The Best HOKA Shoes for Full or Half Marathons

When it comes to choosing which shoe you will use for your next marathon or half marathon, there are a lot of great options out there. So many, in fact, that trying to choose the best shoe can feel a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, HOKA has a great line-up of shoes that we think are perfectly suited for marathon distances, whether you're tackling the half or full.

If you've already run a few marathons and are looking to pick up the pace or maybe even achieve a new personal best, the HOKA Carbon X is our top pick for you. This lightweight shoe has plenty of soft cushioning for comfort and impact protection, but the full-length carbon plate gives the shoe a propulsive feel that's great for fast endeavours. With a balance of comfort and speed, the Carbon X helps to provide enough cushioning for long distances without sacrificing performance on race day.

The Bondi X is an excellent introductory marathon racing shoe for beginner runners who want to try their first carbon-plated shoe. The EVA foam midsole is stacked to its limits, delivering the maximum cushioned underfoot feel expected from a Bondi, and even though there's a stiff carbon plate in the midsole, the Bondi X's midsole feels nearly as soft as its classic Bondi counterpart. What sets the Bondi X apart is the extended meta-rocker midsole geometry, which works seamlessly with the carbon fibre plate to create a super smooth and highly efficient ride with an uncharacteristic snap at toe-off.

For those who are not looking for speed and instead prioritise ultimate comfort during their full or half marathons, the HOKA Bondi is hard to beat. Featuring an incredible amount of soft cushioning underfoot, the Bondi is the best option for keeping your feet and joints feeling good as the miles stretch on. The plush foam offers a touch of bounce that helps keep the shoe from feeling sluggish, and while this shoe doesn't feature a speedy carbon plate, the rockered shape helps maintain forward momentum even at the end of a long race.

If you really want to lay it all on the line, the HOKA Rocket X is a shoe that will push you forward all the way to the finish line. This race-ready speed machine is built with a full-length carbon fibre plate sandwiched into a midsole made of HOKA's lightest and most responsive foam, providing the ultimate in springy responsiveness. Incredibly lightweight yet still highly cushioned, the Rocket X is the perfect weapon to attack fast paces in the long miles of a marathon without attacking your joints!

HOKA's Mach is your best option for a cushioned and lightweight shoe that is flexible and responsive. This versatile running shoe ditches the carbon plate in favor of a smooth ride and adaptable fit. The PROFLY foam is plush without sacrificing any responsiveness, and the early-stage Meta-Rocker design works with the swallowtail heel to deliver an ultra-smooth ride with a propulsive snap at toe-off. The Mach is an exciting shoe that provides plenty of protection and responsiveness for all types of runs all the way up to a marathon.