Hoka Transport GTX: Urban Adventures Await

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Hoka Transport GTX

ROBBE: At this point, the name Hoka is synonymous with comfort. Max cushion is essentially the back on which the brand was built. Not just on the run, but for everyday life, which can be seen as you walk anywhere these days.

Speaking of walking anywhere, Hoka knows that while they started in running, the brand has exploded thanks to walkers of all sorts– healthcare workers, college kids, city slickers … pretty much the whole spectrum. And while models like the Clifton, Bondi, and Arahi are the go-to choices in that department, it’s always nice to have something a bit more specialized.

That’s where the Transport GTX comes in.

A shoe “conceived at the intersection of lifestyle and performance,” the Transport GTX was designed with the city-dweller in mind, a “weather-ready commuter style geared for walking, biking, or hiking.” The GTX stands for Gore-Tex Invisible Fit, which means this shoe features a fully waterproof upper membrane, perfect for withstanding any element on your commute. The Invisible Fit is a variation on Gore-Tex, designed to deliver lighter, more breathable waterproof ventilation. An EVA midsole is made from 30% sugarcane, while the Vibram Ecostep outsole is made from recycled rubber.

We’ve worn the standard version of the shoe before, but this is the first time trying the Gore-Tex version. I walk my kids a mile to school every morning here in Baltimore city, and ride my bike as often as I can, so it seemed like the perfect testing scenario for a shoe designed for exactly that. Let’s see how it performs.

What we like about the Hoka Transport GTX

ROBBE: I’m always going to appreciate a good-looking shoe, and I think Hoka did a nice job on the design of the Transport GTX. The military green upper contrasted with the off-white midsole and brown of the Vibram outsole is a cohesive but simple look that can work with just about any outfit.

It also is a toned-down version of what we normally see from Hoka. Instead of a chunky midsole and plush upper, we get a slimmed down profile. The specs say the stack height is 37  mm in the heel, but it looks lower on the foot (it also feels much lower, but more on that later). The fit overall is more narrow, especially in the toe box.

More on the upper: I appreciate the 360-degree visibility of the shoe, with reflective overlays on the sides and rear. Always good to have that, especially this time of year. The Gore-Tex membrane is indeed waterproof. I took this out on a 7-mile rainy day run (I was away from home and forgot my real running shoes), and through puddles and everything else my feet remained dry. The toggle laces are nice, making this essentially a slip-on shoe; however, Hoka also includes a set of spare trail-style laces if you want to swap them out. 

The medium-length Vibram Eco lugs on the outsole are good for gripping most surfaces. I didn’t have any issues with them, though they don’t feel quite as sticky as Vibram Megagrip. 

This isn’t really meant to be a running shoe, but as I said, I did run in it. It was surprisingly manageable, though I wouldn’t recommend it. Just saying, in a pinch it can work. 

What we don’t like about the Hoka Transport GTX

ROBBE: I’ve worn this shoe on a 7-mile run and as an everyday shoe for about a week. I’m still praying both the upper and midsole break in, but I have my doubts.

I have zero doubts that the Cordura abrasion resistant textile that makes up the upper is ultra durable. It will certainly last a long time. However, what it has in durability it lacks in comfort. The upper is straight-up stiff as a board, to the point that it’s really awkward and uncomfortable. It feels like it’s impossible to get a good fit because it doesn’t conform to your foot in any way. The toe box is so hard and stiff that there’s virtually no flexibility.

It feels like you’re wearing a shell, especially since the toe box ceiling is so low. There’s a good amount of rubbing on the medial side of both big toes, almost like the toe box portion of the last cuts in too hard and too fast. 

In terms of the midsole, it’s supposedly a high stack shoe, but feels more like something in the 25 mm range. It’s not soft or bouncy, as you would maybe expect from a Hoka. I typically blame this on the sugarcane EVA; 90% of the time when I see that in a shoe, I find it to be generally firm (hello, Allbirds). Again, I don’t think it’s awful, I just think you need to reset your expectations, because they’re probably quite different if you’re buying a Hoka shoe.

It’s also a bit heavy, but then again, it’s not technically a running shoe. It’s more of a hiking/lifestyle shoe, so 12 oz. for a US M10 isn’t totally absurd. Set your bar at “hiking shoe” and you won’t be disappointed.

The price point on this is a little yikes. For $175, it’s a pretty simple shoe. I know there’s a premium on the Gore-Tex, but you can find much more comfortable shoes that perform essentially the same job for either the same price or a discount (I’m basically talking about the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX).

Final thoughts on the Hoka Transport GTX

ROBBE: I wanted to love this shoe, because I love a good GTX shoe and think that Hoka did a nice job with the design and purpose of the shoe. However, it’s been hard for me to get past the discomfort of the upper and the average performance of the midsole. 

So while yes, it may not be meant for running, it’s still supposed to be an active shoe. I just find it unsuitable for most activities. I’m still probably going to wear it because I do think it looks good and it’s most certainly waterproof. If it somehow eventually breaks in, I’ll update the review.

That said, I’m hoping the next version of this shoe features a more flexible upper that still retains a good level of durability and/or waterproofability. Nike has pulled this off in their GTX versions, and Norda has done it exceptionally well in the 001, as that upper is virtually indestructible. Two things can be true at once, but the truth of the Transport GTX is that it’s a bit of a stretch to say it can stretch.

The Hoka Transport GTX is available now for $175, you can pick it up at the shop links below.