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My trusty Salomon boots are leaking, need something new for the winter walking season.
Searching around for the current hot thing, I happened across the Hoka Sky Kaha and I'm intrigued. Just wondering what the thoughts were on here. Anyone have any?
Really like the sound of the super-comfy kind to joints benefits (I have dodgy knees, especially walking /running can cause problems).
Also like them being lightish.
Unsure about the shallow tread or lack of heel breast in mud (they'll be for late autumn/winter/early spring walking mainly)
Also unsure about fit-I have quite narrow feet, have looked but can't find local stockists, so I'd have to order online / send back if didn't fit.
I can probably get past the, er, challenging looks.
Otherwise I suppose I will relent to safety and get another pair of Salomons (probably quest 4d 3 gtx, maybe ultra 3 mid gtx), 'cus I know they'll fit me well.
Or, any other recommendations?
No, I was interested for the joint cushioning like you, but those treads would be useless in the places I go. Not made for sloppy mud and clay.
I have Salomon's too for my light shoes and boots. My big boots are altberg Bergen's.
Where do you do most of your walking?
I'm also a Salomon fan and user (Alp-X Mid at moment), but had a pair of Adidas Terrex boots that were ace, and had the grippiest soles I've ever had made of Continental Trail King tread!
I've found though my feet are widening. I've moved to Brooks Cascadia trainers and find them wider and really hard wearing. I'm getting a replacement pair of pairs - one GTX, one not for running.
I'm also using those trainers far more, and have done more Munro's in low shoes now. I've asked for mini gaiters for Christmas.
I’ve found though my feet are widening. I’ve moved to Brooks Cascadia trainers and find them wider and really hard wearing. I’m getting a replacement pair of pairs – one GTX, one not for running.
Interested. In Brooks Ravenna over the summer (picked up a bargain in the US to replace an older pair of Brooks) but am currently looking at the Cascadia GTX for winter. Don't really need a full on boot just to walk/run the drove roads around here.
I went over to hokas after a cartilage injury
Made a huge difference when I was still having difficulty getting about
I use their lightweight boots (not the ones you are looking at)for dog walking
Pros - comfort
Cons - all the shoes/ boots I have are not so robust compared to other trainers/ boots
Interested
They would be spot on for that. Very grippy in mud. I'm a year in and they are now showing wear - I usually only get 6-9 months out of trainers. Uppers look nearly new, something that can't be said of Salomon after a year...
Heel is still slightly narrow, it's a wider forefoot and toe box.
I can't get on with some other brands that have wide heel as well.
They are pricey, but worth it one.
I'm a big fan of Hoka boots, I'm on my 4th pair of Tor Ultras, having a couple of pairs of my go-to walking and casual wear - I've done 60km in a day in a pair. Regular boots feel heavy and unforgiving in comparison. Obvious downside is that trainer-type sole isn't as grippy in serious mud and durability isn't quite as good - my regular pair are 2 years old and still OK, I have another newer pair in reserve. I've had Salomon boots previously and always disappointed at their durability and feel.
I run in Hokas and my walking these days is curtailed by sore feet so I was very interested in the Hoka boots. I reckoned they'd be fine for lower level/easy stuff but wouldn't cut it as a "proper" mountain boot. I'm keen to get folks feedback still.
FWIW I've also struggled with boot fit over the years. It turns out my feet are Salomon shaped so that's pretty much all I wear now.
I've used a couple of Hoka walking boots. They're super cushioned in a walking on marshmallows sort of way - it's like being in the old Mr Soft TV advert - which is quite pleasant on hard surfaces in particular. If I was going to walk miles on tarmac, they'd be high on my list. They're also very light because that sole unit is mostly just EVA foam with little real structure to it - or a mix of rubber and EVA foam, which is a bit more durable.
The downsides, for me anyway, is that you get very little trail feel on any sort of technical ground, which is a real problem when running fast downhill offroad ime, but also an issue with walking. It's offset a little by the way the soft sole 'wraps' itself around smaller undulations rather than pivoting on them like a see-saw, if that makes sense.
They also sit quite high, which makes them feel less than stable. That said, they do seem to sort of keel over to an angle but never quite go all the way into ankle-twisting territory. A bit like a self-righting lifeboat or a Weeble ('They wobble but they don't fall down'). Horrible on scrambles fwiw, but then they would be. You have to sort of trust them, but you can't really feel what they're doing on the ground, which I find unnerving, YMMV.
Tbf they're super popular with ultra runners and folk have done the Spine and similar in Hokas, so clearly they work well for those guys. Fit seems variable between models.
They have some less squidgy, more technical things now as well, but at that point, you're getting into more conventional boot territory and I found them quite underwhelming tbh:
https://www.hokaoneone.eu/en/ie/men-mountain/sky-arkali/192410211630.html
If Salomon work for you, check out AKU - Tengu Lite is interesting - Mammut and Hanwag stuff maybe. Possibly Zamberlan also, but your best bet is to go to a shop and try some stuff on.
Definitely not Zamberlan, but I'll check out the others if I ever see them. Cheers.
Thanks, Matt.
Nice one, thanks for views everyone, will check out those other options too
el_boufador, just out of interest with Salomon (Ultra 3 GTX in my case) did you have to go up a size from your normal shoe size? I found they were tiny by comparison to other shoes, I could barely get my foot in what would normally be my size with most other brands.
My choice is Inov8 Rocklite G 345 GTX (or there's a new Rocklite G 370). I def recommend them, but 1) they don't have the 'special' soles like some above, I use a custom moulded footbed designed for walking boots 2) Given my exp with Salomon Ultra 3, might be a different foot shape to what you are currently using.
I've had a pair of the Tor boots for about 3 years. Best boots I have had. Had Brasher and Scarpa, both of which were good but these are betterer!
Most shoes I am somewhere around 9.5-10 usually 10. Salomons I've owned are size 10 and fit great. That's current boots (dunno model, they're probably past version of quest given size/weight) and also xa pro 3d trail/approach shoes.
I do have quite narrow feet though.
Not tried the ultra 3 mids yet.
I too have the inov8 Roclite 345 GTX, very lightweight, nice super sensitive walking boot. Not massively supportive nor protective. I like them but run in fell shoes. They are much lighter than your Solomon 3Ds but adequate IMO.
No comparison between Roclites and Hokas - the Inov8 is just a running shoe with an ankle cuff and nothing like as cushioned, they also don't last as long based on the 2 pairs I've owned.