The Informant: The Hoka Hiking Boots That Carried Me Across 100 Miles in Nepal
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This October, I was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to travel to Nepal with a handful of family members, and to trek through the heart of the country’s Annapurna mountain range.
Prior to that trip, the longest hike I’d been on as an adult was a half-day hike in upstate New York, capped off by a trip to a brewery. Needless to say, this was, in every way, new territory. I knew one thing, though: I needed the right gear. Without it, hiking for 11 days straight would quickly become borderline impossible. And the right gear begins with the right hiking boots.
To narrow down my search, I asked seasoned hiker friends for their opinions; I scoured the internet to read reviews. Still, I felt unsure of what brands and what models would work best for me, particularly because I have wide feet. That’s where Hoka comes in. I have several outdoorsy friends who are endlessly devoted to Hoka running sneakers, so when the brand offered to send me a sample of its Anacapa 2 Low GTX hiking shoes, I was open to trying them out — and potentially stuffing them in my duffel when I hopped the plane to Kathmandu.
I opted for the low-cut version (the brand offers a mid-rise version, too) in black. The Anacapa 2’s ticked several necessary boxes: they feature Vibram Megagrip rubber soles, which are especially durable and shock-absorbent, as well as GORE-TEX’s Invisible Fit technology, a membrane that runs throughout the shoe that’s windproof and waterproof but still breathable. Although riding the NYC subway is far cry from a seven hours of hiking a day in Nepal, after a few weeks of wearing them to commute to and from SPY’s Manhattan offices — and without a single burgeoning blister or hot spot — I felt comfortable packing them and hoping for the best.
Yes, it was a gamble. But it’s one that paid off. My Hokas aced every test during those 11 days — and there were several of them. During the first part of the trek, at lower elevations, we hiked through wet, jungle-like forests of bamboo and rhododendron; the Hokas stayed dry while I mucked through puddles and across streams. As we moved up in elevation — our highest point was Annapurna base camp, which sits at 13,500 feet — the terrain became rocky, arid, and bone-chillingly cold. But defying the odds, my feet remained protected; my boots absorbed any shock from the jagged surfaces and kept my feet warm throughout. (I’ll also thank my REI Co-Op Merino wool hiking socks for that.)
By the end of the trek, my Hokas were dirt-caked but otherwise unscathed. The durable shoes did their job and more, carrying me across about 115 miles of difficult, varied terrain in complete comfort. No blisters in sight. I’d recommend them to anyone in need of a lightweight hiker. I know I may not return to Nepal anytime soon, but now I know I’m covered for all my hikes (and subsequent brewery trips) upstate.
Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX Hiking Boots
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