Sometimes a motto springs from an inspiration, and sometimes the inspiration does not arrive intact. Hoka One One has been truncated to Hoka, as the pronunciation of its full name Ho-ka On-ay On-nay was misunderstood. One thing which was understood is that a little extra cushioning is a good thing when it comes to longer distances, and the leader of the Tall Stack Pack is Hoka’s new Skyward X. Much like Hoka’s original introduction to the running world, a tall stack shoe in a Minimalist ocean of footwear, the Skyward X will find its place in the running landscape, as the original Hoka’s did, by those in need of extra cushion. The shock value (should I say the “Shock Absorbing Value?”) is the shoe’s maximum Max height of nearly 50mm. That much foam does have the ability to cushion like no others – and just to make sure it is responsive, you add another normal midsole’s height under foot with supercritical PEBA foam. How do you keep that much foam from mushing out? You put a specifically designed full-length carbon plate to stabilize the responsive foam. The upper is a computer generated and scaled mesh sandwich that wicks moisture and vents the foot in one fell swoop. The outersole is pared back, thin and durable rubber that provides excellent traction. What would you pay for extreme comfort and protection? 250 dollars? Close, but you overshot it a little…
New Shoe
Price: $225 • Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–11,12 • Weight: 10.0 oz. (men’s 11); 7.9 oz. (women’s 8) • Shape: semi-curved • Construction: Strobel slip-lasted • Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics