Hoka Anacapa Breeze Low Review

Analysis and Test Results

Hoka are a relatively young brand in the outdoor market, but their distinctively styled footwear has certainly made a big impact and their shoes are a regular sight on the trail, in the gym and on the street. In common with many other Hoka products, these Anacapa Breeze Low shoes feature a distinctive outsized sole. Whilst some may find the styling a bit over the top, the sole is Hoka’s unique selling point and Hoka fans are quick to point out that these shoes offer an unparalleled level of comfort, cushioning and foot support. Shoe comfort is a very subjective subject, but if you find that you suffer from sore feet after long walks or have a medical condition that leads to foot or toe pain, then these shoes could be a great choice for you. Beyond this, the shoes are relatively lightweight, have a good grip on the soles and come in a range of different colors and a wide range of sizes.

Performance Comparison

Traction

Hoka make a big deal of their Alpine heritage and this is apparent in the grippy soles on the Anacapa Breeze Low. The Hoka Anacapa Breeze Low’s distinctively shaped sole is finished off with a Vibram outsole. Vibram soles are a common sight on hiking shoes and boots and have a generally exceptional reputation. In this case, the sole has a deep, aggressive grip pattern and the use of softer rubber helps keep the soles grippy in wet conditions. No grip pattern will offer perfect traction in all conditions, and slick rock, mud and ice will certainly still be problematic, but for most other conditions, these soles are good.

Breathability

Hoka state that the Anacapa Breeze Low is designed for warmer conditions and this shows in the vented design which features large sections of perforated material. The shoes offer great breathability, though your feet will likely still get very warm in the hottest of conditions -in this case, the type of sock you pair your shoes with makes a big difference and, especially in really sweltering heat, it’s wise to wear socks made from a materiel like Merino Wool which naturally wicks sweat and moisture away from the wearer’s skin.

Ankle Support

As the name suggests, the Hoka Anacapa Breeze Low is a hiking shoe rather than a boot. As such, whilst the heel cup does extend up the back of the ankle somewhat, these shoes do not offer any specific ankle support. Whilst sturdy ankle support is essential in technical mountaineering footwear, for much hiking, trail running and casual walking, the choice between boots and shoes is much more a matter of personal preference, so the lack of ankle support is not a big issue here. It’s worth noting that Hoka also offer the Anacapa Breeze as a mid-high boot for those who would rather have a little more ankle support and a multi-zone lacing system.

Arch Support

As mentioned previously, much of the popularity of Hoka shoes comes from their comfortable and supportive soles. With this in mind, it’s no surprise to hear that the brand has an excellent reputation for making shoes that provide good arch support. Arch support is a very subjective matter and it likely will not even register as a concern for many potential buyers. However, if you need extra arch support, and find that these Anacapa Breeze shoes don’t meet your needs, it’s well worth bearing in mind that swapping out the provided insoles for something more heavily shaped can make a big difference here.

Fit

Hoka offer the Anacapa Breeze Low in a wide range of sizes. The Men’s version goes from US 7/UK 6.5/EU 40 all the way to US 15/UK 14.5/EU 50. Smaller sizes down to US 5/UK 3.5/EU 36 are also available in the women’s version of the shoe. We think it’s great to see such a wide range of sizes offered – especially so at the larger end of the scale which other manufacturers do not cater for so well. The fit is generally suited to normal to wide width feet.

Materials

In common with many lightweight hiking shoes and boots, the Hoka Anacapa Breeze Low makes extensive use of synthetic materials with rPET – a fabric made from recycled plastic – being used in the breathable upper section. Parts of the upper are reinforced with bands of nubuck leather. The sole and lining are fully synthetic too.

Appearance

We can’t talk about Hoka footwear without commenting on their distinctive appearance and these Anacapa Breeze Low shoes are no exception: they feature the same built-up sole that extends out from the back of the heel that has become the hallmark of Hoka shoes. The Anacapa Breeze is available in a number of color ways and, whilst these vary seasonally, at the time of writing, are all fairly neutral and muted. Hoka offers some of their footwear in very striking, bold colors, but not, it seems, these! The styling and general look of these shoes is certainly distinctive and it’s fair to say that it won’t be to everybody’s taste, however, the design is also rooted in practicality and is integral to the comfort the brand is renowned for. Even if you are no fan of the appearance of these shoes, you may be willing to overlook this for their comfort.

Durability

These shoes are made from naturally tough materials: the nubuck leather and rPET used in the shoe’s upper sections are both hard-wearing materials that will likely give many years of use.

Sustainability

These Hoka shoes have good sustainability credentials. The uppers make extensive use of rPET – a material made from 100% recycled plastic. Other elements of the shoe also use fabric made from either fully or largely recycled material. Hoka says the nubuck leather used in the shoes meets the Leather Working Group’s strictest Gold Standard for sustainable production. Further more, the PU lining is made from 50% soy oil rather than wholly from mineral oil and the waterproof coating used if free of PFCs which are sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’ as they do not break down in the environment.

Water Resistance

The Hoka Anacapa Breeze Low shoes are treated with a waterproof coating – it’s great to see that this is PFC free making it more environmentally friendly. However, these shoes do not specifically feature a waterproof membrane, so they cannot be expected to stay fully dry in heavy rain or if crossing a stream. A less ventilated version with a Gore-Tex lining is available and this will certainly be more water-resistant, at the expense of ventilation.

Weight

With a claimed weight of 706g/1lb 9oz for a pair, the Hoka Anacapa Breeze is  not the lighteset shoes we’ve assessed, but does sit at the lighter end of the scale for shoe sthat feature leather uppers. The weight is very reasonable and that will certainly make these shoes more attractive to many potential buyers.

Insoles

These shoes come with a fairly neutral padded insole. For many buyers, this will be absolutely fine, but, if you feel you want even more cushioning or better arch support, swapping out the insole for one of the many widely available third-party options is a great way to fine-tune the fit of your shoes.

Break-in Period

We don’t think that any footwear is without a breaking-in period, but these Hoka shoes are renowned for their straight-from-the-box comfort and come pretty close. We certainly wouldn’t recommend wearing any new shoes for the first time on a long walk, but these shoes will be ready for that long walk very quickly indeed.

Lacing System

The Hoka Anacapa Breeze uses an outwardly fairly regular lacing system. Laces, however, are a great way to fine-tune the fit of your shoe, and adjusting the lacing pattern is a little-known way to further change the fit characteristics of your shoe. Be sure to check out our lacing guide for more info here.

Toe Protection

The Hoka Anacapa features a hardened rubber toe cap. Whilst it won’t offer the same protection as, say, a technical mountaineering boot, it’s padded enough to prevent some stubbed toes and broken toenails if you kick into a rock on the trail and the level of protection here is certainly in-line with Hoka’s competitors.

Conclusion

The Hoka Anacapa is a distinctive-looking shoe with a great reputation for comfort. Hoka fans often speak passionately about how comfortable they find the shoes – we’ve heard them described as ‘life-changing’ more than once. This may be an exaggeration, but the fact is that these are comfortable shoes. Coupled with their light weight, wide range of sizes and great breathability, these shoes are an excellent choice for warmer weather hiking, though if you live or are travelling somewhere with a wetter climate, the less ventilated Gore-Tex variant will be a better choice.