The Hoka Skyward Laceless is the brand’s newest recovery shoe, designed to be slipped on after a race for ultimate comfort. It’s a new step for the brand, famed for its plush running shoes like the Hoka Bondi 9 and Hoka Clifton 10, with a slip-in design engineered to help foot fatigue.
Specifications
Weight: 8.1 oz (W)/ 9.9 oz (M)
Drop: 6mm
But how does it compare to some of the best Skechers on the market? To find out more, I slipped the shoe on and walked 20 miles in it to find out more. Read on to see my full Hoka Skyward Laceless review.
Hoka Skyward Laceless review: Price and availability
The Hoka Skyward Laceless is available now from Hoka and other third-party retailers. It costs $175/£160 and comes in both men’s and women’s sizing.
The men’s shoe is available in sizes US 7-15, including half sizes, and comes in three different colors — green, grey, and black. The women’s version of the shoe is available in sizes US 5 -12 and is currently available in three colorways — pink, teal, and black.
Hoka Skyward Laceless review: Design and fit
Unlike Hoka’s other trainers, these aren’t designed for running — instead, they’ve been designed with recovery in mind. Hoka has been making recovery shoes for years, namely sliders, which you’ll often spot at the finish line of a marathon, but this is the brand’s first foray into a slip-in trainer.
I tested a pair of the teal/sea green women’s shoes in a US 7, which is my usual size in Hoka. I found the shoes fit true to size, and that the upper held my foot in place well. They are a little tricky to get on at first, but the upper does give a little after a few wears, and the handy pull tab on the tongue makes things easier.
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, and while I do think these are more stylish than other slip-in shoes on the market, they wouldn’t be my go-to. I didn’t mind them with flared leggings, but I think in the summer, I’d personally switch back to a sneaker with laces.
Upper
The sock-like upper of the shoe is stretchy and breathable, designed to hug the foot, keeping it in place. I found it did this well when I was on the move, but that, as mentioned above, it was tricky to slide my foot into the shoe at first. I have particularly high arches, and found that when I wasn’t wearing the shoe, the upper was a little tight across the top of my foot.
This did give a little in time, however, and due to the lack of laces, you do need a tighter upper to keep your foot secure on that thick wedge of midsole foam. My colleague, 2:25 marathon runner Nick Harris-Fry, has also been using the shoes to recover from his training runs, and didn’t experience the same tightness.
I wouldn’t be tempted to size up here, but if you have high arches, it might be worth testing these on carpet before committing. If you find it difficult to bend to get shoes on, you might find you need a shoehorn to help wiggle your foot into these. The integrated tongue pull tab really does help, so if you can bend down easily, use it to pull the shoe onto the foot.
Midsole
The midsole of the Skyward Laceless recovery shoes is, as expected, super plush and comfortable. These shoes have a decent amount of sink-in comfort and would suit anyone who finds themselves on their feet all day.
Hoka says the midsole of this shoe is made with an arch cradling an “Active Foot Frame”. The midsole is a mix of PEBA foam on top for a decent amount of cushioning underfoot and EVA foam on the bottom, which is sturdier, meaning the shoes will be more durable if used every day.
Outsole
The outsole of this shoe is grippy, with strategic rubber coverage to provide grip and durability. I’ve tested them on wet sidewalks and light gravel paths, and have not had any issues with slipping.
Hoka Skyward Laceless review: Performance
As mentioned above, I had a few fit issues with the upper of the Skyward Laceless shoes at first, finding the upper pretty tight across the top of my foot. After 20 miles or so, this definitely started to give, so I wouldn’t let this put you off. By contrast, I’ve found similar shoes by Skechers are far too loose on my foot, leading to heel slipping, which is far more annoying.
I was able to get these out of the box and walk straight away. They’re extremely plush and comfortable, and feel more like slippers than a regular sneaker. They’d be ideal post-marathon, especially if the race is abroad, and you want a pair of shoes you can fly home in, without having to bend your beaten-up legs to remove your shoes at the airport.
The shoe has a decent amount of bounce underfoot as you walk, and it was comfortable to wear for a longer day on my feet.
Hoka Skyward Laceless review: Verdict
If you love the design and feel of your Hoka sneakers, but want something with even more cushioning, the Skyward Laceless is a good place to start. Compared to some of the best Skechers, the Skyward Laceless kept my foot extremely stable in the shoe, and was able to cope with walking workouts and longer hikes.
These don’t come cheap, but you could easily cope with daily wear, rather than just saving them for after your next marathon. They can be tricky to get on, and I wish the upper had a tiny bit more give, but if you don’t have high arches, this probably won’t be an issue for you.
All in all, these feel like wearing slippers while you’re in the supermarket. Hoka has entered the recovery game in a big way, and I’m not wearing any other sneakers for the foreseeable future.