Running has experienced a serious surge in popularity of late, and for good reason. A number of recent studies have detailed its myriad benefits, like improved decision making. But best of all, running is cheap and hyper-accessible: you can run anywhere and need nothing but a pair of decent shoes to do so.
But, if you’re an urban dweller like myself, there’s not much terrain to run on except concrete. And for all the benefits of a high-intensity cardiovascular workout, hard surfaces highlight the dark downside of running: it’s brutal on your body. After over 1500 miles of marathon training in the mean skreets of New York City, my knees began to ache. The paranoia of injury set in. And the awards continued to stack for Hoka One One. It was time to finally give the up-and-coming, aesthetically-insane footwear line a try.