With that kind of height off the ground, you’d think stability would be an issue, but it’s fortunately not. That’s because HOKA have made the sole unit platform very wide. There’s also a satisfying amount of roll-off to it, helping you to naturally propel you along the trail – a feature that’ll help preserve energy levels throughout the day. 

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’ve run in HOKA ONE ONE shoes before and have found them very useful on the right kind of runs, particularly long ones on hard ground. So the idea of a walking boot with their same tech did intrigue me. 

“After a few big days out in the Lake District hiking in the Stinson Mid GTX with a very heavy pack on my bag, I’ve actually been really impressed by certain aspects of it.”

“There was a point at the end of one of the days where one of the guys who was walking with me commented on how sore their feet were, and I realised that mine felt fine, even though we had been descending sharply for a long time. Throughout the day, they certainly had felt very, very comfortable – more comfortable than any walking boots I’ve worn actually. That’s not just down to the amount of cushioning either, as I’d say I really felt the benefit of the amount of rock the sole has.

“The downside is that you don’t get much proprioception for the trail you’re on, with the feel for the terrain muted quite heavily.

“It feels like a well made boot, with quality materials”

“As for the grip and precision on rock, I didn’t find that to be as good as I’d like. On steep muddy and grassy descents, however, the traction was excellent. I was really impressed about that aspect of the Stinson.

“It feels like a well-made boot, with quality features and materials throughout. That nubuck leather, for instance, is impressively water and dirt resistant and quick drying as well, while the Gore-Tex membrane did its job until water started coming in through the top of the ankle via my sodden trousers on one particularly wet day (this wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t forgotten my waterproof overtrousers).”

“My verdict then? If I was going on a long trail hike during summer, I’d certainly consider wearing these for the job. If they mean less sore feet and knees by the end of the day then why not? However, if I was specifically going somewhere that might involve a lot of uneven, rocky surfaces – somewhere like the Cairngorms or the Glyderau in Snowdonia, then I’d probably want to opt for something a little closer to the ground and more precise.”