Today, I’m going to answer some Hoka sizing questions like: do Hokas run big? Do Hoka shoes run small? Do Hokas run true to size? What size hoka should I buy?
Nobody can dare to say that all Hoka One One shoes run big, small, or true to size. In fact, some Hoka shoes run small, others run big, others run true to size, and others run narrow.
Related:
How do Hoka shoes fit compared to Adidas, Nike, or New Balance? Check our running shoe size comparison between brands. Then you can check our Hoka shoe size charts for men and women.
Let’s dive right into it…
Do Hokas Run Big, Small, or True To Size
Hoka Clifton 7
Do Hoka Clifton 7 run true to size?
Yes. The Hoka Clifton runs true to size with no issues. It does not feel too narrow through the toe box or the midfoot.
Where it shines and who it is for
The Clifton is going to be an easy-day shoe where you just want to chill out, baby your feet a little bit, and enjoy a nice soft ride. It could go fast, but it’s just not the responsive shoe out there.
It’s great if you’re looking for a soft landing. If you just like to take a nice easy day every now and then and baby those legs, this is the shoe for you.
Related: Are Hokas Good For Flat-footed People?
Upper
Hoka nailed the upper and it offers a lot of good airflow especially in the summer months. The heel collar is basically plush through the heel collar. It’s not the most cushioned upper, but it’s not bad for that weight class.
The heel flare feels secure and the heel pocket is really secure with no moving in the heel.
There’s a semi-gusseted tongue which helps to keep the tongue locked on top of your foot just a little bit.
Related: Do Asics Run Small or True To Size (Kayano, Ride Series, Nimbus, Metaracer…)
Midsole
If you liked the feel and the ride of the Clifton 6, you’re probably going to like the Clifton 7. The midsole is soft and it kind of becomes extra-soft in summer. I think the warmer the temperature, the softer the midsole gets.
So, the Clifton 7 has a great ride through the midsole.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (7.9 oz / 198 g)
Men’s size 9 (9.1 oz / 255 g)
The Clifton 7 did lose .3 oz from the Clifton 6.
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
37mm in the heel / 32mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- Great ride.
- Reduced weight.
Cons
The lacing system through the eyelet chain just feels a little sloppy. Hoka could have gone with a little more structure through that eyelet chain.
Related:
Hoka Bondi vs Clifton – Two Flagship Shoes From A Successful Company
Hoka One One Clifton vs New Balance 1080 Side by Side Comparison
Hoka Bondi 7
Does the Hoka Bondi 7 run true to size?
Yes. You can go true to size as far as the length of the shoe. The Bondi is a max cushion shoe that comes in wide and extra-wide if you have a really wide foot.
Related: These are some really nice running shoes for wide feet.
Where it shines and who it is for
If you just like to protect your legs from the pounding on the pavement and the concrete and you want no ground contact feel, this is the shoe for you.
So, the Bondi 7 is going to be great for:
- Easy days.
- Middle distance.
- Long runs.
It’s definitely not a tempo day shoe because it’s heavy for that as well.
Upper
There’s a redesigned open engineered mesh. Breathability-wise, the Bondi is so breathable I would recommend wearing thicker socks if you’re running in colder temperatures.
There’s a stout heel counter with a pull tab, which is a good thing especially in the winter when your fingers are freezing and you’re trying to get the shoe on or off.
Even though the tongue is not gusseted, there’s a solid lockdown.
Related: Should Running Shoes Be A Size Bigger? Or, Is Going Half Size Up Enough?
Midsole
The compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) has some good energy return.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (10 oz / 283 g)
Men’s size 9 (11.1 oz / 311 g)
Although it’s a heavy shoe, you’re going to feel a bit of energy return through the midsole.
Drop:
4mm
Stack height:
40mm in the heel / 36 mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- Good solid lockdown through the eyelet chain.
Cons
- Hoka could have added a gusseted tongue to help the tongue lay on top of the foot a little bit better.
- It’s heavy.
Related: Are the Bondis, Machs, and Gaviotas good for walking?
Hoka Mach 4
Does the Hoka Mach 4 run true to size?
Yes, the Mach 4 runs true to size for the length of the shoe with no issues at all.
But, if you have wide feet or if you prefer a little more room for your toes to splay out, you might want to get the wide option because it’s not an overly roomy toe box.
And if you prefer a snug fit over too much room in your toe box especially if you want to go a little faster, then go with the regular width.
The Mach fits like a glove through the entire upper. This is one of the best shoes with great lockdown.
Related: Hoka Mach 4 vs Clifton 8
Where it shines and who it is for
I can say it’s going to be great for:
- Easy days.
- Tempo days.
- Long runs.
- Middle distance.
So, the Hoka Mach 4 can knock out four tasks within your personal training regimen.
It’s not quite a threshold day or track workout shoe. For track workouts, you would want to pick a shoe like the Brooks Hyperion Tempo which is about 1o oz lighter.
Related:
Upper
It has an engineered mesh upper. It has decent breathability, but it’s not overly breathable. The tongue is semi-gusseted and it’s fairly thin.
I’m actually pretty impressed with how Hoka created this stout heel counter. The heel is so secure that you’re going to feel so locked in through the foot strike.
The heel has that flare that Hoka is introducing into more and more of their shoes.
The ankle collar is not plush, but it’s beyond comfortable.
Related: Do Saucony Run Small or True To Size?
Midsole
The Profly midsole is a softer density CMEVA. This technology allows for a softer landing through the heel with a more responsive toe-off under the forefoot. This is a fun responsive energy-return type of midsole.
Compared to the Mach 4, the Mach 3’s midsole was hard and dense, especially considering Hoka is not known for harder landing through the midsoles.
Related: Hoka Arahi vs Gaviota
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (7.2 oz / 198.4 g)
Men’s size 9 (8 oz / 226 g)
The Mach 4 is .5 oz lighter than the Clifton 7. So, if you love the Clifton 7, the Mach is lighter.
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
35mm in the heel / 30mm in the forefoot.
The Mach 4 gained 5mm of midsole stack height from the Mach 3.
Pros
Amazing lockdown
Really nice ride.
Cons
Shoe laces are too long.
Related:
Hoka Rincon
Does the Hoka Rincon run true to size?
You can go true to size as far as the length from heel to toe. These Hokas run narrow through the toe box if you have a wider forefoot.
The upper is very malleable. If you like a little more of a locked-down feel through the toe box and the midfoot, you might want to double-check before buying this shoe.
However, you’re not going to be swimming or sliding off in this shoe.
Related:
Where it shines and who it is for
The Rincon appears to be very versatile. You could go long run, you could go tempo run, you could go easy-day run.
It’s a little bit too soft through the midsole for a threshold run which is faster than a tempo run.
Upper
This is a really lightweight training shoe from Hoka. Hoka was able to pull this off because mostly of this single-layer mesh that’s very breathable and very lightweight.
The Rincon does really well in hot temperatures as far as keeping your feet fairly cool. So, as far as a hot daily training summer shoe, the Rincon might work for you.
Related:
Midsole
You’re looking at a full compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) midsole with that early-stage meta rocker technology.
The midsole is comfortable, it’s cushioned, and it feels fast because it’s lightweight.
Hoka is known for a very wide platform especially through the midfoot to allow for a more stable ride considering the higher stack height.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (7 oz / 198 g)
Men’s size 9 (7.5 oz / 198.4 g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
32mm in the heel / 27mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- Very versatile
Cons
- Outsole is not very durable
- Insole has no cushion
Related:
Hoka Arahi 5
Does the Hoka Arahi 5 run true to size?
The Arahi 5 runs true to size with no issues with the length. It’s a little narrow through the toe box, so keep that in mind.
Where it shines and who it is for
This is a classic daily trainer and it’s a little bit heavy for tempo days. It’s great if you need a hint of stability through your foot strike.
The Arahi 5 is a stability shoe. It provides a gentle touch for mild overpronation thanks to the J-Frame technology.
Stability shoes are known to weigh more than neutral shoes because of all the extra stability features and elements built into the midsole, outsole, heel counter, and upper.
But the Arahi is lightweight compared to most other stability shoes, which is really awesome.
Related:
Upper
The Arahi has a breathable engineered mesh, especially through the toe box.
The heel flare is so comfortable. The heel collar is strong and does create a nice lockdown feel in the heel pocket. It’s not plush, but it is comfortable.
The semi-gusseted tongue is padded but not crazy plush.
Midsole
There’s an EVA midsole with different densities all throughout to create that stability effect.
The ride of the Arahi 5 is a little dense. It does not give you a soft ride like the Mach 4 or a bouncy ride like the Clifton 7.
Related:
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (8.1 oz / 226.7 g)
Men’s size 9 (9.6 oz / 255 g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
35mm in the heel.
30mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- No more aggressive stability medial posting.
Cons
The eyelet chain has too much material and it’s sloppy, which contributes to the fact that the lockdown over the top of the foot is not spot on. Take this with a grain of salt because this upper might for your foot. So, make sure you test it out.
Related:
Hoka Cavu 3
Does the Hoka Cavu run true to size?
If you have a lot of volume to your foot especially through your toes, this might be not the shoe for you.
Where it shines and who it is for
This is how I would foresee the Cavu:
You’re going to jog in this shoe to the track for two miles for example. And instead of bringing a second shoe for your track workout, you’re going to keep the Cavu on your feet and you’re going to do 8 by 400 meters around the track with 60 seconds rest, then you’re going to jog two miles back to your car for your cool down.
Upper
It’s a one-piece knit upper with no separate tongue. The upper is comfortable and the knit is flexible enough and forms to your foot well.
There’s a pretty sturdy and durable heel counter.
Midsole
There’s an updated EVA from the Cavu 2.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (5.2 oz / 147 g)
Men’s size 9 (6.9 oz / 195 g)
Drop:
6mm
Stack height:
26mm in the heel.
20mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- Lightweight. It’s a fun shoe to run in.
Cons
- A bit narrow through the toe box.
- No extra holes for the runner’s knot to really get a nice lockdown feel around the collar.
Hoka Carbon X
Does the Hoka Carbon X run true to size?
Yes, you can go true to size. The fit is good, the comfort is decent, and the gusseted tongue is spot on.
Where it shines and who it is for
The Carbon X is definitely built for the long run. I wouldn’t race in it for the half marathon or a 10k race. You could, but I think there are better options for you.
Upper
It’s a single-layer upper all around the shoe with no bells and whistles. The upper is breathable and offers great lockdown.
There is a gusseted tongue which helps with lockdown over the top of your foot so well.
Midsole
There is a carbon fiber plate that you can see through the outsole. The ride of the Carbon X is on the firmer side of the spectrum.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (7.6 oz / 198.4 g)
Men’s size 9 (8.8 oz / 226.7 g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
35mm in the heel / 30mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- The combo of the carbon fiber plate and the stack height translates into a nice little bounce.
Cons
- The heel might rub on the Achilles a little bit.
Hoka Rocket X
Does the Hoka Rocket X run true to size?
Yes, the Rocket X runs true to size with no issues at all with the width through the midfoot.
If you have an extra-wide foot, I would foresee the Rocket X feeling a little too snug.
However, for racing, I prefer a shoe that feels snug and I don’t want to feel any slipping when you’re going at fast speeds in a race environment.
Where it shines and who it is for
The Rocket X is going to be great for:
- Marathon
- Long runs where you want to pick up the pace a little bit.
If you are a big runner and you want a shoe that has a little more resilience and you don’t want that midsole to compress too quite as quickly, this midsole is going to last longer than some other carbon fiber plate shoes out there.
Upper
There’s an open mesh upper with a pretty more stout heel counter than the Adidas Adios Pro for example. That lends itself to a much better lockdown feel in the Rocket X compared to some other carbon fiber shoes.
The relationship between the shoelaces and the eyelet chain locking over your midfoot in the Rocket X is amazing.
It feels so secure with not too much material on the upper and that beautiful semi-gusseted tongue.
The breathability is crazy and you’re going to feel the breeze on your toes, which is almost too much for cold temperatures.
Midsole
The midsole is smooth as butter through the foot strike with no complications compared to the foot strike of the AlphaFly. However, I’m not saying it’s a ton of energy return through that midsole foot strike.
It’s a new lightweight EVA midsole. The midsole is not as forgiving and it’s a little harder to press with your thumbs. This is mainly because of the built-in carbon fiber plate.
The overall ride and energy return is decent but not amazing, but the feel of the carbon fiber is great.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (8.1 oz / 229g)
Men’s size 9 (10.5 oz / 283g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
35mm in the heel / 30mm in the forefoot.
Hoka Trail Running Shoes
Hoka Torrent 2
Does the Hoka Torrent 2 run true to size?
You can go true to size. But if you have a really wide forefoot, I bet your toes are going to press up a little bit against the outer walls of the toe box.
Where it shines and who it is for
This is a daily trainer for those classic 12 to 20-mile long runs on the trails. I wouldn’t take this out on a buffed-out road because it’s just a little too aggressive through the outsole lug pattern.
The Hoka Torrent 2 is great for you if you’re training for an ultra-marathon and you didn’t want a shoe that is 2 oz heavier like the Speedgoat 4 and you wanted something more nimble.
So, you can train in the Torrent 2 and save the EVO Speedgoat for the actual race-day.
Upper
There’s an engineered mesh upper with some pretty decent overlays throughout the shoe to help keep mud, debris, and maybe a little water out.
There’s a semi-gusseted tongue and very well-built laces that are not going to fray or tear.
The heel collar, heel counter, and tongue are approaching the plush category.
There are some holes cut into that engineered mesh, but the Torrent doesn’t offer a ton of breathability through the toe box.
The upper is not screaming comfortable, but it does the job.
Midsole
There’s Hoka’s ProFly midsole which offers a softer landing with a pretty good toe-off feel. It’s a little bit firmer through the forefoot but softer through the heel.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (8 oz / 226.7 g)
Men’s size 9 (9.1 oz / 255 g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
31mm in the heel.
26mm in the forefoot.
Hoka Mafate 2
Does the Hoka Mafate run true to size?
The men’s version runs true to size.
The women’s version runs large. You may want to get a half size smaller than the standard running shoe length.
Where it shines and who it is for
The Mafate shines in long training runs. If you’re racing a 50 or 100 mile on trails that need a little bit of good grip with that outsole, I think this is the right Hoka trail shoe for you.
Upper
The shoe has an external mono mesh debris and a TPU reinforced heel counter to help keep the rocks and dust out.
The upper is reinforced with Kevlar plastic through the midfoot and into the toe box a little bit, which helps with avoiding ripping and tearing of the upper.
Midsole
There’s a meta rocker midsole with no rock plate through the forefoot, which I guess you wouldn’t need with this higher stack height.
Weight:
Women’s size 8 (9.2 oz / 255 g)
Men’s size 9 (10.5 oz / 283.4 g)
Drop:
4mm
Stack height:
35mm in the heel.
31mm in the forefoot.
Pros
- Durable Kevlar- reinforced upper.
Cons
- No ground contact feel if you like to feel the trails underfoot.
- Might feel unstable on loose rocks because of the stack height.
Hoka Challenger ATR 5 Gore Tex
Does the Hoka Challenger run true to size?
Yes, it runs true to size.
This is the perfect shoe in terms of the combination of the upper material and what’s going on in the midsole and outsole.
Upper
In addition to the Gore Tex material, you also have some kind of extra TPU layers and a little bit of stiffness in the toe box to protect you from some of the elements and to help keep some of that weather out.
Midsole
In terms of what really makes the Challenger a Hoka is this beefy midsole.
Where it shines and who it is for
The Challenger is meant to be more of a light trail shoe or that transitional shoe.
You have the ability to run on roads and the ability to run on some trails as well.
This is also a great cross-over shoe that you would run from your house to the trail in or from your car to the trail in. It’s a little bit more trail than it is road because it feels a little bit too stiff on the road.
This is a shoe you can reach for not only in winter conditions but definitely in the fall and spring. Once you get into a little bit of muddy grass and dirt types of terrain, that’s where the Hoka Challenger really shines.
Weight:
Men’s size 9 (9.7 oz / 255 g)
Drop:
5mm
Stack height:
Men: 31mm in the heel / 26mm in the forefoot.
Do Hokas Run Big, Small, or True To Size
So, there you have it. As you can see, Hoka sizing differs from model to model. If you’ve ever had any issues with Hoka sizing, please tell us your experience down below in the comments section.
Until then, stay safe 🙂
I have a narrow foot and tried the Cliftons. My normal shoe size for running is 8.5. The Clifton was a great shoe and I could see loving it but because the shoe was so big My foot was sliding around too much. My heel was not locked in and I felt the looseness would cause rubbing on my heel and my haglunds deformity. From reading your reviews I think the Mach my be a better fit for me.
Have you tried size 8? Although they look big, Hokas are not that big on the inside. If you get the Mach, tell us about the fit, please?
Clifton 7s run big. Order 1/2 size smaller. You’re welcome!
Could you tell us if you have narrow or normal feet?
I am ordering the Challenger 6, do they run small or big? My last shoe was Monarch 10.5 wide.
Hokas are known to fit on the smaller side. The Challenger 5 was a bit tight, but while the 6 still hugs the foot, it doesn’t fit as tight and it’s true to size for most foot sizes and shapes.