HOKA Arahi 6 Review

Published: February 10, 2022

Subtle Stability Returns in an Even Lighter Package

The Arahi 6 continues to offer a supportive and smooth ride for any run.

Likes

Lightweight
Unobtrusive stability
Protective cushioning

Dislikes

Lacking responsiveness

What's New

With only a few minor tweaks from its predecessor, the Arahi 6 continues its legacy as a trustworthy daily trainer that gives overpronators a pleasantly supportive ride without feeling overbearing. The new version features a lighter-weight upper, as well as a more secure fit that helps the Arahi 6 maintain its identity as a stability shoe that even neutral runners can love.

If you're still wearing a classic stability shoe, the HOKA Arahi 6 might just blow your mind! What really makes the Arahi stand out from its competitors is its unintrusive stability technology and lightweight design. Rather than using an inelegant medial post under the arch, the Arahi features a J-shaped stability platform that cradles the foot and acts as a bumper to guide overpronators' feet straight during their stride. The rest of the midsole consists of a softer CMEVA foam that offers a comfortable underfoot experience at any pace. While the Arahi does not have a high level of energy return, which is typical of stability shoes, it offers a smooth ride that helps make the miles feel easier. Overall, the Arahi 6 is a highly protective daily trainer that our testers enjoyed for long runs, recovery runs, and daily miles alike.

The Bottom Line

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Shoe Performance

Shoe Softnessi

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Returni

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protectioni

LowHigh

Flexibilityi

RigidElastic

Upper Supporti

StructuredAdaptable

Specifications & Fit

How It Fits

Toe Box	Medium
Midfoot Volume	Medium to Low
Heel Width	Medium
Arch Height	Medium

Shoe Specs

Weight	Coming Soon
Stack Height	35 mm (Heel), 30 mm (Forefoot) \| 5 mm Heel-Toe Offset
Terrain	Road
Stability	Moderate Stability
Sizing	True to Size

Our In-Depth Look

Shoe Softnessi

Matt: "HOKA is famous for its comfortable cushioning, and the Arahi 6 delivers a consistent underfoot experience. It blends just the right amount of softness in the midsole with just the right amount of firmness in the J-Frame. The Arahi 6 fell perfectly into the recovery-day slot of my shoe rotation, and I even laced it up for some of my longer runs."

Kaleb: "Like most other HOKAs with a high level of cushioning, the Arahi 6 is soft. Even with firmer foam along the medial side to correct overpronation, the Arahi feels comfortable for any distance, even for this neutral runner. The level of softness is consistent with the Arahi 5."

Kaitlin: "There wasn't a noticeable step-in plushness, but the cushioning felt adaptable as I ran. I would say there is a medium amount of cushioning, and I'd describe it as more firm than soft. It does a great job of tempering the impact. The more firm, resilient cushioning contributes to the shoe's stability."

Ride/Energy Returni

Matt: "The HOKA Arahi 6 is made for grinding out daily miles, which means that it lacks a significant pop or rebound. This shoe isn't a brick — runners will still have a pleasant experience — but the energy return is average."

Kaleb: "Although I like the smooth, supportive ride of the Arahi, the midsole lacks energy return. The rockered geometry of the shoe creates smooth heel-to-toe transitions, but the Arahi shouldn't be used for anything besides long, easy runs, in my opinion."

Kaitlin: "The midsole does not feel as propulsive as other models; however, the lighter weight does make it somewhat nimble. Considering the stack height, stability, and protection, it still feels agile."

Underfoot Protectioni

Matt: "Protection is what the Arahi 6 does best. This shoe has the foam and durability needed to keep my legs feeling good. The Arahi 5 was a staple in my training last year, and this 6th version will continue to be a shoe that I grab on those days between harder workouts."

Kaleb: "Though lacking in energy return, the Arahi makes up for it with its level of protection and support. The EVA midsole is absorbent and protective enough for long-distance running. Personally, the Arahi worked best for my 6–10 mile runs, but I am sure it would be comfortable for runners who enjoy longer running adventures past the half-marathon distance."

Kaitlin: "I felt very protected from impact. The midsole softens the load without creating excessive movement up the chain. My hips felt noticeably less sore after a couple months of this being my main road shoe."

Flexibilityi

Matt: "There is a significant stack of foam in the midsole, plus a healthy amount of rubber on the outsole, so the Arahi 6 doesn't have much flexibility. However, a Meta-Rocker allows for a super smooth ride."

Kaleb: "Given the stack height and J-Frame design, the Arahi 6 is not the most flexible shoe. The toe has a nice little flex, though, which adds to the natural feel at toe-off."

Kaitlin: "The midsole and heel are pretty stiff, with little to no torsional flexibility. However, the ride feels very smooth and more flexible in the forefoot."

Upper Supporti

Matt: "The upper is the only real update for the Arahi 6. It still offers a trusty midfoot lockdown, while the toe box is opened up for a comfortable amount of toe room. The tongue has more padding and hugs the foot, providing a snug feel. Just like the midsole, this upper is balanced nicely and has a well-rounded fit."

Kaleb: "The Arahi 6 upper is comfortable, providing a balance of adaptability and structure. The newly added padding on the tongue is plush and contributes to the overall comfort of the Arahi's upper. That said, the Arahi 6 does not feel much different on foot from the Arahi 5. From my point of view, this is not a bad thing, as I really enjoyed the Arahi 5's upper design and continue to trust that the Arahi will provide consistent, irritation-free comfort."

Kaitlin: "This shoe feels very locked in through the heel collar and has a snug fit through the midfoot, preventing any slipping or rubbing. While the forefoot has a good amount of volume, the material of the upper itself does not have a lot of give."

Men's HOKA Arahi Running Shoes

The HOKA ONE ONE Arahi is helping redefine the maximum stability category of everyday running shoes by offering maximum cushioning, relatively light weight and great looks. Overpronators rejoice, boring, bulky and stiff has left the building.

Women's HOKA Arahi Running Shoes

Individual Thoughts

Matt8/10

The HOKA Arahi 6 is a lighter weight stability shoe that became one of the most reliable options in my weekly rotation. There weren't many significant updates with the 6th version of the Arahi, but the small tweaks only added to the trustworthiness of this shoe. The midsole has HOKA's classic EVA foam, which is always soft at initial step-in and offers an underfoot experience that feels neither too firm nor too soft. The J-Frame technology provides natural-feeling stability that helps to guide rather than overcorrect. The upper is the only real update to the shoe, and the overall fit and new padded tongue work very well. For everything from easy days to long runs, the Arahi 6 was a reliable shoe with just enough stability and a "just-right" feel that I could trust mile after mile.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable

Kaleb7.5/10

The Arahi 6 is more or less the same great shoe that the Arahi 5 was. Though HOKA has made some updates, the ride, fit, and overall feel are very familiar. In the same vein, the Arahi 6 is surprisingly lightweight (especially for a stability shoe) and provides excellent support for overpronators and neutral runners alike. The upper is breathable and provides a comfortably secure hold that remains consistent from run to run. HOKA added padding in the tongue along with a lighter upper design. Personally, I did not notice much of a difference between the upper on this model and the 5.

The midsole was left unchanged, delivering the same protective and smooth ride that is great for eating up easy mileage. Unfortunately, energy return is still not a highlight of this model, but it doesn't need to be. The Arahi is an excellent stability shoe that can provide unintrusive support for moderate overpronators and a dose of extra stability for more neutral runners.

In my opinion, the biggest improvement from the Arahi 5 to the Arahi 6 has to be the updated style of the upper and the new color-blocked midsole. I received the Blue Graphite/Blue Coral colorway, and it looks awesome on foot. The turquoise-blue upper mesh is accented by a lime-ish green and white color-blocked midsole, and I can honestly say this is the most stylish Arahi I have seen so far. Finally, I fully appreciate the extra reflective components on the Arahi 6 upper, as I have been running more in the evening with the lack of daylight (thanks a lot, winter) and have felt safer as a result of the extra reflectivity.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable

Kaitlin7/10

The Arahi 6 feels like a great daily training shoe for someone who is injury-prone. It made me feel protected and refreshed. The more I ran in the Arahi 6, the more I liked it, and it seemed to soften up after about 25 miles. It's not the most propulsive shoe, and I did feel a little less energetic in the Arahi 6. However, it was a fair trade-off considering the stability. Overall, I found it to be true to size. It feels generous in the forefoot, but the material doesn't have a lot of give to it. By the end of some runs, my toes swelled enough to hit the upper. I had some issues with the left shoe because I have a slightly smaller left foot, but this wouldn't change my mind about the sizing.