The 10 Versatile; great for speedwork and long runs With Marshmallowy Plush and Big Bounce

When The 10 Best Running Shoes for Women 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.

Now, in the age of super foams and World Athletics 40mm-or-below stack height regulations, the Hoka's max-cushioned shoes are totally on-trend. Runners—and non-runners—are reaping the benefits of its marshmallowy midsoles, accommodating fit, and rocker profiles. Some Hoka shoes are better than others, though: These are our favorite Hoka running shoes for every types of runner, along with a helpful primer on the king of cushioning.

Versatile; great for speedwork and long runs

• Best Overall: Hoka Mach 6 (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best Value: Hoka Rincon 4 (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best Daily Trainer: Hoka Clifton 10 (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best for Max Cushioning: Hoka Skyward X (Men’s / Women’s)
• Best for Stability: mm plusher than before (Men’s / Women’s)

The Expert: Best for Stability Runner’s World for over 7 years, and have been road racing since I was in high school. (That’s three times as long as my run here, if you want to do the math.) As Running Reviews Editor, I recommend the best gear by vetting all kinds of products, from running shoes to sports bras to watches.

How We Selected

Our team of 300+ local wear-testers is a diverse group of various 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

Best Overall: Hoka Mach 6

Because past Machs are RW Shoe Award-winners, 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-like 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—the Asics Magic Speed and The Best Cushioned Running Shoes—but they 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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Best Value: Hoka Rincon 4

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, Hoka upgraded the compression-molded EVA foam from a single layer to two in its latest revision. 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 Talked With a RW+ Member About Her Experience in the Rincon 4

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Best Daily Trainer: Hoka Clifton 10

The Clifton 10—or "ClifTEN," as the Hoka shoe team calls it—is the best Clifton yet. Its made with 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 The Running Event 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.

“The firm but ample cushioning hits the sweet spot for me,” said Director of Product Testing Jeff Dengate. “I like to have some cush underfoot, but in an age where everything has gotten bloated and pillowy, it’s nice to have a shoe that is resilient and gives you snappy feedback, but still delivers protection from the sidewalks.”

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Best for Long Runs: Hoka Skyward X

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, the shape helps with suspension as you run, making the ride feel 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.”

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.

Read Full Review

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Best for Stability: mm plusher than before

The all-new, improved Arahi feels softer and has a more accommodating fit. Testers of the Arahi 7 felt the shoe was a little lackluster in energy return, due to the firm, stiff cushioning. They also desired more toe room, feeling the fit was too narrow. The Arahi 8 remedies these issues with retooled plusher dual density compression-molded EVA foam.

The Arahi 8 is a comfy fit on wide feet. As a wide-foot runner myself, I was impressed with just how different the shoe felt compared to its predecessor's narrower construction. While the fit may feel a touch loose for narrow-footed runners, it was a small compromise for the more flexible, cushier ride.

Another major update: Hoka replaced its J-Frame—denser foam that begins on the medial edge of the shoe and wraps around the heel in the shape of a J—with the H-Frame. The H-Frame is firmer H-shaped foam embedded into the midsole of the Arahi 8 to counter excessive overpronation (when your feet tend to roll inward more than 15 percent). Instead of making the shoe feel rigid and heavy, the H-Frame promotes smooth turnover in a relatively lightweight package—especially for a stability trainer.

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Best for Racing: Hoka Cielo X1 2.0

When Hoka released the Cielo X1, it felt like the brand had turbocharged its other carbon-plated shoe, the Rocket X. It had a more aggressive rocker profile and PEBA foam midsole. At The Running Event last November, Hoka’s team informed me the Cielo X1 2.0 (the X1 is a nod to F1 race car driving, hence why the newest iteration isn’t called Cielo X2) is tuned to be even more aggressive. To provide more ground contact, the cutout moved from the lateral side to the medial side. Hoka also added more padding in the heel. The upper shaved weight with a new thinner engineered jacquard mesh. And those ribbon-like laces that didn’t stay tied? The brand replaced them, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about on race day.

“This shoe is unique, even for a super shoe,” said tester Elizabeth Borah. “With an extremely high heel drop, the shoe is designed to both cushion your foot while also propelling it forward. I have never tested a super shoe that did this, but I found it very effective. I felt like I was running on a trampoline but the shoe didn’t feel heavy at all.”

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Best for Long Runs: Hoka Bondi 9

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 launched earlier this year. The latest version is 10mm thicker than its predecessor (the men’s Bondi 8 had a 33mm stack height). Though it towers over previous iterations, the Hoka team wanted to change was its “billowiness.” As a result, the Bondi 9 has a sleeker, more refined look compared to Bondis past.

While it wouldn’t be my first pick for speedwork, I tested the Bondi 9 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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Best Overall Trail: Hoka Speedgoat 6

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 Hoka Mach 6. “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.

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Best for Trail Racing: Hoka Tecton X 3

In the Tecton X 3 you have the best of both worlds: You get super-shoe-grade PEBA foam with parallel carbon plates, and an abrasion-resistant Matryx upper for challenging pursuits. Hoka added “winglets” to the plates, creating more 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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Best for Speedwork (Trail): Hoka Hoka Mach 6

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. It has a dual-layer Profly+ midsole, which absorbs impact on hard-packed ground and delivers a bouncy, cushioned ride. The upper fits securely with a flat gusset tongue, and 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 Hoka Mach 6 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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Some testers experienced slipping on road paint

Meta-Rocker

Active Foot Frame

Stability

Q+A

What is the best Hoka shoe for wide feet?

What are the best Hoka shoes for ultrarunning?

Should I race in the Cielo X1 2.0 or Rocket X 3?