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Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GORE-TEX Review
Key Stats
Ideal for: Neutral runners wanting a road-to-trail shoe or those spending most of their time on hard-packed trails.
Main Features: Deep cushioned trail shoe with a rocker geometry and Continental rubber outsole.
Stack Height: 32mm (heel) / 24mm (forefoot)
Drop: 8mm
Fit length: Runs small – size up by ½ size. Our tester is normally a size UK 9.5 but would have preferred a UK 10.
Width: Narrow
Outsole: 3 mm Continental rubber outsole.
Price: £120
Summary
This shoe seems to be targeted at road runners wanting to get into trail running for the first time and those who will have stretches of road to cover before they hit the trails. Is there more to it than that and will it work for longer distances, technical terrain and even some racing?
Our Tester
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Initial Thoughts
I have to say, initial impressions were a little mixed. The shoes are beautiful and clearly well-made – they have a nice, open mesh that breathes well, but still holds the foot firmly in place. The heel is precise, and has a nice padded collar that really locks the back of your foot in; I don’t get any slip at all. There’s reasonable width across the met heads, but it definitely narrows towards the toes. The tongue is gusseted and has no cushioning, which I was a little wary of at first; but it really helps dial in the fit and is stiff enough that it distributed pressure from the laces effectively.
I went for true to size, but on reflection really would probably have been better off opting for a half size up, even for shorter runs – my big toe is very close to the end of the shoe even when my foot is properly supported. This hasn’t affected the running, thankfully!
On the first couple of runs, the shoe, despite the impressively thick midsole, was very firm and a little dead feeling. Other high-stack shoes that I’ve used in the past have tended, straight out of the box, to feel either luxuriant and plush, or energetic and lively. This was neither, and while they’re not exactly heavy, they’re far from the lightest in their class.
After the first 20km
Thoughts after a few weeks
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Thoughts after a few weeks
To me it seems that these have definitely been designed with less technical trails in mind. In addition to the midsole being at its best when you’re stretching your legs a bit, it is not at sensitive as some, I think largely due to the high stack height. On rougher, rockier, or more broken terrain, it is unquestionably comfortable but lacks a little of the feedback you might get in a lower-profile shoe. The traction is superb on firm, dry ground, but the limited lug depth means that they struggle a little on loose or soft terrain. All these make for a shoe that really excels on well-maintained trails, wide footpaths and rocky paths. They’re also a brilliant road-to-trail shoe.
In terms of stiffness, they are middle of the road. TERREX have opted for a straightforward midsole construction, with no stiffening elements. The thickness and firmness of the foam adds some stiffness compared to competitors, but this is still less than you’d see in a shoe with a plate or similar additional element in the midsole. Forgoing an extra element or combination of foams also has the upside of maintaining a very reasonable price point.
The off-road stability is generally good, too. As is always the case with higher stack shoes, the fact that your feet are some distance off the ground means that on really uneven ground – grassy tussocks or big chunks of broken rock that are liable to shift, for instance – they can feel a bit tippy. The wide base underfoot and firm foam do help with this, and for the terrain that the shoe is aimed at, it’s not an issue at all.
For me, the highlight of these shoes is their versatility; they’re a true jack of all trades as far as trail running is concerned. They are not just usable, but genuinely comfortable, on road, and capable of dealing with a broad variety of trails and even some rougher terrain. If you’re after one shoe to do it all, and aren’t interested in fell running, this shoe is absolutely worth considering.
Thoughts after a few weeks
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Recommended For
These shoes are comfortable, grippy, and stable. They absolutely function as TERREX intended; as a transition shoe for those looking to branch out into trail running, with a familiar silhouette and styling cues. However, I think this brief undersells them a little. They are remarkably versatile, and perform well across any distance, on anything but mud or the most technical of dry terrain. If you’re in the market for a new pair of general-use shoes, it’s well worth taking a look at these.
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