Customer Reviews Hoka Akasa

I think HOKA wizzards listened to every review and channeled this shoe from outer realms. No heel sip, easy lace tension adjustment, laces stay tied, not too hot, some cushion but NOT bouncy like some shoes that feel good when your first put them on then fatigue your feet as they struggle to stabilize, you walk in a natural gait with some rocker motion that supports your arch and motions you forward as you roll though the step, keeps your foot in neutral without the annoying pressure zones that some shoes have as it tries to neutral align your foot, allows your pelvis to be in alignment easily over your base of support not fatiguing to gluteal muscles like some shoes that throw off body posture. It cleverly disguises the depth of the cushioning with the darker stripe so that you don't look like an old fart with super padding Most of the shoes this finicky sensitive artist type buys sit on the counter waiting their acceptance. These got to walk outside with me after only a 15 minute waiting period following their flight to me from Zappos. I bought 2 so you all can go at it now. Share in my relief. Take advantage of my probing examination and the benefits of the people who engineered this shoe

My podiatrist recommended Hoka shoes for my plantar fasciitis. Most of the ones I tried on at the running store were large, heavy and bulky. I felt that I was walking awkwardly and almost unstable with the highly touted Bondi. I had been looking at the Hoka website and identified the Akasa and the Elevon as shoes I wanted to try. But I could not find these styles locally. Thank goodness for Zappos. I ordered one of each with the assurance of a free return. Both of these styles felt more appropriate for my needs with the Akasa being slightly better and a little more conservative looking for a 60ish lady. The Elevon would have been a good choice too. I replaced the liner with my custom orthodics and these Akasa shoes have allowed me to get through my activities of daily life with minimal discomfort. The Akasas and my Oofos flip flops have allowed the plantar fasciitis to resolve over the past three months. I expect to keep wearing this footwear to keep my feet safe, healthy, and pain free. I cannot speak to the Akasas as a running shoe, but I recommend them highly as a comfortable and attractive option for people who find themselves suddenly dealing with the crippling heel pain of plantar fasciitis.

I bought these for walking in NYC. I usually wear Born boots or El Naturalista clogs, both of which are somewhat comfortable, but my feet start to get a bit tired and sore after a few miles. I needed something for the 6+ miles I tend to spending walking. I wanted something that wasn't flashy, but still looked fashionable. Because I have a pair of Hoka One running shoes, I was hopeful I could get the same kind of comfort. I love these shoes. Out of the box I wore them to run 3 miles, then the next day wore them on a 7 mile walk around the City. I wore them out again today for another 3 mile walk in my neighborhood. For running, I prefer my Hoka One Speedgoat 2's which have greater stability, but the Akasa's were exactly I wanted for my walks. The sole is thick and plush, so my foot bones are pressing into cushion as I walk. This is helpful since I have pain issues from autoimmune conditions. The rest of the material around the ankle and heel is also plush and comfortable. The arch support seems adequate. There is plenty of room in the toebox without it being too roomy (even though I do not have wide feet, most shoes squeeze my toes together). The mesh upper allows the shoe to breathe, which helps with heat and moisture control. I also like that nothing about the shoe looks cheap - it's well constructed, and great quality material.

Sizing is crazy - women's 9 is usually european 40, these are european 41.33 - if only Zappos would list the european sizes it would be a lot clearer.

Best shoe I have worn ever. Right out of the box, no break-in time needed. I am a nurse & work long shifts on concrete floors. After wearing these HOKA Akasa shoes I stopped needing to wear my knee brace. On my days off, wearing other shoes, I once again need to wear my knee brace. They are like a shoe & knee support all in one-how athletic shoes should be! These shoes have amazing support, are light weight, and the normal width is wide enough for my wide toe bed.These do not slip. I did read the reviews & bought one half size smaller, and they are a perfect fit. They are hands down the best shoe I have ever worn to work, and I am looking forward to buying a 2nd pair to wear for casual use. I highly recommend these to anyone who stands for long periods of time &/or works on concrete or steel surfaces.

I always order a 6.5 in Hokas, as I allow room for sockwear and then sometimes I need just a bit more room in the toebox. These are perfect, but I did have to lace them up a little more snug than my Challengers (which I wear for power walking) or my Hupanas, which I wear for errands. Love the color of these so much. Hoka tends to get really wild with color combos, and I just like shoes with what I call normal colors, that I can wear out without attracting a lot of unwanted attention.

I have problems with my feet and have a lot of trouble finding shoes that work for me. On one foot I have Hallix Limitus and it flares up and is very painful. On the other foot I have a plantar tear of the second toe which can also get painful. I am on feet a few nights a week as a waitress. I bought a great pair of Brooks, but with my foot issues my feet would be killing me at the end of the night. So I ordered 3 different pairs of Hoka sneakers. These were the best for my wide feet and for the pain. It made an incredible difference for me.

This is an extremely comfortable shoe. I haven’t had a shoe like this since the Brooks Glycerin 11. Would highly recommend. It looks like an orthopedic shoe, but the comfort far outweighs the looks. Just don’t look down.

I was impressed with the comfort of this shoe. Not only was the foot bed cushioned, but it has a rocker sole! I’ve worn Dansko clogs for twenty years and like the feel of a rocker sole with a hard foot bed, but the rocker sole with the cushioned foot bed is the best of both worlds. Also, the mesh upper should help keep my feet cool in warmer weather. I am not a runner, but these will be amazing walking shoes.

I love the non restrictive fit and comfort of these shoes. However, I keep finding that the soles wear out much too quickly for this expensive of a shoe. I have worn these shoes for 9 days and walk an average of 5 miles per day and I can already see the tread pattern is flat in places.

These shoes are well cushioned and feel like I'm walking on pillows. More importantly, the cushioning is excellent for moderate- to high-impact gym classes. I got the blue color and am pleased with how they look. They fit true to size and have good width. Pleasantly surprised by the good arch support. Love them. Wish Zappos carried the black version.

I’m a nurse and on my feet for 12 plus hours. These have been wonderful!! Highly recommend!

I walk 5 miles daily with a walking group where every member but me has these shoes. I held off on buying them because they look like orthotic, old lady shoes. (I’m 48.) I had foot pain (flat arches) and was desperate, so I bought the Akasa style first because I thought it looked better than the Hoka Bondi 7. I then bought the Bondis based on a friend’s glowing review of this specific style that it was the BEST. (She was right.) I had been wearing Brooks and Nike running shoes for years and just visited a podiatrist because my foot pain was so bad, I could barely walk after long walks. The Bondis felt like walking on a cloud and took a couple days to get used to, but they were a life changer! My foot pain went away completely and I have no pain. Even thought I ordered both styles at the same time, I never tried the Akasa style until recently. There is a noticeable difference in the amount of cushion and I probably needed a wide in this shoe, but it wasn’t that bad or I would have returned it. If you have any foot pain, try the BONDI, but if you are looking for a better looking tennis shoe with less cushion better than most, the Akasa is your shoe! My only gripe is the color choices; they are pretty bad. Everyone wants a great variation of BLACKS and greys; not navy or black iris, which is confusing, as it isn’t black at all; it’s navy. I think the Akasa looks better, but the Bondis FEEL better. I’m ordering my second pair of Bondis now. Good luck!

width felt narrow everything else felt great looking forward to finding right fit for me

I agree with much of the 1st review, except with the stability. These shoes made my left foot roll inward, putting pressure on my knee. I’m certain were I to keep them I’d soon be walking on the side of the shoe rather than the sole—something I’ve never experienced in a shoe, so I compared the shoes thinking something might be slightly off with the build of the left shoe, but there was nothing obviously wrong. I usually wear an 8 in shoes and 8.5 in running shoes. I ordered these in and 8 based on online reviews and they fit well. I love the style and lines and the grey color. Disappointed not to have found that perfect shoe for long walks.

This is my second pair of Hokas and I love these even more. I have really high arches so these are PERFECT. The only problem I've had with this pair is the "Achilles notch" (I had to look that up - the very back arched part of the shoe) rubbed the back of my ankle raw and it still bleeds every time I wear the shoe. I have a shoe stretcher and will try to simply push that section back. Other than that these are very comfortable shoes.

The fit might be slightly big on this shoe style but when I tried a half size down they were a bit small so I would rather go with a tad big for my foot comfort. The comfort of this shoe is great. Cushy and light. Moderate arch support so I may need to add an insert but these are nice looking and very comfortable. I wonder if the soles will hold up for heavy duty walking as they are a softer foam type material and no lugs. Probably great for smooth surfaces like gym floor, mall walking, house or work.