Hoka One One Rapa Nui Comp & Kailua Comp
THE RISE TO FAME OF HOKA ONE ONE RUNNING SHOES IS LIKE NOTHING WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE AND UNLIKELY TO SEE AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IN A RECENT JOURNAL ON A MAJOR US RUNNING FORUM, THE TERM ‘HOKA ONE ONE’ WAS THE CLEAR LEADER IN A LIST OF BRAND NAMES SEARCHED, THE GAP TO 2ND PLACE, ‘BROOKS’ WAS ALARMING AND CEMENTED THE NOTION THAT HOKA HAD SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
What makes the Hoka One One story even more impressive is that functionally they are great shoes to run in, BUT they look like a combo of an MBT and a corrective orthopaedic shoe designed for the vertically challenged. As keen runners the Footpro test team try to focus of function and feel, but even after miles of wear testing we still feel self conscious in our Hoka’s.
Like most running shoe brands Hoka One One will launch new shoes every year and in early 2013, we got wind of the new up and coming lower profile and more traditional looking Rapa Nui Comp trail shoe and Kailua Comp road running shoe. The most notable design change of the Rapa Nui Comp and Kailua Comp was a thinner midsole that reduced weight and gave them a sleeker look. The midsole dimensions of the Rapa Nui and Kailua are 26mm at the heel (a traditional shoe is 24mm), and 21mm under the forefoot (traditionally running shoe is 12mm). Comparing the numbers highlights that the impressive cushioning features associated with Hoka are still there, only reduced slightly to provide a more responsive feeling shoe and help to complete the Hoka range.
The upper design on the Rapa Nui Comp and Kailua Comp looks and feels like a combination Bondi 2 and Stinson Evo technology. The fit is no different to the rest of the Hoka range which is a relief as most lighter, faster and more responsive shoes also come with a narrower fit. The overall weight of a Rapa Nui and Kailua is approx. 10% lighter than a Bondi 2 and we don’t think that comes as a great sacrifice to shoe lifespan.
Those of you who have already tried Hoka will be excited at the prospects of a race day shoe or another Hoka option better suited to shorter and faster sessions. For everyone else that couldn’t quite swallow the Hoka One One cosmetics we are excited to say ‘It’s time to fly’.
Available now @ +Footpro Melbourne.
