Hokas Are Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for Their Unrivaled Cushion and Stability—These Are Your Very Best Options

Sizes available: 5-12

“I’ve been wearing the Hoka Bondi 8 on my walks and runs for close to a year now, and they’re my favorite cushioned, supportive sneaker when I’m not in the weight room (I’ll explain in a second). The Bondi 8 is considered a rocker shoe (thanks to its ultra-thick midsole and heel) which means it’s fantastic for people who are looking for extra bounce in their stride. Great for running and walking long distances, these sneaks make it so foot pain is a thing of the past. Features like the cushion-y EVA midsoles, pillow-y tongue, and a memory foam collar make it feel like you’re wearing clouds on your feet. Adding to its cloud-like build is its breathable mesh upper, which airs out your feet as you move.

The Bondi 8 does have a large stacked height, so it’s not deal for sprinting, lifting weights, or hiking on uneven terrain. I’ve tried all three wearing the Bondi 8, and I noticed I didn’t have a very stable footing. While doing weighted lunges, I was pretty shaky in my form, which is why I prefer to wear a flatter sneaker, like a pair of Converse or Brooks Ghost 15.

Overall though, this is the shoe you want if you go on long walks and endurance runs—your feet will feel like they’re on cloud 9 all day long.” -Gina Vaynshteyn, editorial commerce director

Best for: Long-distance walking and running

Colors: 17

Weight: 8.9oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm

Read the full Hoka Bondi 8 review here.

Sizes available: 5-12, in half sizes and wide widths

“One of Hoka’s most popular model is the Clifton, of which there are nine iterations to date. The latest installment, the Clifton 9, is the lightest version ever—but don’t take that to mean that it doesn’t have the shock absorption for which Hoka is known. In fact, even though the shoe is less than eight ounces, I have to say it’s become my all-time favorite sneaker. I’m an avid runner, and can log miles upon miles in this light-yet-supportive sneaker. I also sported them on a six-hour flight, during which I barely felt them on my feet because they fit so well. They might be called the Clifton 9, but these kicks get a 10 in my book.” -Natalie Arroyo Camacho, wellness writer

Best for: Running and walking long-distance

Colors: 13

Weight: 7.3oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm

Read the full Hoka Clifton 9 review here.

Sizes available: 5-11, in half sizes

“As soon as I laced up the Zinals, I thought to myself ‘I am not the person to be testing such speedy shoes.’ Because I don’t trail run, and I knew that walking around in them was not going to do them justice. However, I have some thoughts. First: They’re sticky. Like, you will not have to worry about slipping and sliding in these things. As soon as I took my first steps (on pavement) I could feel them gripping the surface almost to the point of sticking. So if you’re scrambling rocks and running over roots, I could see how these will come in handy.

Second. They’re incredibly lightweight. I test a lot of shoes, and these are definitely designed to be ‘barely there’ in terms of look and feel. Come summertime, these will keep your feet nice and cool on the trails. Unfortunately, I have very very flat feet, so the mesh upper is a bit unsupportive for my ankles—if you tend to over-pronate, you’ll probably want something with more support in both the upper and in the ankle cuff, since these are pretty low profile.” -Francesca Krempa, associate commerce editor

Best for: Trail running, sprinting

Colors: 6

Weight: 6.9oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm

Sizes available: 5-11, in half sizes

“Hate tying your shoelaces when you’re rushing out the door? Same. Enter Hoka’s Transport sneakers—designed for the intersection between lifestyle and performance—that feature a quick-toggle lace and heel loop for extra assistance that makes slipping these ultra-practical shoes on and off even easier. (They also come with a set of traditional laces if you prefer them.) Aside from being the answer to my shoe-lace-tying woes—one always seems to come undone, these shoes are ideal for a variety of activities like a light jog, city strolling, or in my case, taking my energetic dog, Bixby, on beachside strolls or moderate hikes in Southern California.

To test them out, I slipped on my size 8.5 sneakers (they’re true to size) with a pair of medium-thick ankle socks and headed on a three-mile walk along the boardwalk at my local state beach. During my walk, I found the shoes incredibly comfortable, and they felt like walking on clouds. What’s more, they have a supportive wide midsole and grippy outsole (made with Vibram EcoStep Natural’s sustainability-friendly technology) that stabilized my walking as my dog demanded we pick up the pace.

That said, I’m basically the blister queen when it comes to breaking in new shoes—and although I was worried about taking a brand new pair of ‘em on a long walk, there were absolutely zero signs of aches or pain once we were done. Indeed, the shoes felt like a well-loved pair of sneaks that had already molded to the nooks and crannies of my feet, yet they were fresh out of the box.” -Maki Yazawa, food writer

Best for: Everyday wear and hiking

Colors: 4

Weight: 9.1oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm

Sizes available: 5-12, in half sizes and two widths

“I’ll be honest, what drew me to the Hoka Rincon 3 was the color of the specific style I chose—a flashy combo of Beautyberry and Knockout Pink. I’m an irregular-at-best runner, and though I love a hot girl walk, it’s not a daily routine for me right now. So, what I look for in a sneaker is something I want to be wearing. I totally judged the Rincon 3 by its looks, but as it turns out, the fit is like a warm, supportive hug for my feet.

I will say that compared to other brands I’ve tried over the years (this is my first pair of Hoka shoes, so I can’t speak to other styles), the shoe runs a bit wide and big. I sized down a full size from other brands I’ve worn. But with the fit nailed and the laces tightened, I felt like I could walk for… ever? The meta-rocker technology feature helps me continue to my next stride effortlessly, and at just over 7 ounces, the shoe is among the lightest-weight I own (and that includes flip-flops). It’s also one of the lower-price styles in Hoka’s line. And did I mention the color? Maybe those hot girl walks will become more routine after all.” -Alexis Berger, deputy editor

Best for: Running, walking, and sprinting

Colors: 15

Weight: 7.2oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm

Sizes available: 5-12, in half sizes and two widths

“As a weightlifter and runner, I’m constantly on the hunt for a shoe that does it all, so when I found Hoka’s Challenger 7, I was invested. The shoe’s cushioned midsole offers me enough support during runs, sprints, and jump rope sessions while giving me stability during lifts. While I mainly run on treadmills, I can see why this shoe is fit for outdoor runs. The grippy-ness offers traction and stability, especially on unstable terrain, which says a lot because I’m the wobbliest of all people. Pavement, trail, or indoors—this shoe can handle it all.

Since I have a bunion, I did find the shoe to be a bit snug and irritating on first wear; the shoe does have a narrower toe box. However, after breaking them in four or five times, the irritation subsided. With the shoe’s lace up system, it’s pretty easy to loosen or tighten the width of the shoe.

Another notable feature of the Challenger 7 is its breathability—which I appreciate when doing HIIT workouts. Made of mesh, this shoe allows air to flow, venting hot air, so sweaty feet aren’t a concern. All in all, the Challenger has become my go-to shoe, and I don’t foresee future workouts without it.” -Kayla Hui, commerce writer

Best for: Any-terrain run

Colors: 7

Weight: 7.7oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 5mm

Read the full Hoka Challenger 7 review here.

Sizes available: 5-11, in half sizes

“As a long time Brooks stan, I was absolutely floored by these shoes. The minute I put them on, I felt like I had my own personal foot clouds, and the traction was the icing on top. The combo of the bouncy cushion and the traction made jogging in them super light and bouncy (and I’m six feet and not small). I wear these even when not exercising because they’re just so comfortable. Not to mention the color scheme rocks. These run slightly loose so you can order your size, but just make sure to tie them extra tight.” -Han Schneider, health writer

Best for: High-speed trail and outdoor running

Colors: 4

Weight: 8.5oz

Heel-to-toe drop: 4mm