Latest news with #HokaOneOne
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Shop The Hoka Memorial Day Sale And Save Big On Supportive Footwear
We verified pricing and stick availability on all of the deals in this story, and added new styles in both the men's and women's assortments. If you're thinking about upgrading your footwear, there's an unofficial Hoka Memorial Day sale that's definitely worth checking out. Known for its highly comfortable performance gear and apparel, the brand offers a range of colorful, supportive shoes for everything from long city walks to intense marathons. Right now, many popular styles are currently discounted by 20% on Hoka's site, with similar pricing available at retailers like REI and Dick's Sporting Goods. Hoka has earned spots in our shopping guides for the best running shoes for men and the best shoes for standing all day. And several of the options that are on sale this week have received top marks on our gear team's list of Hoka's best designs. Sizes and colorways are already selling out fast, so be sure to pick up the right size and style for you once you've browsed the best Hoka Memorial Day deals below. One of Hoka's most popular designs—and our gear team's top pick for the best Hoka running shoe—the Clifton 9 can be trusted to go the distance. The brand is phasing it out to make way for the new Clifton 10, which means you can find deals on a wide range of colors and sizes right now. Our gear team named the Arahi 7 one of Hoka's most stable walking shoes—an especially solid choice for those who overpronate or have flat feet. Designed with the brand's signature 'J-Frame' technology, it features added support along the inside of the shoe to help prevent your ankles from rolling inward. The new and improved Challenger 7 is built to handle everything from city streets to rugged trails. It now features a higher stack height for added cushioning and a more durable outsole designed to tackle tough terrain. If you're after solid traction, reliable support and a lightweight feel, this could be the running shoe for you. If speed is your goal, consider giving the Hoka Mach 6 a try on your next run. Designed with performance in mind, it features a highly cushioned foam midsole and strategic rubber coverage on the outsole to support fast, efficient movement. This is a solid option for those embarking on long runs in the near future—just ask our gear editors who named it the best Hoka running shoe for tempo runs. If you live in an area with rugged terrain, the Speedgoat 6 is up for the challenge. Designed for grip and responsiveness, this trail running shoe lets you move confidently across a variety of surfaces. The latest revamp includes standout features like a foot-hugging internal chassis and revised lug orientation modeled after a goat's hoof. Only select colorways are on sale—and they're selling out fast. The Transport is an everyday shoe that features an abrasion-resistant upper and Vibram outsole for improved durability. Really, you can think of it as a cross between a walking shoe and a trail shoe, which makes it great for travel and adventure. Hoka finishes the design with a quick-toggle lace system that makes tightening and loosening the shoes a total breeze. Select color ways and sizes are on sale right now, some for as much as 19% off. The Anacapa Breeze Low is a hiking shoe for light trails and travels. Nubuck leather accents help reinforce the upper, and a Vibram Ecostep Natural outsole delivers reliable traction over roots, rocks and loose terrain, without harming the environment (it's made with 90% oil-free ingredients and 100% natural pigments). The Baked Clay color way is the most discounted at 25% off, but there are a few more options on sale for slightly lesser savings. The Kaha 2 Low GTX is the Anacapa's stronger sibling, made with a waterproof leather upper, Vibram Megagrip outsole and deeper lugs that improve traction. Hoka treats the leather with a PFC-free repellent to improve water repellency, and the heel is accentuated to improve stability and comfort. It's only available in one size right now (women's 7.5), and in one color way (Slate/Barley). Don't sweat—the cult-favorite Clifton 9 is on sale in men's sizes, too. In fact, multiple colorways and sizes are available at Dick's Sporting Goods this week for less, making now the perfect time to grab a pair. The men's Arahi 7 offers all the same standout features as the women's version—Hoka's signature 'J-Frame' technology, an improved flat-knit upper and a plusher tongue—making it a top pick for anyone seeking a sleek, stable shoe. Whether you're heading out for daily runs or need extra support on long walks, the Arahi 7 is a reliable choice. Even better, it made our list for the best running shoes for men due to its top-tier stability. Once again, the Challenger 7 proves to be just as quick and supportive on busy sidewalks as it is on grass, dirt, or whatever the trails throw your way. Enjoy its cushioned, stacked height and reliable outsole on all your outdoor adventures. While only one men's colorway of the Speedgoat 6 is currently on sale, the design itself is still worth a look. Built to handle technical terrain, this shoe will withstand tough runs over rocky hills, muddy trails and everything in between. If you're in the market for a classic running shoe for cruising through easy miles, the Solimar could be a good option—especially while it's on sale for $100. It features all the essentials of a solid design, including an approachable stack height, balanced midsole and extended crash pad for soft transitions. When your run is done, the extended heel pull makes taking them off easy. The Mach 6 is a speedy and responsive training shoe for tempo runs, HIIT series and qualifying races. Balancing comfort and energy return, it feels lively and spirited, almost as if there's truly a pep in your step, and the color combinations match that sense of enthusiasm. The Gaviota is another one of Hoka's bread-and-butter running shoes. It isn't decidedly fast, but it isn't slow either, and loads of cloud-like cushioning take the edge off repetitive impact. Finished with a breathable mesh upper, plush tongue and soft collar, it's designed for unrivaled comfort, mile after mile. Hoka's best-selling Bondi 8 is a popular shoe among runners, walkers and those who stand on their feet all day. With maximal cushioning, it's akin to walking on a cloud, though it's responsive and agile enough for light jogs if you want to pick up the pace.
The Guardian
28-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Running shoe brand Hoka accused of misappropriating Māori culture
Popular sportswear company Hoka has been accused of failing to acknowledge the Māori origins of its name by Indigenous intellectual property experts in New Zealand, making it the latest in a string of global brands to be accused of misappropriating Māori culture. The French American firm, which specialises in running shoes, takes its name from the Māori word hoka, meaning 'to fly'. Its logo, a bird in flight, mirrors the word's meaning, as does its tagline 'fly, human, fly'. In its early days, the company attributed its name – which was then Hoka One One, loosely meaning 'to fly over the earth' in Māori – to the 'ancient Māori language'. That attribution disappeared from its 'about' section after Deckers Brands took ownership in 2012. The brand now makes no mention of the name's origin on its website. 'If they don't want to associate themselves as being a Māori word – they need to stop using it,' said Lynell Tuffery Huria, who is recognised as the first Māori patent attorney and is a leading expert on Indigenous intellectual property rights. 'Why are you using that word if you're not prepared to acknowledge its whakapapa [origin] and its history and to engage with the Indigenous people from which the word comes from?' she asked. Hoka has not responded to the Guardian's requests for comment. Māori words, concepts and motifs – be they tattoo, design or art – are often rich in meaning and history, and their use is frequently governed by a set of protocols, or tikanga. Not observing tikanga risks undermining Māori culture, and puts brands at risk of being challenged, Tuffery Huria said. In recent years, a number of international brands have faced criticism for using Māori words and imagery. In 2020, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso's clothing line was accused of cashing in on Māori culture. A year later, a UK carpet company was criticised for using Māori culture to sell carpet. Gaming companies have come under fire for using Māori tattoos on their characters, while social media companies have faced outrage for creating Māori facial tattoo filters. In New Zealand, Air New Zealand prompted outrage when it attempted to trademark an image of the Māori greeting 'Kia Ora' in 2019. That same year, a cruise ship company was forced to apologise after its staff dressed up in wildly inaccurate Māori costumes to perform a greeting for its guests. Beer companies have similarly faced backlash for using Māori ancestors on their bottles. Tuffery Huria is not against brands using Māori words, as long as they have followed best practice, including consulting with Indigenous communities. 'We want to share our culture, we want to share our language, we want to share our narratives … but it needs to be respected and protected in a manner that's consistent with how we view it.' Two of Hoka's shoe styles – Arahi and Hopara – also take their names from Māori. Hopara should be spelled hōpara, and means 'to explore'. Arahi can mean 'to lead' and, in some contexts, its use is considered sacred, says Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, a leading intellectual property rights expert. 'By putting something sacred on your feet, or on your shoes, it's kind of saying you have got no respect for the culture. That's quite offensive,' Taiuru said, adding that it would be akin to putting an image of a royal family member on the bottom of his shoe. A Hoka video on social media from 2019 shows a Māori musician teaching viewers how to pronounce the brand's name correctly, during Māori language week. But in the company's more recent videos, the word Hoka and it's Māori-named shoe styles, are mispronounced. Hoka should, at a minimum, pronounce its own name correctly, Taiuru said. 'By not doing it, that shows a huge amount of disrespect.' There is a very fine line between appropriation and appreciation of cultures, Taiuru said, and the best way brands such as Hoka can honour Indigenous cultures is to consult with them. 'If you're going to use someone else's culture for your own product, you should at least know what the value of that cultural item is and acknowledge it.'
