In production · trail · Trail / Long run / Daily · $155
Vibram grip and a tall cushioned stack — road comfort translated to dirt.
Built for trail, long run, daily, at a target pace of 9:00–13:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is supercritical EVA, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. At 40 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A low 5 mm drop encourages a midfoot landing and keeps the ankle working through a fuller range. The rocker is aggressive: the sole is curved and stiff enough to tip you into the next stride on its own, which saves the calf on long runs but feels strange when you slow right down. The forefoot is stiff, so it rolls rather than bends — a lever, not a slipper. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.34 per mile at $155.
For the foams and plates Hoka uses across its line, read the Hoka brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
277 g / 9.8 oz
2 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
40 mm
4 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
5 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$155
5 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Hoka line it is heavier than the brand's median (275 g / 9.7 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Asics Trabuco Max 5(2025)
300 g / 10.6 oz · 41 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $170
Max-cushion trail cruiser, lighter than the 4, with water-repellent mesh.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v10
290 g / 10.2 oz · 40 mm · 4 mm drop · Rock · $150
Cushioned trail cruiser with Vibram Megagrip and a roomy fit.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX
295 g / 10.4 oz · 37 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $180
Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX: 37 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 289 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Topo Athletic Vista
294 g / 10.4 oz · 38 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $175
Max-stack 100-miler shoe on Vibram Megagrip with 4 mm lugs.