Stack height-wise, the Kaha comes in at 33mm in the heel and 27mm in the forefoot, which gives a neutral ramp angle of 6mm – you’d certainly expect a more aggressive ramp angle when you first glance at the cushioning of this boot. Despite the height of the midsole, there’s still a reassuring amount of stability thanks to Hoka’s ‘Active Footframe’ technology, where you’re essentially sitting in the midsole, rather than on top of it.

Hoka’s own ‘Rangi’ dense foam has been used to protect the sole where it’s exposed to the ground below while a Vibram Megagrip gives the outsole some teeth-like lugs to provide decent grip.

Taken from their running shoe technology, Meta-Rocker is a uniquely-shaped midsole that gives the boot a rocking chair shape. This allows your foot to roll from heel-to-toe naturally and to utilise the natural rebound of the foam as you toe-off.

All in, you can’t fault Hoka’s latest foray into the hiking boot market. The Kaha comes loaded with features to make your hiking trip as comfortable as possible, whilst partly retaining that running shoe lightweight feeling.

Tester’s Verdict

Jordan Tiernan, Outdoors Magic Staff Writer

“I’ll admit it: I was pretty sceptical when I first saw these boots, before trying them on. Their huge midsole and leather build not only makes the boot look like it would weigh a tonne, but it also makes the Kaha look like it could be extremely unstable, as though you’re walking on a pair of stilts.

“However, once I got my foot in, I was extremely impressed with the lightweight feel and also the responsiveness of the Kaha.

“Over long distances, I thought the traditional ‘Hoka’ use of a highly-cushioned EVA midsole was very effective, providing all-day comfort. I found it was pretty much ready to go straight out of the box which is handy.”