One of the most anticipated updates this summer, is the Hoka Arahi 8. This might not be the most sexy Hoka model, but for a lot of our customers it is the most important. When I opened the store many moons ago, I thought every person coming through the door was going to be some hotshot marathoner looking for the next “go fast” shoe to help them earn a BQ. In reality, we service more of the novice runners and many walkers, looking for consistency in their training while balancing life commitments. The majority of our customers need support, both in a training and shoes, and a model like the Arahi can become a workhorse to get them there. And if I can be honest, the novice crowd is more rewarding anyway. It’s really fun seeing people go from walking to jogging to running a 5k and a shoe like the Hoka Arahi is one that can help them get there.
The Hoka Arahi was the first stability model the brand made. As a Hoka dealer since 2014, I have carried every version of the Arahi and remember my old rep introducing me to the model. It made a lot of sense to introduce a more stable offering to their most popular model, the Clifton. Over the years, the Arahi has continued to be a category leader for us in the stability family. Unlike a lot of Hoka shoes, the Arahi is sleeker and nimbler, offering the Hoka experience in a more bite sized package. For many people, a Hoka shoe can be too much, giving a clownlike vibe on someone with a more petite frame. For us, the Arahi gave us the best of both worlds, lightweight, stable, sleek and even at a lower price point than a lot of the other models on the scene like the Bondi.
However, recent Arahi’s have been a little more meh than I think we had hoped. The shoe had become a tad stale and what once “sleek meets stable” as Hoka described it, became just narrow. It went from our number one mid-cushion stability model to a distant fourth in store. So, we were very ready for the update to come out this July.
At first step in, you can tell the shoe widened out. I wore version 7 on my left foot and version 8 on my right foot for about an hour around the shop one day. Not only did it make me look cool, it gave me a much better appreciation for the width change. I think for the average Arahi fan, this width update will make them feel like home again.
Another big change, they raised the heel. Almost all everyday Hoka shoes offer a 4-6mm heel to toe drop. That is how much higher the heel sits compared to the toe of the shoe. Back in the day, almost all shoes sat in that 8-12mm range and brands like Hoka and Altra came along and changed that by going low. Over the years tons of brands and models have tried to duplicate the secret Hoka sauce by mimicking their drop and rocker platform. Earlier this year, Hoka moved the Clifton 10 up to an 8mm drop and they have now followed suite on this Arahi, moving it from 5mm drop up to 8mm. Personally, I love it. Not even from a function side, I just like that Hoka sort of thumbed their nose at everyone and said, you are moving your shoes from 10 to 5, well we’ll raise ours up! Take that!
Since the first Arahi, Hoka had used what they called their J-Frame to maintain the stability. The shoe had a denser layer shaped like, you guessed it, a J, to help pull you in from rolling to far to the inside or outside. The J started on the lateral side and ran all the way up on the medial side. So, if you were a late stage supinator, the stability gave way sort of mid-foot. On the Arahi 8, they switched to the new H-Frame that they use in the higher cushion stability model, the Gaviota. It actually runs more like a figure 8 in my opinion, providing infinite support (see what I did there). The density cups up around the foot all the way around so no matter where in your stride you need the guidance, the shoe should help pull you back to neutral. An improved system that should now accommodate even heavy pronators.
The only thing I wish that could have been updated, is the midsole. The Arahi 8 still features the same compressed EVA midsole they have used in previous versions. The same midsole you can find in the neutral companion shoe, the Clifton. While it’s harder to made a stable shoe on top of a softer or more responsive material like a supercritical foam or PEBA compound, it can be done. I just feel that it would be nice to still have something that can be used for faster runs or workouts that still provides some stability. Not everyone who needs guidance wants to just have an everyday trainer with a boring midsole and no bounce.
Shoes like the Arahi don’t always get the spotlight, but they’re the ones quietly doing the work, mile after mile, helping people get out the door and feel a little more like themselves. That’s what makes this update feel like a win.
