Hoka Arahi 7 review

We've found the Hoka Arahi 7 to be an excellent choice for:

• Runners seeking a snug yet comfortable fit for long distances.
• Individuals needing moderate stability in a lightweight daily trainer.
• Hoka fans who appreciate a stable experience in a durable shoe, and don't mind riding a firmer midsole.

The Hoka Arahi 7, while not a bad shoe, is definitely tailored for a specific runner profile. We noticed that those requiring ample toe room might find this shoe restrictive. For a roomier fit, we suggest the Brooks Adrenalite GTS 23 as a better alternative.

We also feel the Arahi 7 falls short for runners seeking a dynamic, responsive ride. The midsole's firmness leads to a lackluster feel, lacking the bouncy ride many desire. In contrast, the ASICS Gel Kayano 30 offers a more engaging experience, combining stability and fun in a way the Arahi 7 doesn't quite match.

We've already noted the ample cushioning in the Arahi 7, and our caliper tests confirmed it with a 34.2 mm stack height.

This provides the perfect balance for a daily trainer—neither too bulky nor lacking foam. And it works well for heel strikers.

The forefoot design mirrors the heel, featuring plenty of foam that's substantial yet not excessively tall.

Our measurements showed a forefoot height of 27.9 mm, aligning well with the standards of contemporary road daily trainers.

Following the earlier measurements, a straightforward subtraction revealed a 6.3 mm heel-to-toe drop, nearly matching Hoka's stated 5 mm. This mid-range drop is a hallmark of Hoka, ideally suited for midfoot strikers yet accommodating all runners effectively.

Returning to the midsole, we decided to assess it with a durometer after our initial test runs suggested the CMEVA foam Hoka uses felt somewhat firm.

Our suspicions were confirmed with a 26.6-HA reading, indicating a firmer foam. This makes perfect sense for a moderate stability daily trainer, which often opts for a less plush foam to provide added support.

For those who prefer a softer ride without the need for stability, the popular Clifton 9, also by Hoka, might be the ideal alternative to the Arahi 7. And it's also a bouncier, way-more-fun shoe.

While Hoka unfortunately continues to embrace EVA-based midsoles as of 2024, their dedication to refining the formula is evident.

Our 20-minute freezer challenge revealed that the EVA midsole impressively only hardened by 17.3%, showcasing Hoka's success in enhancing the material's performance in cold conditions.

In Hoka's quest for comfort, we discovered a 5.3 mm insole in the Arahi 7. This thickness is on the higher end of the spectrum.

We discovered that Hoka, a pioneer in integrating rockers into running shoes, takes a different approach with the Arahi 7. This model features a discreet, late-stage toe rocker that we hardly noticed during our runs.

This design choice is logical, as rockers, while aiding forward momentum, can sometimes compromise stability...

Despite the shoe's overall wide and spacious feel during runs, the toebox presents a contrasting snug fit.

It's not excessively narrow at 97.3 mm, yet it leans more towards a performance-oriented, snug fit than a spacious one. Therefore, we mainly recommend the Arahi 7 for runners with narrow to average foot widths—unless you're able to secure the Wide version, available in select regions.

The Arahi 7 serves as a testament to the thoroughness of our testing method, trying to capture every nuance of running shoes. A second measurement of the upper revealed a notable detail: the shoe narrows to 74.7 mm at the big toe area.

This pronounced tapering underscores the snug fit we've felt in a very Hokaesque way. It's an essential aspect to bear in mind before purchasing the Arahi 7, particularly if you have a wider toe region.

The Arahi 7's design as a mild stability shoe led us to discover its reliance on Hoka's J-Frame technology. Essentially, the J-Frame consists of a firmer foam segment shaped like a "J," extending along the shoe's medial side and wrapping around the heel.

This design offers a fresh approach to providing support without the intrusive feel of a traditional medial post or the H-Frame from the Gaviota 5. The J-Frame, paired with high midsole sidewalls, ensures a secure and stable experience for runners with mild pronation or those neutral runners seeking additional support on certain days.

However, the Arahi 7's defining features extend beyond the J-Frame and midsole sidewalls. Our first test runs highlighted its exceptional rigidity, a characteristic further validated by our torsional rigidity assessment.

While moderate stability shoes tend to be rigid, the Arahi 7 sets a new standard with a 5/5 rigidity rating. This suggests that wearers should be prepared for a shoe that offers virtually no twist.

The heel counter's also super stiff, scoring a solid 5/5 in our tests.

For a shoe positioned as offering moderate stability, this might seem over the top. However, in the absence of traditional medial posts, Hoka had to integrate several alternative features to achieve exceptional stability—and they succeeded! The trade-off, however, is a notably stiff shoe.

Next, we tackle another crucial element of the stability equation, which we think is straightforward for everyone to grasp—the broader the shoe, the more stable the ride, correct?

This led us to measure a forefoot width of 120.7 mm, placing it more in line with dedicated stability shoes than a moderately stable daily trainer.

The heel boasts a generous width of 97.5 mm as well, making the Arahi 7 a welcoming choice for heel strikers.

After checking how rigid the shoe was when twisting it, we worried it might be too stiff to run in every day.

Good news, though—we have a special test for this. We bend each shoe to a 90-degree angle and see how hard it is to do that. For this shoe, it took just 33.5N of force, which is just right—not too stiff, not too flexible. Great for daily miles!

In cooler conditions, the CMEVA (Compression-Molded EVA) foam impressively maintains its feel, stiffening by only 21.1%. This minor change should be almost imperceptible, even in the coldest temperatures, ensuring a consistent experience from the Arahi 7.

Initially, the shoe impressed us with its remarkable lightness despite its size. And our concerns about the substantial outsole thickness quickly dissipated once we weighed the shoe.

To our delight, it tipped the scales at only 9.4 oz (266g)—an exceptional figure for a daily trainer that offers moderate stability and enough cushioning.

At first glance, Hoka seems to have crafted the Arahi 7 with plenty of ventilation holes, suggesting top-notch breathability. Despite the promising design, our real-world test with a smoke machine was disappointing, leading us to rate it a mere 3 out of 5.

Shining a light through the shoe, we noticed a dense knit paired with these ventilation holes. Yet, the holes didn't allow much light to pass through, unlike other more breathable shoes.

So, what's the real story here? To find the answer, we turned to our microscope.

This deeper inspection revealed the surprising truth. Despite the presence of ventilation holes, the Arahi 7 earned just a 3 out of 5 in our tests. We discovered that the holes were more for show than actual airflow, as evidenced by our microscopic images.

Yet turning our attention to the shoe's flat knit upper, we were genuinely impressed.

It snugly wraps around the foot, offering both stretch and comfort, and the material feels premium. However, it does fall short on ventilation as we proved before. In our view, there's room for improvement in this area for the next version.

Thick uppers often stand out for their incredible durability, and we were optimistic about this one—even though knits tend to be less robust than engineered mesh.

When we put the Arahi 7 to the test with our Dremel at 3.2N and 5K RPM, the results were outstanding. We were thrilled with the performance and unanimously gave it a perfect score in the lab—a well-deserved 5 out of 5.

With the Dremel still spinning, we dove into our next set of durability tests, focusing on the heel padding—a key concern for many runners.

Once again, the Arahi 7 left us in awe as it held up remarkably well, earning another stellar 5/5 rating. This outstanding performance suggests it's built to last forever.

Next, we examined the outsole of the shoe. Hoka has a reputation for using less rubber compared to other brands, but the coverage in the Arahi 7 seems enough.

Our testing with a durometer revealed the rubber's hardness to be 85.6 HC, indicating it's on the hard side.

To understand how the rubber's hardness impacts durability, we used the Dremel one last time in our lab review.

This test left a 0.9mm gap in the rubber—a solid result, indicating the shoe should hold up well throughout its lifespan, even for extreme heel strikers.

In our final assessment of the outsole, we measured its thickness—an essential factor when combined with our previous durability test.

While a 0.9mm indentation might seem average, it's quite promising when coupled with a robust 3.5mm thickness. This combination assures us that the outsole will withstand wear and tear exceptionally well.

Regrettably, our examination revealed that the Arahi 7 lacks any reflective elements. This oversight renders it a less-than-ideal option for those evening runs post-dusk.

The tongue boasts significant padding, crafted from a substantial foam piece encased by two slimmer layers, totaling 10.0 mm in thickness.

We suggest that Hoka might consider reducing it to 6 or 7 mm. This adjustment could maintain comfort while contributing to an even lighter shoe.

The tongue on the Arahi 7 is truly outstanding. It's not just the generous padding that impressed us—but its semi-gusseted design also plays a crucial role in securing a flawless fit. Remarkably, it remains perfectly positioned, no matter the pace of our run.

The shoe's rear boasts the iconic Hoka swallowtail heel collar, simplifying the process of slipping the shoe on while reducing pressure on the Achilles tendon. However, its design can unfortunately act as a magnet for debris while running off-road.

Discovering that the insole is detachable was a pleasant surprise. This feature allows for the effortless removal of the original insole to swap in personalized orthotic inserts.