HOKA Stinson 7 Review

Upper

Grace: "I love HOKA's engineered jacquard mesh uppers; they are always the perfect combination of breathable and durable. This update's upper has narrowed down a bit, which makes this the first Stinson I can comfortably run in with my narrow feet. Before the 7s, I had the Stinson ATR 5, and I would slosh around in them. I also remember that shoe feeling so heavy, and the tongue would ride down, causing my laces to rub on the top of my feet. Now with the HOKA Stinson 7, I see a much lighter shoe; I am not swimming in it, and the hold is secure and comfortable. The foam is much softer, but the tongue was still on the short side. It has definitely improved, and it never rides so far down that the laces rub on the top of my foot, but it can be annoying having to pull the tongue up."

Brycen: "My only complaint about this shoe would be the level of breathability. If you do not wear moisture-wicking socks, the heat of your feet may cause slight discomfort and hot spots. Otherwise, the upper provides great comfort and support. I was secure no matter the terrain and felt no irritation in the upper."

Midsole

Grace: "The CMEVA (compression-molded EVA) midsole is very dampening. I can bomb downhill or run an ultra with little to no impact on my legs. The late-stage meta-rocker design helped me with that forward motion, and the H-Frame creates a highly stable ride on uneven terrain. All of this is great, but as you may know from other versions of the HOKA Stinson, this is a big shoe. There are just some things the Stinson can't do well because of its wide base, one of these being running on narrow, single-track trails. When one of these shoes takes up the whole width of the trail, you need to change your gait in order to fit, and if the single track goes on for a bit, this can feel super awkward and uncomfortable. Another thing to be aware of with wide-base running shoes is that stairs can be more difficult to navigate; the wide surface on the back of the shoe can get caught on the steps, so being cautious when going down stairs can be good practice when wearing the HOKA Stinson 7s."

Brycen: "This is the softest shoe I have ever run in. They had the perfect amount of cushioning for my knees while also providing great energy return. At the end of my miles, my knees felt just as fresh as when I started my run no matter the distance. The more broken-in these shoes became, the better they felt for my feet and knees. Truly it feels like running on clouds, but with every step, I bounce off into the perfect stride, making me feel like I could run all day."

Outsole

Grace: "Looking at the outsole out of the box, I'd say it has significantly improved, with additional multidirectional 4-mm lugs and durabrasion rubber. During my first handful of runs, I had no issues on the loose rocks or hard-packed single-track of my local trails, but then I took them with me to Yosemite. Here, the outsole performed completely differently, with multiple slips on the granite — both wet and dry. This is where I really wished I had a Vibram outsole for some sticky rubber grip to keep me from slipping on the slick rocks. But as this shoe is in the road-to-trail category, the Stinson really isn't meant for technical, rocky terrain. The rubber is designed to have the durability and comfort to handle both roads and wide, rolling trails."

Brycen: "After completing this review, there are no signs of abnormal wear and tear on the outsoles. From the concrete of the streets to the forest floor of the trail, these shoes provided great grip mixed with soft protection against any loose branches or floorboards."

Comparable Models

HOKA Stinson 5 vs. HOKA Stinson 7

Grace: "The upper has narrowed down quite a bit, which made this the first Stinson I could comfortably run in. In the Stinson 5s, I remember a lot of sloshing around; the shoe felt heavy, the midsole felt stiff, and the tongue was too short. The tongue would ride down until my laces would be rubbing on the top of my feet. Now with the HOKA Stinson 7s, I am experiencing a completely different shoe. The Stinson 7s are much lighter, I am not swimming in them, the hold is secure and comfortable, and the foam is much softer. But one thing I am still noticing with the 7 is the short tongue. It has definitely improved, and it never rides so far down that the laces rub bare on my skin, but it can still be annoying."

Brooks Caldera 6 vs. HOKA Stinson 7

Grace: "I put both of these max-stack shoes in the long run and recovery day categories. Both midsoles do a great job of absorbing impact without a rock plate, and both Brooks nitrogen-infused foam and HOKA's CMEVA midsole foams kept these shoes feeling soft and surprisingly light despite their appearance. What stands out to me about the HOKA Stinson 7 over the Brooks Caldera 6 is its stability. Thanks to HOKA's H-Frame technology, the Stinsons felt incredibly stable on every type of terrain I tested them on, from smooth fire roads to rocky terrain."

ASICS Trabuco Max 2 vs. HOKA Stinson 7

Grace: "Both of these high-stack, highly cushioned trail shoes put comfort first. When testing the ASICS Trabuco Max 2, I had some issues with getting enough lateral support in the upper and found myself supinating. The midfoot is pretty roomy, which might be the cause, and it narrows down in the toe box. The upper on the Stinson is the opposite; it has a more snug fit in the midfoot and gets wider in the toe box. For my narrow foot, I like a more snug fit in the midfoot, as it keeps me stable and secure on the trails. I can go either way with a wide or narrow toe box as long as I'm getting a nice hold in the midfoot and heel. I love both these shoes and use them both often, but because the Stinsons hold my foot in place better, I am able to take them on more hilly trails as well as roads, while I tend to keep my Trabuco Max on roads and flatter trails."

New Balance More Trail v3 vs. HOKA Stinson 7

Brycen: "Both the HOKA Stinson 7 and New Balance More Trail v3 are highly cushioned trail shoes made to handle the long haul. These shoes both feel very plush and are great options for smooth trails, fire roads, and runs that combine both paved roads and trail segments. The two biggest differences in these shoes are the upper and the outsole. Compared to the HOKA Stinson, the More Trail has a wider fit that is more accommodating. The New Balance More Trail gives runners plenty of room for toe splay and comes in an even wider version, whereas the Stinson has narrowed down quite a bit and doesn't have width options. As for the outsole, both shoes perform incredibly well on multiple surfaces, but the More Trail's use of Vibram rubber with micro-traction makes it a better option for wet or rocky terrain."