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Are These The Best Hoka Gym Shoes? - Hoka Kawana 2 Review
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Apr 4, 2024
I'm reviewing the Hoka Kawana 2 to see if they are a good shoe for gym workouts. Hoka themselves label this shoe as a training and gym shoe so I was interested to see how these Hoka shoes perform in that scenario. Are they really the best Hoka shoes for working out? So if you're wondering which Hoka shoes are best for gym, you'll want to watch this video! ✅ Join The Discount Club! **SIGN UP HERE** ➡️ https://listedfit.com/join-the-discount-club/ ✅ SHOES FEATURED: Hoka Kawana 2: https://tinyurl.com/bdhmytve ➡️ Recommended Shoes for Marathon Running Clifton: https://tinyurl.com/mtn4dph8 Mach 6: https://tinyurl.com/4fc5rf59
View Video Transcript
0:00
Are all Hoka shoes the same
0:01
Now, they all kind of look the same. I know they specialize in running shoes, but I'm trying to find a Hoka shoe that I can work out in
0:07
Hoka, I've noticed, are getting more and more popular, and I'm seeing them around a lot more with their unmistakably thick
0:13
squidgy-looking souls. Some people think they're ugly, some people love them, but do they have a shoe in their range that actually works well for gym workouts
0:19
I bought a pair of these Kowana 2's Hoka themselves have said that these are a good training and gym shoe
0:24
so I'm going to try them out and see if they actually do a good job in the gym or not
0:28
So at the end of this video, I'm going to tell you if I think these are a good buy or if they're better left on the shelf as a workout shoe
0:34
So why did I pick the hoka kawana too? As you'll probably know, I've tried quite a few different brands to date
0:40
This is actually my first time trying out a pair of hokas. First thing I of course wanted to do is go to the hoka website and see which pair I need to go for
0:47
One thing that I noticed is that on the hoka website, you do of course have a lot of shoes to choose from
0:52
And I would say a lot of their shoes look similar. That distinctively thick sole, but the firmness of the soles does actually different
0:58
from model to model. So you have to make sure that you go for the right shoe. Some people think
1:02
they're ugly, some people love them, but Hokka are definitely grown in popularity and a lot of
1:06
people mention how good they are for comfort and wearing for long periods of time. Before I go on
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if this video helps you in any way, please make sure you like and comment on the video. I'd really
1:15
appreciate it. It really helps with the algorithm and helps the channel go further. So to begin
1:18
with, I wasn't sure which shoe to actually buy, but when I saw that they actually have a training
1:23
and gym shoe section, I decided to give them a brows. Now, this is as good as time as any to let you know
1:28
that Hokka did not pay me to try out these shoes. I chose to buy the Kuanatous with my own hard-earned money
1:33
which I sure you considering doing too Now the Kwanatou at the time were the latest shoes that came up in the training and gym section so I got out my credit card and I just bought them right away 12 and a half added to basket Now my initial thoughts as I mentioned Hoka shoes have this distinct appearance and do follow the style of a modern running shoe
1:50
You've got that thick sole, which will of course absorb a lot of shock if you're spending a lot of time running
1:54
Hoka do actually describe this shoe as having a sock-like booty, but I honestly don't know what they're talking about
2:00
The upper doesn't feel or look anything like it has an inner sock. Some have mentioned that you can wear them without socks, but personally, I always like to wear socks with my shoes
2:08
It just keeps the shoe cleaner for longer. They also have the lightweight mesh upper, which is very synonymous with hoka shoes
2:13
It just gives an all-round better breathability for the feet, and this is due to the uppers on their shoes being so lightweight and thin
2:18
I imagine this thick sole will lend itself very well to certain activities, mainly running
2:23
But I'll be honest, initially I didn't think that these shoes would perform very well for my kind of gym activities
2:28
Now, let's get into what the kawana twos were actually like in the gym. Now first things first, these shoes will give you more height, a lot more height
2:35
I'm quite tall to begin with, so anything extra is going to be really noticeable. I was at least an inch taller in these
2:40
When it comes to the kind of gym workouts that I do, my initial concern was that the compressible and thick nature of the soul
2:45
not making them very useful for squats or deadlift. The sole is made of an EVA foam, which does compress quite a bit
2:51
You'll feel it with every step you take. I was able to do my deadlifts and squats in them, but I don't think that they are the best shoe for those types of moves
2:58
I think a flat non-compressible sole is a much better choice. and something I prefer a lot more
3:03
If you're seriously and consistently planning to push big numbers in these kinds of exercises
3:07
I wouldn't go for a shoe like this. They actually felt more suited to aerobic or hit-based workouts
3:12
Workouts that involve things like plyometrics machine cardio box jumps burpees that kind of thing If your gym workouts are like that then I think these Kowana 2s will probably be just fine for you But let me say this as well Wearing them for plio box jumps you feel a little bit of a spring with every jump
3:26
And landing will feel soft. They absorb shock better than any cross trainer I think I've tried today
3:31
Definitely a night and day difference to the barefoot shoes I've been wearing for quite a while now
3:35
Barefoot shoes have little to no cushioning, but these have cushioning in spades
3:39
Waring them does feel like an unfair advantage if you're doing anything that requires jumping
3:43
Now, when I get into what it was like walking and running in them, Walking in them was really nice, I must say, very cushioned and smooth feeling, mainly because of that soul and that slightly slanted heel
3:52
Your heel isn't striking the ground on a sharp 90 degree angle. The angle of the heel on the sole just adds to the overall cushioned feeling
3:59
This is especially true when using them for running. Whether you're a heel first runner who runs by slamming your heel on the ground first, or you run more on the balls of your feet
4:06
I think the sole of this shoe does a really good job at just keeping the ground shock to a minimum
4:10
I would say that they worked really well for running, and as suspected, this is where I'd say they perform
4:15
the best. Surprisingly, they're comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Very good grip
4:20
quite firm feeling on the ground though, not as soft as I thought initially. The shoe itself
4:24
feels very lightweight and I wouldn't put them up against a marathon running shoe at all. I think
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a marathon running would be more refined in certain areas, but just for general running, I think
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you'll be more than okay with these. For anybody who needs it, I will put a couple of recommendations
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for hocus shoes that work a lot better for marathon running than these do. But one pair that comes
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to mind off the top of my head is the Clifton. That has had some really good reviews. Now before I go
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to my overall verdict let me just tell you that I'm starting up a discount club now in this discount club I will be sharing a bunch of discount codes for products
4:52
just like this so if you're thinking about getting yourself a pair of new shoes clothing headphones anything in the fitness area whatever it may be do consider signing up you might be able to get yourself a nice little bit of money off So check the link in the description to the discount club and get yourself some money off Now for my overall opinion I think these make a decent enough shoe for someone who does a
5:10
little bit of everything, but more on the side of cardio-based fitness. As I thought before I even tried them on, these aren't a zero drop or barefoot shoe
5:17
So my initial concern was that they wouldn't be the best shoes for moves like deadlifts and squats
5:21
And they just aren't. Even though they are labelled as being good for training and gym on the Hoka website
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The upper material is so thin and lightweight that it makes them comfortable to wear for long periods of time, which is always a good thing
5:32
I will probably only use these as a walking and running shoe. I'm also a little concerned about how long this compression lasts, not just for these shoes, but all hoka shoes
5:39
Like I said, you do get comfortable sole compression that absorbs a lot of shock when you run or walk or jump
5:45
How long does that springy soft feeling last? Like what's the timeline? Because any foam, especially the EVA foam that these shoes are made from, when that gets compressed a lot with every step or jumping move, it's eventually going to lose its
5:56
softness and shape. So it would be interesting to know how long these keep their shapeful
6:00
I'll be honest. Before I bought these shoes, I thought they would be complete garbage, possibly an overrated shoe full of gimmicks, but overall I'd say that I was pleasantly surprised
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by the hoka kawana twos. I think they're properly rated and they're not what I thought
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there would be. I just think you have to buy them knowing what kind of workouts you intend to doing
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them, so you won't be disappointed. So let me know what kind of workouts do you do and whether
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you would buy a pair of these hokkas for your workout. So if you like this video, make sure
6:23
you hit the like and subscribe button and also hit the bell icon and as usual thank you for
6:27
watching and i'll see you in the next one
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