7 Best Hoka Walking Shoes in 2024

When we think of Hoka shoes, high expectations for the shoe’s cushioning immediately come to mind. Thankfully, the Hoka Transport’s cushioning is able to deliver walking perfection and then some! Our thorough testing of the shoe on our feet and in the lab gave us a deep appreciation for the Hoka Transport. Its combination of Goldilocks cushioning, stable base, and sturdy construction makes it our pick to be the best Hoka walking shoe.

The Hoka Transport’s cushioning feels just perfect for long days. We tested its hardness in the lab by pressing our durometer to its midsole, giving us a reading of 21.9 HA - meaning it’s 23% softer than the average walking shoe. Compared to other Hoka shoes, we discovered that it’s well-balanced between the Clifton and the Arahi, granting the best of both worlds in terms of softness and firmness. Of course, its stack height gives a lot of volume to work with like in other Hoka shoes. It’s 22% thicker at the forefoot and 10% thicker at the heel versus other walking shoes.

A wide and stable base with some sole flaring makes the Hoka Transport a good partner for surefooted strides. We measured its midsole with our calliper in the lab, yielding figures of 112.8 mm at the forefoot and 92.5 mm at the heel. These figures are significantly wider than those of the average walking shoe (107.5 mm and 85.2 mm on average) and give off a feeling of being well-planted.

Something that stood out to us is its solid construction from tip to heel. When we pressed our Dremel drill against its tip (with a force of 3.2N over 10,000 RMPS), it came out looking fine versus other shoes. To us, it seems more in the league of sturdy hiking shoes in terms of durability rather than standard walking shoes. Its outsole is no slouch either when it comes to hardiness, with a hardness of 81.9 HC (13% firmer than the average) and thickness of 3.7 mm (117% thicker than the average).

When we bisected the Hoka Transport to measure its dimensions, we saw a pretty significant variance between its declared stack height of 5 mm and its actual stack height of 8 mm. We don't recommend this for those who were hoping to walk in its original stack height.

Hoka Clifton LS is by far the most amazing walking shoe we have worn and tested for hours on end. We love it for its exceptional cushioning system that has well-calibrated plushness and reinforcement, allowing us to be out the whole day in pure ecstasy!

Hoka Clifton LS didn’t even give the average walking shoes a fighting chance in terms of the amount of cushioning. We recorded heel and forefoot stack heights of 35.2 mm and 27.0 mm, which were 9% and 24.2% higher than most walking pairs. This translated to fantastic shock absorption and strainless heels during our extended walks.

We found spending hours on our feet not an issue with the support that the Hoka Clifton LS granted. We gauged the shoe’s stiffness and bending it proved to be a challenge, so we gave it a 4/5 in torsional rigidity. This caused our feet to be caged safely and comfortably without the risk of ankle twists.

We also didn’t mind dragging this shoe all day because of its durable outsole. It bore a minor indentation of 0.6 mm after we applied our Dremel, 60% less than what most walking shoes attained. The downside is that the shoe is on the heavy side with a weight of 10.76 oz (305g), exceeding the average by 13.4%. If you wish for a lighter pair, we recommend exploring other Hoka alternatives.

Hoka Bondi 8 overshadowed all the other Hoka walking shoes in the comfort department. The interior is so packed and feels magnificent, that we are tempted to never take out our feet. No way to go about it but to affirm that it’s like a taste of heaven!

With a midsole elevation of 36.2 mm in the heel and 30 mm in the forefoot, Bondi 8 eclipsed the averages by 8.4% and 22.4%. It goes without saying that we are able to indulge in supreme cushioning without having our feet beaten up by pain and impact. The midsole also offers a degree of softness that makes our journeys even more satisfying. We quantified this by wielding our durometer, and it resulted in an 18 HA softness that’s 25% more plush than most.

Other parts of our feet are also cuddled with pillowy goodness. We investigated more about this in our lab and realised that the tongue has 55.2% more padding than typical walking shoes! In return, this also added extra weight to the shoe. We recorded a 10.97 oz (311g) weight, which is 16.1% heavier than the average. If you think this is going to weigh you down, we suggest purchasing lightweight shoes.

Among lab-tested Hoka shoes, our walks with Gaviota 5 felt most delightful as it offered unwavering arch support—no pain and localised tensions. Suitable for those with instability, Gaviota 5 keeps the ride forgiving by infusing gentler features within the shoe’s firm construction.

Deviating from the typical stability shoe, Gaviota 5 features a luxurious stack for leg-saving comfort. The composition includes two foams, each with a specific purpose: the main cushion is a plush 12.9 HA to carry our arches comfortably while the firmer 22.0 HA layer is situated in high-impact areas for better balance and protection. This setup empowered us to prolong our walks as our legs felt fresh.

Two elements further improved our foot alignment: the vast landing base and the H-Frame. Our calliper reveals a spacious 125.1/106.6 mm for finding our footing. Meanwhile, the H-Frame adds some resistance to the midsole so that excessive motions are mitigated.

Making Gaviota 5 a great place to be in all day is its accommodating toebox and unrestricted upper. As its 5/5 breathability rating shows, we had an overflowing amount of ventilation that effectively prevented blisters and sweaty feet.

However, we warn those who heel-strike and have lower-leg problems to look for alternatives since the shoe’s minimal 2.2 mm drop may not support their needs.

The Hoka Mach 6 impressed us both in the lab and on the streets with its featherweight design and exceptional comfort. It feels highly agile on foot, easily handling various activities like walking, running, and even other workouts. Undoubtedly, it’s our best lightweight Hoka walking shoe.

Despite its substantial stack height of 36.0/26.4 mm vs. the 32.6/21.7 mm average walking shoe, it remains surprisingly light at 8.2 oz (232g), a significant 14.1% below average. This lightweight build ensures a pleasant experience, with our legs feeling fresh even during longer walks.

Testing its hardness with our durometer reveals a 20.4 HA measurement, making it 18.4% softer than the average walking shoe. Despite its plush nature, it provides a lively response with each step without sinking into the foam. Its rocker also aids with our forward momentum and silky-smooth transitions.

Further enhancing comfort is its free-spirited midsole, bending effortlessly with our feet. Our flex test confirms it’s 8.3% more adaptive than the average walking shoe, which further adds to its weightlessness because it barely resists our movements.

However, the shoe runs quite narrow vs. average. We recommend those with wide feet to go for a more accommodating shoe.

True to its name, the Restore TC provides essential active recovery and TLC (tender loving care) even during prolonged wear. Boasting a cushioned ride and generous toe space, it prioritises comfort, offering a seamless experience with smooth transitions and effortless wear. Its innovative extended wing-like heel collar doubles as a built-in shoehorn, securing its place as our lab's top slip-on choice among Hoka walking shoes.

The shoe offers abundant cushioning with its generous stack height. Surprisingly stable for its plush feel, we discovered its secret upon inspection: a firm 30.0 HA carrier foam paired with an exceptionally thick and soft insole, measuring 20.5 HA according to our durometer—a noteworthy 18.0% below average. While the average insole measures 5.8 mm, Restore TC’s is a whopping 16.9 mm!

As a recovery shoe, it offers ample room for toe splay, boasting a wide, rounded toebox. Measuring 110.9 mm at its widest point, it tapers to an impressive 94.3 mm—the widest big toe area we've encountered. At this rate, it's closer to the 98.5 mm average toebox at the widest area!

The absence of a rubber outsole further softens this Hoka’s ride. Our durometer reveals a low reading of 62.9 HC, 17.0% below average. The exposed foam leads to a higher risk of abrasion so we recommend avoiding rough and rocky paths to prolong the shoe’s life.

Hoka Bondi SR is unbeatable as the greatest Hoka walking shoe for work because we feel invincible whenever we are in the pair. Even though we are slaving at our 8 to 12-hour jobs, Bondi is so easy on the feet that we never felt tired down below. The safety it brings makes it a real haven at work!

One thing that made us not mind standing and walking on our jobs for prolonged hours is the very plush midsole. Our durometer even backed our impression as it revealed a midsole hardness of 20.4 HA, which is softer than average by 21.2%.

In terms of falling risks, we can confidently say that Bondi faces none. We tested it on the kitchen, hospital, and other slippery floors, and we didn’t miss our footing anywhere. Our lab test also supported our claim as we found that the outsole is 73.1 HC soft. This makes Bondi’s outsole 1.7% softer than average, meaning, it clings to the tiles much easier.

Another risk we are safe from because of Bondi is getting our feet wet on accident spills at work. Peaking at its upper through our microscope made us realise how perforation-free it is. This only confirmed the water-tightness of the shoe.

The thing we couldn’t help but notice while busting our humps is the weightiness of Bondi. At 14.3 oz (404g), it’s 53.6% heavier than average. If this bothers you, we suggest looking for alternatives.