Hoka’s new monochrome colorways are loud, bright, and perfectly on brand

What You Need To Know

Mama, don’t take my monochrome away

Hoka has a history of nailing colorways — I mean, really nailing them. Sure, sometimes that just means getting a pair of triple-white Bondi 8’s on the feet of every nurse and pilates girl you know, but what can they say? They know their audience. Hoka’s colorway creativity usually extends to the trails, too, with silhouettes like the Speedgoat available in every combination of classic and 90s-inspired funk you can think of.

Usually, the colorways that land the best are subtle with a hint of fun — think beige with a splash of, well, anything. We’ve been partial to a blacked-out silhouette, too, as long as it’s paired with the right kind of shoe. That said, it’s coming up on summer, and you won’t catch us anywhere near an all-black look in the Mid-Atlantic heat. Apparently, you won’t find Hoka, either.

Just in time for Global Running Day, the max-stacked brand has launched a fresh set of colorful colorways across its road and trail running lines. What colors? Well, I’m glad you asked, because according to Hoka, the future is monochrome. Not chrome — we’re not Squidward — but monochrome. One shoe, one color… one very bright color.

And, as much as I’d love to sit here and tell you that the colors were carefully chosen for their environments, I’m not totally sure. The Speedgoat 7 is draped in a bold Bell Pepper, and the Challenger 8 dons a zesty Electric Lemon, both of which seem safe for the trails, but it’s tougher to figure out the road-ready inspiration. The Mach 7 probably doesn’t need the Bell Pepper red protection, but I can’t argue with the fact that it stands out and looks fast.

Personally, though, I don’t think you can beat the colorways Hoka picked for the Skyward X 2 and the Gaviota 6. The former comes in Blue Blossom, while the latter comes in Vintage Green, both of which are a little more subdued and probably more wearable casually.

There is, of course, technically nothing new about Hoka’s summer-ready lineup, but there doesn’t have to be. It’s nice to see a new slate of colors that feel so true to Hoka’s overall aesthetic. Would we have liked to see the upcoming Clifton 11 included in the collection? Sure, but maybe we’ll just have to wait and see what colorways it launches with. After all, grabbing a new pair now means we get to wait for our pick of the litter when the new shoe goes official.

Hoka’s new monochrome lineup is available now in limited quantities, and you can pick up Thomas’s and Meg’s favorite colorways at the buttons below.

THOMAS’S PICK:

MEAGHAN’S PICK: