Hoka Kaha 2 GTX Review

Lightweight, hard-working trail shoes for men and women.

I read about Hoka’s Kaha 2 GTX, their most supportive trail hiker, on their website, and my interested was peaked by the catchy claim, “peak performance with peak plushness.” I wondered how Hoka’s ultra thick midsoles and Gore-Tex lined nubuck uppers would hold up to a series of long hikes through northern Nevada’s high basin talus and scree and the Sierra’s granite strewn Pacific Crest Trail as autumn shifted gears into the start of a La Nina winter. 

Trail Tough

I put the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX shoes through a series of hikes and snowshoe trips in the Sierra during early winter’s first snowstorms.

The Gore-Tex liner and waterproof nubuck leather uppers (rated “gold” by the Leather Working Group) excelled at keeping snow and creek crossings from soaking my feet. Repeated creek dunking and hours snowshoeing in wet snow left my socks dry and feet warm and blister free. On the trail, the twist-free 2” thick compression molded EVA midsole, protective heel and toe, and slight amount of fore/aft rocker sole balanced exceptional cushioning with extremely stable, efficient striding. 

Steep ups, steep downhills, rocks everywhere—no worries. Whether I was hauling a 20-pound pack up the granite strewn switchbacks above Donner Summit on the Pacific Crest Trail or post-holing my way over ice- and snow-covered boulders and creeks somewhere in the Toiyabe National forest on the east side of Lake Tahoe, my ankles felt stable, my toes stayed blissfully un-smashed, and my feet remained happy, dry, and cushioned. The shoe’s dual-density CMEVA midsole is lightweight, sugarcane-based, and contains biodegradable Ethylene vinyl acetate.

The 5mm deep-lugged Vibram soles provided exceptionally sure footing over mud, ice, snow, and wet granite. Caught without my traction spikes, the MegaGrip Vibram soles proved fantastic footing on black ice when I was navigating acres of iced over pre-season ski area parking lot while schlepping boots, helmets, and skis to the coaching lockers.  

Durable

After weeks of hiking, no significant wear appeared on the soles or uppers, and the midsole cushioning continued to be cushy. At half the weight of my mountaineering boots, I’d leave Hoka’s Kaha 2 GTX hikers home only if the need came up for attaching rigid crampons or hauling a 60-pound ruck (shudder). For long day hikes, snowshoeing, and working my way from warm car through wet, slushy parking lots covered with ice and deep puddles, Hoka’s Kaha 2 Mid GTX hikers were remarkably tough, dry, comfortable, versatile, and protective. The cushioning was exceptional. For added peace of mind, Hoka offers a generous 30-day no-fault fit return/exchange guarantee (60-day for Hoka club members) and a one year manufacturer’s limited warranty.

Fit & Comfort

Hoka’s Kaha 2 GTX hikers in my normal size fit securely around my heels and felt well-padded around the ankle collar and Achilles tendon areas. The toe box height and width allowed plenty of room to wear a liner sock and a mid-weight sock without jamming my toes on steep descents or becoming unstable while working my way across pitched early season snowfields. I have  wide forefeet, narrow heels, high arches, and rigid feet. The shoes were immediately comfortable, and the heel loop made taking the shoes on and off easy. 

Available in mens sizes US 7-15, Regular or Wide, $240. Women’s Kaha 2 GTX is available in US 5-11, Regular or Wide,$240. Men’s size 12 US weighs approximately 620 grams/21.87 ounces.  Colors: gold, black, teal, blue. Also available in low.

$270 women’s, men’s