Hoka Kawana im Test | RUNNER'S WORLD

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The important things first

"For your next run and workout after" - this is the marketing description of the new Kawana on the Hoka website. The shoe, which has been on the market since mid-January 2022, is said to be suitable for strength training and everyday life in addition to running training - but isn't that basically every running shoe?

upper and fit

When you slip it on for the first time, you immediately notice that the shoe is not as wide as the massive look would initially suggest. The sole is significantly wider than the upper, so the shoe is also suitable for runners with narrow feet. This is also due to the comfortable upper made of jacquard mesh, which is partly made of recycled plastic. It fits comfortably around the foot and ensures a secure hold. "When I put it on, my foot literally melts into the shoe," says a test runner with rather narrow feet. But those test runners with wider feet also praised the fit.

Running shoes for wide feet

In general, the upper of the shoe is very comfortable. The tongue is comfortably padded and the shoe collar also offers a lot of material. The construction of the anatomically backwards curved area around the Achilles tendon is also striking. There is no pressure on the Achilles tendon, which noticeably relieves it. At the same time, the heel is held securely by two bulges in the inner area of ​​the rear foot.

RUNNER'S WORLDIn the rearfoot area, the anatomically pulled-back bulge for the Achilles tendon and the bulges on the inside are striking. This relieves the Achilles tendon and still keeps the heels securely in the shoe.

In general, our different test runners were very impressed with the upper. No one noted problems with the fit or any pressure points in the test sheet.

midsole and ride

As is typical for Hoka, the Kawana also has a rather high midsole. This consists of "CMEVA" foam. What sounds complicated is actually just a combination of the technical manufacturing method ("CM" = compression molded) and the midsole material ("EVA"). The women's model has 27 millimeters of this foam under the heel, while the men's model has 30 millimeters of material. The reason for this is the higher weight of men on average, so that they need a thicker midsole for comparable cushioning comfort.

In practice, the Kawana doesn't run as smoothly as many other Hoka models. The Clifton and Bondi, for example, offer softer yet more responsive midsole cushioning. But that's not a minus point: the overall ride comfort of the Kawana is quite pleasing. A rather heavy runner who touches down with the middle foot finds: "Here Hoka has hit the sweet spot between the different models."

When you look from above, you notice how expansive the shoe is all around. In fact, the Kawana offers an enormous footprint, which gives a lot of security during the rolling process. The shoe provides a lot of stability without any support elements. This is also due to the rather firm midsole, which is a good option especially for heavy runners. Incidentally, the midsole has a slightly curved rocker geometry, which allows the shoe to roll smoothly.

Running shoes with rocker geometry

RUNNER'S WORLDThe strong bulge ("SwallowTail") on the outside in the heel area is intended to initiate the rolling behavior of heel runners and make it more harmonious.

The most striking element of the Hoka Kawana is the bulge in the heel area on the outside of the shoe. Hoka calls this bulge "SwallowTail". It is intended to initiate and soften the rolling behavior of heel runners. Midfoot runners hardly notice this because this part of the sole does not touch the ground (first). Opinions on the "SwallowTail" were divided among those runners who walked on their heels: "The heel spoiler is too pronounced for me, slows the foot down too early and then causes excessive pronation acceleration," judged one tester. Another test runner, on the other hand, likes the gentle guidance created by the element. A matter of taste.

RUNNER'S WORLDThe outsole of the Hoka Kawana is very versatile and works just as well on asphalt as it does on park trails. The tread grips well even in muddy passages.

At this point we come to Hoka's marketing promise mentioned at the beginning, i.e. the suitability of the Kawana for activities other than running. When walking, you usually roll over your heels, which is why the "SwallowTail" is clearly noticeable here at first. It doesn't really bother you, but it's noticeable. The Kawana can be used for strength training, which is due to the secure hold of the foot in the shoe on the one hand and the secure footing of the shoe on the ground on the other. The midsole offers a lot of stability due to the wide platform and firm cushioning, so that you don't have a shaky feeling or even sink into the shoe when training with weights (deadlifts, squats), but also during dynamic activities (bodyweight exercises, plyometric exercises).

Conclusion: Hoka Kawana scores with stable cushioning

The Hoka Kawana certainly has a high level of suitability for everyday use, but we see it primarily as a running shoe. It goes along well with a calm speed, but also rolls off quickly thanks to the rocker geometry, so that a faster speed is also not a problem. However, it is not a shoe for speed units or competitions, as the midsole material is not very reactive. Its strength is the cushioning, which provides a lot of stability over longer distances and should be a good choice, especially for heavy runners.

Hoka Kawana in numbers

Weight: 237 grams (women), 283 grams (men) Drop: 5 millimeters (women: 27/22 millimeters, men: 30/25 millimeters) RRP: 140 euros

Buy here: male model or female model

This article may contain links to providers from whom RUNNER'S WORLD receives a commission. These links are marked with the following icon:01.02.2022Henning LenertzTo the start page