The Best Garmin Black Friday Deals RW staff’s favorite trainers because of its versatility. The shoe is supportive for daily and long runs, and it performs well during speed workouts thanks to its lightweight, responsive supercritical foam midsole.
“These early sentiments stayed true through my testing,” said tester Erica Bobstein. “The Hoka Mach 6 is so much fun to run in. They are light and zippy and so so comfortable. I’ve comparatively run in the Brooks Hyperion Tempo, and the Hokas are more responsive and much more comfortable. They are also cushioned in the heel, which made them super enjoyable for hill workouts.”
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The Rincon 4 was already a budget buy. At $100, this lightweight trainer is a steal. We like the balanced cushion and the wide, yet secure, fit in the midfoot and toebox.
“The Hoka Rincon 4s are very comfortable everyday running shoes,” said Louisa Phillips. “They are comfortable for medium-distance runs from easy to medium efforts. Compared to other Hoka shoes, they are more similar to the Mach shoes, which are lighter and great everyday shoes, versus the Clifton, which has more cushion but feels slower to run in. They feel very stable with the amount of cushion and wide base. The foam and heel-toe drop don't feel as snappy as other shoes, which doesn’t make them well-suited for speed workouts or long runs. I wore them on a mix of road and rail trails for distances ranging from 3 to 10 miles. I preferred them for recovery/easy runs versus tempo workouts.”
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buying guide, which we update monthly
The Kawana 2 is a personal favorite of mine. The shoe provides a generous cushioning bed without being too heavy. It has a low heel-to-toe drop of 5mm. Not used to low drops? The MetaRocker promotes propulsion so that you won’t be distracted by the low offset.
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Snag this now! The latest Arahi 8 is on the cheap and only available in this men’s colorway. We loved the Arahi 8 for its accommodating midfoot fit, roomy toebox, and new H-Frame stability system. It’s a lightweight stability trainer that caters to overpronators and neutral runners alike.
buying guide, which we update monthly
The über-cushioned Gaviota 5 has Hoka’s H-Frame for guidance. The feature stabilizes overpronation, providing support when you need it. An early-stage MetaRocker encourages smooth turnover.
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Think of the Transport as a hybrid for commuters. The lightweight trainer can traverse over the road or your city’s bridle path when you’re racing home or getting in a short workout during your lunch break. The quick-toggle lacing lets you run without fear of tripping over untied laces.
“The shoe stays dry due to the Cordura fabric upper,” said tester Dave Sabol. “It’s well cushioned, but not too much. And the lock-lace style system is really reliable and better than the standard.”
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buying guide, which we update monthly
For a limited time, one of Hoka’s softest trail shoes is on sale. You can only get a highlighter-yellow men’s and hot pink women’s color, but think of these neon shades as just another feature for the trail (enhanced hi-vis for the win, amirite?).
We like the supportive plush Hoka platform for buffering trail debris, and the toothy lugs for reliable traction on loose, sludgy terrain.
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Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
buying guide, which we update monthly
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buying guide, which we update monthly
buying guide, which we update monthly