HOKA ONE ONE EVO REHI

£120 Will this lean departure for Hoka still have tri appeal?

This low-profile racer from Hoka is, in short, outstanding. Yes, it loses its signature Meta Rocker for smooth transition from landing to toe-off, but that doesn’t matter as this is one of the comfiest, most reactive lightweights we’ve tested.

The standouts are many but let’s start with the most visible – that Matryx upper. It’s incredibly thin and breathable but reinforced with Kevlar that makes it less flimsy than some of its knit or light-mesh competition and so less likely to tear. The Lycra insert in front of the lacing adds flex without compromising the integrity of foot hold; in other words, it fits like a glove. Our only minor complaint is that Kevlar composition looks plasticky but we can overlook that in the name of performance.

Hoka employs its ProFly rubberised midsole that provides a striding

sweetspot between comfort and feel. We’ve heard Hoka fans find them too un-Hoka-like for their tastes. We get that as we’re Hoka fans; we also get that, in isolation, they simply perform, absorbing energy and releasing it swiftly for a fast leg turnover, whether that’s during a super-sprint or up to Ironman.

That swiftness is heightened by flexibility afforded from the cutout crosses in the outsole. It adds speed, though isn’t perfect in the wet and tiny stones can become lodged. The heel’s nicely padded without feeling cumbersome and, overall, that comfort lends itself to running without socks. JW hokaoneone.eu