As every year, “The Running Event” was held in Austin at the end of November, where several big running shoe brands presented their upcoming running shoes.
First up, we’re covering the new 2024 running shoes from the Hoka running shoe brand
Hoka Mach 6 running shoes
The Mach series is all about dynamic running, so we were very curious to see if they could step up the pace, and if they would solve the Hoka Mach 5‘s most criticized flaw of outsole durability. The Mach 6’s midsole has a new supercritical foam that makes it much more resilient, much more flexible to run in. The previous outsole with two different types of foam has been redesigned and the new version uses one type of foam. The supercritical foam is not only more flexible, but also lighter, which further enhances the speed of the shoe. It’s got an outsole, albeit a thin rubber layer, but that’s an improvement on the previous version, which had no outsole at all. Despite the new type of foam typical of racing shoes, the price of the Hoka Mach 6 will not increase, it will still be around 50 eFt.
Hoka Mach X 2 running shoe
A Pebax (TPU, thermoplastic) plate gives the Hoka Mach X version 2 the same excitement as the first version, which is larger than the first version. They’ve also increased the thickness of the midsole to 40mm thicker at the sole of the shoe. As before, the midsole is made up of two layers, the upper Peba foam is softer, the lower is harder. The overall effect is that the front of the shoe has been given more soft foam, making the shoe even more flexible. With the increase in Peba foam, stability also needed to be improved, so wings were added to the Pebax sheet, the end of which is visible on the side of the midsole of the shoe. This addition makes the midsole stiffer and improves stability. The drop of the shoe remains at 5mm. The upper has also been changed with a new lighter material that has better breathability. All in all, the Mach X 2 will almost move into the category of a racing shoe, but the price will remain at the level of a more expensive training shoe (70-80 eFt).
Hoka Arahi 7 running shoes
The new version of the Arahi has mostly changed the upper. The previous mesh upper is replaced with a knitted mesh material. The new upper provides better support for the foot, which increases stability, and it also has better breathability. The upper will also be more cushioned and softer, which can enhance foot support and comfort. With the new upper, Hoka also aims to make the Arahi more attractive and sexy. Midfoot stability continues to be provided by J-Frame technology, as in the Hoka Arahi 6.
Hoka Rincon 4 running shoe
One part of the Rincon 3 that many criticized was the outsole, as it wore out very quickly. In the new version, Hoka is trying to remedy this in particular. The midsole has two different densities and softness of foam. The upper foam will be the soft comfortable foam familiar from the Clifton and the lower will be a foam with a rubber blend, making it more durable but not heavier. This bottom thick layer will act as an outsole. Despite the redesign and new use of materials, the Hoka Rincon 4 running shoe will not be any more expensive than its predecessor.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 running shoes
Although the Hoka Speedgoat 6 running shoe won’t be released until mid-summer and the gore-tex version won’t be released until fall, we’ve been waiting and waiting for it, as one of the most popular Hoka trail running shoes is the currently reigning Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail running shoev. The Speedgoat 6 midsole has been made more flexible and lighter. The outsole has been redesigned with a new pattern for improved traction. Mostly the upper has been changed as this was the most dissatisfied part. The new upper material is Matryx fabric, which contains thin Kevlar yarns. This has made the Speedgoat 6 trail shoe more durable, lighter and more breathable.
Hoka Tecton X 3 running shoes
The Hoka Tecton X 3 is set to be one of the most technically innovative trail running shoes from Hoka. There are still 2 foams in the midsole, like in the Hoka Tecton X 2, but the layers have been replaced with a supercritical foam instead of CMEVA, which is more comfortable, better load-distributing, and gives you a lot more dynamism. There are still two parallel carbon plates running between the two layers, but the shape has changed and reaches the side of the shoe. This solution gives the shoe more dynamism and, as in the Mach X 2, it also gives the shoe stability, with the plate hugging the foot. One of the weak points of the Tecton X 2 was the grip, which has been improved, with a more aggressive outsole, so the shoe can now cope with tougher terrain. The upper has also received the Matryx fabric, and what’s new is that the shoe has a sock-like collar up to the ankle to prevent debris from getting in. Considering the technical solutions, the Tecton X 3 will be expensive, with a price tag of around 100 eFt in August when it is expected to be released.
Hoka Torrent 4 running shoe
We love the Torrent line for its simplicity, high ground feel and low weight, and since it’s been quite a while since the last version, the Hoka Torrent 3 trail running shoe, was released in 2002, we’ve been excited for an update. The midsole foam here has been softer and springier and a minimally taller one too, which means no weight gain. Since the Torrent was a bit stiffer this change is good news. The outsole grip has also been improved, which was also a topical issue for the Torrent, as the version 3 was less stable on more technical, difficult terrain. The upper has been reinforced, making it more durable and improving the grip of the foot. Expected to be released in mid-August at a price below 50 eFt.
We’ve missed no news on the Hoka Clifton 10 and the Hoka Bondi 9 or Hoka Bondi X 2 (the latter may not be forthcoming) because the Clifton and Bondi, the two most popular running shoes from Hoka, both last received updates in 2022.
If you’d like to not only read about Hoka’s 2024 updates, but also check them out, don’t miss the videos below:
