Hoka One One Sky Toa test & review - A mix of hiking boot & trail running shoe

Find all reviews of the Hoka One One Sky Toa in one place with the hottest deals from +50 retailers. Check out: https://runrepeat.com/hoka-one-one-sky-toa The Hoka One One Toa is a unique platypus that feels like a bizarre mix of hiking boot and trail running shoe, good for very specific niche conditions. If you’re going to do some fastpacking, speed hiking, or even a bit of short-distance trail running through wet conditions where extra ankle protection and waterproofing is a must, the Toa may be a good fit. The shoe will work well for a wide range of foot shapes, and the very flat midsole is aimed at hikers with a neutral gait (although the Toa will accommodate supportive inserts). Hoka calls the Toa a “speed hiker,” meant for fastpacking (i.e., hiking, but faster), and aimed to deliver a hiking boot that is “solid and efficiently lightweight.” The result is what feels like an odd mix between a trail running shoe and a genuine hiking boot: cool in concept, but I’m not sure how well it works out in practice. If you’re going out into wet conditions on slippery, technical terrain where extra ankle protection will be valuable, then the Toa’s upper is great. The most impressive part of the Hoka Toa is the outsole. There's Vibram’s “Megagrip” rubber providing great traction over a range of wet and dry conditions. Unlike the upper, the outsole was also impressively durable, showing very few signs of wear after several long hikes over rough terrain. I took the boot up a mountain in a hard rainstorm with several stream crossings, but never felt like I was losing my footing even when moving at a quick cadence. Overall, the Hoka One One Toa is good for speed hikers looking to move fast (somewhere between a brisk walk and a light jog). It's good over technical or hazardous terrain where extra ankle protection and grip are important), and in rainy weather (where waterproofing will be worth the loss in breathability and drainage).