Hoka hoopla.

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

Hokas are far and away the best.  Get excited. 

  Thanks...

I was a Mizuno man for years...but decided I'd try and go cheaper...which was fine for the last year or two, but the beating is catching up to me and affecting my training...

[Magic Microbe]

The Skechers are narrow and cushy but short life span. Skechers go run ultras.

Somehow I own like 20 pairs of sketchers but none of them are running shoes.

[merigayle]

Somehow I own like 20 pairs of sketchers but none of them are running shoes.

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

Putting in my order tonight....size up, down or norm?  This should be my last week of running in shitty shoes!

[caito]

I have to go down 1/2 size from my running shoe size.

So that's actually my dress shoe size. 

Others have found that they're true to running shoe size though.   They are roomy!

[merigayle]

I found them true to size.

[radial]

True to size here.  I.e., 1/2 half size up from dress shoes, just like all the other running shoes I've ever worn. 

[DickWadzinski]

Putting in my order tonight....size up, down or norm?  This should be my last week of running in shitty shoes!

It doesn't matter where you buy them just go to runningwarehouse.com first and use their shoe fitter app.  They have a 3D graphic comparison of any brand of shoe with whatever you're currently wearing.

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

It doesn't matter where you buy them just go to runningwarehouse.com first and use their shoe fitter app.  They have a 3D graphic comparison of any brand of shoe with whatever you're currently wearing.

  Thanks, y'all...

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

Bam...shipped...

Now, off to break my legs in these broken down clodhoppers!

[DickWadzinski]

UPS just delivered the Stinson Trails I ordered.  Goofiest looking I running shoes I've ever seen.  Real good fit though and I actually like their speed laces.  I'll probably try them out this Saturday.

[radial]

UPS just delivered the Stinson Trails I ordered.  Goofiest looking I running shoes I've ever seen.  Real good fit though and I actually like their speed laces.  I'll probably try them out this Saturday.

Somebody (trotter?) described it as running with futons strapped to your feet.     Pretty much.  You certainly aren't going to win any beauty contests.  But I love the no-lace laces.  I used to retrofit all my running shoes with laces like that but the Hokas come with them out of the box. 

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

My experience:

I'm 3 runs (26 miles together) into the Cliftons...the first run, I was not impressed, but I attribute that to reading insanely stellar reviews for 2 weeks straight...my heel was killing me, and my gait seemed off...

My second run was a 12 miler, and my time was faster than my effort would indicate....less pain...

My third run, yesterday, was awesome...my legs were far less thrashed from the day before than I expected, and my PF/heel pain was small enough to almost ignore...as long as they hold up (I'm showing a little wear on a high abrasion area), I'm sold...due to the price, they'll have to hold me for 600 or so miles to be worth it...but, they don't have to hold up perfect for that long...they'll be my new shoe if they last...

[merigayle]

I think they can last for 600 miles. Not much more.

My race this weekend was the first time in a couple years Hokas was not the most represented shoe, it was Altras. My husband likes them, I do not. My Skechers were great and handled the trails well for a hybrid shoe. Still miss wearing hokas I met a few people at the race who could not wear the newer ones either, so hopefully the next ones will be changed for the best.

[DickWadzinski]

Well  I didn't try out the Stinson Trails last weekend after all.  Instead I concentrated on two days of lethargy.

Fionn, I said earlier they do need some time in getting used to.  I've gone over 70 miles in my Cliftons and I'm still scuffing the soles on the pavement occasionally.  I attribute that to three things:  My Mizunos Elixirs that I'm so accustomed to have a thin sole and heel in comparison to Hoka, I probably still weigh a bit too much for the cushiony spring to propel me enough off the ground, and I'm a natural marathon shuffler who barely skims over the roads anyway.

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

Well  I didn't try out the Stinson Trails last weekend after all.  Instead I concentrated on two days of lethargy.

Fionn, I said earlier they do need some time in getting used to.  I've gone over 70 miles in my Cliftons and I'm still scuffing the soles on the pavement occasionally.  I attribute that to three things:  My Mizunos Elixirs that I'm so accustomed to have a thin sole and heel in comparison to Hoka, I probably still weigh a bit too much for the cushiony spring to propel me enough off the ground, and I'm a natural marathon shuffler who barely skims over the roads anyway.

I totally get what you mean, now...

One thing I really like, I'm a heel striker, which if any of you are, you know that that is essentially driving your energy into the ground and putting on the breaks with each step...the medial rocker stuff, REALLY helps for a smoother transition from heel to mid/forefoot...after my first run, I was afraid that the hype was from cork sniffers with their godamned rose hips and woody notes, so I'm really glad I stuck with them...