was founded in 2009 by two French trail runners aiming to create a better running experience. They succeeded. In record time, HOKA has become a recognized running brand, known and used worldwide.
HOKA running shoes were once known for their high soles and low weight. But after 15 years on the market, HOKA as a brand represents much more. They aim to provide you with a running experience of ease, foot comfort, and innovative solutions that push you toward your next step. Whether you're looking for a trail shoe, a fast competition model, or a reliable daily trainer, HOKA has something for you.
Most brands have shoes with a plate in the midsole. At HOKA, they're easy to find: look for the X in the model name.
Here you'll find all
you can buy right now.
Best Shoes for Daily Training
HOKA Clifton 11 - Light and Soft for Daily Training
is a legendary neutral running shoe for everyday training. With low weight and soft cushioning, it's suitable for easy runs and daily miles. The EVA midsole ensures a smooth and comfortable run every time, and the weight is kept down so it can keep up when you pick up the pace. You can't go wrong with a Clifton 11.
You can find Jakob's test .
HOKA Clifton Pro - Brand New Model
is a brand new model from HOKA and an upgrade on the regular Clifton 11. It features a more advanced upper and a new midsole material, ProGlide+, made from supercritical EVA. This provides a more springy feel than the classic EVA in Clifton 11. Choose it if you know Clifton and want more life underfoot.
You can find Jakob's test .
HOKA Rincon 4 - Best Lightweight Running Shoe for Daily Training
HOKA Rincon 4 is the lightweight of HOKA's daily trainers, aimed at runners who want less weight on their feet. The EVA midsole is firm enough to keep up when the pace picks up, and the updated outsole has improved durability. It works well as the quick shoe in rotation alongside a softer and heavier model, offering great value for money.
Best Max Cushioned Running Shoes
HOKA Bondi 9 - Best for Easy Runs
is a neutral running shoe with maximum cushioning, built for comfort on all your miles. The supercritical midsole has an increased stack height, providing a softer and more springy running experience than before. The weight is slightly higher than Clifton and Skyflow, but this benefits durability. This makes Bondi 9 an obvious choice for daily training, easy runs, and recovery runs.
Read Jakob's test .
HOKA Skyward X - Best for Long Runs
is a neutral, max cushioned running shoe with a carbon plate and a midsole of PEBA and Super Critical EVA. It's on the heavier side, but it's strong for long runs and training at marathon or half-marathon pace. The combination of controlled bounce and smooth rocker feel is unmatched in the market. It's worth considering for long runs.
You can find Jakob's review .
Best Fast Training Shoes
HOKA Mach X 3 - Best for Everyday and Race Day
is a versatile and neutral super trainer in the mid-weight class, a true Swiss army knife of a shoe for both races, tempo runs, and daily training. It combines PEBA and EVA midsole with a Pebax plate for a fun, comfortable, and durable feel. The new woven upper and improved heel padding provide a lighter and more secure fit than before. If you only have room for one fast shoe in the closet, Mach X 3 is a great choice.
HOKA Mach 7 - For Tempo Runs Without a Plate
is the lightweight, plate-free volume trainer in HOKA's lineup. The midsole is made of supercritical EVA, with a stack height of 37 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, and a drop of 5 mm. This provides a shoe that feels stable and has good ground contact rather than the soft, flowing feel of the highest daily trainers. Choose Mach 7 if you want a straightforward shoe for faster runs or if you don't like a plate underfoot.
You can find Line's test .
Best Shoes for Race Day
HOKA Rocket X 3 - Fast and Comfortable
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combines high speed with comfort and is built as a marathon race shoe. It has a noticeable bounce, a midsole in 100% PEBA, carbon plate, and a light construction. The comfort ensures it can endure the entire distance without becoming hard to run in along the way. It's the shoe for the race bib rather than everyday miles.
Read Jakob's test .
HOKA Cielo X1 3.0 - Best bounce
is HOKA's race shoe with all the technologies you associate with a fast shoe. The PEBA midsole provides propulsion, speed, and even more bounce than Rocket X 3, making it a distinctly lightweight carbon race shoe. It can also be used for long runs where you want to maintain a high pace. If you're unsure between the two, the choice is mostly about how much life you want underfoot.
Read Jeppe's test .
Best stability shoe
HOKA Arahi 9 - Stability and versatility
is a stable and versatile daily training shoe, where the improved H-Frame construction guides the foot without overcorrecting. The midsole is a dual-layer CMEVA, and the upper in engineered mesh is updated with tighter weaving on the inside, making the support more precise than on Arahi 8. The drop is 8 mm, and the shoe comes in multiple widths. It suits runners who want to vary their pace daily while still having stability underfoot.
Line's test of the predecessor, Arahi 8, can be found .
Best trail shoe
HOKA Speedgoat 7 - Best trail all-rounder
is back to the fun. The supercritical EVA foam gives the midsole a softer and more springy feel than its predecessor, providing the "wow" feeling many missed in the 6. Vibram Megagrip with 5 mm lugs offers grip on everything from mud to wet roots, and the fit keeps the foot exactly where it should be. Leisurely forest walks, long distances, or a day hike, Speedgoat 7 is ready for it all.
You can find Line's test .
HOKA Tecton X 4 - Best for long trail runs
is HOKA's trail racer for long distances. The PEBA foam midsole houses two parallel carbon plates that work independently underfoot, providing propulsion without locking the shoe into one movement. Weighing 275 grams (US 10) and with 40 mm in the heel, it has enough cushioning for many hours and is light enough for speed. Vibram Megagrip Litebase with 4 mm lugs grips both wet rocks and loose forest floor.
HOKA Rocket X Trail - Best for high-speed trail
takes the speed from the road to the trail. The lightweight construction, responsive midsole, and carbon plate give the shoe a fast and efficient feel on firm paths, gravel roads, and forest trails. For mud and technical terrain, there are better choices in HOKA's lineup. But when the ground is firm and you want to keep the pace high, Rocket X Trail is ready to fly.
HOKA Challenger 8 - Best for gravel
bridges the gap between road and trail. The lightweight design and EVA midsole make it suitable for lighter trails and gravel roads, and it behaves well on asphalt along the way. It's not made for technical terrain, but with its 4 mm lugs and comfortable upper, it handles short forest runs well. If your runs are a mix of the two, this is where to look.
Didn't find a favorite?
If you're looking beyond HOKA, you can start with our overview of
. If it's for the forest floor, we've gathered
across brands. See the full selection of running shoes here:
