Hoka (brand)

Hoka

A Hoka store in Flatiron, New York.
Formerly	Hoka One One
Industry	Sportswear Sports equipment
Founded	2009;16 years ago (2009)
Founder	Nicolas Mermoud Jean-Luc Diard
Headquarters	Goleta, California
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stefano Caroti, President Steven Doolan, VP Gretchen Weimer, CMO
Products	Athletic shoes
Revenue	US$1.8 billion (2024) [1]
Parent	Deckers Brands
Website	hoka.com

Hoka (stylized as HOKA and formerly known as Hoka One One) is a sportswear company that designs and markets running shoes. It was founded in 2009 in Annecy, France and had been based in Richmond, California, United States before it was acquired by Deckers Brands in 2013. Hoka first gained attention in the running industry by producing shoes with oversized midsoles, dubbed "maximalist" shoes, in contrast to the minimalist shoe trend that was gaining popularity at the time.

History

Hoka "Tennine" Shoe

The company was founded in 2009 by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, former Salomon employees. They sought to design a shoe that allowed for faster downhill running, and created a model with an oversized outsole that had more cushion than other running shoes at the time. ^[2] The shoes are named after the Māori language phrase meaning "to fly". ^[3]

The shoes were initially embraced by ultramarathon runners due to their enhanced cushion and inherent stability; however, they quickly gained popularity among other runners for offering maximum cushion and minimal weight. The brand's original, highest-cushion models ^[4] are now accompanied in the Hoka lineup by lighter-weight shoes that retain much of the brand's cushion, ^{[5] [6]} include lightweight training ^[7] and racing shoes, ^[8] and track spikes. ^[9]

Hoka was purchased on April 1, 2013, by Deckers Brands, the parent company for UGG, Teva and other footwear brands. ^{[2] [10]}

On December 22, 2021, Hoka announced that they were rebranding, with their business name changing from Hoka One One to simply Hoka. ^[11]

Products and sponsorships

Hoka produces low-profile and max-cushion shoes for road, trail, and all-terrain; throughout its product line, it retains features like a low weight-to-cushion ratio and midsole and outsole geometry designed to promote inherent stability and an efficient stride. ^[12]

Spikes

Hoka, unlike many other competitive running brands, released their first set of middle-distance running spikes in 2016 called Speed Evo R's. Their debut event was at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials where Hoka-sponsored runners wore them in competition. The Speed Evo R's were built with the intent to enhance runners' traction around the curve by placing the spikes asymmetrically between the feet. These spikes were also built so that the plate coming up the mid-sole region towards the heel points to the right so that the foot does not shift inside the shoe. ^[13]

See also

• Business portal
• California portal
• France portal

• Speedgoat

References

1. "Deckers Brands Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results". Deckers Brands. May 23, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
2. Metzler, Brian (2013-04-02). "Sole Man: The Story Behind Hoka Shoes". PodiumRunner. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
3. Megroz, Gordy (December 3, 2013). "The Clown Shoe That's Changing Minimalist Running". Outside. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
4. Van Geelen, Jeroen (December 16, 2013). "Stinson versus Bondi". Slowtwitch. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
5. Metzler, Brian (August 5, 2014). "Shoe Of The Week: Hoka One One Clifton". Competitor. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
6. Metzler, Brian (February 24, 2015). "2015 Trail Shoe of the Year: Hoka One One Challenger ATR". Competitor. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
7. Helms, Hayley (2022-04-15). "Trail Runners, Rejoice: Hoka Just Updated Its Most Popular Trail Shoe". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
8. Walker, Daniel (May 3, 2017). "Hoka One One Tracer Reviewed". Triathlon. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
9. Beverly, Jonathan (February 15, 2017). "Hoka Is Trying to Reinvent the Track Spike". Outside. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
10. Verry, Peter (May 24, 2016). "How Hoke One One is Finding Its Stride". Footwear News. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
11. Cluff, Jilli (2021-12-22). "Hoka Gets an Updated Brand Name That's Easier on the Lips". iRunFar. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
12. "Hokas Are Everywhere. But Are They the Right Running Shoe for You?". The New York Times. 2023-04-14. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-05-25.
13. Dengate, Jeff. "Hoka One One Debuts New Track Spike". Runner's World. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 7 December 2025.