Hoka Transport review

Who should buy the Hoka Transport

The Transport is a dedicated walking shoe from Hoka that is a solid pick for:

• Commuters and urban trekkers who are looking for a shoe that not only gives all-day comfort but also keeps them and their feet safe and well-protected day and night.
• Hoka fans who want a pair of kicks that bridges the gap between good looks and their daily trainers.
• Avid walkers who are in the market for walking shoes that are durable enough for miles of walking and are ready to pick up the pace when a stray dog decides to go after them.

Who should NOT buy it

The sturdy upper on the Hoka Transport can make your feet toasty. For a pair of walkers that keep it cool inside, we recommend the Allbirds Tree Runner as equally cozy in warm and cold weather.

Also, the On Cloudaway is a trendy alternative that doesn’t have squeaking issues.

An upper that works but still needs some work

The Cordura upper, made of 100% recycled plastic, has top-notch durability we really admire. We find it very protective and scuff-resistant while using the shoe.

The Hoka Transport is indeed a tank of a shoe! Based on the results of our Dremel durability test, it is comparable to some hiking shoes in their sturdiness. The video below shows how much more durable the Transport's upper is compared to an Adidas running shoe.

Disclaimer: We apply the same force and speed of the Dremel to both shoes (3.2N and 10000 RMPS respectively) for 4 seconds.

Looking at the shoe's upper fabric through a microscope, it is in fact hard to tell apart from the waterproof textile on the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX hiker.

It was easy to maintain the upper material of the Hoka Transport. We loved how it survived plenty of mud on our adventures and was easy to wipe clean afterward.

However, we felt that the upper lacks breathability. Although we loved sporting these kicks in the winter, putting them through the warm weather makes it a less pleasing experience.

Hoka Transport (left) vs. Saucony Triumph 20 (right)

This walking shoe from Hoka is among the least breathable ones on our roster. Having pumped smoke through its upper, we found that it barely lets it pass compared to shoes with mesh uppers. We rated the shoe 2 out of 5, where 1 is the least breathable.

You can also observe that the upper doesn't let any light through either in the video below.

The Hoka Transport is a definite ‘yes’ for the daily commute

For a long day of walking, a light jog, and even the occasional sprint to catch the bus, these kicks tick all the boxes. We only find it right to call it city-savvy and commuter-friendly with its sleek and stylish look that looks good and feels good on feet, too.

In times when we had to sprint unexpectedly, we felt like we were wearing running shoes.

Also, adding to the commuter-friendliness of the Hoka Transport, the integrated pull tab and elastic laces make them a lazy person’s dream. This makes sliding in and out of them super easy, which translates to making them really good airport shoes as well.

We discovered that these kicks also come with traditional laces for walkers who prefer lacing up in a more classic manner.

Pure heaven for feet

From the initial step, we immediately felt extremely comfortable in Hoka Transport. These shoes felt great fresh out of the box.

The shoe's well-padded interiors, namely its tongue and collar, are among the first contributors to that pleasant feel.

We measured the tongue of the shoe at 7 mm which is more cushioned than the average 4.1 mm.

The Hoka Transport has Goldilocks-level cushioning

These daily walkers sport the compression-molded EVA, which contains 30% sugarcane. We found this to strike a delicate balance between a soft and firm feeling underfoot. This slight firmness allowed us to wear the Hoka Transport all day.

We thought that the cushioning of Transport reached a magical sweet spot between a Clifton and an Arahi.

Using a durometer to check how soft the shoe's foam actually is, we found that it is 23% softer than walking shoes in our lab on average.

But when compared to other Hoka shoes we've tested, the Transport belongs to the balanced (neither too soft nor firm) range of cushioning.

What's more, the Hoka Transport has a more generous helping of cushioning than most walking shoes. We measured its heel stack at 34.1 mm (3.2 mm thicker than average).

In the forefoot, the shoe's stack height is 26.1 mm (4.7 mm thicker than average).

For a Hoka shoe, however, this kind of stack height is considered average.

The difference in height between the heel and the forefoot leaves us an 8-mm drop in the Hoka Transport. This is higher than the stated 5 mm on Hoka's official website. So, you are going to feel like your heel is a little more elevated.

The Hoka Transport is no marshmallow

Despite the plush nature of its foam, the Transport does not feel wobbly or loosey at all!

Bending and twisting it with our hands, we couldn't help but notice how it takes effort to flex the shoe. We assessed its longitudinal flexibility as 3 out of 5 (where 5 is the stiffest) and its torsional flex as 4. 

To scrutinize our subjective opinion, we put the Hoka Transport in a fixed position and bent it to a 90-degree angle while measuring resistance with a gauge. The result confirmed our initial impression - the shoe is 45% stiffer than average! 

Disclaimer: Just like with the durometer, we take four measurements in this test and then calculate the average.

But don't think that the shoe's stiffness is going to get in the way of smooth transitions. There is a prominent rocker shape to the shoe's platform which helps the foot roll through each stride.

Warning: chilly weather makes it even firmer and stiffer!

Provided that the Hoka Transport is so ready for colder weather, we couldn't help but check how its characteristics change in low temperatures.

This shoe does lose its softness and flexibility to cold and does so quite significantly. After sitting in the freezer for 20 minutes (our version of a cold winter day), the Transport got 43.2% firmer and 70.7% stiffer/less flexible!

It doesn't mean that the shoe is going to feel like a brick but it does require some breaking in to get to the same underfoot feel as in room temperature.

A broad platform contributes to the stability

We have no complaints regarding the shoe's stability. We commend the sole flaring, which is especially noticeable in the forefoot, as it made us feel planted in the Hoka Transport.

We used a pair of calipers to measure the widest part of the shoe's forefoot (112.8 mm) and heel (92.5 mm).

The numbers are significantly wider than what we normally observe in walking shoes - 107.5 mm and 85.2 mm on average.

Fits as expected

We appreciate the roomy toe box and true-to-size fit of the Hoka Transport.

Even though we described it as roomy, we cannot claim it to be a wide shoe. Having measured the widest part of the forefoot (95 mm) as well as the width around the toes (75 mm), we found that the Transport is right at the average of Medium-width toeboxes (95.9 mm and 74.6 mm respectively).

Making the Hoka Transport feel even more secure around the foot are the semi-gusseted tongue and the relatively stiff heel counter.

We rated the stiffness of the heel counter as 3 out of 5. This is sturdy enough to prevent the ankle from wobbling sideways.

An outsole that grips and endures

The Vibram rubber used on the Hoka Transport ensures confident strides in many adventures. We trodded through wet and snowy streets and we appreciated how these shoes had exceptional traction. 

In terms of tread life, we found that putting in 50 miles on our shoes showed no signs of slowing down. We confirmed this by assessing the low level of wear sustained by our shoes after everyday abuse and walking trips.

It is indeed hard to find another walking shoe that could compete in outsole endurance with the Hoka Transport. First of all, at 3.7 mm, its rubber outsole is 2 mm thicker than the average!

Secondly, the hardness of its Vibram rubber stands out from all the other walking shoes we've tested. It is 13% firmer than the average. And why does this matter? Typically, harder rubbers take much longer to wear out than softer ones.

The squeaky soles of the Hoka Transport

We found it very embarrassing whenever we took steps in the Hoka Transport as they noticeably squeak. The good news is, while the soles do squeak, this also subsided after a couple of hours of walking.

Reflective elements

In addition, we also appreciate the integration of the 360-degree reflective material, which ensures that we stay visible in low light conditions.