Customer Reviews Hoka Gaviota 5

I love the Gaviota 4. It gave me the support I need for everyday walking. When I needed new shoes the Gaviota 5 had come out and I was talked into getting the updated model. I have a very narrow foot so the extra added room in the Gaviota 5 does not work for me. It's too sloppy and moves up and down on my heel. I just ordered a Gaviota 4 that is on sale - even in a color I don't love while I can still get the Gaviota 4.

OK. I know this isn't the Bondi X but since I don't see they sell them now and another person complained of the same issue for these shoes, I'm writing the review here. Every single Bondi X, the inside upper at the heel end just SHREDS within a few months. I've put up with it before but getting tired of paying 200+ for a pair of shoes where this happens within months of wearing. The rest of the shoe is fine although one pair of X's got a hole since fabric so thin. I decided to return this through their warranty. I don't know what other Hoka to get since I do LOVE the X's cushion and have tried Clifron and the regular Bondis but not as great or don't like the looks. What is being done to address this issue? Why can't we post pictures in review to show others?

I have worn these shoes twice to work. I am a respiratory therapist and spend a lot of my 12 hour shift on my feet. This shoe makes me feel like my heel is sitting in a hole and with every step I feel like I am trying to lift my heel out of the hole. I bought these because of the description for support and cushion. Cushion is great the support is lousy.

I'm not satisfied with the Gaviota 5 shoe. You advertised complete arch support, but that's not so for me. Also, the width is size medium, but too wide. I would exchange this shoe, but I wore them outside one time. I hope they will fit better with a heavy duty sock, but they still don't have the arch support that was advertised. I also have a pair of Stinson 7 shoes and love them. They fit perfectly and I would buy them again. Much better fit and support.

I really love the way these support my feet and the padding in them but the back tab came off the fourth day I wore them. I sent them back and when I got the second pair I went to put them on for the first time the back tab ripped off. I have never had any problems with the bondi. I wanted these for the balance support. I'm so disappointed. I'll be returning these for a refund but am unsure what pair to buy.

The shoes are purple. I ordered them because they look blue in the picture. I love the shoe, I do not love my feet standing out when I run. PLEASE make a solid blue shoe. Mine wore out, and I can't find any on your website. Wish you made different widths. You don't because it's cheaper to just have one.

Changes from the first version to the next was not good for me.

I was disappointed in the feel of these. The soles felt hard, not cushy like the clifton I am used to. Beautiful color and beautifully made but they are not soft enough for me. Uncomfortable.

I had the gaviotr 4 it is great. I ordered this because I like the color and want to try the new version. I was surprised that this one hert my ankles. I tried to adjust my foot to it but sadly must return. It could be this one that I got that wasn't good I'm not sure.

My podiatrist recommended that I get a shoe with extra cushion. I have worn the Bondi 7 and 8's for a couple of years now and love them. I do have high arches and the Bondi's feel good but I thought I would try the Graviota for the structure described in that shoe. I never could wear the Graviota 4's and I decided to try the 5's since the description said it was "PLUSH" cushioning. I tried on the Graviota 5 and they almost felt like they had no cushioning compared to the Bondi's. I returned them the next day and am in the process of exchanging them for another pair of Bondi 8's. I am sure they are comfortable for certain types of feet, but not mine. The shoe bed feels hard when compared to the Bondi even though they both say "PLUSH". Also, it seems that the elevation of the heel to toe is different in the two shoes. My foot feels flatter in the Graviota vs the Bondi and that causes my heel to start hurting after awhile. I will just stick with the Bondis as they are extremely comfortable to me. I have had people tell me not to wear cushioned shoes as they are not stable, but my Bondi 7 and 8s are very stable to me and are super comfortable.

I became a hookah convert after I developed blisters while training for a half marathon. Over the last several years, however their styling has changed. I wanted to like these shoes and while II became a hookah convert after I developed blisters while training for a half marathon. Over the last several years, however their styling has changed. I wanted to like these shoes and while I don't mind the large platform, they literally looked like big bird shoes. Even though I didn't order specifically white shoes, the front portion of the shoes are very wide, water than they seem to need to be. I like the idea that there would be stability as well as cushion, but Hokas of these days still do not feel is cushiony as they did several years ago.

I loved the spec on this shoe but they are huge. I usually wear a 8W in a Bondi 8 and that is the size I ordered. This shoe was very large at least a size maybe more! I also bought a SpeedGoat5 in an 8 and they were way too small. I am very disappointed that the specs on HOKA shoes are not consistent and yes I get free returns but I did not get to use them on the trip as I had planned. I wish HOKA had a "try to buy" program. These shoes are fairly expensive and buying a few sizes to get it right is just not reasonable.

In all my shoes, I replace the footbed with my custom orthotics. These are the first that squeak. Also, they seem a bit wider than the other 3. I thought these would better support my ankle but they don't. I've lost my confidence in Hokas.

I was sent the wrong size,, so now I'm dealing with having to return them. That said, the Gaviota 5 allow me to walk/jog with severe arthritis in one foot. The cushion and stability are great.

The color of shoes in the box did not match the shoes ordered or the description on the box.

I bought these shoes specifically because of the stability they are touted to provide, but found my feet and ankles rolling more than they ever did in my New Balance 928s. This caused a lot of foot an ankle pain. In addition the shoes are gigantic on the outside and oddly shaped, I looked like I was wearing clown shoes. Still if they had been supportive, I would've worn them despite their appearance, but they were not. They're also very squishy inside, which I think was adding to the problem. The cushion in the sole is so soft that they can't support your foot. They actually made my feet worse. If you truly need support ankle and roll support, do not buy these shoes.

Walked several miles on these. Ended up with blisters and pain that lasted days.

After opening the package, I noticed a piece of scotch tape on the bottom of the shoe that was holding the sole of the shoe on. The sole of the shoe is falling off