7 Best HOKA Walking Shoes in 2025

How we test HOKA walking shoes

Here is our approach to give you an honest and fair review:

• We buy these shoes using our money to avoid any biased feedback or pressure from the brands.
• We subject them to dozens of lab tests, which result in more than 20 data points for each walking shoe! We make this data comparable across the walking shoe category so it's easy to find the Hoka walking shoe with the best shock absorption, or the one with the stiffest heel counter, or the one with the lowest heel drop. Plus, we split the shoes in half to have a better look at what's inside.
• We test the shoes by wearing them daily: walking indoors and outdoors, going to work, travelling.

Why choose HOKA shoes for walking?

HOKA was among the first brands that popularised athletic shoes with chunky maximalist midsoles. Over the years, the brand’s name has become synonymous with max-cushioned shoes and earned the company a prominent spot in the footwear market.

So why do people love these puffy designs so much? Thick-foamed midsoles minimise impact forces otherwise absorbed by legs and hips and provide a smooth, supportive, and comfortable ride with little-to-no-fatugue afterwards.

At first, these qualities made HOKA shoes extremely popular for long-distance running, but very soon they also became a top choice for walking and casual wear.

That’s why most of our top picks in this guide include HOKA shoes that were originally designed as running shoes. You can effortlessly switch between walking and running in the following shoes:

Choosing the best HOKA walking shoes for you

At first glance, all HOKA shoes look the same - cushy and comfy. But if you get a chance to try them all in person, you will notice pretty sizable differences in the way they fit and feel on foot.

To help you figure out which HOKA shoe suits your needs the best, we cover the following features in this guide:

• Cushioning: Even though all HOKA shoes are undoubtedly well-cushioned, the amount of foam and its plushness varies a lot: from 30 to 40 mm and from ultra-plush to balanced.
• Support: Some HOKA shoes have a more supportive construction offering pronation control and relief from certain foot conditions.
• Fit: Different lasts and upper materials result in different fit. Some HOKA shoes are more close-fitting while others are more generous with the toebox space.
• Durability: Are all HOKA shoes equally durable for the price?
• Breathability: From airy and summer-ready to warm and even waterproof HOKAs.

Cushioning in HOKA walking shoes

HOKA shoes are renowned for their exceptional cushioning so we are not surprised that none of the shoes we tested showed a heel stack lower than 30 mm.

This is the minimum amount of material you want between the heel and the ground to achieve all-day comfort and impact protection.

But the amount of cushioning still varies between different HOKA models. In the comparison photo below, the HOKA Bondi 9 is almost a centimetre thicker than the HOKA Clifton 9.

While it’s a matter of personal preference, we think you will benefit from the moderate stack (30-35 mm) if:

• you prefer a more stable and grounded experience
• you want a shoe that can double for moderate gym use (i.e. HOKA Solimar, HOKA Kawana)

On the other hand, you are likely to appreciate the highest stack (35-40 mm) if:

• you need maximum cushioning for walking and standing all day
• you want something cosy for easy recovery walks after sport

Cushioning softness is another important parameter to consider in your future pair of HOKAs.

To help you understand how much plushness to expect, we cut each shoe in half and press a Shore A durometer against its primary and secondary (if any) midsole foam. The lower the HA reading on the tool, the softer the compound:

• plush: 20 HA or less
• balanced: 20-30 HA
• firm: 30 HA or more

Based on our measurements, there are NO firm HOKA shoes! With an average midsole softness of 22 HA, they are either plush or moderately plush (balanced).

Plush HOKA shoes provide a very enjoyable squishmallow-like underfoot experience. However, you may benefit from a bit firmer ride if:

• you are a heavier person
• you prefer to feel more stable and grounded
• you have conditions that can be aggravated by soft midsoles (i.e. plantar fasciitis)

Supportive HOKA shoes for overpronation and other conditions

Some HOKA shoes are specifically designed to prevent excessive rolling of the foot (aka overpronation) and minimise discomfort associated with this condition.

If you ever experience any of these symptoms, chances are that you need the brand’s stability shoe:

• your heels and ankles collapse inwards when walking or standing
• you shoe soles wear out faster of the inner side
• you experience pain in the feet, ankles, or even lower back after long bouts of walking

You can learn more in our comprehensive guides on walking shoes for overpronation.

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

There are two types of supportive walking shoes from HOKA:

• moderately supportive (J-Frame)
• highly supportive (H-Frame)

The J-Frame is found in the brand’s Arahi series and is meant for mild overpronation.

It features a firmer foam segment in the shape of the letter "J" (grey area in the photo below). It extends along the shoe's inner side (under the foot arch) and wraps around the heel.

The H-Frame is found in the HOKA Gaviota series which caters to moderate-to-severe overpronation.

Shaped as the letter “H,” it covers the entire midsole perimeter and adds a connecting segment in the midfoot as well. The “H” itself is made of firmer foam while the softer compound can be felt through the cutouts in between. This approach allows to use plush foam without compromising stability.

Both frames rely on dual-density foams to provide sufficient torsional rigidity through the midsole. The stiffness makes it nearly impossible to twist the Arahi or the Gaviota which, in turn, prevents the foot from wobbling and buckling.

But that’s not the only feature that’s responsible for support. HOKA stability shoes also come with fairly stiff and well-padded heel counters which lock the rearfoot down in place and minimise undue movement.

Last but not least, they also have nice and wide platforms which provide a large landing area and prevent the foot from spilling over the edge of the sole.

HOKA shoes for plantar fasciitis

The shoe characteristics described above are also applicable to plantar fasciitis.

Even though HOKA doesn’t position any of its footwear as recommended for PF, some of its walking shoes meet the science-backed criteria for this painful condition:

Having tested each HOKA shoe, we found that the following models meet the aforementioned criteria:

Getting the right size and fit in HOKA walking shoes

HOKA walking shoes are generally consistent with the brand’s size chart and tend to fit true to size. But having tested dozens of HOKA shoes, we couldn’t help but notice the differences in their forefoot shapes, toebox space, and overall fit.

Size: To make your online shopping as hassle-free as possible and avoid returns, we highly recommend measuring your current foot length first. This will increase your chances of ordering the right size length-wise.

1. Follow these 3 simple steps to get the measurements. Ask a friend to help you for more accurate results.
2. Find out which HOKA shoe size suits you best in the brand’s size chart.
3. Check out the Size section in our corresponding HOKA shoe review to see if any size adjustments are recommended for that specific model.

Fit: The internal shape and dimensions of HOKA shoes can vary quite a bit, even in the same size!

That’s why we developed a mould-pouring process using a custom gel formula. The gels takes up the inner space of the shoe and freezes solid allowing us to measure its dimensions with a digital calliper.

The photo below shows the 1:1 gel replicas of two different HOKA shoe interiors in the same size (men’s US 9). Measuring the width of both moulds in their widest parts (between the pinkie and the big toe), we got 91.1 mm in one shoe and 99.7 mm in the other. Nearly a centimetre of difference!

We also measure the width of each mould near the big toe to assess the amount of toebox tapering. The narrower the reading, the pointier the toebox, and vice versa. If you prefer more rounded toebox shapes that comfortably accommodate all five toes, get a HOKA shoe with more room near the big toe.

Durability of walking shoes from HOKA

Walking shoes from HOKA are definitely not the cheapest. So you want to make sure that you’re getting the best value for money and don’t have to run for a replacement pair on a couple of months.

In our lab, we take each HOKA shoe through the wringer by means of sandpaper and a Dremel. We apply the tool to the following shoe parts:

• upper fabric on top of the toebox
• fabric lining inside the heel collar
• rubber outsole at the bottom

Testing conditions remain the same for each shoe part for consistency.

Once the drilling is done, we assess the abrasion resistance of each part on a 1-5 scale where 5 stands for most durable. For the outsole, however, we show the exact depth of the dent (the smaller, the better).

Here is the overview of HOKA walking shoes with the most durable components in both the upper and the outsole:

Even though we don’t have a durability test for it (yet), it is equally important to consider the shoe’s cushioning longevity. However, it is trickier to test because foam deterioration is not as evident as holes in the upper or missing rubber on the outsole.

Most athletic shoes have a life expectancy of about 300-500 miles (480-800 km). So once you have worn a HOKA shoe past that point, watch out for the following signs of cushioning degradation:

• the midsole got notably thinner and flatter
• the sole is tilted to one side (mirroring your overpronation)
• you start to experience discomfort or pain in your feet and legs
• your legs and feet feel more tired after the walk

HOKA walking shoes for every season

A vast majority of HOKA walking shoes use some sort of mesh for their uppers. And even though it is a pretty breathable type of fabric, not all HOKA shoes are equally breathable.

We perform a series of breathability tests in our lab to check how much airflow you can expect in a given shoe. These tests include:

• pumping smoke through the shoe’s toebox to check its permeability
• hovering the half-cut upper over the light to check its pores and ventilation channels
• examining the structure of a given mesh fabric through a microscope

Once all the testing procedures are done, we rate each shoe’s breathability on a 1-5 scale where 5 goes out to shoes with the best ventilation capacity.

On the other hand, you might as well appreciate a less breathable HOKA shoe for the cooler months of spring and fall. In this case, shoes with a moderate breathability of 2, 3, and 4 would be a better choice.

And if you are looking for a winter-ready waterproof walking shoe, some of HOKA’s popular silhouettes are also available in a GTX version. GORE-TEX is a world-class waterproofing membrane which keeps the foot dry and warm.