HOKA ONE ONE - THE NEW TOP LINE BRAND

HOKA: A Buyer's Guide Best Ride First Place Choice 


BONDI 4

 

Another beautiful morning out there this morning - I jogged out my 3.8 miles in my new HOKA BONDI 4's.  I've been jogging and walking in HOKA's now for about 6 weeks.  And, for me that's long enough to test out their advertising claims. Every time I put these shoes on I am again impressed by the solid feel of my feet being in shoes characterized by 9 ounces of balance, comfort, and overall foot support.

Here's how HOKA describes them:

"With an all-EVA midsole and Early-Stage Meta-Rocker, the BONDI 4 provides a smooth, cushioned ride that is revered for its balance and simplicity. While primarily designed for running on hard, man-made surfaces, the Bondi 4 has just enough traction to play on light trails." The Early-Stage Meta-Rocker is described as "midsole geometry-sculpting with the transition zone placed behind the metatarsal heads. Designed to encourage a smoother ride, and a faster transition to the forefoot."

Fleetfeet Knoxville carries them (ask for them at your local store). Fleetfeet describes the meta-rocker thusly - "...a slight upward curve of the outsole and midsole combined with a stiff forefoot." 

Given all the technology of today's running shoes, HOKA, without a doubt, is leading the pack as the new top line brand of shoes offering a truly unique, running shoe geometry.  And, all the promised benefits are there in the actual shoe. The shoes are lighter than other brands and they provide a comfort above and beyond any shoe I've ever encountered.

My Experience In New Style Running Shoes

They feel unbelievably solid during the foot strike! I was concerned when first putting them on because I didn't have confidence in the sensation of my feet being encased in shoes cut a little higher on the foot and higher off the ground. Once after a few wearings of getting my balance in them, I haven't experienced that again. I have high praises for the shoe engineering!

So far, I have  2 recommendations for improvement - I would like the shoe strings to be longer ( as do most runners, I double knot mine). And, secondly, see those little white module treads? Within 2 weeks of trail and road jogging the small, side cell pads were almost totally worn away.  I'm not really sure the reason for the change in tread composition.  I personally would prefer the same treads for the whole tread system.

Lastly to close this blog post out here's another absolutely, excellent HOKA feature. Those nice loops on the shoe back, they are a true convenience and greatly help in settling nicely into the shoes!

MY FAVORITE  HOKA BOAST 

"HOKA ONE ONE is a shoe for all runners, from joggers to elite athletes looking to improve their performance. We continue our pace, leading the running revolution. Please join us on our journey and keep running."

HOKA ONE ONE'S COLORADO BEGINNINGS LEAD TO A DECKER BUY-OUT

Back out in the HOKA's this morning for a 4 mile jog around the Warren County, TN Civic Center trail.  The weather certainly cooperated with morning temperatures the low 70's with fog and clouds.

Ok, so if you've read my previous blogs, you know my serious running for exercise began in 1984, a year after my last child was born.  I had a big work load at home, a part-time job, and was finishing a 4 year college degree.  Did I mention, I was also overweight and always tired? Running and aerobics changed the overweight and tired part.

I identified my favorite fitting running shoe brands early on as BROOK'S, and NIKE and haven't deterred from that discovery or added other brands since establishing what was best for me. And, in the past I've only gone to NIKE if a pair of BROOK'S were not available.

Astonishingly, the HOKA's are fast finding a place in my permanent collection. New running brands don't easily happen. The market is highly competitive and the technology to make a great running shoe is very expensive to fund.

 In the beginning....this is their story.  

INRTODUCING THE HOKA ONE ONE STORY  

From foundlings with Salomon to securing a Decker buy-out in 2013, two top, ultra-level mountain runner fellows and a pair of shoes entered the competitive shoe market world-wide running community. Well, that was about 5 years ago and the shock waves are reverberating throughout road races across the United States and Europe.  HOKA's valuted onto the scene and have continued to thrive by gaining runner respect and therefore becoming an established brand in the running community.

Of course, two exceptional guys and a pair of new shoes weren't alone in the quest to capture the maximalist  running shoe market.  Certainly there are many who helped along the way.  And, certainly the most important quality in the process is committment to excellence and belief in the product.  HOKA, now produced under the DECKER brand companies, holds to the highest standards in product development, and customer support.

Company mission and values have to be and are the foundation of any great and lasting company.  That foundation and the belief in the product are changing the running shoe market to offer runners, joggers, and walker shoes designed to promote health and well being.

I'm delighted to be wearing HOKA's and in my efforts to stay healthy while also giving my 2 cents worth in a product review which may help others do the same.  The linked words and phrases in this blog will take you to more information on HOKA's. I hope you check them out and enjoy reading  what's happening in the HOKA running shoe world!

There is more to this story and a few recommendations I have to offer in next week's blog.

Stay Tuned and Happy Running!

Vicki

WHAT'S A HOKA? FOLKS, THESE ARE THE REAL HOKA ONE ONE'S

FORMALLY PRESENTING AND WELCOMING:

HOKA ONE ONE

photo credit: vickilsullivan

MEET MY VERY OWN HOKA'S

These aren't my daughter's HOKA'S. These aren't my sister's HOKA'S.  There aren't YOUR HOKA'S.  These are MY VERY OWN HOKA'S!  CAN YOU TELL,  I LOVE THEM!

HOKA ONE ONE'S are taking flight in the USA!  How do I know that?  Here's the scoop on that.  

On Tuesday I flew from Virginia Beach, Virginia  to Nashville, Tennessee via Delta Airlines.  The flight out of Norfolk was delayed.  In fact, we boarded then were unboarded then reboarded; all tolled taking an hour and causing missed connections. The result being I spent several hours in Detroit International waiting on the next flight out.  That's wasn't so bad even though I was grumping every moment, (sorry folks). See, my 15th grandchild,  7th granddaughter, was just born and leaving wasn't so easy. Guess, I wanted to be back in my own place as soon as possible to be near 7 other fabulous, wonderful grandchildren to help ease the pain of leaving a three day old and her Mom following childbirth.  

My HOKA'S arrived in time to parade out along the pathway for July 4th festivities! THANKS HOKA! 

photo credit: vickilsullivan

LynnHaven Rd Trail

 For the flight, I packed my HOKA'S and chose my Brook's glycerin's to wear home.  So love choices! There, sitting at the gate waiting to board,  and about 30 minutes before boarding, appeared a demure, little woman with purple HOKA'S looking for a seat and selecting one at the other end of my row, she plopped herself right down. Sorry for the run-on sentence!  Her in her HOKA'S on one end and me in my BROOK'S on the other end.  Well, that's a matched set considering this blog, now isn't it? 

I think she was wearing the purple VANQUISH edition.  It was difficult to tell and I thought at first they must be a look-alike imitation of the HOKA.  I couldn't see the HOKA LOGO well until when after we landed in Nashville and she again appeared at the baggage area. I was determined to discover if they were the real deal so got close finally to again search for the logo.  It was there along with the cute loop on the shoe back! They were authentic HOKA'S only the logo is almost lost on the dark purple shoe color. 

THE GIST OF ALL THIS? (i.e.: lesson learned)

There is no shoe like a HOKA SHOE!  And, no imitation shoe can compare with any real, running shoe. HOKA engineer's it's shoes taking every opportunity to design them to benefit runners walkers, and joggers.  OPPORTUNITY - I've just been given, (shoes provided for blogging about HOKA), the opportunity to speak for HOKA and will be writing several blogs to introduce them to my readers.  

My first recommendation?  Look for the real HOKA shoes.  There is no substitution for a HOKA and imitations can't possibly provide the balance, integrity, and support required for running the distance safely!  

STAY TUNED AND HAVE FUN OUT THERE! 

Yours Truly,

Vicki

BROOK'S MEN'S GLYCERIN 12'S ON SALE!

My son-in-law just found these Glycerin 12's on sale at a great price - says  Brooks' is his choice of running shoe. And, I'm very happy so see him running in style and comfort!  

Happy Birthday on July 4th Sean! 

And, thanks  again Brook's!  

photo credit: vickilsullivan