An initial 10.7/12 — a niche but well-built marathon-pace protector with serious cushion, sticky outsole and high-quality construction; pace-limited and heavy, but cheaper and better-feeling than the Adidas Prime X Strung 2 and Saucony Kinvara Pro it sits closest to. — EDDBUD
Despite a hefty ~13oz weight and a price he calls steep, Ben rates this as the best HOKA on the market right now and a top-tier long-run cruiser — bouncy, smooth, and comfortable, but pace-limited.
Best for: Heavier runners who want max-cushion long-run protection, marathon trainers logging easy/marathon-pace miles, and runners who prioritize comfort over speed.
A soft, max-cushioned, stable-neutral super trainer better suited to relaxed long-run miles than fast workouts; the cushier and more centered of the two compared shoes.
Best for: Marathoners or road-ultra runners who want maximum cushion for long-distance training and racing.
An initial 10.7/12 — a niche but well-built marathon-pace protector with serious cushion, sticky outsole and high-quality construction; pace-limited and heavy, but cheaper and better-feeling than the Adidas Prime X Strung 2 and Saucony Kinvara Pro it sits closest to.
Best for: Marathon-pace training miles where impact protection and durability matter more than speed.
An exciting spec sheet (PEBA + supercritical EVA + Double-H carbon plate at 48mm stack) that is executed as a muted, controlled cushioned cruiser; Kofuzi calls it a 'spruce goose' that feels like a Bondi-class shoe at a $225 price he considers too high.
Best for: Runners who want a tall, plush, controlled cushioned shoe for easy and long runs.
A genuine love-hate relationship after 266 miles and a marathon — Steve calls it one of his top 2-3 favorites of 2024 for effortless long miles, but the narrow stiff toe box hurts his feet and the outsole has worn faster than peers at the price point.
Best for: Marathon training, back-to-back long runs, and runners who work on their feet all day and need a shoe that does the work on the run.
A niche but effective performance-recovery long-distance trainer that excels when you're going slow, supports better than the NB SC Trainer, but is too narrow up front and too pace-restrictive at $225 to be an everyday option.
Best for: Slow recovery and long-mileage time-on-feet days for runners getting ready for ultra-distance or marathon-distance races.
Compared to other road long run in the same lane.
