HOKA Kawana Shoe Review
The HOKA Kawana is a smooth and stylish trainer that can handle both daily runs and trips to the gym.
Likes
- Comfortable upper and fit
- Stable
- Soft Step in feel
- Smooth, easy ride
- Versatile for gym & running
Dislikes
- Bottoms out quickly
- Not lively/exciting
- Heavy
- Not enough protection for long runs
What's New
The all new HOKA Kawana is a daily training shoe that is designed to offer stylish versatility that transforms easily from daily runs to gym workouts and casual wear. The Kawana utilises HOKA’s new denser foam that provides the signature HOKA feel but with added stability and durability. The shoe incorporates a swallow-tail heel design to increase the stability when landing and help smooth out the transitions from landing to toe off. Our testers found this made the ride of the shoe incredibly smooth and ‘seamless’ when running or walking.
Adding to the shoes smooth feel is the new mesh upper. The upper is soft and supportive, wrapping around each of our tester’s feet and adapting to their foot shape and running style. The tester’s felt confident that when running or working out they were not going to slide around or have any spots of discomfort. Overall, while it may not be the best option for optimal running performance, the Kawana is a versatile shoe that is happy on easy runs, trips to the gym, and everyday wear.
The Bottom Line
The new Kawana takes what HOKA has learned from previous models and changes the formula to create a versatile daily training shoe that can handle more than just running. The design is soft enough for everyday mileage but has the support to take on gym workouts and casual wear.
With a midsole foam that is slightly denser than the foam used in the Clifton or Bondi, the new Kawana delivers some added pop and is more suitable for side-to-side movements. Our testers found that shoe has a lower to the ground feel than other HOKA’s which added to the stable experience and made it a better option for gym workouts than other well cushioned running shoes. The shoe testers also loved how the denser foam and extended heel supported movement and gave confidence to move in many directions. The Kawana’s upper was found to be incredibly comfortable, adapting to all foot shapes while providing a secure hold in multidirectional movements. Although our testers did not feel the Kawana excelled as a devoted running or gym shoe, it has the versatility to be used for both and is a great option for those looking for a cushioned shoe that can be worn for all their different workouts.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium to Wide |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Mens's: 10.5 oz (Size 9) | Women's 9.3 oz (Size 8) |
| Stack Height | 35mm (Heel), 30mm (Forefoot) |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Liz: "The Kawana has a squishy softness to it at step in that is incredibly comfortable for walking around, running on the treadmill, and for shorter, slower runs, but I felt that the cushioning firms up at faster paces and feels like it bottoms out on longer runs."
Kaleb: "The Kawana definitely has a spongy softness to it that runners will notice almost immediately. That said, the Kawana is crafted with a dense CMEVA foam and HOKA lovers who have familiarized themselves with the Clifton or Bondi may find the Kawana to be a bit firm, especially for longer distance runs."
Ride/Energy Returni
Liz: "I would say that the Kawana has a neutral amount of energy return. It doesn’t feel sluggish when you pick up the pace, but it doesn’t do anything to assist with propelling you forward."
Kaleb: "The Kawana was interesting to evaluate when it came to energy and ride. The ride was actually quite enjoyable thanks to the Kawana’s rockered geometry and firmer foam though the energy return was not very exciting. There was a noticeable yet subtle pep, but again, the smooth ride is mostly contributed to the rocker. I would also like to add that the asymmetrical swallowtail heel really helped roll me forward when running at slower paces. Ultimately, I think the Kawana is a good shoe for easy running over short distances, with the versatility to accommodate a variety of daily training paces, excluding anything considered up-tempo."
Underfoot Protectioni
Liz: "The lower to the ground design of the Kawana (compared to other HOKAs) helps give the shoe a more stable experience that makes it a good option for those who are using it for cross training in the gym as well as running, but I felt like the cushioning wasn’t sufficient for my longer runs."
Kaleb: "The Kawana offers a lower-to-the-ground experience compared to most other HOKA shoes, but it comes at a cost in terms of how protective the shoe feels, especially over longer runs. Given the shoes level of protection and the various other more protective shoes that are available, I would limit the Kawana to shorter distances. HOKA did intend for the Kawana to be more of a generalist that is capable of transitioning from the road to the gym versus being a hardcore distance-minded shoe, so I believe that they have accomplished this goal, especially considering how inherently stable the shoe is. For the gym, or beginner, runner that enjoys short mileage runs with a high dose of cross functional training the Kawana is a solid option. Admittedly, the Kawana is not and will not be my gym shoe for cross training activities as I prefer low to the ground shoes with zero drop. Nothing beats Vans for a good old fashion lift."
Flexibilityi
Liz: "While the Kawana has less cushioning when compared to most other HOKA shoes, I didn’t feel like it was particularly flexible. Despite this, the rockered geometry and extended heel design gave it a nice, smooth ride."
Kaleb: "The Kawana doesn’t have the same large stack height seen in its HOKA relatives, but with the denser CMEVA foam, the shoe is not very flexible. The ride is extremely smooth, but not because of the Kawana’s flexibility. I did notice a slight reflexive snap at toe-off, but slight is the maximum level I would give it."
Upper Supporti
Liz: "The upper on the Kawana was incredibly comfortable. I had a soft and supportive wrap of that foot that I never had to worry about during my runs and workouts."
Kaleb: "Well done HOKA! The Kawana’s upper is pretty awesome and is easily one of my favorite HOKA uppers that I have experienced so far. It was soft, supportive, and very comfortable. The adaptable upper was also spacious and should accommodate a variety of foot shapes. I did not have any issues with hot spots, overheating, or anything else of that nature, and could happily wear the Kawana all day. I am still not sold on the Kawana as a gym cross-functional shoe, but I believe a lot of beginner runners and gym athletes will enjoy lacing up in these shoes for their favorite activities.
Men's HOKA Kawana Running Shoes
Women's HOKA Kawana Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
The Kawana is an interesting shoe. It wouldn’t be my top recommendation for runners looking for a devoted running shoe, and I would not recommend it for those looking for a super protective long distance shoe. BUT, those who want a HOKA that can be used for gym workouts and for light running will enjoy the Kawana. It has a squishy softness that is very comfortable for walking and slower jogs, and it was surprisingly stable for a neutral running shoe. On top of that, it might have the most comfortable upper that I have ever experienced from a HOKA shoe.
I used the Kawana for some floor workouts, light weight training, and treadmill running on top of my daily runs, and while it might not be the top choice for any of the activities on their own, I felt that the shoe did a good job of transitioning between all the activities. Those who want a cross-training shoe with a bit of extra softness and enough versatility to be used for running as well will enjoy the new HOKA Kawana.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
I have mixed feelings about the Kawana, but overall, I liked it. I found it to be very comfortable on foot with a fun ride for short easy runs, or even for all-day wear. The upper was hands down my favorite part of this shoe as the engineered recycled jacquard mesh upper was soft and adaptable with a secure wrap that I had no issues with throughout testing. I also found the upper to be spacious compared to other HOKA offerings.
As for the ride, it was smooth…like impressively smooth. The early-stage meta rocker geometry with swallow-tail heel bevel rolls you through gait with ease and will be especially appreciated by runners who tend to strike more at the heel.
Now, here’s where things get a little blurry for me. Though the firm CMEVA, slight flex, and excellent geometry provide a ride that makes you want to roll the windows down and cruise, it lacks life and I did not feel like I received much energy return from the midsole. Also, the shoe is heavy, which, combined with the midsole, exacerbated the shoe’s sluggish feel. Furthermore, I personally would not wear the Kawana as a gym shoe as I prefer a much lower to the ground feel for activities other than running. Ultimately, I am not sure where the Kawana would fall in my shoe rotation. For easy recovery runs, I probably sticking with the Clifton for its heightened level of protection, and for higher speed days, there are a lot of shoes that are lighter and more responsive. I would love the Kawana as an all-day, around the office shoe, or walking shoe, but it would struggle to find a home in my weekly rotation.