Hoka vs. Brooks: Which Is Better?

I’ll admit that one of the reasons that I got into running was for fashion. I dug the shoes. I wanted to enjoy their supreme bounciness and breathability casually, but I didn’t want to wear them on school drop-offs and Costco outings without actually being a runner. In other words, I wanted to use them as dad shoes, for genuine dad reasons, but didn’t want to be seen as the kind of person who would wear dad shoes, even though, guess what: I’m a dad! With two kids! And a membership to Costco! Wear what you want, though. This was just a neurotic way to leverage my insecurity as motivation to run.

Naturally, I gravitated toward Hoka, the brand that helped start the trend of outlandishly chunky soles that grandmas, runners, fashion folks, and yes, dads, can all agree on. Although the very first pair of sneakers I used when I started running in 2022 were the great Nike Pegasus Trails, Hoka became my go-to because they have a plushness that manages to make even miserable runs joyful; on good runs, they can leave you feeling like a superhero.

Brooks fascinated me, though. There always seemed to be a prevalence of Brooks on the feet of those around me wherever I ran. Was I missing out? And so I dabbled with Brooks, as well as a few other brands. And when I say dabble, that means I am now the owner of around three dozen running shoes. I’ve raced in three half marathons and two full ones and have averaged around 100 miles a month for the past three years. That’s a decent amount of running, but my obsession with (and opinions on) sneakers far exceeds my mileage. And my closet space.

I appreciate Brooks and Hoka because both are so squarely focused on running, as opposed to Nike or Adidas, and both have loyal followings. There’s a reason practically every running store carries Hoka and Brooks. If you want to go full fam on a brand, though, Hoka makes shoes in kids sizes. It makes recovery slides. Heck, it even makes hiking sandals for those days you just want to walk in the woods. Brooks does not.

The brands themselves are extremely different, though. Hoka is constantly dropping collaborations with cool brands like Satisfy and Bodega that will add street cred to any outfit. Brooks will occasionally come out with a zany colorway, including their regular holiday-themed ones, but that’s as wild as it gets. When you wear Hokas, people may say, “Cool Hokas!” If they are fellow hardcore Hoka acolytes, they may ask you how the Skyward X compares to the old Bondi X. If you want to appear completely normal, but not in that New Balance 550’s or Adidas Stan Smiths or even Allbirds kind of way, wear Brooks. People have never asked me about my Brooks.

Hoka has been incorporating several new models with carbon or Pebax plates for extra propulsion. You’ll only find that kind of technology in Brooks’s race-centric shoes. Hokas are known for their generously padded soles. Brooks shoes are known for their stability, durability, supportiveness, and neutral cushioning. If you are an overpronator, chances are someone has told you to check out Brooks. Brooks shoes get the job done, and people love them for that.

Hokas are far more exciting, but on those days you want something a bit more straightforward, Brooks are worth working into your rotation—it’s healthy to change things up. Although Hoka and Brooks offer several models for different kinds of runners, these are two of my favorite new offerings that are great all-around running shoes.