A game-changing Hoka classic shoe is back, but this time it’s not destined for the trails

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The fashion police used to sneer at Hoka’s ugly wedge soles, but now the Hoka Stinson returns as a trendy leisure shoe

Hoka Stinson Evo OG Black
(Image credit: Hoka)

Hoka has re-issued an absolute classic running shoe from its back catalogue – the Hoka Stinson EVO, which dates back to the early 2010s – but with amazingly few enhancements. Which, since serious runners are now likely  to opt for current Hokas with all their subsequent performance-boosting updates – suggests that these are aimed at – gasp – the leisure wear market.

Yes, Hoka is now a brand that can play on nostalgia to make the leap into fashion boutiques. Who’s have guessed it?

Y’see, they used to laugh at Hoka shoes. “They” being everyone who didn’t wear Hoka shoes. But even early champions of the brand’s super-chunky soles – the serious runners – couldn’t have predicted they’d one day actually be trendy, surely? But now they’re a mainstay of sites like Highsnobiety.

The Stinson was revolutionary in its day, ecstatically reviewed for its performance and renowned for adding inches to your height. The new version retains the maximalist, high-stack EVA midsole and hi-abrasion lightweight rubber sole, and so would still be fine to run in on mountain trail and roads. But compared to today’s supershoes, it can’t compete, so its rerelease is presumably aimed at the current fashion for leisure shoes with an oversized silhouette.

The HOKA Stinson EVO OG has launched at Australian retailers UP THERE and Above The Clouds for $195 - $214 (US) / $290 – $320 (AUS).

Both those sites are only offering one colorway – “Cosmic Gray” – but a Japanese sneaker site on X has some images of a red variation, so presumably there are more on the way. But if you can’t wait and you like the Cosmic Gray colorway, the two Aussie sites do ship worldwide.

Dave Golder