Onebag: Hoka One One Running Shoes
Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Choosing the right backpack is crucial for the best travel experience, especially if you want to onebag it. Budgeting that space effectively requires a lot of research that usually leads us down the rabbit hole of EDC gadget heaven. None of these gadgets are going to be doing you much good if you're busy soaking your mangled feet back at the hotel, AirBnB, or tent.
It's time to take a look at something that most gear review sites often overlook. If you don't have the right shoes for putting in miles, your adventure is already in jeopardy of an early conclusion.
The magical "one shoe" doesn't exist.
If you've spent any time on onebag forums like Reddit's r/onebag, then you are probably well aware of the ongoing quest for the perfect traveler's shoe. This mythical item should be ideal for hoofing it around a city, hiking in the hinterlands, and dining at a Michelin star restaurant. The problem is, this kind of shoe doesn't exist. Any proper hiking shoe that is going to keep your feet dry and not fall apart after 100 miles is going to look out of place at work and classy venues. The socially acceptable shoe for those situations is going to be toast on the trail and will take your feet down with it.
Whichever shoe you choose, you are going to eventually be uncomfortable one way or the other. You'll either look good and have blisters or walk on clouds while looking like backpacker scum (in the most endearing way). Pick your poison.
“If I have to choose, I choose adventure and being slightly uncomfortable in social situations with big honking clod kickers.”
If I have to choose, I choose adventure and being slightly uncomfortable in social situations with big honking clod kickers. After a few cocktails, I won't care anymore anyway, and I can comfortably hike off the hangover the next day. Oh, did you think I was going to reveal "the perfect shoe" here? No, I'm still not convinced that exists. But if you're like me and opt for mud over a nod of approval from people you'll likely never see again, I do have something that's going to make your feet very happy.
Hoka One One is a game-changer.
I have been a long-distance runner for the better part of 15 years now. I have tried nearly every major brand of running shoe there is, including those odd-looking minimalist toe shoes. The big players are there for a reason - they all work well to a varying degree for different people. But after so many years of pounding the pavement and the trail, I'm a lot more prone to injury and need more of a "maximalist" shoe.
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Enter Hoka One One. Founded in 2009 by former Salomon employees, these guys are relatively new to the game but are quickly becoming a go-to for road and trail runners alike. Each shoe has the signature oversized outsole that doesn't win any fashion contests but provides you with unparalleled stability. If you feel like most of the well-known brands out there aren’t doing that much for you, I really recommend giving Hoka a chance. I did, and now I somehow have three pairs.
The Speedgoat GTX is the ideal 3-season hiking shoe.
I originally purchased these rugged GORE-TEX trail runners for an upcoming Everest Base Camp trek that would have been in the summer of last year. We all know how that worked out. I may not be in the foothills of the Himalayas, but I've dirtied them up plenty just the same. The beefy Vibram Megagrip outsole puts you on sure footing in wet and dry conditions and gives you the confidence to tear through mud, roots, and rocks alike. The GORE-TEX is what really sold these to me. It's kept me dry while crossing small streams, hiking through hurricane remnants, and traversing the boggy terrain of Scotland. They're also breathable enough to be bearable in the North Carolina summer, but they're not magic. Any sort of waterproofing material is going to make things a tad bit balmy when the mercury rises.
Attack the pavement with confidence in Hoka's Mach 3.
Although I much prefer trail running, it's more convenient to get my daily miles in on the road where I live. Striking that asphalt over and over again is a massive shock on your joints. This repetitive stress in shoes well beyond their expiration date gave me a painful knee injury that required time, targeted stretches, and a knee sleeve to heal. I knew I shouldn't be running in shoes that old and took the chance to grow my Hoka collection since the Speedgoat treated me so well. The Mach 3 (now Mach 4) has abundant shock-absorbing cushioning with a very simple breathable upper that make road running an absolute pleasure. You really feel like you're bouncing in these! After completing the 5-mile stretch of paved greenway at our local park, the best word I can use to describe the Mach 3 is dynamic. If you want to log some slow, steady, big miles, these will keep you comfortable all the way through. If speed is your game, these are responsive and energetic enough to help you soar to that next personal best.
Don't be a barbarian. Wear slippers indoors.
When you spend enough time immersed in a different culture, you're likely to take some quirks home with you. You simply just don't walk around the house barefoot in China and you certainly don't wear your shoes indoors like a savage. You wear slippers. You even have extra pairs for guests. After doing that for 8 years, I didn't just stop because I'm in America now. I feel kind of naked without them. Why not upgrade your work from home wardrobe with the same comfort in Hoka's running shoes? You can do just that with their Ora recovery slides. These slippers have the same oversized outsole that will keep your feet just as happy as they are on the trail.
Get the Hoka One One Ora Recovery Slides
Be kind to your feet.
Even if you're not really a runner, I would still recommend Hoka One One's shoes if you live a generally active lifestyle. Whether that means hiking, frequent travel, or anything else that keeps you on your feet for several hours at a time, your feet will thank you. Remember that you can only really enjoy these activities for as long as you're taking care of those things down there that support the full weight of all the rest of you. If you're kind to them, they'll repay you with extra miles to do and see more! ◉
Written by Seth Barham
