SHOE REVIEW : CHUNKY DOESN’T MEAN CLUMSY – HOKA ONE ONE ODYSSEY 2

In all my running history, I have never considered running in a pair of shoes that looked like clogs from afar. Yes, Hoka One One shoes sure looked that way to me back then, seriously chunky looking that I feared I might trip and fall if I wore a pair.

Hey Good Looking!

 Nevertheless, I gradually began hearing glowing reviews of this particular brand of shoes, especially within these few years and that sparked my interest.

Having literally run all my existing stock of various running shoes to the ground and suffering from a sudden onset of Piriformis Syndrome (PFS), I was poking around the internet before my trip to Korea, researching for a fresh pair of shoes when I came across this shoe brand again. It was then I decided to get a pair for myself and try it out. After all, if I found I didn’t like it, I could always convert it to walking shoe instead.

The Odyssey 2 from the front

So I settled on the Odyssey 2 model as a neutral road running shoe for me and a week after returning from Korea, I met up with Choi to try on and collect my new pair.

Upon first putting it on, however, I found it a little stiff. Well, at least much stiffer than the Nike Free Flyknits I have been used to running in. Choi reassured me that the shoe although stiff, is very responsive and would get more comfortable into the run. As he was a runner himself, I trusted his words and decided to go with it.

The seamless air mesh at the shoe upper

Another thing I noticed after returning home with the spanking new shoe in my bag, was the shoe’s breathability. Despite having a seamless air mesh at the shoe upper, my feet felt a little warm just putting on the shoe. It certainly was less breathable than my Nike’s. Then again, I chided myself that perhaps I needed more time to get used to the shoe.

Zonal Rubber Placements at the sole supposedly aids durability

In terms of durability, I also had my doubts. The shoe claims that the zonal rubber placements under the sole helps with the durability but that will remain to be tested as I continue to run with it. Time will tell.

Shorter laces than what I am used to but very elastic.

I also found the laces a tad too short to my liking although they seemed pretty elastic and stretchy. I guess I am used to longer laces. Well, as long as they don’t easily come undone during a run, I am fine with it.

Well, this past week, I have been running steadily in this shoe and clocked my first 51km with it. And oh my! The Odyssey2 is AMAZING! This is my first pair but you can bet your bottom dollar, it certainly will not be my last.

The shoe for all it’s chunky-clog looks, is actually surprisingly lightweight that it’s unbelievable until you try it on for yourself. The shoe has a 5mm drop. From toe-off to foot strike, the transition was very smooth and effortless.

*Note : The Odyssey 2 weighs a 7.3 oz for a US 9 Women shoe size according to the specifications on the Hoka One One website.

 And yes, the Odyssey 2 was VERY responsive. The initial stiffness felt, melts away after the first few strides and the excellent cushioning and comfort took over without compromising the responsiveness.

After a long run, I felt as though I could do more!

In my experience, usually highly cushioned and comfortable shoes don’t go hand in hand with responsiveness but this shoe proved to be extraordinary. It just simply blows my mind so I am not going to tax it further by trying to figure out how this combination is possible here but just enjoy the ride.

Another thing is the shoe tongue. Now, I am a runner who is highly particular in the position of the shoe tongue where I do not like “tongue wag” at the end of a run. That is to say, if I discover by the time I finish a run, that the shoe tongue has “ran” to one side instead of staying put in the same position when I first laced up, that shoe will quickly exit my cabinet.

Zero "Tongue-Wag" after a long run!

The Odyssey 2 does not fit into the “Tongue Wagging” category. I was pleased to find that there was zero “tongue wag” at the end of my run.

The shoe traction was good too. I put the shoe through a variety of surfaces like sand, gravel, pavement, road tarmac and the grip was excellent.

All the above factors made the shoe highly suitable for my daily training runs, including varied tempo runs and especially long distance runs where the excellent cushioning and comfort of the shoe out-shone all previous shoe brands I have worn. And I did not feel my PFS acting up at all.

Although having neutral arches, I could feel the shoe’s stability kicking in and gripping my heels well.

How it looks from the back.
The shoe felt very stable despite being designed for a neutral-arched foot.

And the shoe breathability? Well, what was the issue again? That aspect didn’t even enter my mind the moment I started running in the Odyssey 2.

I love the fun colors of this shoe. It looks great with one’s running wardrobe. There are other color combinations as well, namely the Dresden Blue / Sunny Lime and Anthracite / Poppy Red but I like my shoe color best : Fushia / Neon Coral.

It was a good thing Choi presented this shoe in this color to me!

So now I add myself on to the list of raving Hoka One One fans out there. I am sure this shoe promises to deliver more to me in future.

Eye-catching colors and design will make anyone do a double-take when you run past them!

Do checkout the www.hokaoneone.com site if you are interested to know more about Hoka One One shoes.

*Disclaimer : The opinions expressed in this post are entirely the author’s own and not influenced in any way by Hoka One One.