Hoka One One Rincon 2 Review
Hoka One One (pronounced similar to: “Ho-Kah Own-ay Own-ay”)
To learn more about the company of Hoka One One, read to the bottom of this article.
Let’s get into it!
The Hoke One One Rincon 2
“Inspired by the smooth waves of the world-famous Rincon surf spot, this shoe is easily a best-in class contender. The Rincon 2 packs amazing cushioning into an extremely lightweight shoe for an ultra-soft, effortlessly weightless feel.” — HokeOneOne.com
1st Impressions: This is my first pair of Hoka shoes, and my first impression was pretty weird. From the perspective of not having Hokas before these felt like: a marshmallow slab pressed between two layers of cardboard. This isn’t an insult, just an explanation to hopefully communicate a tangible image of how they felt on my feet. Let that sink and imagine what that’s like.
Ok, so I always kind of ignore the very first run because stuff takes time to break in. My first run in these caused an undeniable tingle in my legs, similar to what happens when a limb “falls asleep” due to a lack of circulation. It was an undeniable sensation and I did not like it.
Because I spent the money on them, I wasn’t going to just give up on them, so I kept at a week or so of short runs, and they started to feel amazing!
These shoes are lightweight and comfortable for long or short miles. I don’t feel like I forgot I was wearing them, but they never “got in the way.”
A caveat is that they stopped being comfortable around 200 miles. EVA foam seems to do that, but a longer life would be nice.
Yeps: All of your paved training needs. I would run a marathon in these as well as a track workout or uptempo run.
Nopes: Runners with consistently high weekly mileage (they just don’t last for how much they cost). Trail running or wet runs. They’re totally fine for groomed, dry gravel paths, but I would never recommend them to someone who likes trail running. Also, I’ve had these shoes slip around, as if on ice, on rainy days.
Mile Markers
10mile Review — 1st Impression
Lightweight! Different from other shoes I’ve had, not really my cup of tea for the first 5–10 miles, but I bought them, so had to keep going… Once they broke in, I had a mostly good experience.
My feet are notably more narrow than most men, so naturally, my shoes tend to take a bit more of a cinch to lockdown. This causes more creasing in the toe vamp than usual, so take that as you will.
50mile Review: Fine!
The first 50 miles were an interesting transition, being my first pair of Hoka shoes.
As my first Hokas and first “maximal cushion” shoes, I was going into this pair with interest and an open mind. Briefly living in Nashville for the past six months, I wanted shoes for the endless sidewalks and complete lack of trails (unless I drove across town to a park that had “no running” signs).
I recommend these for road running on DRY, smooth trails. I do not recommend them as dedicated trail runners. There are better shoes at similar or lower price points for trail applications.
Midsole & Tread: The small number of rubber bits are holding up well, with very little sign of wear, but the exposed foam is wearing out quickly. Not unreasonably so, but I would like more of the rubber, even if it were ultra-thin.
Upper: Looking weathered (from light rains and a few gravel road segments) but not worn. One foot caught a stick or rock because after my second or third run, I got a smaller cut in the upper, but it hasn’t grown or changed in 40ish miles.
100-mile Review: Going well.
They felt the same, step after step, mile after mile, from the 10–100 mile mark. No high praises but no complaints.
These really responsive shoes make you feel like every run could be a tempo workout.
Still really liking them. They’re stable, and the cushioning is holding up well. Foam compression feels like that first week.
I recommend them for a dry climate. They can feel a bit scary on a wet sidewalk.
Midsole & Tread: The exposed EVA sole wears out very quickly, but the small rubber patches are fine enough to feel enough traction still. The rubber has been laid in a way that covers the primary contact points, but there isn’t enough, in my opinion.
The exposed foam on the Rincon 2 is comfortable and provides a good ride feel, but it’s just not as durable as it could be.
Upper: Same as the 50. I don’t have any wear signs from the slightly scrunched-ness that my narrow feet require for lockdown. Also, the cut in the upper hasn’t changed a thread. I’m impressed with the upper, although it tends to look dirty longer than other shoes after a dusty run.
150-mile Review: They didn’t make it.
Between the 125–150 mark, the shoes feel like they gave up. The foam feels flat and “dead,” for lack of a better word. I’m building back up from being a couch potato and only doing about 25–30 miles per week, and I had hoped for more than 5–6 weeks from these. They’re a nice shoe for the first 100–125 or so miles if you have an excess of money to spend on multiple pairs.
Specs (Men’s 10.5)
For specifications from the source, click here.
Heel: 32mm, Forefoot: 27mm
Drop: 5mm
Weight 7.70oz
Terrain: Road
Stability: Neutral
Opinion / Review
As an introduction to HOKA, they're alright, considering the unavoidable hype they boast in the industry. There are better HOKA shoes, I am sure.
They fit well, possibly narrow for those with wide feet, but my skis-for-feet fit fine.
My opinion is the middle of the road for these.
Fit — I have narrow feet. I grew up wearing Asics AA Women’s Narrows because they’re all that would fit. I’m still in that narrow category but am slightly more neutral these days.
Foot Feel — I still don’t know how to best explain it without exaggerating nuanced details. There’s a fine line between the feeling of standing on a foot-sized marshmallow and a foot-conforming stack of cardboard. Two admittedly different sensations, but that’s what I’ve got. Hoka has a certain, possibly iconic, feel.
Ground Feel — Not a lot!
Shock Absorption — It feels like a marshmallow slab squished between pieces of cardboard. No spring, but also not much compression. They’re lively but don’t feel like fast shoes.
Materials — The upper is nice, but the midsole is a questionable choice being so exposed.
Durability — I stopped wearing them before the 150 mark because they suddenly began to feel “flat” and compressed without a bounce back.
Style — These are not daily shoes. HOKA, in general, is a great shoe for the purpose they are designed! But from a fashion standpoint, I wouldn’t choose to wear any of their shoes for dinner or a coffee shop. They’re awkwardly shaped, kind of bulbous, and that is just a result of their intuitively functional design and purposefully selected materials. Highly recommend it for people who work on their feet all day and care more about function than form.
Shoe Rotation at the time of writing:
Salomon Sonic Acceleration 3, Altra Timp 3, Altra Superior 5
Hoka One One
“At HOKA, our goal is to inspire people to move. We want to empower all athletes to act fearlessly and creatively, to drive forward with purpose and passion — and with an “always-on” mindset for innovation and thinking outside the box, we craft bold and unexpected new solutions for athletes of all types.
We aim to amplify voices and help provide access to running, walking, fitness and the outdoors. We believe everyone is an athlete. And however you find joy in movement, HOKA has your back.” — Hoke.com
“While we were first known for shoes with oversized midsoles, today our shoes and apparel are designed with that same problem-solving inspiration to meet the running, walking, fitness and outdoor needs of a wide variety of users. We continue to take a bold and unexpected approach to empower athletes of all levels to feel like they can fly.” — Hoke.com
As a runner, Hoka has always been “that brand” to have along side Solomon in the trail running community. Much like Arc’teryx or Big Agnes are to my alpine adventure aspirations. They’re on the expensive end of the spectrum, but their quality and nuance back up the price tag.
Disclaimers:
1. All content herein is my own opinion and experience. I carry zero obligation and share without restriction of omission or inclusion. I’m just a nerd.
2. This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Remember that salty grain: every foot and fanny is different.
