HOKA ONE ONE Rincon 2 Review
Refinement of a Versatile Favorite
Likes
- Lightweight
- Comfortable upper
- Smooth ride
- Responsive cushioning
- Great underfoot protection
Dislikes
- Durability
What's New
Known for its balance of cushioning and responsiveness, the HOKA ONE ONE Rincon is a versatile running shoe that offers plenty of underfoot protection in a lightweight package. There are not a lot of changes to the newest version of this fan favorite. Instead, the HOKA ONE ONE team made refinements to keep the Rincon 2 as light and efficient as possible, mainly in the form of an updated mesh upper that provides an improved fit and feel.
The Bottom Line
Even though not much has changed for the Rincon 2, our testers were pleased with the amount of effort put into making this classic even better. The new upper features a revamped single-layered mesh in the forefoot, allowing for a roomy and accomodating toebox, while the multi-layered mesh in the midfoot secures the foot comfortably in place. Both of these improvements complement the lightweight foam and rocker shape that make this shoe fun and fast. As with the previous version of the Rincon, the update's ultra-lightweight build reduces the durability and lifespan of the shoe, though our testers felt that it was a fair tradeoff for an outstanding running experience. With the Rincon 2, runners can pick up the pace when they want to go faster while still having the cushioning they need to go further.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium to high | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 7.9 oz (size 9) | Women's: 7.0 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 32 mm (Heel), 27 mm (Forefoot) | 5 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
The Rincon 2 still offers HOKA's famous soft cushioning, but it dials things back just a touch. Instead of a plush landing, The Rincon 2 dampens the impact and keeps the wearer moving right into the next stride. Our testers felt that the shoe provided the best of both worlds, offering a balance of softness and responsiveness.
Liz: "I tend not to like extremely soft shoes, and the HOKA Rincon 2 does a great job of being very comfortable without feeling too mushy. The ride never feels harsh underfoot, but you don't have the same sink-in softness that you would get with a Bondi or Clifton."
Justin: "The Rincon 2 keeps the same mushy softness of the previous version. However, this shoe can still pick up the pace thanks to its weightless feel."
Ride/Energy Return i
Runners won't get a springy toe-off from the Rincon 2 like they would with a plated shoe. However, our testers thought that the feather-light weight and rocker design more than made up for the shoe's lack of pop.
Liz: "Although I wouldn't describe the Rincon as particularly bouncy or springy, the shoe does a good job of returning the energy you put into it, especially for such a well-cushioned shoe. You can easily pick up the pace in these without feeling like the energy is being sucked out of your run."
Justin: "There isn't a lot of 'bounce' to the Rincon 2, but that isn't a problem thanks to the build and weight of the shoe."
Underfoot Protection i
Even though the Rincon is light, it offers plenty of underfoot protection for regular training days and longer runs. This is the same famous HOKA cushioning, just enhanced and refined into a perfect weight-to-cushion ratio. It does a great job protecting runners for the long haul while offering a freeing lightness.
Liz: "I feel very protected in the Rincon 2s. There is plenty of cushioning for my long runs, along with just enough softness to be comfortable for recovery days as well. I felt like the slightly firmer cushioning made the Rincon 2 more stable than other high-stack shoes, so I never had to worry about strain on my knees and arches."
Justin: "The Rincon 2 still has one of the best cushion-to-weight ratios on the market. The only downside is that the mushy midsole can start to compress over time."
Underfoot Flexibility i
While the high level of cushioning keeps the Rincon from being especially flexible, our testers did not have any issue with the lack of flex. They agreed that the shape of the shoe kept it smooth and helped to roll them through their stride.
Liz: "The Rincon 2 has a very smooth ride thanks to its rockered design, but the high stack height definitely limits the flexibility."
Justin: "There is a little flex to the Rincon 2. Overall, it gets its smooth ride from the build of the shoe rather than flex."
Upper Feel i
The Rincon's upper is seamless and light. It offers a great locked-down feel without weighing the runner down with unnecessary stitching. One tester expressed concerns about the narrow fit, but both agreed that the mesh material allowed the upper to be form-fitting while still adapting to the foot.
Liz: "I have had issues with the narrowness of HOKAs in the past, and this was often exaggerated by the placement of the overlays. Since the Rincon has a soft seamless upper, it fits my wide feet (and bunions) without any problems. There was a comfortable amount of room in the toebox, but my narrow midfoot still felt secure. My only complaint would be that the heel cup felt a little loose. I never had any issues with heel slippage or blisters, but the fit there didn't feel as refined as the rest of the shoe."
Justin: "The Rincon 2's new upper is a bit of an oddity to me. It felt a little more structured, which resulted in a snugger fit. That could be a benefit for some runners. However, it was a little restricting for my wider feet."
Women's HOKA Rincon Running Shoes
Men's HOKA Rincon Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
These might be my favorite HOKAs yet! While I love the bounciness of my Clifton Edges, the sleek design and responsive cushioning of the Rincon make it the winner in my book. Whether I was heel or midfoot striking, the shoes had a smooth and easy transition through my stride. The cushioning found a balance of softness and responsiveness that almost perfectly matches my preferences. My one concern would be the durability of this cushioning. I worry that it might start to pack out earlier than other shoes. Otherwise, I found the Rincon 2 to be a comfortable and versatile running shoe that will continue to please HOKA fans and newcomers alike.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The Rincon 2 delivers a soft and super-lightweight feel on the run. Version 2 doesn't change too much from the first iteration, which I feel is a good thing. Overall, the change to the upper should benefit runners who felt the first model's upper didn't provide the secure fit they wanted. For wider feet, it may present a little more of a break-in period or be less suitable (depending on the individual). I got about 350 miles in my original Rincons, and I expect to get about the same out of the Rinon 2s.