What's up!
Today, I'd like to introduce HOKA ONE ONE.
Finally!!
The legendary Jas!!
Is writing a post about running shoes!!
I get it, I get it.
I am well aware that there is plenty to pick apart here.
But I want to share them.
Please, let me introduce them.
HOKA ONE ONE is a sports shoe manufacturer based in the town of Annecy, located in eastern France near the Swiss border.
It’s a town where trail running and outdoor activities are incredibly popular.
HOKA ONE ONE was founded in that very town of Annecy in 2009 by Jean-Luc Diard and Nicolas Mermoud.
"HOKA ONE ONE" comes from the language of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand, and translates loosely to "It’s time to fly."
It’s a brand name that evokes the free, relaxed feeling of running you experience when wearing HOKA ONE ONE shoes.
A key feature is the thick sole. It offers excellent shock absorption, while the outsole is wide with large lugs, providing stability upon landing.
Now, while discussing the performance and technical specs is certainly important for an introduction, today I want to write about my personal impressions after wearing HOKA ONE ONE for the past half year.
My feet are on the left, and Happy’s feet are on the right.
We’ve both been wearing them for over six months now.
To start with me: I suffer from cervical and lumbar disc herniation. I also shattered my right meniscus in high school and ruptured my left Achilles tendon in college.
In the past, my knees or Achilles would ache when running on-road, and my lower back would hurt when running off-road, but since I started wearing HOKA ONE ONE, I haven't felt that pain when running on either surface.
Because of that, I’ve started wearing them as everyday shoes, not just for running.
I’ve been standing in the shop all day lately, and the way my feet feel at the end of the day is completely different compared to other shoes.
Circles’ wild child, Happy, also says, "The fatigue in my feet is totally different," and forgetting about the technical specs, he’s been wearing them every day based on pure instinct.
As many of you may know, I worked as a massage therapist before joining Circles.
I’ve studied a lot about the skeletal system and muscles, as well as shoes and insoles, but I have to say, I was really surprised by these.
This is just my personal opinion, so I can’t promise that they will absolutely work for everyone, but I highly recommend trying them out as everyday footwear, not just for running.
When the "former athlete" duo of Itoh—Happy, who played in the Spring High School Volleyball tournament, and Jas, the former rugby player who reached Hanazono—are using them every single day, you know they’re the real deal!!