ASPHALT | TRAIL

The company was founded by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard in 2009. They wanted to design a shoe that would allow them to run downhill faster, and created a model with an oversized sole that had more cushioning than other running shoes at the time. The shoes were primarily embraced by ultramarathon runners due to their increased cushioning and inherent stability; they quickly gained popularity among other runners for offering maximum cushioning and minimal weight. Hoka currently designs shoes to enhance the experience of running uphill and downhill. Their goal is to help an athlete overcome hundreds of kilometers in challenging conditions and improve the performance of all runners.