HOKA Transport 2: análisis y review

Having tested the HOKA Transport 2 from the inside out, we found that it is a highly adaptable shoe for active people who:

• need a functional yet comfortable door-to-trail shoe
• could use an all-in-one shoe for traveling (one day in a museum, another day on a local trail)
• cushioning and impact protection are high up your priority list

As practical as the Transport 2 is, its lack of breathability limits its use to cooler seasons only. For a more summer-ready option with similar characteristics, try the On Cloudhorizon.

Another problem with this HOKA shoe is the price point. If you have a limited budget, consider the Teva Trailsetter and Merrell Morphlite for city-to-trail use.

If you catch yourself hitting the trails more often than pounding the pavement, you will benefit from a sturdier HOKA Transport Hike GTX boot.

HOKA promised to boost the original shoe's comfort, and our lab tests proved it a success!

The new version's shock absorption soared well above its predecessor (116 SA) at 124 SA in the heel. This level of impact protection reduces the load on feet and joints, which means all-day comfort on both tough concrete sidewalks and hard-packed trails.

Our lab tests also recorded an increase in the shoe's energy return, rising from 45.3% to as high as 61.6% in the Transport 2! On foot, this translates into a tangible responsiveness that makes the ride feel livelier and bouncier (akin to some daily running shoes).

This responsiveness, paired with the shoe's curved geometry, helped us maintain a brisk pace with less effort.

HOKA bumped up the Transport 2's heel stack by a notable 4 mm, reaching as high as 38.0 mm!

The forefoot stack, on the other hand, remained unchanged at an above-average 26.8 mm. For consistency of results, we always measure stack height at 12% and 75% of each shoe's length.

Curiously, our own measurement of the shoe’s heel-to-toe drop came in at 11.2 mm, more than double the brand’s stated 5 mm. We observed a similar discrepancy in the previous Transport, but it didn't cause any biomechanical discomfort or strain in the foot or Achilles.

The midsole foam of this HOKA shoe has a balanced (close-to-soft) feel, ensuring a pleasant underfoot sensation and comfortable landings.

Our durometer proved it to be notably softer than average at 34.1 AC. It is exactly the same measurement we got in the HOKA Clifton 10.

Like most HOKA shoes, the Transport 2 has a very pronounced toe rocker and heel bevel. This curved shape smoothes out heel-to-toe transitions so well that we don't even notice how one step flows straight into the next.

The Transport 2's synthetic upper materials can make it feel restrictive at first, but after a short break-in period, the shoe offers a perfect medium fit.

Our gel mold of this HOKA shoe's interiors confirmed that its forefoot dimensions are exactly on par with the average of walking shoes we've measured in the same men's US size 9, D medium width. Our caliper showed a perfectly standard reading of 94.3 mm in its widest point (ball-of-foot area).

And if you need more space, the Transport 2 is also available in a wide variant.

The shoe's toebox is not particularly spacious, but at least it has a rounded, non-tapered shape. At 70.2 mm in its big toe area, it sits on the edge of medium and narrow.

This HOKA shoe also proved to be close-fitting in the vertical plane, with its forefoot sitting low to the toes.

Our caliper measured its toebox height at a moderate 25.3 mm.

Its ability to grip a wide variety of surfaces, both in and outside the city, is the superpower that makes the Transport 2 the hybrid shoe it is. With a high CoF of 0.64, it inspires confidence on both slick sidewalks and wet rocks.

The shoe's traction pattern has been slightly updated in the second iteration, reducing the number of lugs but making them more targeted.

What remained unchanged, however, is the flat, wide shape of these lugs. This setup offers a large contact area with hard urban surfaces like concrete and prevents them from digging into the foot.

The HOKA Transport 2 is not particularly pliable. In fact, our stiffness test showed that it requires more force (16.4N) to bend than the average walking shoe.

However, we didn't find it a problem at all - the shoe's pronounced toe rocker allows for easy transitions. And this setup is actually beneficial for people with toe joint concerns.

We didn't observe any weight reduction in the HOKA Transport 2. However, considering the added stack height, it's nice that the brand at least kept it on par with the original shoe.

Our scale showed 10.5 oz (298g) per shoe in a men's US size 9. This is actually no heavier than the category average.

Breathability was one of our main concerns in the previous Transport, and regretably, it remained so in the v2. Our smoke test below shows that this HOKA shoe's toebox is 100% airtight.

Hovering its half-cut upper over the LED light, we found zero signs of ventilation pores or airy panels anywhere else in the shoe.

Seeing just how tightly woven its polyester textile is through our microscope, we can confirm that this shoe works best in spring and fall, as well as on dry winter days.

However, a light drizzle or even moderate rain won't be a party-killer for this HOKA shoe, as it's covered with a PFC-free/PFAS-free water-repellent treatment.

Despite its increased stack height and neutral construction, the HOKA Transport 2 is a rather stable shoe that feels supportive for all-day wear.

As our custom torsional rigidity test confirmed, its cradle-like midsole, with an elevated topline, doesn't twist as easily. The total torque needed to warp it by 10 degrees in both directions is 18.2 Nm. It is slightly higher than average and is on par with HOKA's stability silhouettes like the Gaviota 6 (17.7 Nm) and the Arahi 8 (19.5 Nm).

The Transport 2's heel counter got more structured and resistant to deformation, scoring a high 4 out of 5 for rigidity. Offering a more secure heel positioning and ensuring zero rearfoot wobble, this is another major contributor to the shoe's stability.

And the good news is that we didn't have to worry about heel rubbing or blisters thanks to this version's more abundant collar padding. Achilles' irritation was out of the equation too, thanks to the new elongated, elf-like collar flare.

The new version's midsole dimensions remained exactly the same as in the original shoe, measuring 112.5 mm in the widest part of the forefoot. On par with the average, it's unlike most chunky overbuilt HOKAs.

Our caliper also showed a moderate width of 92.7 mm in the widest area of the heel. This is broad enough to make us feel planted without causing midsole edges to bump into each other between steps or brush against stairs and sidewalks.

Equipped for both urban and outdoor scenarios, the HOKA Transport 2 features some of the hardest-wearing upper textiles among walking shoes.

With its vamp and tongue made of bulletproof Cordura, no wonder it got a high 4 out of 5 score for toebox durability.

Unfortunately, the shoe's interior collar lining isn't as wear-resistant, scoring only 2 out of 5 in our durability test.

Losing merely 1.0 mm of its rubber material, this HOKA shoe's Vibram EcoStep Recycle outsole also proved to be capable of enduring long miles on asphalt, concrete, rocks, and roots.

The total outsole thickness (including 2.9 mm lugs) measured 4.9 mm on our caliper, reinforcing our confidence in the Transport 2's longevity.

The shoe's product description mentions a cushier sockliner in the Transport 2, but our caliper measurements showed the exact same insole thickness of 4.8 mm in both versions.

We believe that it's the new version's taller stack and notably softer midsole foam that changes the weather here.

The insole is removable, and the shoe depth allows decent space for a custom orthotic.

Another reason to recommend this HOKA shoe for colder months (aside from its nonexistent breathability) is its EVA midsole's immunity to low temperatures.

Measuring its softness before and after a 20-minute freezer session, our durometer recorded a minor 17% change. It remains almost as moderately soft as it is at room temperature.

As promised on its product page, the HOKA Transport 2 indeed features 360-degree reflectivity, with small, shiny elements on the front, back, and sides. However, they are not particularly bright to be seen from afar in dark conditions.

To match the shoe's cushier heel collar, HOKA also added extra millimeters of foam to the Transport 2's tongue, making it 9.3 mm thick.

That surely added plus points to the step-in comfort.

A small yet meaningful feature, a fully-gusseted tongue stays perfectly in place all throughout the walk and makes the overall lockdown more secure. On the trail, it also helps prevents water, sand, and small debris from getting inside the shoe.

A thin finger loop at the back of the shoe makes entry easier. It doesn't look bulky, but it hangs so far out from the shoe that we're worried about getting caught on twigs.

The HOKA Transport 2 is not a cheap walking shoe. But considering the bundle of features and benefits packed into it, we can confirm that the MSRP is justified. Especially given the fact that this one shoe can replace an entire rotation.

HOKA continues to rely on recycled materials to make more of its shoe components sustainable. Here is what's used in the Transport 2:

• 30% sugarcane EVA midsole
• Vibram EcoStep Recycle outsole
• 100% recycled polyester rear-quarter mesh, tongue, and collar lining
• 100% recycled polyester vamp and Cordura mesh tongue
• 100% recycled polyester ghillie webbing textile

Each pair of Transport 2s comes with a default Quick-Toggle Stretch Lace and an additional pair of regular laces for you to choose from.