As a trail runner, I am surprised every time I go hiking (usually with non-runner friends) with how hard it is. It uses muscles differently and, depending on the trail conditions, can involve a lot more side-to-side movement and sliding around, requiring use of your core strength and even upper body muscles to keep balanced. Speed hiking brings together the best of both worlds – it’s not exactly a run (especially if you’re not great…
One of the more popular trail shoes I hear people rave about is their Speedgoat line from HOKA ONE ONE. The November release of the Speedgoat 4 is highly anticipated, but in the meantime they have launched the EVO Speedgoat an updated and lighter version of the Speedgoat 3. This trail shoe has a major idea in mind – being race ready and being able to take your trail running to the next level –…
You may have heard new about HOKA ONE ONE’s newest shoe – the Carbon X – recently. It was launched in early May with their Project Carbon X, a desire for a 100k world record and a 10x10k. In the end, Jim Walmsley set a new 50-mile world record (good God) and the shoe was off and running – literally. HOKA’s new high-performance shoe clearly has the clout, but it’s not just for the uber-elites.…
I’ve never owned a pair of “traditional” hiking boots – you know the ones featured on the cover of Cheryl Strayed’s book, “Wild”? My feet have never been inside a pair of those or anything similar. Even backpacking, I’m just in my trail shoes. In fact, many through hikers you’ll see are similar, swearing by their high-mileage runners. Keeping my feet happy is priority #1 for distance so of course I want my trusty, comfortable-right-out-of-the-box,…
If you like the comfort of your HOKA ONE ONE running shoes, but find they interfere with your movement during your cross training workouts, it’s time for you to check out the HOKA ONE ONE Tivra Fitness Trainer. This shoe was designed specifically for the type of movement you need when you workout. While running shoes are built specifically for moving forward, the Tivras are designed for lateral movement, jumping, and support while lifting or…
The minimalist running shoe trend has a lot of appeal. Who can argue that letting the human foot behave as closely as possible to how nature intended is a logical idea? And when it comes to racing shoes, I’ve long favored the lightest, lowest-profile shoe available. But recently the pendulum had swung so far in the direction of minimalism that comfort had gotten a bad name. Cushioning had fallen out of fashion. And runners (and…
If you don’t think that proper running shoes are all that important, you must be one of the lucky ones who’s never had a foot injury due to the wrong shoe. I can think of at least two injuries that have derailed my running and were caused by wearing the wrong shoes. I take my shoes very seriously, and even more so when it comes to trail shoes. I approach wear testing shoes with optimism,…
At first glance, these just scream HOKA. The color scheme is bold (though there are much more muted options available) and the oversized midsole is reminiscent of most HOKA footwear. They fit really nice and are super comfortable – providing my feet with cushion and support whenever I wear them. I gave up on trying to walk around barefoot a few years ago (my arches just killed me), and these have been a welcome support…
When I signed up on a whim for the Cirque Series Brighton event in late June, I was nervous for a variety of reasons. Aside from the crazy elevation (starting at 8700 feet and submitting 4 peaks near 11k) and the fact that I was only getting into Salt Lake City the night before, another concern was the fact that I wasn’t sure if so had the appropriate gear. I have some old trail shoes,…
Over the past years I have struggled with Achilles tendinitis and Plantar Fasciitis, so switching to a new shoe is always a little scary. However, I had heard so many good reports about HOKA ONE ONE that I was excited to try out the HOKA Elevon from their new “Fly” collection. The shoe is described to have neutral stability and a plush cushion, providing excellent padding for my tender heels. The heel to toe drop…
