Are Nike Free shoes suitable for long distance runs? asked almost 7 years ago | I've been wearing them (and loving them) for running 3-4 miles but would like to start training for a half marathon. Anyone run longer distances with these shoes? Similar Questions in Running - General Running Dear All, just wondered if an... 0 answers/last answer almost 4 years ago When do you retire your compr... Can Runmeter post photos to DM? P iPhone running apps? 128 answers/last answer almost 4 years ago I think I have Plantar fascii... 5 answers/last answer almost 4 years ago Has Anyone Run the Bellingham... 1 answer/last answer almost 4 years ago Anybody know else have proble... Any Good Ultra Marathon Trai... 2 answers/last answer almost 5 years ago What is causing me to feel si... 9 answers/last answer about 4 years agoJump to: , f The Hoka shoes started the 'maximum cushioning, minimum drop' style of shoe with their thick, softly cushioned soles.

They reduce the pounding on the soles of your feet, but they are not without their downsides. The Hoka Clifton is one of the most impressive shoes I've come across recently, with remarkable levels of cushioning at a light weight. I've included some recommendations to help you evaluate if Hokas are right for you.best running shoes for full marathon Hoka One One, pronounced "Hoka O-nay O-nay", means "now it is time to fly" in Maori. puma shoes price in usThese shoes have midsoles that are much thicker and softer than traditional shoes. best flat shoes brand philippinesThe soles are also wider to prevent the higher soles making the shoes unstable, like stilts. cheap running shoes hawaii

However, the sole is not as thick as it appears from the outside, as you can see from the image below. The foam in the midsole comes up the sides of the shoe much higher. The Hoka Bondi cut in half, showing the outside and inside views. You can see that the midsole foam is a lot higher on the outside than the inside.running shoes shop ireland This image compares the Hokas with other shoes.discount childrens nike shoes Here the outline of the foam midsole has been highlighted in red. This helps reveal how the Hoka midsole narrows at the front and back to create a 'rocker' effect, making it easier for your foot to roll. A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Bondi. You can see the difference in the way the midsole tapers towards the front of the shoe. An image of a runner with the distinctive Hoka blister pattern I saw at the 2013 Umstead 100.

I've seen a distinctive pattern of blisters associated with the Hokas, where the blister forms part way along the toes, normally between the big toe and the next toe along, and sometimes between the little toe and its neighbor. I saw a disproportionate number of Hoka wearing runners with this blister pattern at the Umstead 100. This can be avoided by cutting open the toe box, but far too few people do this. My recommendation depends on what type of runner you are. The numbers in the decision chart above correspond to the notes below: , who also have one of the best selections of Hoka shoes I've found. has the advantage of letting you run in shoes and still return them for an exchange, but the return shipping is not free. A comparison between the Altra Olympus and Hokas. While Hoka was the first company to produce the Maximalist style of shoe, but Altra has started to produce comparable shoes. The Altra key selling points are zero drop (no high heel) and a shape that matches the human foot.

Initially the Altra shoes were minimalist, with thin, firm midsoles, but they have introduced some thicker, softly cushioned shoes such as the Altra Olympus. At the same time, Hoka has moved to thinner, firmer shoes such as the Rapi Nui, Conquest or huaka. I've run in both Hoka and Altra shoes, even swapping between them during 100 miles races. As you can see from the picture of the dissected shoes above, the shoes are quite similar, but the Hoka has a much more abrupt taper of the midsole at the front of the shoe. By comparison the Altra tapers more gradually from further back. I find the Altra a better Maximalist shoe than the Hoka range, but things may change as each manufacturer evolves (or devolves) their product range. A tongue-in-cheek look at the different shapes of the Hoka and Altra shoes. Because of their thickness, Hoka shoes have to have more of a taper towards the front of the shoe. They call this the 'meta-rocker' and place it in various different parts of the shoe depending on model.

A late meta-rocker has a more abrupt taper under the toes, and early meta-rocker has a more gradual taper starting just behind the ball of the foot, and the balanced meta-rocker is in between. However, even the early meta-rocker has a far more abrupt and late taper than some of the Altra shoes. The Hoka Stinson above, which has a late meta-rocker with the Hoka Clifton that has an early meta-rocker. If you look at the front of the midsoles, you can see the blue foam of the Stinson tapers rapidly and more extremely. Hoka have started to use a new type of foam called RMAT that lasts much longer than traditional EVA foam, but it's heavier and much firmer. The result is a shoe that looks like the usual Hoka, but is far too firm. You can find shoes weighting the same that are vastly softer, or shoes that are similar in cushioning that are vastly lighter. I avoid any Hoka that uses RMAT in the midsole, but RMAT can also be used in the outsole, where it can provide remarkable grip on pretty much any surface.

(Some of the Hoka range are only available through specialty running stores, while others are targeted at large chains like sporting goods stores or department stores.) If you want to price compare, these widgets will allow you to find the best price in your size: For a more detailed comparison of these shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison. It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot. Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review. Reviews of shoes that are not worth including on the table: Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review.