I’m long past the age of buying something because it’s “in” and all of the “cool kids” have it. If I buy something, I had better love it. No more buying on a whim and then never wearing or using it. And sometimes, I admit, I will sacrifice style for comfort. (Gasp!) But! It does happen from time to time, that a product IS worth all of the hype and I become a walking/talking advertisement for my new love. The latest example? My running shoes!
Is this difficult to understand? Go to the adapted version!
I am a trail runner, but I started out on the streets. My first running shoes were Mizuno Wave Riders, which I loved. They had a lot of cushioning and when I ran, I felt like I was bouncing up and down. I had no knee pain, no back pain, only happy feet! When I transitioned into trail running, I knew I needed a shoe that was going to be more stable and be able to grip the terrain.
At the local running shoe store, I told them what I was looking for. I needed a trail running shoe, but I was just starting out and preferred comfort over a super lightweight shoe. When I had bought my Mizuno’s, the employee who helped me politely stated that I had fat feet. So, I knew that I needed to choose a model that was a little bit wider around the toe box for my trail running shoes.
After trying on every model of women’s trail running shoes in the store, I ended up buying of a pair of Brooks Cascadia. They were the only shoes that felt good and honestly, I can’t complain. They were decent shoes. They were stable, but they lacked gription on muddy trails. I didn’t get too upset because not every shoe is perfect, right? I continued wearing Brooks for probably 6 or 7 years. When a pair got old, I just went to the store to buy the same shoe in a newer model. I didn’t second guess my shoe choice.
I wasn’t unhappy with my shoes, but they definitely lacked some of the cushioning that I felt with my Mizuno’s. Talking to other runners, it seemed like that was the difference between trail running shoes and road running shoes. I would just have to deal with it. Since I didn’t have back or knee issues, I figured these were just fine. Besides, if I already tried on every pair available in the store, what was the chance I’d find a new, perfect shoe? We are talking about trail running shoes, not glass slippers for Cinderella!
This year when I needed to replace my shoes, I wanted to try something different. I had heard of Hoka shoes. As a member of a trail running group on Facebook, I saw that all the really good runners wore Hoka shoes. In the beginning, I didn’t really give these shoes much thought. I had tried them on when I was first looking for trail running shoes. The sole was so thick I was afraid I was going to twist my ankle during a descent.
Besides, the way people were talking about them, it sounded more like a popularity contest to see who had the most pairs and in what colors. I have to admit I was turned off by all of the posts that I saw for these shoes. The focus was more on the person, “I’m cool because I have Hoka shoes!” rather than “These are great shoes!” So why should I bother trying them?
The truth is, every time someone did a poll to see what was their favorite shoe, Hoka was often on top. Those are statistics that are hard to deny. When I went to the local sporting goods store, I was surprised by how many models of Hoka exist nowadays. I asked the salesman which model was for wide feet. I tried it on knowing that I needed to get a half size bigger than my regular shoe size to make sure my toes didn’t touch when I was running down the mountain.
I felt like my feet were swimming in the shoes! And they looked enormous on my feet. So, either the Hoka wide model is slightly larger than my Brooks or my feet shrank! I asked him which model was for regular feet and voila! It was like a match made in heaven! From that moment on, nothing would separate me from my Hokas.
The shoes fit well around my foot. They weren’t too big, and they weren’t too small! And the soles? They’re super cushy! I felt like every time I took a step, I rebounded into the air! No wonder their slogan is “Time to fly!” because that’s what it felt like! I didn’t know a trail shoe could be so comfortable and lightweight!!! (Do you see all of the exclamation points I’m using here? That means I’m very happy and excited about these shoes!!!)
Can it get any better? Yes!!! They are also super grippy!!! There is Vibram on the bottom of the shoes and I can now scramble up and down rocks without fearing that I’m going to slip. I can feel them grab the rock! And the mud? No problem! They have really good traction! Granted I didn’t run in the rain in them or go somewhere where the mud was deep, but for what I ran through, they performed like champions.
Frankly, I am in love with my shoes. Since I’ve only had them for a little over a month, I can’t yet attest to their longevity, but they seem to be really well constructed. Often the mesh around the toebox fails first for me with trail running shoes, but it looks pretty solid on my new Hokas. We’ll see!
I look forward to seeing how their products evolve over time and I’ll keep giving them a try! In case you’re wondering, no, I’m not paid by Hoka to talk about their shoes. I’m just an ordinary trail runner. I don’t have sponsors. My feet have never stepped on a podium. I just love trail running and I love sharing info with others when I find a great product.
And you? Have tried the Hoka One One shoes?
In case you want to learn more, here’s a video from their website!
Until then, happy trails!
Adapted Version
Loca for Hoka!
In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.
I’m long past the age of (too old for) buying something because it’s “in” (popular) and all of the “cool kids” have it. If I buy something, I had better (must) love it. No more buying on a whim (without thinking) and then never wearing or using it. And sometimes, I admit, I will sacrifice style for comfort. (Gasp! Sound of surprise) But! It does happen from time to time, that a product IS worth all of the hype (good publicity) and I become a walking/talking advertisement for my new love. The latest example? My running shoes!
I am a trail runner, but I started out on the streets (running on concrete). My first running shoes were Mizuno Wave Riders, which I loved. They had a lot of cushioning (something that makes impact less painful) and when I ran, I felt like I was bouncing (springing movement) up and down. I had no knee pain, no back pain, only happy feet! When I transitioned into trail running, I knew I needed a shoe that was going to be more stable and be able to grip (adhere to) the terrain.
At the local running shoe store (shop), I told them what I was looking for (wanted to buy). I needed a trail running shoe, but I was just starting out (beginning running) and preferred comfort over a super lightweight (not heavy) shoe. When I had bought my Mizuno’s, the employee who helped me politely stated that I had fat (wide) feet. So, I knew that I needed to choose a model that was a little bit wider (bigger from side to side) around the toe box (the widest area of your foot) for my trail running shoes.
After trying on every model of women’s trail running shoes in the store, I ended up buying a pair of Brooks Cascadia. They were the only shoes that felt good and honestly, I can’t complain (say anything negative). They were decent (good) shoes. They were stable, but they lacked gription (adherence) on muddy (wet dirt) trails. I didn’t get too upset (angry) because not every shoe is perfect, right? I continued wearing Brooks for probably 6 or 7 years. When a pair got (was) old, I just went to the store to buy the same shoe in a newer model. I didn’t second guess (regret) my shoe choice.
I wasn’t unhappy with my shoes, but they definitely lacked some of the cushioning (substance that helps reduce impact) that I felt with my Mizuno’s. Talking to other runners, it seemed like that was (appeared to be) the difference between trail running shoes and road running shoes. I would just have to deal with it (use what is available). Since I didn’t have back or knee issues (problems), I figured (thought) these were just fine (going to be okay). Besides, if I already tried on every pair available in the store, what was the chance (possibility) I’d find a new, perfect shoe? We are talking about trail running shoes, not glass slippers (shoes made of glass) for Cinderella!
This year when I needed to replace (change) my shoes, I wanted to try something different. I had heard of (heard people talking about) Hoka shoes. As a member of a trail running group on Facebook, I saw that all the really good runners wore (used) Hoka shoes. In the beginning, I didn’t really give these shoes much thought (didn’t think about trying them). I had tried them on when I was first looking for trail running shoes. The sole (bottom of the shoe) was so thick (high) I was afraid I was going to twist (hurt the tendons in) my ankle during a descent (going down the mountain).
Besides (in any case), the way people were talking about them, it sounded more like (it was more like) a popularity contest (a contest to see who can be more famous) to see who had the most pairs and in what colors. I have to admit I was turned off by (had a negative feeling about) all of the posts that I saw for these shoes. The focus was more on the person “I’m cool because I have Hoka shoes!” rather than “These are great shoes!” So why should I bother (go to the trouble) trying them?
The truth is, every time someone did a poll (asked other runners) to see what was their favorite shoe, Hoka was often on top (most popular). Those are statistics that are hard to deny (say it is untrue). When I went to the local sporting goods store, I was surprised by how many models of Hoka exist nowadays (today). I asked the salesman (person selling the shoes) which model was for wide (bigger from side to side) feet. I tried it on knowing that I needed to get a half size bigger than my regular shoe size to make sure my toes didn’t touch (hit the shoe) when I was running down the mountain.
I felt like my feet were swimming (too big) in the shoes! And they looked enormous (really big) on my feet. So, either the Hoka wide model is slightly (a little bit) larger than my Brooks or my feet shrank (became smaller)! I asked him which model was for regular feet and voila (that was the right one)! It was like a match made in heaven (the perfect pair)! From that moment on, nothing would separate me from my Hokas.
The shoes fit well around my foot. They weren’t too big, and they weren’t too small! And the soles (the bottom of the shoe)? They’re super cushy (well cushioned/resistant to impact)! I felt like every time I took a step, I rebounded (sprang) into the air! No wonder (I understand why) their slogan (tagline) is “Time to fly!” because that’s what it felt like! I didn’t know a trail shoe could be so comfortable and lightweight (not heavy)!!! (Do you see all of the exclamation points (!) I’m using here? That means I’m very happy and excited about these shoes!!!)
Can it get any better? Yes!!! They are also super grippy (adhere well)!!! There is Vibram on the bottom of the shoes and I can now scramble (to move on unstable terrain) up and down rocks without fearing (being afraid) that I’m going to slip (move in an uncontrolled manner). I can feel them grab (stick to) the rock! And the mud (wet dirt)? No problem! They have really good traction (adherence)! Granted (It’s true that) I didn’t run in the rain in them or go somewhere where the mud was deep (a lot of depth), but for what I ran through, they performed like champions (well).
Frankly (honestly), I am in love with my shoes. Since I’ve only had them for a little over (more than) a month, I can’t yet attest to (verify) their longevity (how long they will be good shoes), but they seem to be really well constructed (built). Often the mesh (material with holes) around the toebox fails (loses its form) first for me with trail running shoes, but it looks pretty solid on my new Hokas. We’ll see!
I look forward to seeing (I can’t wait to see) how their products evolve (change) over time and I’ll keep giving them a try (try using them)! In case (If) you’re wondering (questioning), no, I’m not paid by Hoka to talk about their shoes. I am just an ordinary trail runner. I don’t have sponsors (companies who give free products to someone in exchange for advertising their brand). My feet have never stepped on a podium. I just love trail running and I love sharing info with others when I find a great product.
And you? Have tried the Hoka One One shoes?
In case you want to learn more, here’s a video from their website!
Until then, happy trails (be well)!
This blog was updated November 5, 2019 to include an audio version.
