Hoka Arahi 7 Review
By Matthew Klein, David Salas, and Bach Pham
The Hoka Arahi 7 is the long-awaited update to one of the more popular stability training shoes. Although primarily an upper update, which is slightly disappointing after a two-year wait, those wanting consistent stability will still love the J-Frame posting that wraps the lateral heel and the full-length side of the medial aspect of the shoe. The new flat knit upper will divide long-time Arahi wearers as the fit becomes more narrow but those wanting that type of fit will love the upper update.
Hoka Arahi 7Price: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.6 oz, 272 g (men's size 9), 8.3 oz, 235 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 34mm / 29 mm
Drop: 5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Moderate Stability Maximal Daily Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The
Hoka Arahi 7 is a moderate stability, higher stack height training shoe
for those who want full length medial stability a maximal, centered
ride. The upper update creates a snug fit with the new flat knit upper,
working best for those with narrow feet or wanting a slightly narrow
fit. Despite a slight weight increase, the Hoka Arahi 7 maintains a
lighter weight for a stability training shoe allowing for some slight
versatility into paces beyond just easy runs. Outside of those small
changes, the Hoka Arahi 7 remains consistent for those who love this
shoe.
SIMILAR SHOES: Salomon DRX Bliss
PAST MODEL: Hoka Arahi 6
FIT
Matt: The
Hoka Arahi 7 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The
upper is the major update, featuring a thicker, flat-knit upper. The
knit does stretch a little but the overall fit is snug to slightly
narrow fit, particularly in the forefoot. The toe box is a bit tapered
but this widens slightly into a normal width midfoot. I did have to
tighten down the laces for a secure fit as I experienced some slippage
in the midfoot. The tongue is moderately thick and gusseted. The heel
fits normal to slightly snug with a large, thick heel counter. The
counter extends almost to the midfoot on both the medial and lateral
sides. The counter is well-padded and did not bother my sensitive heel
bone. The inner aspect of the upper is a little scratchy, so I would
highly suggest using socks with this shoe. Overall, the upper fits
normal to slightly snug with a tapered forefoot that
David: The
Hoka Arahi 7 fits true to size in my Men's 9.5. The overall fit is on
the snug side however. The upper has relatively low volume throughout.
The length of the shoe is normal. The width in the heel is slightly
narrow, midfoot normal, and forefoot slightly narrow. The upper material
is comfortable enough, but I would not classify it as plush or soft.
The tongue is padded well and the lacing system dose a good job of
locking the midfoot down. There is a heel counter present that does
integrate with the heel collar and lacing system well. The lockdown is
good throughout with minimal translation or slippage. The upper does
pull in tight and can create some irritation to the medial arch the
integration with the medial sidewall. The upper construction is not bad,
but I would like to see more forgiveness with the fit and the platform,
for I did blister through the medial aspect of my foot multiple times.
Bach:
The Hoka Arahi 7 does technically work for my usual US Men's 9.5, but
it fits snug from midfoot-to-forefoot. The fit of the heel is fine, but
the midfoot through forefoot volume is on the lower end. Time does help
break in that volume a bit and while snug on the run, it felt fine for
all day use - which I have done often. The heel locks down well and I
had no issues with slipping. The midfoot does feel a bit tight, which
was fine for normal daily mileage runs, but it did make me want more
volume the longer my run went. If you tend to be between sizes, I would
definitely consider going up the half size, or even for most runners
suggesting taking a look at the wide model for the Arahi 7. Those who
lean narrow should be okay. I felt more than fine on length here. I will add that over time the shoe has stretched out nicely and gotten a little less snug, but more volume still would be appreciated when it came to longer efforts when the feet really want that extra space.
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: No Flexibility
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Mostly
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The
Hoka Arahi 7 is moderate stability, higher stack daily training shoe.
The CMEVA foam provides a slightly firmer ride compared to many of the
newer foams on the market. Being a higher stack height shoe, the midsole
is quite stiff with little flexibility. The is offset by a rockered
midsole. The heel bevel is centered, which combined with the back half
of the J-frame (added stiffness) and extensive sole flaring does make
for a slightly clunky heel transition. This moves into a wider midfoot
and a stiff forefoot. Although the shoe fits true to size in the upper,
the sole feels like it is slightly long, which makes the ride and
forefoot transition feel stiff. This does break in with time, although
the early stage meta rocker feels more light than early. This does make
the lower heel drop (5mm) feel more apparent despite the rocker profile.
However, the trade-off is that it feels slightly more snappy underfoot
than prior versions. Although I would not call the midsole responsive as
it feels like a traditional EVA, the slight snappiness does give the
shoe a little versatility into faster efforts.
The Hoka Arahi 7
really shines best for moderate distance runs at easy to moderate paces.
The midsole is a bit dead for extremely fast stuff but can handle
uptempo workouts due to the relatively lighter weight and mild
snappiness/firmness mentioned. For me, it was a bit firm for longer runs
initially but now that the foam has broken in after 25 miles, I can see
it being a consistent ride for longer efforts. those who have run in
the Arahi before already know this. The durability is better than prior
versions thanks to a supposedly new outsole (which may be adding to the
slight firmness). I barely see any wear on this shoe despite some mild
trail use. The traction is fine for road but I would suggest a trail
shoe for more aggressive terrain (unless you are David).
David: The Arahi 7 is a stability training shoe. For the most part I think it
does its job pretty well. You have a decently wide base underfoot, good
lockdown, and the J-Frame does seem to provide a a little extra
rigidity medially and laterally. The sidewalls and bucket heel design to
give a sense of centralization. The ride is still a classic rockered
HOKA ride. The midsole is a little on the flat side and does not feel
the most responsive. The outsole traction is decent and should serve
most of your needs. The J-Frame and medial sidewall seem to do their job
well, but do undercut on the foot. Because of this I did get some
blistering through the medial longitudinal arch and do think about it
when running in this shoe. For daily miles the shoe will get the job
done though with a balanced rocker profile that is consistent with
previous HOKA's. I will say the shoe does do a good job with
transitioning to walking and standing as well. I have worn it in the
clinic several times without issue.
Bach: The Arahi has always been and continues to be a steady, reliable daily training shoe for logging tons of
miles. The shoe features their traditional rocker that is essential to
the shoe feeling good on the run. The foam is not particularly
responsive, leaning more protective which it very much is. Being a
stability shoe, the wide base and rocker is very confidence-inducing,
facilitating a simple ride that you can really turn your brain off and
feel at ease running just about anywhere in. It's not exciting, but it
is very steady and very predictable.
The snug upper does
somewhat limit longer distances for me. I would absolutely recommend
trying wide or a half size up, because the shoe would be absolutely fine
otherwise for longer efforts.
The traction was fine for me. The
exceptionally wide base with the standard outsole did fine gripping the
road on wet days and I was even able to take it offroad on some light
gravel roads okay. This overall is a solid daily trainer for stability
users who just wants a shoe to log lots of easy miles in and an
exceptional shoe for walking and standing.
STABILITY
Matt: The
Hoka Arahi 7 is a moderate-to-high level stability shoe with
guidance/stability along the entire medial side of the shoe and the
lateral heel. The EVA J-frame runs on both the medial and lateral
aspects of the heel, provide a centered ride at the back. The heel
counter also adds to this as it wraps fairly far forward into the
midfoot. The medial aspect of the J-Frame runs all the way into the
forefoot, providing noticeable medial support. This is integrated well
with the large sidewalls, providing a highly centered ride throughout
the length of the shoe. The Hoka Arahi 7 provides noticeable medial
support from medial posting that is now rare in today's stability shoe
offerings. What is even more rare is the forefoot posting, which
provides a true stability shoe for those who medial support farther
forward. The combination of the medial post and the medial sidewalls
does make the midfoot quite stiff. I have noticed some mild abrasion at
the medial midfoot, but those who run extensively in Hoka will be used
to this. The heel is even more stable thanks to the sole flare, heel
counter and J-Frame on the both the medial and lateral sides. Overall
the Hoka Arahi 7 is quite a stable shoe for those who need stability
along the entire medial length of the shoe and a centered ride overall.
David: The HOKA Arahi 7 does a pretty good job of creating a stable environment for the runner. The shoe does use a wide base platform with some guidance measures in place. These guidance measures can be seen in the form of sidewalls and the heel construction. The heel has good lockdown surrounding it with a well reinforced heel counter and surrounding midsole sidewall. The J-Frame and sidewalls do a good job of giving you a centralization feeling when running. I will say they are very noticeable medially through the arch. This did give me some irritation, but it did do its job. The traction is good enough for most uses. The upper has pretty good lockdown throughout without issue. The shoe does deliver a stable experience. There is still a lot of foam under your foot and that takes away from proprioception and ground feel, but the shoe does pretty well where it can.
Bach: The Arahi 7 is, for me, the most stable non-posted running shoe in the market I've tried so far. The one positive of the snug fit is that you are really dialed into the center of the shoe. The sidewalls lock you firmly center on the platform and the very generous wide base and early rocker do a great job of focusing on keeping you forward. I felt less guidance in the J-Frame system in this edition from the Hoka Arahi 6 which was surprising, but the combination of wide base, big sole flaring, sidewalls and rocker along with firmer sole dials in stability extremely well. The shoe also did not cause me irritations for my flat feet. For a higher stacked shoe, this does a good job of making you feel very stable from front-to-back.
Thoughts as a DPT: Forefoot Stability and Posting
By Matthew Klein
While most people focus on the rearfoot and midfoot when it comes to stability shoes, the forefoot is also an area that contributes a significant amount to the stability of the foot. The front half of the medial arch of the foot is in the forefoot, specifically the front half of the 1st metatarsal, the metatarsophalangeal joint and hallux (big toe). These joints and bones are all controlled by a variety of muscles including the fibularis (peroneus) longus, adductor hallucis, abductor hallucis, flexor and extensor hallucis muscles. This muscles all help add stiffness to the front half of the arch and keep the big toe lined up for optimal muscle length and function of the abductor hallucis in particular. Loss of stability here can cause a collapse of the front half of the arch, potentially causing the body to transition off the medial side of the metatarsophalangeal joint and pushing the big toe lateral (bunion progression maybe?). Collapse at this area can also be problematic for the propulsion phase of gait as the forefoot needs to stiffen up to be a stable area to push off from.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The
Hoka Arahi 7 is still an Arahi. However, I was pretty disappointed to
see minimal changes and even some updates that appear to have moved the
shoe in the wrong direction. The new upper feels more snug, which will
work great for those with narrow feet but will not work for others. The
foam feels old/clunky and I would have expected more from a company that
is doing great in their faster shoe departments. The foam is at least
consistent, which I will admit is the purpose of this shoe. I still love
the J-Frame as a great option as posts are disappearing even among
stability shoes. So at least the Arahi 7 is consistent. The changes I
would encourage Hoka to consider are to increase the volume of the upper
and to update the CMEVA (leave the J-Frame alone). Those who need
stability don't always need a dead feeling shoe, so even a mild foam
update would be nice. Those of us with normal to wider feet would
appreciate a bit more room, (wide sizing is the way). The foam is the
biggest thing I would focus on while leaving the EVA J-frame alone. This
has been done in several stability shoes and even a PEBA update with
the EVA J-Frame would be interesting to drop the weight back down into
the borderline performance realm the Arahi series used to be in.
David: For
the most part I feel the Arahi did a decent job, but I do have some
recommendations. The first is the upper. I do think the fit can improve
and integrate with the platform better. The volume felt too low for most
of the shoe and the snug fit a little too noticeable. I had some
irritation through my medial arch and some rubbing on my lateral
forefoot. The foam also is pretty flat, but plenty protective for daily
miles. It might be nice to see an update there, but it gets the job done
where it is at.
Bach: The biggest recommendation goes
towards the upper as the others have mentioned. More volume in the
toebox and a bit more accommodation in the midfoot would help make the
Arahi better for longer efforts and for general comfort. I don't mind
the shoe feeling a little snug which does help with security, but
there's gotta be some room for the foot to fit comfortably. I would like
to see a foam update, but only if it doesn't burden the cost, which is
currently a good value for the shoe itself.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS SHOE?
Matt: I
would only recommend the Arahi 7 for those who want a snug/narrow fit.
If you want something lighter overall with a lighter upper, I would
recommend version 6 given that it is on sale. I will give Hoka credit
for being consistent, but the newest version is too similar to prior
versions. What I would especially recommend the Arahi 7 for is a narrow
alternative to the Gaviota 5. This is the positive of the Arahi 7 design
given that the Gaviota fits far wider than prior versions. Those with
narrow feet need options too, so perhaps that is the gap the Arahi 7
refills.
David: I would recommend the Arahi more as a
standing and walking shoe. Those that are familiar with the feel and
like the medial riding sidewall undercut like that will still enjoy the
Arahi series and J-Frame as a running shoe. This is an excellent daily
wear shoe for standing/walking though. The balanced rocker and stiffer
hold do well in that realm.
Bach: The Arahi is a firmer, but reliable option for new runners who also want a great walking and standing shoe. The
Arahi 7 has excellent stability that is very well-rounded. I do
encourage runners to try various fit options in-person if possible, or
start with a wide unless you have fairly narrow feet. If the shoe fits
well and doesn't feel too snug, you'll walk away with a solid,
stable option on your hands. The Hoka Arahi has always been a recommendation for the team for newer runners as well that wants
something highly stable and solid for new runners to start their running
journey. I think the Arahi 7 is no exception as long as you find the
right fit for you. It's a no-frills trainer that will likely meet
the needs of a lot of runners out there who aren't too worried about
technology and speed and just want something to help their running
journey.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B (Snug/narrow fit with midfoot that needs to be locked down. Knit upper does stretch a little)
Performance: B (Traditional EVA foam, stiffer and slightly firmer ride)
Stability: A (Wide base, full-length sidewalls, J-frame with full length medial support and lateral midfoot support)
Cost to Performance: B- (Similar shoe with more narrow upper to Hoka Arahi 6)
Personal: B+ (While
I would reach for v6 if I still had it, Version 7 is consistent and I
know what to expect. Still a great stability shoe that is on the lighter
side, just wish the foam was upgraded and I had a little more room in
the upper)
Overall Design: B (A consistent stability shoe that provides stability throughout the length of the foot, just nothing new)
David
Fit: B (Lockdown is good, but volume too low in most regions of the foot, a little too snug, narrow forefoot)
Performance: B (Gets the job done, but flat feeling to shoe, medial sidewall digs into arch.)
Stability: A (Wide base, J-Frame and sidewalls integrated well, sole flaring good)
Cost to Performance: B+ (Comparable with most shoes on the market, though it would be nice if it had something to make it stand out a little more)
Personal: B (A little too much irritation medially for running, but a favorite for standing/walking)
Overall Design: B (A good stability shoe, though nothing that gives a big WOW.)
Bach
Fit: B- (Very snug fit is find for casual use, but does make the shoe harder when it comes to purchasing the right size)
Performance: B (A solid steady performer for daily easy mileage)
Stability: A (Just a really balanced stability that makes you feel confident at all times)
Cost to Performance: B+ (The lack of versatility holds it back a little)
Personal: B+ (I've
used this a lot for daily errands and walks on top of my runs. For my
slow running life it works. Just wished the fit was a little more
accommodating)
Overall Design: B (Foam is a little dated, but the stability design is still a strong performer)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Hoka Arahi 7
Price: $144.95 at Running Warehouse
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