Walking Boots

Hoka One One Anacapa Mid GTX Walking Boots| Review

Bucking the trend for low-profile footwear, Hoka One One's overbuilt Anacapa boot offers ultra-plush cushioning for day hikers, all wrapped up in a sustainable package

Why We Chose The Hoka One One Anacapa Mid GTX boots: Great comfort, plush cushioning, eco-friendly build

Undoubtedly one of the most distinctive and striking walking boots on the market right now, Hoka’s Anacapa Mid is designed to appeal to hikers and hillwalkers looking for the ultimate in comfort and cushioning. The chunky sole unit promises plush impact absorption to soak up all sorts of lumps and bumps on the trail – but it also incorporates some clever geometry based on Hoka’s trail and road running expertise to help propel you along smoothly and efficiently.

Who Are The Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX boots For?

These are for hikers looking for immediate out of the box comfort and plenty of plush cushioning to absorb impact and alleviate foot fatigue during long, high-mileage days on hard-packed trails.

They certainly aren’t for lovers of minimalist, barefoot-style footwear. In fact, as the overbuilt design suggests, they’re the diametric opposite of that.

Nor are they designed for scrambling over technical terrain. Though the chunky sole unit makes them stiffer than most mid boots, it also adds volume and reduces feel underfoot, which means this isn’t an ideal boot when precise footwork is required.

On the other hand, the Anacapa is a great boot for pounding well-trodden paths – ideal for classic hillwalking rounds, long linear point-to-point routes and big mountain days.

Materials

When it comes to sustainability, footwear often lags behind other bits of outdoor kit. The Anacapa are more eco-friendly than most boots though, particularly when it comes to construction of the uppers.

They’re made from nubuck leather, which is gold rated by the Leather Working Group, a not-for-profit organisation responsible for the world’s leading environmental certification for the leather manufacturing industry. The uppers are also finished with a PFC-free water repellent treatment. That’s not all – the moulded PU sock liner is derived from 50% soybean oil, while the ankle cuff, mesh panels and even the laces also incorporate recycled polyester fibres.

Underfoot, a high-volume EVA midsole provides cushioning, and a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole supplies traction, with 5mm multi-angled lugs for reliable grip on a variety of different surfaces.

Features

As with almost all Hoka footwear, the emphasis here is on cushioning, and plenty of it. The built-up EVA midsole offers excellent impact absorption, but the bed of cushion is symmetrical, without additional prescriptive technologies that might alter your natural gait. The result is a boot that feels forgiving yet surprisingly stable, despite its thick sole unit.

“It’s a surprisingly lightweight boot.”

It does have a pronounced rocker – the curvature from heel to toe – with a 6mm drop, which is designed to create a fulcrum effect, like a rocking chair, supposedly encouraging an efficient, smooth roll from initial impact to toe-off. The design also incorporates a late-stage Meta-Rocker, which positions the transition zone (the point at which your foot goes from landing to toe-off) in front of the metatarsal heads, providing a more stable base of forefoot support. Unusually, the heel counter also extends a long way beyond the heel of the boot itself, which again is designed to encourage smoother impacts when moving quickly.

Otherwise, the Anacapa incorporates all the features we’ve come to expect from a quality lightweight hiker. That includes a waterproof but breathable Gore-Tex liner with a gusseted tongue to guard against water ingress. You also get quick lace hooks for easy adjustment, plus a cutaway ankle cuff to reduce stress on the Achilles. In fact, this area has a soft internal sock liner to further support the tendon without applying pressure. If you’ve found that other, stiffer boots tend to rub or cause discomfort here, the Anacapa is well worth trying.

Conclusion

Though the Anacapa’s overbuilt design and unusual looks might polarise opinion, there’s no denying this is an innovative and distinctive boot, with some great features. It will particularly suit those who are looking for a plush spring-summer hiking boot with high levels of comfort and cushioning.

Despite the high-volume sole unit and lined leather uppers, it’s also a surprisingly lightweight boot. All these qualities make it a good choice for high-mileage days, although it is best suited to hard-packed trails rather than anything too technical.

Tester’s Verdict

Harrison Ward, aka Fell Foodie.
“Very comfortable underfoot, certainly not had any problems feeling any rocky terrain from them. Me being a larger framed chap they’re quite nice with the compression aspect, taking the weight off the knees. I think with that in mind they certainly suit longer distances. I do feel stable in them, even though they are quite high – and I actually often tend to opt for barefoot shoes. Waterproofing and breathability has all been fine. I think they’re accurate on the sizing things – I’d say they fit nicely, no issues there.”