Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX hiking boot review

The Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX hiking boots have caused a kerfuffle among hiking traditionalists, with their daring and unique heel design paired with lightweight construction. Sitting somewhere in between a trail running shoe and a lightweight hiker, these are designed for comfort, speed and day-long ease of use. 

Hoka has opted for a unisex design here, with sizes ranging from UK6.5 to 13.5. At RRP they'll set you back £230, which puts them at the premium, specialist end of the hiking boot market. Although Hoka does have a US store, these don't seem to be available across the Pond. 

So how does this unorthodox design compare to the rest of the market's best hiking boots for men and best hiking boots for women? Read on for our full Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX review. Or, see how these compare to another quirky looking boot in our Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX vs Columbia Facet OutDry 45 faceoff.

• View Hoka OneOne TenNine Hike GTX at Hoka

Hoka OneOne TenNine Hike GTX review: design

The design of the Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX is the biggest standout element of the boot, a relatively standard sock-fit upper with a mid-height ankle, a compact toe box and a gigantic heel unit overhanging the back of the boot. 

‘Part hovercraft, part hiking boot' claims Hoka One One, and indeed there is something of the hovercraft about them, as well as echoes of the firm's more outrageously-deeply soled trail shoes. That heritage is very much evident throughout, with a running-shoe fit confirming that this is no ordinary hiking boot (Top tip: size for runners, not hiking boots – go up a size, that is).

The most obvious design feature – that jutting heel overhang, dubbed a 'Hubble heel geometry' by the brand – looks enormous on the shelf, but actually on the foot it's surprisingly minimised, due to the angle that your ankle sits in the boot. Although Hoka One One recommends not driving vehicles or encountering stairs due to this heel, in testing we found that stairs are perfectly doable with care, although we didn't dare try driving in them. On a more sustainable note, there is recycled polyester deployed through the collar, laces, heel pull and vamp webbing upper.

• Complete your kit with one of the best hiking backpacks

Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX review: performance and comfort

Once you're past the visual impact, the heel is easy to forget about on relatively flat terrain, encouraging the mother of all heel-strikes as it soaks up the impact. The unusually-vast Vibram Megagrip sole area adds to a sure-footed impression on flat terrain, and the Hoka One One 'rocker' sole combines with the Hubble heel to feel as if it is propelling you forwards.

On rockier, more mountainous terrain you'd expect the heel to get in the way, but it does so less than you might expect, partly due to the ‘squishiness' of it, partly due to the angle of the foot. That said, this isn't really intended to be a stiff, high mountain boot for a host of reasons, rather a boot for a smooth ride and maximum cushioning, which it certainly delivers on. The comfort is emphasised by the broad toe-box, and the ankle support is just right for a high speed shoe. Meanwhile, the Gore-Tex liner does the usual job of keeping toes dry even in torrential conditions, and breathes well on longer hikes too.  

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On the downside, launch pricing is on the steeper side of the lightweight hiker market (the UK RRP is £230). This does open the Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX up to competition from most traditional hiking boots, especially if you're looking for a boot that offers more flexibility in use. One final hidden benefit of that huge heel – it makes levering boots off tired feet super-fast too. Speed is everything with the Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX. 

Should I buy the Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX?

The Hoka One One TenNine Hike GTX is certainly eye catching, and really does deliver on long-haul comfort, making it a great choice for a wide range of outdoor activities, especially more social low-level walks, Nordic walking, or going fast and light on well-built trails. However, in more rugged situations that large contact area creates a lack of precision that's not always welcome, so means you'll want to pick and choose your routes with care.