HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa Mid GTX
The HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa mid- and low-cut trail shoes build on the company’s thickly cushioned, lightweight hikers for on and off trail. The mid-cut, which I tested, are a smart choice for someone who likes the above-ankle grip of a boot but wants the lightweight flexibility of a trail runner.
Mid-Cut, MSRP: $180
Low-Cut, MSRP: $165
Mid-Cut Weight (per shoe): 13.5 ounces women’s, 16 ounces men’s
Low-Cut Weight (per shoe): 12 ounces women’s, 14 ounces men’s
Lining: GORE-TEX
Outsole:Vibram
Midsole: EVA foam
Stack Height: 28 mm women’s; 30 mm men’s
Drop: 28/22 women’s; 30/24 men’s
Why Wear the HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa?
Muddy trails. Snowy trails. Swollen stream crossings. Welcome to spring in New England, when I gave the new HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa Mid GTX a thorough workout. Oh, and throw in hours spent standing ankle deep in water building stone steps across streams on the hiking trail I maintain.
I’m usually a low-cut trail runner guy, but I know what happens with GORE-TEX low-cuts—water gets in over the low top and doesn’t leave easily because of the GORE-TEX lining. So I wanted to see how the mid-cut GORE-TEX Anacapa held up. I’m happy to say they kept my feet dry in mud, streams, and snow. And the transition from a trail runner to a high-top shoe was seamless.
The mid-cut Anacapa is HOKA’s newest foray into high-top shoes. I hesitate to call them boots because they fall midway between trail runner and boot. They’re light for a mid-cut shoe, they’re flexible, and they have HOKA’s trademark cush. On the boot side, they have Vibram soles and a GORE-TEX lining.
The low-cut Anacapa has all the same features, but weigh a touch less.
So if you’re looking for a lightweight, water-resistant hiking shoe for sometimes-wretched shoulder season hiking, the mid-cut Anacapa could be for you. I would definitely consider the low-cut Anacapa for warm-weather hiking because I don’t think they would make your feet as hot as a GORE-TEX mid-cut.
Breaking Down the Anacapa
Midsole: Compression molded EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), a durable plastic considered lighter and more flexible than rubber.
Outsole: Vibram rubber, long the gold standard for boot outsoles, gives the Anacapa great traction in mud and on rocks.
Upper: Recycled polyester in the collar, mesh, and laces. Waterproof nubuck leather with a PFC water-repellent finish.
Shoe Fit and Cushion
Fit: I wear a size 12, so that’s what I got for my review pair. The fit was good, with extra space at the toes so they weren’t cramped. Despite my experience, the rule of thumb for HOKAs seems to be go down a half size so you might want to try them on in a store.
Stack Height: 28mm for the women’s model, 30 mm for the men’s. This is serious padding for your feet, but it wasn’t so much that I didn’t have a feel for the trail.
Stability: Good. My feet transitioned easily from flat to rocky to steep trail, without rolling on uneven surfaces. HOKA says the slightly extended heel aids foot-striking stability.
Heel to Toe Drop: Six millimeters is a lot of drop in a world dominated by zero-drop shoes, but for someone like me with flat feet a higher drop is more comfortable.
Toe Box: Roomy, with space to keep toes from jamming on descents.
Lace Grips: Upper three lace hooks on each side grip the laces tightly so they don’t slip loose.
Pull Tab: I like the large loop on the back of the uppers that makes it easy to pull the shoes on, especially the mid-cut.
Random Thoughts
What I Liked: The Anacapa merges the best of trail runners and boots for comfortable days on trail during shoulder seasons.
Fun fact: The HOKA Anacapa is named for Anacapa Island, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of California near HOKA’s base in Goleta.
Corporate responsibility: Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the parent company of HOKA, UGG, Teva, Sanuk, and Koolaburra, says it is committed to human rights, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Deckers says it is also committed to reducing energy consumption and integrating climate change measures into its policies and planning, including the installation of solar panels at all the company’s California non-retail facilities
Warranty: HOKA will give a refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase if you don’t like their shoes.
Point of Manufacture: The majority of HOKA’s footwear is made in Vietnam.
HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa Pros
Weight: Lightweight for a mid-cut shoe, even lighter for the low-cut.
Stack Height: 28mm for the women’s, 30mm for the men’s. That’s a lot of padding under your feet.
Toe Box: My toes never felt cramped, whether on a steep descent or uneven trail.
GORE-TEX: I appreciated that my feet stayed dry through mud and water in the mid-cut shoes.
HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa Cons
Runs Large: HOKA has a reputation for running a bit large, so be sure to try on the shoes in a store.
GORE-TEX: Yes, a pro and a con. GORE-TEX is good for keeping water out, which it did in the mid-cut Anacapa. But once water gets in, as it is more likely to do with the mid-cut, the inside doesn’t dry quickly.
Overall Value
The mid-cut Anacapa, at $170 MSRP, is comparably priced to other mid-cut shoes with fabric uppers.
Similar Mid-Cut Hiking Shoes
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
MSRP: $240
Weight: 2 pounds, 7 ounces for a men’s pair; 2 pounds, 2 ounces, women’s
Waterproof: Yes; GORE-TEX lining
Upper: Nubuck leather/Cordura nylon
Outsole: Vibram
MSRP: $165
Weight: 1 pound, 15.6 ounces for a men’s pair; 1 pound, 13.4 ounces, women’s
Waterproof: Yes; GORE-TEX lining
Upper: Leather
Outsole:Contragrip rubber
KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid
MSRP: $149.95
Weight: 2 pounds, 2.8 ounces for a men’s pair; 1 pound, 12.4 ounces, women’s pair
Waterproof: Yes; KEEN.Dry breathable membrane
Upper: Nubuck leather
Outsole: Rubber
This product was donated for purpose of review.