HOKA Kaha 3 GTX review

If boots could speak, we believe that the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX would say 'comfort first!' Thus, we can highly recommend this chunky offering to hikers who:

• want all the cushioning and impact protection they can get on a multi-day backpacking trip
• need a versatile boot for moderate (non-technical) and mixed terrain
• expect premium-level quality and durability from a high-priced boot
• love them chunky boots!

We believe that the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX is an overkill for short and easy day hikes with a lighter pack. The brand's slightly more trimmed-down Anacapa 2 Mid GTX would be a more suitable option for this use case.

The Kaha 3 GTX's shallower lugs won't keep you very surefooted on technical or muddy terrain. For more challenging routes, we recommend the Salomon Quest 4 GTX instead.

HOKA continues to set new records in the cushioning department! At 120 SA, the Kaha 3 GTX returned some of the highest shock absorption readings among hiking boots in our lab. It is even higher than in the previous Kaha (114 SA)!

This translates into plenty of underfoot comfort and impact protection on the longest distances. It is a pure blessing for hikers with foot pain (i.e., plantar fasciitis), joint pain, or prior injuries.

While it is a far cry from the traditional, firm backpacking boot, it works wonders in reducing fatigue and keeping the foot safe and sound in the long haul.

HOKA delivers as promised when it says 'a bit more bounce' in the Kaha 3.

Measuring the new version's energy return at 49.5%, we found that it is notably higher compared to the Kaha 2's 38.5%!

But please note that this is still within the moderate range, and the boot doesn't feel very springy or bouncy. It hits a sweet spot between stability for carrying a heavy load and a touch of responsiveness for preventing the ride from feeling too dull.

Our caliper also showed that the Kaha 3's midsole grew a little bit taller compared to the v2.

With a heel stack of 41.9 mm, the boot sits on the taller side of the hiking boot spectrum, 2.6 mm thicker than the v2.

The forefoot stack also showed a higher reading of 30.4 mm, towering over most of our lab-tested boots. And it is 2.3 mm thicker than the v2.

And even though maneuverability and trail feel were lost for good, our toe joints and forefoot area received unprecedented protection from impact, rocks, and debris in general.

Contrary to HOKA's statement, the Kaha 3 GTX's drop clocked in at 11.5 mm and not 8 mm.

This offset places the heel even higher above the toes, lowering the stress on the foot muscles and tendons as well as the Achilles. It helps the wearer feel better supported when carrying a heavy load.

But if you prefer low-drop hiking boots, then Altra is your best bet.

Just like the preceding model, the Kaha 3 GTX relies on a dual-density midsole for cushioning.

Its primary (top) layer is thicker and softer, offering immediate comfort to the wearer's foot. According to our Shore A durometer, it is quite plush at 17.0 HA. 'Pinnacle plushness,' as HOKA states in their product description.

Not only is it significantly softer than the average hiking boot midsole, but it is also a bit softer than the Kaha 2 (21.7 HA).

But the firmer foam below the soft compound doesn't let the plushness get out of control. Acting as a carrier foam, we found it to be considerably harder with a higher durometer reading of 31.0 HA.

This setup keeps the ride stable without compromising the cozy benefits of that softer foam.

Fit-wise, the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX brings no surprises. At least not in the men's US size 9 (D medium width) we tested.

Measuring the widest part of the gel mold we made of the shoe's interiors, our caliper showed a standard reading of 92.5 mm. That's a normal width for the ball of the foot area of a hiking boot in this size and width.

But please note that this HOKA boot is not available in wide variants. Thus, it may not accommodate wider feet or bunions.

The boot's toebox didn't show any aggressive tapering either.

With a medium-range width of 70.6 mm in the big toe area, it proved to be on par with most other hiking boots we've tested.

There is no lack of vertical space in the Kaha 3 GTX.

With a toebox height of 28.0 mm, our toes received enough wiggle room above them to prevent pressure points or rubbing. As long as you get this boot in the right size, black toenails are out of question.

The industry-leading Vibram Megagrip outsole rarely disappoints when it comes to traction, and it proved to be tacky in the Kaha 3 GTX as well!

The boot's forefoot rubber generated a pretty high coefficient of friction against wet concrete. At 0.65, it inspires plenty of confidence on smooth and wet rocks.

And the fact that the Kaha 3's lugs got shallower also helps the boot stick to solid granite without slipping.

Our caliper measurements showed that the Kaha 3's lugs (3.2 mm) are even shallower than what's stated in the brand's specs (4 mm). This is a drastic change from the Kaha 2's toothy treads (4.9 mm)!

Shredding its lugs made the Kaha 3 less reliable on soft and muddy terrain, but instead, it got more versatile for rocky and hard-packed trails.

Aside from lug depth, we observed no major changes in the boot's outsole design. It's a familiar mix of shevron and linear treads that accommodate steep ascents and descents brilliantly.

A chunky boot with above-average stack height is not expected to bend that much. So it only makes sense that the Kaha 3 GTX showed a high stiffness score of 35.2N in our lab test.

However, the MetaRocker smoothes the ride of this HOKA boot by creating a bit of a rocking chair motion to nudge the foot to the next step.

Some fans of the HOKA Kaha may find it unfortunate that the third iteration gained about an ounce of weight compared to v2.

The boot now weighs 19.4 oz (550g) in a men's US size 9, which is heavier than the average of hiking boots but is actually normal for a backpacking boot. In fact, it is even lighter than some of its competition, like the Salomon Quest 4 GTX (23.4 oz/663 g).

The Kaha 3 GTX is almost entirely covered in thick, non-permeable nubuck leather, which keeps the interiors pretty warm.

Our smoke test revealed no perforations or ventilation holes in the boot's toebox whatsoever.

And even though the textile in the tongue area showed mild transparency in our light test, it didn't add much airflow inside the boot.

Our microscope shot exposed the tightly-woven nature of this fabric.

Rating this HOKA boot's breathability with the lowest possible score (1/5), we wouldn't recommend it for summer adventures in warm weather (especially when it's above 70°F/20°C).

But the Kaha 3 GTX lacks breathability for a good reason. Lined with the Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane, we found it to be 100% ready for rainy conditions, puddles, and creek crossing.

The HOKA Kaha 3 GTX is living proof that a hiking boot can fuse plush cushioning and immense stability in one design!

Most technical backpacking boots cut down on comfort to keep the foot caged for carrying a heavy backpack, but the Kaha 3 GTX offers lateral stability in a much gentler way and still delivers!

Its massive platform with a stabilizing carrier, stiff leather upper, and rubberized overlays didn't let the Kaha 3 GTX twist even one bit in our manual test.

This unyielding structure deserves nothing less than the highest torional rigidity score of 5 out of 5. Your ankles can rely on this HOKA boot for keeping them steady on hilly and uneven terrain. This reliable side-to-side stability also helps to reduce foot and leg fatigue in the long run, as your body doesn't have to work overtime to stabilize itself with its own muscles and tendons.

Our next manual test revealed that the Kaha 3 GTX has a much stiffer heel counter but a more 'Achilles-friendly heel collar' at the same time. How is that possible?

The base of the boot's heel got reinforced with a higher midsole topline and an additional rubberized overlay, which is quite stiff. This update raised the Kaha 3's heel counter stiffness from 2/5 to the maximum 5/5 and now offers even more support for the heel and ankle.

But the top part of the boot's heel collar was made higher and kept flexible only in the area where it is most needed (on the Achilles). This prevents undesirable pressure on the shin and Achilles during ascents and descents. Gone is the weird, polarizing collar tongue of the Kaha 2.

A HOKA boot wouldn't be complete without a broad and chunky midsole. But it did get a bit slimmer in the Kaha 3 GTX.

The widest part of the boot's midsole in the forefoot clocked in at 115.0 mm, which is not THAT much wider than the average of hiking boots.

The Kaha 3 retained the bubbly Hubble Heel and the signature SwallowTail design, but shaved off some of their bulk for a more streamlined silhouette. Finally, we didn't feel like we caught every stone on the way with that extended heel!

Instead of 106.1 mm, the widest part of the boot's heel now comes in at 96.4 mm. However, it is still much wider than average.

Such a large landing area has its benefits in the stability department, but loses points in maneuverability (specifically on technical terrain, where precise footing is key).

'More durable than ever before,' says HOKA, but to our disappointment, the Kaha 3 GTX failed to show better durability results than the Kaha 2...

Drilling the nubuck leather on top of the boot's toebox, we saw that the Dremel left a bit more damage on the Kaha 3 than it did on the Kaha 2. That's because the latter's tough rand extended further back and covered a larger toebox area.

But we still found the Kaha 3's toebox durability satisfactory and gave it a high durability score of 4/5. Scraping it against sharp vegetation or rocky ridges won't destroy the boot's high-quality nubuck upper that easily. It's just not 'more durable' than the v2.

The boot's inner lining also stood up to our Dremel drilling pretty well.

Even though its wear resistance wasn't the best, the fabric proved to be stronger than most other boots' heel collar linings. Thus, we gave it a solid 4/5.

The same goes for the boot's outsole durability–it's good but not mind-blowing.

Our 18-second drilling session at a 10K RPM speed left 1.1 mm of damage in the boot's rubber. It's a tiny bit deeper than the average, but not critical enough to call HOKA out for making subpar products.

In fact, we can forgive a slightly less hard-wearing rubber blend in return for increased traction on slick rocks!

The boot has a decent amount of rubber to protect its underside. Excluding lug depth, our caliper measured its thickness at 2.4 mm, which is within the norm for hiking boots.

Like the Kaha 3's midsole cushioning wasn't enough, HOKA also equipped the boot with an exceptionally thick insole. At 6.9 mm, it is one of the thickest sockliners we've seen in a hiking boot!

If you plan to wear the Kaha 3 GTX in cold weather for extended periods of time, you will notice that its midsole gets notably firmer. In fact, the boot's primary (soft) foam got 46% firmer after a 20-minute exposure to low temperatures in our freezer!

But it doesn't get brick-like hard, more like moderately soft and balanced.

The boot's insole is easy to remove and replace with a custom orthotic of your choice. But please take note of how thick it is so that you don't end up with too much wiggle room inside the boot with the new insert.

None of the boot's elements reflects light in dark conditions.

Despite its cosy-comfy build, we found that the Kaha 3 GTX's tongue padding is merely the same as the average, with a thickness of 10.4 mm.

The boot's tongue is fully integrated into the upper, creating a very secure lockdown and keeping water and debris at bay.

The HOKA Kaha 3 GTX is certainly not the cheapest hiking boot. But considering its material quality, outstanding comfort, and effective outdoor performance, we believe that the asking price is reasonable. 

Its MSRP is on par with similar backpacking boots from Scarpa, LOWA, and Salomon.

A fabric finger loop is handy in the on-and-off action.

The boot features a mix of webbed and punched eyelets for a customized and pressure-free lacing. It also has three pairs of metal quick-lace hooks at the top of the collar for a quicker on-and-off.

The HOKA Kaha 2's visual appearance was polarizing. Many found it to be an overkill for its chunky silhouette, and not everyone was a fan of the collar tongue.

But there is a consensus regarding the Kaha 3's improved aesthetics as it has a more streamlined and put-together appearance. It no longer feels so blocky and stompy.

HOKA continues to incorporate sustainable and ethically sourced materials into its products, including the Kaha 3 GTX:

• GTX face fabric (71% recycled polyester)
• EVA midsole (30% sugarcane)
• Insole (50% bio-renewable Susterra propanediol)
• Quarter, tongue, and lining mesh (100% recycled polyester)