Table of contents Best PricesCoreScoreVerdictProsConsComparisonWho should buy the Hoka Kaha Low GTXWho should NOT buy the shoeBlissfully cushionedKaha Low GTX makes you feel surefootedComfortable from the offGore-Tex does its job admirablyHeavier than most GTX hiking shoesFacts / SpecsPopularityVideo reviews
Overview

Who should buy the Hoka Kaha Low GTX

If you have been fascinated with hiking shoes from Hoka for long enough, you should be quite familiar with their signature characteristic—a stout sole. The Kaha Low GTX is blessed with this same design, which translates to the following:

  • You get comfortable hikes with lower risks of arch pain.
  • Haphazard landings are safer since the chunkiness of the sole will absorb more shock than usual.
  • Hiking with a backpack is possible as if you are in a pair of backpacking boots.
  • Your feet stay dry and warm in rainy, snowy, wet, and cold weather. 

Hoka Kaha Low GTX Collar

Who should NOT buy the shoe

If you need more ankle support, consider getting the boot version of the shoe - the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX. And if you want a Wide hiking shoe, check out the Merrell Moab 2 GTX or the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX.

Hoka Kaha Low GTX Insole

Blissfully cushioned

Just by looking at the shoe's mighty sole, you can tell how much cushioning it is ready to offer. A great number of comments from the reviewers mentioned the tremendous all-day support of the Kaha Low GTX.

The shoe proved to be a reliable companion for long hours on the trails, providing excellent shock absorption, helping to relieve the pain from plantar fasciitis, protecting the wearer's back and joints. The reviewers mentioned that it "looks like a boot, but feels like a sneaker" and also "feels like a foot massage."

Those who have taken this Hoka shoe backpacking are amazed with the level of support and stability it provides. Someone who carried 40lbs on the hike noted that "these shoes made hiking a joy at even the most grueling points of the trail."

Hoka Kaha Low GTX Midsole

Kaha Low GTX makes you feel surefooted

The reviewers also expressed satisfaction with the shoe's Vibram rubber outsole. They agree that it can take a beating and grips everything, wet and dry.

Hoka Kaha Low GTX Outsole

Comfortable from the off

Despite looking so sturdy, the shoe's Nubuck upper is actually rather forgiving. "Right out of the box, my feet were happy," says one of the reviewers. It didn't feel stiff and required little-to-no breaking in.

Hoka Kaha Low GTX upper

Gore-Tex does its job admirably

The waterproofing membrane on the Hoka Kaha Low GTX resist water very effectively, according to many hikers. As one of them puts it: the shoes "keep my feet dry, and my feet do not overheat"

Heavier than most GTX hiking shoes

On the downside, the Kaha Low GTX received more than a few complaints about its heftyness. Coming in at 448 g, this Hoka shoe is nearly 50 g heavier than the average among other shoes in its category. Hiking boots with a Gore-tex membrane weigh 400 g on average.

Facts / Specs

Weight: Men 448g / Women 363g
Use: Day Hiking
Cut: Low cut
Features: Lightweight / Chunky / Orthotic friendly / Removable insole
Waterproofing: Waterproof
Width: Normal
BRAND Brand: Hoka

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Hoka Kaha Low GTX video reviews

Author
Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto

Over the past 20 years, Paul has climbed, hiked, and run all over the world. He has summited peaks throughout the Americas, trekked through Africa, and tested his endurance in 24-hour trail races as well as 6 marathons. On average, he runs 30-50 miles a week in the foothills of Northern Colorado. His research is regularly cited in The New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, etc. On top of this, Paul is leading the running shoe lab where he cuts shoes apart and analyzes every detail of the shoes that you might buy.

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