Hoka Anacapa review: Hoka’s best hiking boot? - www.hikingfeet.com (2024)

Hokas don't have stiff TPU shanks or chassis underfoot like most hiking boots. However, their EVA foam midsoles are so thick that they prevent my feet from over-flexing on rocks and roots. Those soles also offer decent torsional rigidity— resistance to twisting—which may prevent some rolled ankles. In other words, the Anacapa Mid is not one of those overpriced sneakers marketed to hikers. It's a legit day hiking boot.

Even so, hikers shouldn't expect miracles from the Anacapa's soft ankle collars. Hoka has integrated some soft nubuck leather into the ankles for support, and its locking laces also make it easier to snug the boot up against your ankles. However, those ankle collars aren't particularly tall or rigid. That means the mid-cut Anacapa boot offers a little more ankle support than the low-cut Anacapa hiking shoe—but not much more. That being said, my ankles aren't great, and they've never turned over in the Anacapa Mid GTX. It's supportive enough for my day hikes.

Like all Hokas, the Anacapa sits on a thick pillow of EVA foam—heaps more cushioning than other lightweight hiking boots. That being said, the Anacapa doesn't feel as soft and cushy as the Hoka Speedgoattrail running shoe. Hoka opted for a firmer midsole to give the Anacapa better durability and more of a hiking (not running) feel. You're still walking on mini-mattresses, but they're firm mattresses—not plush ones. [If you want a plusher ride, check out the Hoka Trail Code GTX—this new sneaker/hiking boot is rapidly becoming my favorite Hoka for hikers.]

I've also experienced Achilles soreness in the Hoka Anacapa (and Kaha) that I don't get in other boots. This is probably a function of my flawed physiology—a body quirk, not a problem with the boot. The best I can tell, this isn't a widespread issue.

Overall, comfort is a plus compared to other lightweight hiking boots (which usually cut cushioning to cut weight). Even so, I was a little disappointed that Hoka didn't totally crush it in the comfort category. My expectations may have been impossibly high here since Hoka's cushion game is so much better than other brands'.

The "GTX" on the Anacapa GTX stands for GORE-TEX— still the most reputable waterproofing in the outdoor industry. GORE is both waterproof and breathable. So the Anacapa should be relatively good at keeping moisture out and releasing evaporated moisture through its GORE-TEX membrane. My pair has performed as expected in mud, puddles, and snow so far. Many of the trails I hike get sloppy in the valleys, and my feet have stayed comparably free of water and mud.

It also helps that this boot stands on top of those supersize midsoles. That extra inch of EVA foam gives a little extra clearance to keep some water, snow, and mud off the boot's uppers and away from its GTX membrane.

For me, this is one of the Anacapa's best features.

Anacapas feature Vibram Mega Grip outsoles. Mega Grip is a rubber compound known for good multi-surface traction on both dry and wet surfaces. My pair has excelled on some tricky tracks, including ankle-busting fields of rock talus, slickrock and lichen-covered boulders, and steep scree slopes that are especially slick on descents (when most falls occur). This particular outsole works well because it's soft enough to grip on solid rock but also features some aggressive, v-shaped climbing and braking lugs that can dig into loose and steep surfaces, too. In my experience, this tread is good (not great) in mud and better on rockier trails.

• lightweight
• surprisingly supportive for a lightweight
• more cushioned than other lightweight hiking boots
• standard-roomy fit works for many hikers
• premium waterproofing
• premium hiking traction

• lacks the ankle support of traditional hiking boots
• not as cushioned as Hoka Speedgoat or Trail Code
• may irritate a few hikers' Achilles tendon
• average value