Our verdict

We found that the Hoka Transport GTX lives up to its name as it was able to get us from point A to point B with dry and warm feet in the ugliest of weather. The shoe's Gore-Tex membrane and sturdy build are ready to brave the elements when the city streets are covered in puddles, slush, and snow. Even though we can think of plusher and cozier walking shoes, we appreciated the stiffer construction of the Transport GTX for the stability and protection it offers in more challenging weather.

Pros

  • Top-class waterproofing
  • Cushioned and supportive for all-day wear
  • Smooth strides thanks to rockered shape
  • Very stable platform
  • Highly durable construction
  • Good grip on wet city streets
  • Quick and easy lacing system (regular laces included in the box as well)
  • Reflective elements all throughout the upper
  • Sustainable materials in almost every shoe part

Cons

  • A bit heavier than average
  • Major stack and drop discrepancy with official specs
  • Not for wide feet

Audience verdict

84
Good!

Who should buy

In our opinion, the Hoka Transport GTX is a must to consider if you are in search of the following:

  • a warm and waterproof shoe for getting around the city in cold and wet weather
  • a durable and wear-resistant shoe that lasts well over one season
  • a well-cushioned and stable platform to keep you going all day

Hoka Transport GTX review

Who should NOT buy

The shoe's waterproof membrane limits its use to low temperatures and wet conditions. Otherwise, it's just not worth paying the extra £30 for Gore-Tex to toast your feet when you get an all-season base model - the Hoka Transport.

And if you wish there was a lighter, cushier, and cosier waterproof shoe from Hoka, the Cifton 9 GTX is right up your alley! And it's £20 cheaper.

Hoka Transport GTX lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

On paper, the Hoka Transport GTX is supposed to be a heavily cushioned model with 37 mm of stack height in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot (for ladies, it should be 36 mm and 28 mm, respectively).

But when we first tried this Hoka shoe, its cushioning did not feel as bottomless as we expected. That's why we cut shoes in half and use a calliper to double-check the official specs.

Hoka Transport GTX Heel stack

And just as we suspected, the tool showed a lower heel stack reading of 34.8 mm. But it's only 2.2 mm less than stated, why doesn it feel like the difference is bugger? Let's have a look at the forefoot stack...

Test results
Transport GTX 34.8 mm
Average 32.1 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
14.3 mm
Heel stack
45.7 mm

Forefoot stack

We measured the shoe's forefoot stack at only 25.1 mm! This is 6.9 mm less than promised! Wow... It is even lower than stated in the women's version (28 mm).

Hoka Transport GTX Forefoot stack

Perhaps the brand has a different approach to measuring stack height but we always follow the same protocol following the World Athletics regulations.

But let us be very clear - the Hoka Transport GTX still offers a good deal of cushioning and impact protection for all-day wear. The problem lies in the discrepancy between what's stated in the specs and what's experienced on foot.

Test results
Transport GTX 25.1 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
14.0 mm
Forefoot stack
31.2 mm

Drop

Considering the shoe's lower-than-expected forefoot stack, its heel-to-toe drop is sure to be lower as well.

Instead of the official 5 mm offset for men (and 8 mm for women), our calliper measurements returned 9.7 mm - almost 50% taller than stated.

Hoka Transport GTX Drop

Even though most people don't notice the drop in their walking shoes, those who are used to lower-drop shoes might feel the difference.

Test results
Transport GTX 9.7 mm
Average 10.5 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
0.3 mm
Drop
21.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

With heel stack and drop discrepancies out of the way, let's talk about how comfortable the shoe's midsole actually feels!

Hoka Transport GTX Midsole softness

Its cushioning foam has a moderately soft nature with a good amount of give. Pressing a Shore A durometer against it returned 20.6 HA which is indeed slightly softer than the average (by approximately 20%).

Our wear tests also confirmed that the Hoka Transport GTX is excellent for spending long hours on hard urban surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and even cobblestone.

Test results
Transport GTX 20.6 HA
Average 26.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 walking shoes
Number of shoes
7.8 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.4 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

But do expect the shoe to gain some firmness in cold weather. Considering that it is a waterproof GTX shoe, it is safe to assume that it is going to be worn in lower temperatures.

Having kept the Transport GTX in the freezer for 20 minutes, we repeated the durometer measurement and got a higher reading of 24.8 HA which indicates a 20.1% increase in firmness.

Hoka Transport GTX Difference in midsole softness in cold

Luckily, even the post-freezer midsole measurement proved that this Hoka shoe is softer than the competition.

Test results
Transport GTX 20%
Average 31%
Compared to 36 walking shoes
Number of shoes
7%
Midsole softness in cold
71%

Insole thickness

There is nothing spectacular about the shoe's insole but it does its job well. Measuring its thickness in the heel, we found that it's a bit thinner than average at 4.4 mm.

Hoka Transport GTX Insole thickness
Test results
Transport GTX 4.4 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Insole thickness
10.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Hoka Transport GTX is slightly small (14 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 34 walking shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

But when it comes to fit, we found that the Hoka Transport GTX is not the roomiest shoe.

Hoka Transport GTX Toebox width at the widest part

Measuring the widest area of its toebox, we got a reading of 96.9 mm which is a bit narrower than the average of walking shoes in a D medium width.

Hoka Transport GTX fit

Nothing to worry about for medium-width feet but we recommend that wide footers and folks with bunions look towards shoes with more toe space, like the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX. And if waterproofing is not a must, the regular Hoka Transport comes in an EE-wide variant.

Test results
Transport GTX 96.9 mm
Average 99.2 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
89.5 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.6 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Measuring the shoe's toebox width near the big toe further confirmed its limited space.

Hoka Transport GTX Toebox width at the big toe

With a calliper reading of 77.2 mm, the Hoka Transport GTX has a rather streamlined, one-to-one fit in the forefoot.

Test results
Transport GTX 77.2 mm
Average 78.6 mm
Compared to 32 walking shoes
Number of shoes
73.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
90.7 mm

Midfoot feel

The strength of the interior material is equally important for saving the shoe's waterproofing capacity. We applied our Dremel to the most abrasion-prone area inside the shoe - the heel padding.

After 4 seconds of drilling at 5K RPM speed, we saw a very minor scratch which didn't seem to affect the shoe's lifespan. Thus, the shoe's heel padding durability got a high score of 4 as well.

Laces

The Quick-toggle lace is the Hoka Transport GTX's default lacing system. In simple words, it is a bungee cord with an adjustable toggle.

Hoka Transport GTX lacing

This setup is very quick and easy to customise and you have the option to tuck the excess lace under the elastic garage on the tongue.

And if you're not a fan of the Quick-toggle, you can swap it for a pair of normal laces that come in the box.

Hoka Transport GTX shoe parts extra laces

Stability

Lateral stability test

Its sturdy and stiff-ish build was among the first things we noticed about the Hoka Transport GTX. While this can be a push-off for people who want plushness and ease on their feet, we think that folks in search of a more stable ride will appreciate the rigidity.

While the Transport GTX is not marketed as a stability shoe (like the Hoka Arahi or Gavoita), we think it could work for people with mild overpronation. Look how well it controls the backs of our feet and ankles in the lateral stability test above.

Hoka Transport GTX medial side

Torsional rigidity

The shoe's impressive torsional rigidity plays a key role in its stability.

As our manual test above shows, it is nearly impossible to twist the Hoka Transport GTX with bare hands.

Thus, we readily gave it the highest stiffness score of 5 out of 5.

Test results
Transport GTX 5
Average 2.8
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The back of this Hoka shoe also held our feet rather firmly in the rearfoot.

First of all, its midsole topline extends fairly high up embracing the base of the foot into a firm cradle.

Secondly, its heel counter has enough stiffness (3 out of 5) to prevent the heel from shifting around uncontrollably.

Test results
Transport GTX 3
Average 2.3
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Another important stability factor is the platform width and we found it to be reasonably wide in the Hoka Transport GTX.

Hoka Transport GTX Midsole width in the forefoot

The widest area of the shoe's sole returned 112.5 mm on our calliper which is on par with the walking shoe average.

We were surprised at the more streamlined shape of this Hoka shoe's sole. That's because we've come to expect insanely chunky platforms from Hoka - think Clifton LS (122.8 mm) or Bondi SR (124.1 mm).

Test results
Transport GTX 112.5 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
98.8 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
124.1 mm

Midsole width - heel

Checking the widest part of the Transport GTX in the heel, our calliper showed a slightly wider-than-average measurement of 93.0 mm.

Hoka Transport GTX Midsole width in the heel

The extra few millimetres don't bulk up the shoe but add a welcome touch of steadiness.

Test results
Transport GTX 93.0 mm
Average 90.3 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
75.6 mm
Midsole width - heel
104.0 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

As we already mentioned, the Hoka Transport GTX feels a bit stiffer than a typical walking shoe and it continues to show in our lab test results.

In a longitudinal stiffness test, it took 25.3N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle according to our force gauge. That's 20% more than it takes on average. We believe that the stiffness comes from both the tough Cordura upper and the structured sole.

But what is it that helps this Hoka shoe feel smoother on the walk? It comes in a slightly rockered shape!

This shoe geometry has taken over the running shoe industry and is now spreading among walking shoes like wildfire (think Nike Motiva and KEEN WK400). It offers the benefit of quicker and easier heel-to-toe transitions because it feels as though the shoe is pushing (or rocking) you forward.

Test results
Transport GTX 25.3N
Average 20.3N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1.1N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
35.8N

Stiffness in cold (%)

Do keep in mind that the stiffness of the Hoka Transport GTX will increase as the temperatures drop.

Hoka Transport GTX Difference in stiffness in cold

After being exposed to the penguin conditions of our freezer for 20 minutes, the shoe required 24.5% more force to bend it compared to the room temperature measurement.

Test results
Transport GTX 25%
Average 46%
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
4%
Stiffness in cold
139%

Weight

Unfortunately, added durability and waterproofing come with a compromise in weight and the Hoka Transport GTX outweighs its base model by almost an ounce.

Hoka Transport GTX Weight

Tipping the scale at 11.6 oz (330g), the shoe turns out to be 2 ounces heavier than the industry average.

Hoka Transport GTX style

It doesn't feel particularly heavy on foot but if you are coming from Hoka's Bondi or Clifton shoes, you are going to feel the difference. And the Transport GTX's stiff upper material doesn't help to make it feel lighter.

Test results
Transport GTX 11.64 oz (330g)
Average 9.98 oz (283g)
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
6.17 oz (175g)
Weight
14.25 oz (404g)

Breathability

As a warm waterproof shoe, the Hoka Transport GTX was designed for facing a great deal of puddles, slush, and city dirt. There is a good reason why it comes with moderately deep and multi-directional lugs.

Hoka Transport GTX Lug depth

We would not recommend taking this shoe on a backcountry hike on soft and muddy terrain but for wet city pavements and slightly muddy park trails, the grip of the Hoka Transport GTX is just perfect.

Breathability

We already found the original Hoka Transport to be quite warm and didn't expect its waterproof GTX version to be any more breathable.

Pumping smoke through the shoe's upper material, we saw NONE of it pass through the toebox compared to the airy mesh shoe on the right. But that shouldn't come as a surprise because this Hoka shoe's upper is made of a tough Cordura weave on top of the GTX membrane.

Examining the Cordura fabric under the microscope, we found it to be identical to the one used on the base model.

Hoka Transport GTX Breathability Waterproofing microscope check

Super tough and tightly woven, it complements Gore-Tex in keeping moisture at bay. But it also keeps breathability at the lowest possible score - 1 out of 5.

Hoka Transport GTX Breathability Waterproofing upper under microscope
Test results
Transport GTX 1
Average 2.9
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Extensively used in performance and military apparel, Cordura is one of the strongest nylon-based fabrics out there. But is it just as strong on the Hoka Transport GTX?

We put a sandpaper tip on our Dremel and set the speed to 5K RPM to test that out. 

We make sure that the Dremel pressure remains consistent at 3.2N for the entire 12-second period.

Assessing the scuff left by the tool, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with a solid 4 out of 5. One point was subtracted for the messy threads but they didn't compromise the shoe's waterproofing or upper integrity because it was not a full-on tear.

Hoka Transport GTX Toebox durability test

Add a protective overlay around the shoe's forefoot to the equation and you've got some of the most wear-resistant uppers for rocking the concrete jungle.

Hoka Transport GTX toebox

Test results
Transport GTX 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 31 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The strength of the interior material is equally important for saving the shoe's waterproofing capacity. We applied our Dremel to the most abrasion-prone area inside the shoe - the heel padding.

After 4 seconds of drilling at 5K RPM speed, we saw a very minor scratch which didn't seem to affect the shoe's lifespan. Thus, the shoe's heel padding durability got a high score of 4 as well.

Hoka Transport GTX Heel padding durability
Test results
Transport GTX 4
Average 2.3
Compared to 30 walking shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Along with its bulletproof upper, the Hoka Transport GTX also features a very strong Vibram rubber outsole.

Hoka Transport GTX vibram outsole

Pressing our Shore C durometer against it, we got an above-average firmness of 81.0 HC. That's a pretty firm compound for a walking shoe because in many cases, brands just leave the midsole foam exposed in this footwear category.

Hoka Transport GTX Outsole hardness
Test results
Transport GTX 81.0 HC
Average 77.6 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
50.1 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

Applying our Dremel to the shoe's rubber compound, we also found it to be notably sturdier than average.

Having ramped up the speed to 10K RPM and extended the drilling time to 22 seconds, we nodded in approval when the rubber refused to give in. The tool failed to burn a dent deeper than 1.0 mm!

Hoka Transport GTX Outsole durability
Test results
Transport GTX 1.0 mm
Average 1.4 mm
Compared to 30 walking shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

It will surely take longer to wear through a thicker layer of hard rubber. That's why we were glad to find that the outsole on the Transport GTX is 3.4 mm thick.

Hoka Transport GTX Outsole thickness

All in all, this Hoka shoe proves to have a notably more durable construction than a typical walking sneaker. Even if you use it for commuting on a daily basis or expand your geography to include some light trails, the Transport GTX is there to last you a good while.

Test results
Transport GTX 3.4 mm
Average 3.0 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
7.0 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

As a warm waterproof shoe, the Hoka Transport GTX was designed for facing a great deal of puddles, slush, and city dirt. There is a good reason why it comes with moderately deep and multi-directional lugs.

Hoka Transport GTX Lug depth

We would not recommend taking this shoe on a backcountry hike on soft and muddy terrain but for wet city pavements and slightly muddy park trails, the grip of the Hoka Transport GTX is just perfect.

Reflective elements

No matter how late you're coming back home from work, the Hoka Transport GTX will keep you safe and visible in low-light conditions. Its 360-degree reflectivity elements are much bigger than the ones we normally see on walking shoes (if there are any to begin with).

Test results
Transport GTX Yes

Tongue padding

The in-shoe comfort of the Transport GTX is provided through its reasonably padded collar and tongue.

Hoka Transport GTX Tongue padding

We measured the thickness of the latter at 5.3 mm which is standard for a walking shoe.

Test results
Transport GTX 5.3 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Compared to 37 walking shoes
Number of shoes
0.3 mm
Tongue padding
13.4 mm

Tongue: gusset type

To serve the highest level of water protection, any serious waterproof shoe must have a gusseted tongue to prevent moisture from seeping inside.

Hoka Transport GTX Tongue: gusset type

The Transport GTX features a semi-gusseted setup (aka the Invisible Fit) to close the gaps between the tongue and the shoe quarters.

Test results
Transport GTX Both sides (semi)

Heel tab

Finally a shoe with a finger loop that's big enough to actually fit a finger (or two)!

Hoka Transport GTX finger loop

We found it nice and handy when getting this Hoka shoe on.

Hoka Transport GTX Heel tab
Test results
Transport GTX Finger loop

Removable insole

The stock insole of this Hoka shoe is easy to remove in case you want to enhance the cushioning.

Hoka Transport GTX Removable insole
Test results
Transport GTX Yes

Sustainable materials

Hoka is one of those brands that strive towards making more sustainable products. It's nice to see that many parts of the Transport GTX are made with ethically sourced materials including:

  • the primary Cordura mesh (100% recycled polyester)
  • the Gore-Tex face fabric (70% recycled polyester)
  • EVA midsole (35% sugarcane)
  • Vibram EcoStep Recycle EVO outsole (30% regrind recycled rubber)
  • tongue and collar lining (100% recycled)
  • sockliner (50% soy-based)

Hoka Transport GTX Cordura