HOKA Skyflow Review

Upper

Liz: "This is one of the best-fitting HOKA models I have ever worn. The upper is secure and easily adapts to my wider feet and bunions. Initially, I was concerned that the fit might be too snug, but the Skyflow immediately adapted to my feet for a comfortable fit. I also love the upper's balance of comfort and breathability. A touch of padding accents the heel collar and tongue, providing a plush hold around the foot, but the double-layer jacquard mesh is still lightweight and breathable through the toebox."

Jon: "The upper of the Skyflow was good but not great for me and my feet. If I am going to spend $160 on a shoe, then I would like the upper to feel more premium than a standard daily trainer. While the Skyflow's upper is comfortable and soft in the right places, especially the tongue, it is a bit narrow in the forefoot. Thankfully, the slightly narrow fit did not cause hot spots or blisters on my runs, and ultimately, the fit did not deter me from wearing the Skyflow at all. It is just something I would like to see improved in future iterations."

Midsole

Liz: "I think a lot of people are going to enjoy the underfoot experience provided by the Skyflow. It has enough squish to offer a soft, impact-dampening ride without feeling marshmallowy or dead underfoot. That said, the shoe does not feel very bouncy or responsive, and nothing about the Skyflow really inspires me to pick up the pace. Rather, the Skyflow feels incredibly protective, smooth, and stable, and it has become a go-to option for easy long runs and recovery runs."

Jon: "HOKA's midsole evolution continues with the Skyflow, a premium daily trainer with full supercritical EVA foam, which is the same foam we see in other popular models such as the Mach 6, Mach X (partially), and Skyward X (partially). HOKA is truly onto something here, because they just hit another home run with the Skyflow.

From the initial step-in, the plushness of the midsole is evident, and even though it is highly compressive, I found it slightly responsive and not sluggish at all. Its impact absorption made recovery days easy, and its rebound surprised me on my 13-mile progression run. The midsole cushioning makes this shoe quite versatile, which is always a bonus, especially for someone like me who likes to get the most out of their shoes. Lastly, I would like to note how impressed I am with how stable this shoe is despite its high stack and plush cushioning. I had a lot of confidence cornering and managing uneven terrain."

Outsole

Liz: "There is a good amount of rubber coverage in the outsole, and I had no issues with durability or grip. Even after testing, I'm seeing no visible wear to the rubber coverage."

Jon: "Through 40 miles in this shoe, the rubber looks brand new. There is some wear and tear on my right shoe where the exposed outsole is, so that is definitely not ideal, but this is only cosmetic at the moment."

Comparable Shoes

HOKA Skyflow vs. Saucony Triumph 22

Jon: "A premium daily trainer with full super foam priced at $160? Sounds like the Saucony Triumph 22, right? Those commonalities make these shoes ripe for comparison, and I think they are designed to serve similar purposes. In terms of execution, it is a pretty easy call for me, as I just felt that the HOKA Skyflow delivered a better underfoot experience overall. The Skyflow feels softer and a tad lighter, with a midsole foam that feels more lively underfoot. The upper of the Triumph breathes better, in my opinion, but that does not overcome how much more fun the Skyflow is to run in."

HOKA Skyflow vs. ASICS Gel Nimbus 26

Liz: "The ASICS Nimbus is the first shoe that came to mind when I was trying to think of similar models to the new Skyflow. Both shoes are soft and protective, delivering a premium ride for daily training and long runs. The Nimbus is a touch softer underfoot, providing more of a sink-in feel, while the Skyflow has a more dampening feel while on the run. I prefer the more compressive bounce of the Nimbus for daily training, where I like something that feels a bit more fun and lively. However, the Skyflow is my preference for long, easy runs and recovery days thanks to its super protective feel, stablility, and smooth ride."

Jon: "In terms of initial step-in and level of comfort, I was reminded of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 when I first slipped on the Skyflow. The Skyflow's supercritical EVA felt very similar to the FF Blast+ Eco featured in the Nimbus 26. Both shoes have an extremely comfortable and plush underfoot feel, but without being too squishy. The Nimbus is slightly heavier and feels heavier underfoot than the Skyflow, but it also has more midsole stack. Thus, even though these shoes are both plenty protective, they differ in their overall use, in my opinion. The Skyflow feels a little more versatile to me, and in contrast to Liz, I would prefer the Skyflow for slightly faster efforts when compared to the Nimbus. I would not want to wear the Nimbus 26 for any workouts that have speed segments; I'd reserve it for easy runs and recovery days where my primary goal is to be on my feet logging miles."

HOKA Skyflow vs. HOKA Clifton 9

Liz: "With its higher stack height and supercritical foam, the Skyflow feels more responsive and protective than the Clifton. The Clifton provides a more marshmallow-like softness underfoot compared to the bouncier softness of the Skyflow. Between the two, the Clifton is a good option for those who want something lower to the ground and prefer that squishy, dampening softness, whereas the Skyflow is my preferred option for daily training and long runs, all thanks to the higher-performing midsole."