The 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes With Marshmallowy Plush and Bounce Aplenty

• Hoka was ahead of the curve when it debuted the maximally cushioned Mafate in 2010, when minimalist shoes were all the rage
• We list our top 10 Hoka trainers for every kind of run, road to trail
• The technology in Hoka’s shoes is a balance of plush midsoles, rocker geometry, and stabilizing foot frames

When minimalist shoes dominated the running scene in 2010, Hoka rebelled. The brand made a grand entry into footwear with its maximally cushioned trail shoe, the Mafate. Ultrarunners loved the shoe for its foamy platform and shock absorption. It didn’t take long for other shoe brands to hop onboard the high-stacked cushioning train.

Hoka Clifton 10 super foams and World Athletics 40mm-or-below stack height regulations, the pacesetter of max-cushioned shoes is totally on-trend. Runners—and non-runners—are reaping the benefits of Hoka’s marshmallowy midsoles, accommodating fit, and rocker profiles.

Here’s our list of the best Hoka shoes for every type of runner and a primer to the king of cushioning.

Best Hoka Running Shoes

• Best Overall: Hoka Mach 6 (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best Value: Hoka Rincon (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best Daily Trainer: Rocker shape less aggressive than Cielo X1 (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best for Max Cushioning: oz. men’s; 6.8 oz. women’s (Men’s / Women’s)
• Sizing runs large: Hoka Arahi 7 (Men’s / Women’s)

Wide, stable platform

As an RW running reviews editor, I vet hundreds of shoes every year with the help of staff and 300+ local wear-testers. The wear-testers are a diverse group of runners of varying ages, levels of experience, foot shapes, and paces. They provide valuable testing feedback that ensures our selections are all-inclusive.

Like every piece of gear tested by our team, the shoes below were evaluated through fit, feel, and ride. Below are the models we recommend for every type of run and runner.

*All weights are for men’s 10 and women’s 8 unless otherwise noted.

Full Reviews

Because we’ve awarded shoe awards to past Machs, we always have high expectations when the next iteration comes out. The Mach 6 honors its predecessors because, like the Rincon 4, it’s one of the most un-Hoka-est Hokas in the brand’s collection—the shoe is incredibly lightweight. But it feels like a Hoka; the supercritical EVA foam, Hoka’s Profly+, provides a supportive slab of cushioning for long efforts and recovery runs. But the foam is also responsive and light enough for hard tempos and intervals. As one RW tester said, the shoes are “that annoying but amazing person you know who is good at everything.”

The shoe has a new creel jacquard upper with dual internal gusset flat tongue, which prevents it from going askew midrun.

Tester Erica Bobstein said she felt “instantly giddy” when putting on the Mach 6. Turns out her sentiments were on point with her run. “The Hoka Mach 6 is so much fun to run in,” she said. “They are light and zippy and so, so comfortable. The cushioning in the heel made them super enjoyable for hill workouts. They don’t feel as fast as either of my carbon speed shoes (Asics Magic Speed and Saucony Endorphin Pro 3), but these definitely help bring the speed in a non-carbon option.” Fellow reviews editor, Cat Bowen, runs in these daily, and she raves about the durability of the collar, even after wearing with bandaged and KT tape-wrapped ankles.

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The Rincon 4 has that cloud-like Hoka cushioning in a very un-Hoka lightweight package. No comfort or support is sacrificed, however. In fact, in this version Hoka upgraded the compression-molded EVA foam from a single layer to two layers. The stack height received a 3mm increase, adding mere tenths of an ounce extra weight. The rubberized “podular” outsole also adds more cushioning.

Testers liked the soft and stable feel of the Rincon 4, saying “The Hoka Rincon 4s were very light but still very stable,” according to shoe tester Louisa Phillips. “The lightness made them not feel slow to run in. I would say these are very similar to the Hoka Mach line which are light and great everyday shoes. They have a lot of cushioning around the ankle and also underfoot, which makes them very comfortable to run in every day.”

Some testers, however, wanted a little more cushioning and bounce. Compared to similar shoes with PEBA and nitrogen-injected foams, it’s understandable why the Rincon 4 may seem lacking to some. It’s a good shoe for short, fast efforts and everyday runs—and it’s the cheapest one on this list for $125..

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I’m cheating on this one, but trust me. The Clifton 10 just dropped into RW HQ and our testers are only just logging mileage in their pairs. As for myself, I’ve gone on several runs in them and can confidently say the Best Hoka Daily Trainer is the brand’s Clifton 10. Call it an educated hunch.

The Clifton 10—or ClifTEN as the Hoka shoe team calls it—is the best Clifton yet. The shoe has a new last (the foot-shaped form that molds the shoe) that makes the fit more accommodating with an extended toebox and additional room over the instep. It’s cushier too; the heel has a 3mm stack increase, making the formerly 5mm offset now 8mm. Hoka told me at oz M; 9.3 oz W that the additional height helps keep the Achilles safe. The EVA midsole is also tuned to be more comfortable

Think of the Clifton 10 as your plush workhorse for racking up weekly mileage and padding hours of time on the pavement when you’re logging double digits in your training plan. The heel area feels like you’re sitting your foot in a comfy easy chair and the midfoot cushioning lends plenty of support. In other words: heel and midfoot strikers alike will appreciate what the Clifton 10 has to offer.

Be on the lookout for a more thorough review soon!

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This super trainer has a 48mm stack height and 5mm heel-toe drop. Its midsole is composed of PEBA foam with a carbon plate sandwiched in the middle. The convex plate bows in the middle; you can peek at it through the shoe’s outsole cutout and on the lateral side of the heel. According to Hoka, this shape is intended to help with suspension as you run, making the ride feel more effortless. Though not as aggressive as the Cielo X1’s Meta-rocker, the Skyward’s EVA rocker sole still encourages a quick, smooth stride.

“I’ve never run in a shoe with such a thick, cushy sole,” said RW Digital Designer Hunter Young. “The springiness made me feel like I was bouncing on the roads. I was worried that running in such a thick sole would slow my gait, but instead, the shoes made my stride feel efficient and smooth.”

Wear-tester and RW Video Producer Laura Chiarella also appreciated how the Skyward X’s midsole cushioned impact on her runs. She found that the PEBA foam’s energy return helped her to go a smidge faster on roads. On the treadmill, it was almost too bouncy.

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For runners who want or need a little extra support, the Arahi 7 is Hoka’s most supportive stability shoe. As with previous Arahis, the centerpiece here is the J-Frame, a layer of firm foam that runs along the medial edge of the shoe and curves around the heel. The stiffer cushion supports your foot and helps counter overpronation. It’s paired with durable, compression-molded EVA cushioning for a firm and stable ride. Its transitions aren’t as smooth as a neutral road shoe’s, but that’s often the cost of extra support.

Updated for the seventh generation is a foot-mapped, flat-knit upper that helps keep your midfoot locked down comfortably. The tongue is nicely padded, preventing any uncomfortable tension from the laces.

The Arahi 7 offers strong stability, and is a solid choice if you need a lot of support. Runners who don’t overpronate and just prefer a little bit of guidance will probably be better off going with the Bondi 9 above, which offers a stable platform and a much smoother, more cushioned ride.

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If there’s one gap in Hoka’s lineup, it’s a true lightweight race-day contender. The brand makes two competition-grade racing shoes, the Rocket X 2 and Cielo X1, both of which have struggled to make an impact among professionals and record-chasers alike. They are both currently among the heaviest super shoes in production right now.

After dropping over an ounce in the update, the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 inches closer to the pack. Like with the original Cielo X1, the ride is by far one of the bounciest shoes on the market. With its PEBA midsole, hitting your stride almost feels like jumping on a trampoline–you bound forward through each step.

This shoe is made for fast running, not easy miles. Its sharp rocker profile forces a midfoot landing, which feels a bit odd and unstable at slower paces. Once you speed up, though, it becomes a slingshot that propels you forward with every step.

The redesigned jacquard mesh upper, now featuring printed overlays, offers a significant upgrade in comfort and security. While it’s still fairly heavy for a super shoe, its propulsive design will have you feeling light(er) on your feet.

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If there’s one shoe that screams Hoka, it’s the Bondi. The trainer is quintessentially Hoka for its max-cushioning and soft interior. The Bondi 8 came out three years ago, so we expected a major makeover with the Bondi 9. The latest version is 10mm thicker than its predecessor (the men’s Bondi 8 had a 33mm stack height). Though the Bondi 9 towers over previous iterations, one thing the Hoka team wanted to change was its “billowiness.” This shoe has a sleeker, more refined look compared to past Bondis.

While the Bondi 9 wouldn’t be my first pick for speedwork, I tested the shoe running 100-meter and 200-meter intervals on the treadmill at 6:40 pace and was surprised how smooth they glided on the belt. Other testers ran long in the shoe at a more modest pace. They described the feel as noticeably lighter than previous models and incredibly comfortable. But Hoka could go even further with the Bondi 10: Testers wanted a thinner tongue and wider midfoot. Minor grousing amidst a lot of praise. Props go to tester John Mikovits for this honest take: “Hoka has been hit-or-miss for me but the Bondi, in general, has been a chunky miss. This Bondi 9 has broken the streak of disdain.”

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We love the ’Goat because it can handle any kind of trail. The Speedgoat 6 upholds its reputation with a couple of improvements that make it the master of the woods. The lug design is adjusted for enhanced grip, and the compression-molded EVA midsole is also more responsive.

“The longest run I had in the Speedgoat was 7 miles and I felt like I could have kept going forever,” said tester Eric Bartosz. “There is plenty of cushion to make this a daily shoe but it’s definitely not overly plush.”

But it was the outsole that was the most praised feature amongst testers. “I love how Hoka has changed the lug design a bit and the placement on the bottom of the shoe,” said Brooke Schell, who also tested the Mafate Speed 4. “You get 5mm of multi-directional lug traction and you can literally feel the lugs digging into the dirt on the uphill climbs as well as hold you back on the descents. The Speedgoats are the only trail shoe I feel completely safe in allowing myself to run my normal race paces whether going up, over or down the rocky AT.”

Though testers raved about the reliable Vibram Megagrip and breathable, comfy woven upper, they weren’t thrilled with the Speedgoat 6’s tongue. They felt it ran too short, causing trail debris to come into the shoe. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, however.

Also available as Speedgoat 6 GTX ($170).

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In the Tecton X 3 you have the best of both worlds: super shoe PEBA foam and parallel carbon plates sandwiched into it, and abrasion-resistant Matryx upper for challenging pursuits. Hoka added “winglets” to the parallel carbon plates to add stability in the cushy midsole. The lugs also have an updated shape for grippier traction.

Testers praised the comfort and lightweight feel of the Tecton X 3. “They were just plush enough for some longer miles,” said wear-tester Kelly Ammon. “I topped out at 15 miles, but based on the cushioning, I could easily see myself wearing them for at least a 50k but maybe even longer. They felt fast and responsive like the La Sportiva Prodigios I just tested but were much more comfortable for distance.”

The sock-like gaiter was a divisive feature amongst testers. Some liked the built-in protection and how it prevented pebbles and dirt from creeping in. Others said the sock caused rubbing when they wore short socks and disliked how their ankles felt swampy overtime due to the collected sweat.

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Hoka set out to make the Mafate Speed even lighter when its team developed the fourth iteration. We found you can push the pace with these shoes and reap the benefits of that signature Hoka cushioning. The Mafate Speed has a dual-layer Profly+ midsole, which absorbs impact on hard-packed ground and delivers a bouncy, cushioned ride. The shoe’s upper fits securely with a flat gusset tongue. Jacquard mesh provides formidable protection.

Our testers ranked the shoe’s cushioning as a favorite feature, as well as the rebound the shoes delivered when they hit the trail.

“The thing I liked most about the Mafate was how aggressive of a trail shoe it is,” said tester Brooke Schell, who wore the Mafate Speed 4 during her training for the Eastern States 100. “I was very comfortable wearing them on the difficult, rocky, technical trails with their 5mm lugs. Because of the confidence I had wearing these shoes, I was able to train at a slightly faster pace on the downhills and the rocky surfaces of the Appalachian Trail in eastern Pennsylvania. Even on the slippery rocks due to high humidity, I felt confident in knowing the grip would help sustain my speed and not slow me down.”

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New breathable upper

Hoka has become remarkably popular in the last five years or so, as casual runners and walkers have embraced the brand’s innovative approach to cushioning. Its shoes have thick soles that maximize shock absorption, reducing impact forces, and keeping your legs fresher mile after mile. Hoka hasn’t abandoned its roots in trail running, but it is now one of the top names in road running shoes and that has become its focus.

Like most shoe brands, it has a playbook full of proprietary midsole materials and design features that amplify its high-stack shoes.

Meta Rocker

Active Foot Frame

Types of Foam

Q+A

Are all Hoka shoes maximally cushioned?

What are the best Hoka shoes for ultrarunning?