internal gusset hugs your foot for a custom feel.

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s

Updated for this year with a foot-mapped, flat-knit upper that helps keep your midfoot locked down and increases breathability, the Arahi continues to combine stability features with ample cushioning. As with previous versions, the centerpiece of the shoe is the J-Frame, a layer of firm foam that runs along the inside edge of the shoe and curves around the heel in a “J” shape. The stiffer cushion supports your foot and helps counter overpronation.

It’s paired with bouncy, durable CMEVA cushioning for a responsive ride, though Hoka did add a minor amount of weight with the updated knit upper. The tongue still has extra cushioning for a more comfortable fit, and this is a great pick for recovery runs. With the locked-in upper and stable frame, we think it’s one of the best stability shoes of 2024.

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s

The Rocket X 2 is technically a follow-up to the 2020 Rocket X, but it’s a totally new shoe from top to bottom—the result of a development process that began in 2021. The beefy midsole features an all-new PEBA foam for excellent response and low weight. Underneath the cushion, a spoon-shaped carbon fiber plate creates a snappy feel and prevents the shoe from flexing too much.

Hoka slimmed down the mesh upper and heel collar for an improved fit: It allows your foot to sit farther back in the shoe, so you get more room in the toe box. For maximum performance on race day, this is the Hoka shoe to reach for.

Buy Unisex

The Challenger is a do-it-all trail shoe that’s built to perform on dirt and pavement alike. The latest version is a significant revamp: Hoka increased the Challenger’s stack height and used a softer CMEVA foam to create a plusher ride and trim a little extra weight at the same time. The mesh upper is designed for breathability, and the rubber outsole features 4mm lugs for confidence-inspiring grip on mixed terrain.

Buy Men’s Buy Women’s

The Kawana is a great choice for runners who need a single do-it-all pair of shoes, and the second iteration maintains that versatility. This is a plush trainer that’s comfortable enough to wear all day. Hoka’s regrind midsole absorbs impacts and offers good energy return, and the early stage Meta-Rocker sole shape ensures smooth strides. The latest update features a more secure, sock-like upper with single-layer, breathable mesh and an overall fit update for more lateral support.

The shoe also features Hoka’s SwallowTail crash pad geometry in the heel—the wide, asymmetrical shape and beveled edge promotes even, fluid landings. We named it one of our favorite cushioned shoes a few years back. As one of our testers said during the review process, “it made running on roads feel effortless.”

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s

An homage to ultrarunner Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, this is Hoka’s flagship trail shoe, and it’s ideal for long jaunts off-pavement. Hoka gave the fifth version of this racy trail shoe a hefty update. The outsole is equipped with a new Vibram Megagrip lug pattern for improved traction on loose ground, and a beefed-up double-layer jacquard mesh upper provides added protection from debris. Hoka also swapped in a new CMEVA foam in the midsole, which helps save weight—the Speedgoat 5 is about half an ounce lighter than the Speedgoat 4.

Shop Men’s Shop Women’s

In our review, we declared the Mafate Speed 4 to be Hoka’s best trail shoe. It serves up an excellent combo of strong traction that eats up steep, technical terrain, along with a dual-density midsole design for a cushioned-yet-responsive ride.

It’ll protect your feet from obstacles and keep them comfortable during longer efforts, but it’s also well-suited for going fast. In my testing, I found the shoe’s relatively firm ride created a good platform for picking up the pace. The only downside? The technicolor upper designs might not be your style.

Buy Men’s Buy Women’s