I was a die-hard Hoka wearer. I wore the Speed Goat, the Clifton, the Anacapa, and the Challenger. All four did well as trail runners while hiking the trails of Europe and Australia, but it wasn’t until I switched to the Altra that I realized my mistake.
In all cases, the Hoka has been a great shoe. I’ve worn a pair for at least the last five years as I’ve traveled the world as a full-time traveling nomad. They’ve done well with and without inserts with GTX or without, on pavement or on dirt. I have no complaint about any model of my Hokas. (In the pictures above, you can see me in all the different models over the years.)
Except one.
Hoka vs Altra in the Wear Category
Hokas wear out way too fast.
As someone who walks/hikes 12-15000 steps daily in my life as a full-time traveler, I go through a new pair of Hokas every 3-4 months. That’s lot of money for shoes. I was willing to spend it because foot health is the foundation for good health. Hokas were worth it. Until they weren’t.
By a fluke, I went to replace my Challengers, and REI didn’t have my size in stock. I was leaving the next day for Spain and was desperate. The sales rep suggested I try to Altra Olympus 6 GTX.
They felt great right out of the box. I liked their waterproofing. But I loved the vibram sole. So I purchased them, knowing that if they didn’t work, REI would accept a return for up to a year. (This is why I continue to always buy my shoes at REI.)
Off to Spain I went. And then Patagonia. And then Portugal. And then Dolomites. The shoes just kept performing. And performing. They gripped rocks and dirt. They stayed dry. The soles didn’t wear. Months later and thousands of steps later, they didn’t need to be replaced. Unlike my Hokas, the Altras kept their shape and the soles didn’t wear.
Six months later, I replaced my first pair. And six months later, I replaced my second pair. I’m now on my third pair of Altras. Now for those of you who say I’m not comparing apples to apples, let me say this.
I track my steps. I look at my totals over time. I can see how many steps I take monthly. And when I compare my Hoka time to my Altra time versus the wear of my Hokas to my Altras, I can see that I get twice the amount of steps out of a pair of Altras versus a pair of Hokas.
Altras just last longer. Step over step, month over month. Year over year. I have 3 years of Hoka time to compare with 18 months of Altra time. Same amount of steps (with a 10% variable.) I’ve purchased half the amount of Altra shoes.
That’s a deal.
I’ve worn both the GTX and non GTX of the Olympus 6. I prefer the non GTX but wouldn’t shy away from them if I had some wet hiking ahead. In the meantime, the Olympus 6 continues to be my day-to-day travel shoe and hiking shoe, and I couldn’t be happier with my Altra trail runners.
Whether you buy Hoka or Altra, they’re both great brands. I’m not against Hoka. But their trail runners don’t stand up to the Altra. But, I will say, I LOVE the Hoka Hopara and heartily recommend them. See my review of the Hopara after two years of wear.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.