Hoka Anacapa Low GTX – Reviewed & Tested On the Overland Track

Over rocks, through mud, and up the hills of Tasmania’s challenging Overland Track, Saphira subjected the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX hiking shoes to a diverse array of terrains to see how they’d hold up.

When I first got wind that I’d be sent a pair of Hoka Anacapa Low GTX to review, I was a few weeks out from doing Tasmania’s Overland Track.

The only problem was that the Hoka Anacapas are described as a ‘day-hiker’ shoe. 

I hummed and hawed a bit, before concluding: ‘What’s a multi day hike if not a series of day hikes?’

For the purposes of a review, what better way to speedily test the shoes across a good chunk of kilometres and terrain types? With a few side trips thrown in, the Overland Track clocks up nearly 100km across natural surfaces ranging from boulders, schist, tree roots, mud, forest, gravel, and man-made duckboarding.

Now, to be clear, I’d normally think twice before doing a multi-day hike in ‘day-hikers’. Solid hiking boots are thought to offer better support, especially when you’re loaded up with a big pack. The majority of my fellow hikers were in full hiking boots.

But, I survived – and thrived! – to tell the tale and give you the low-down on the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX.

Durability

I tested the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX over about 100km. Hiking shoes and boots have a wide range of expected lifetimes, ranging from as little as 400km to more than 2000km.

The Hoka Anacapa Low GTX are described as being ‘tested on more than 2000km of trails’. I’m not sure if this is meant to be a comment on their expected longevity because it seems a bit high for such a lightweight shoe.

After 100km of use, the shoe lining at the back is showing signs of wear and there’s some minor superficial damage to the midsoles. I personally think a lifetime of 1000km is more realistic and reasonable based on the price and shoe type.

Performance

Waterproofing

When I first received the Hoka shoes they seemed really low-cut and I was worried about my feet staying dry while hiking. But the 3cm thick midsoles and 5cm of Gore-Tex leather-upper coverage combined with a pair of gaiters proved sufficient. My feet didn’t get wet once! This is a small miracle, because the Overland Track was very muddy and wet.

Grip

The Hoka Anacapa have a Vibram outsole and the tread on these babies is DEEP. Lord are they grippy! Whether I was scrambling up wet boulders or navigating muddy tree roots, my footing was always solid – I didn’t slip once.

Personally, I’m super impressed that a ‘day-hiker’ shoe was able to perform in such varied conditions, probably way beyond the range of their intended use. I even scrambled up Mt Ossa in light rain. Full marks in this department!

Weight

Something that might be overlooked when tossing up between a light and sturdy hiking boot is the energy saved with lighter footwear. A common hiking adage is that carrying weight on your feet requires about five times as much energy as carrying weight on your back. I weighed my pair of size eight women’s Hoka Anacapa Low GTX and they came in at a little over 600g. For comparison, a pair of sturdy hiking boots easily weighs more than twice this amount! 

While hiking in the Hoka Anacapas, I felt light on my feet and very comfortable. This was a total reversal of my experience a year ago where I did a multiday hike in Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX Hiking boots. I struggled a lot, in part because my shoes were heavy and uncomfortable (despite being well and truly worn in). The Hoka Anacapas have helped me to discover that I hike better in lighter shoes and I won’t be looking back.

Support

The Hoka Anacapa GTX design includes a firmer midsole than their mega popular Hoka Speedgoats, which are more suited to trail running. I found the midsole a good balance between firm and springy.

While I reviewed the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX, a high-cut version is also available that offers more support.

Hiking in the low GTX version, I rolled my ankles more times than usual (I’ve only ever done multi-day hikes in full hiking boots previously). Luckily I seem to have super strong ankles and didn’t get injured. 

I am typically quite uncertain on my feet, never quite sure where to put my weight and a bit clumsy. If you’re in this boat too I’d opt for the high-cut version to get more support.

Comfort

After testing these out for over a week straight, the comfort of the Hoka Anacapas was a standout for me.

They required little-to-no wearing-in (typical of trail runners and day hikers) and didn’t leave me with achy feet at any point. 

Read more: Hiking Boots Versus Trail Runners

In the past I’ve invested in eye-wateringly expensive hiking boots and have still been left crying from foot pain and numbness. I’ve also tried Salomon trail runners but not been too pleased – they felt quite stiff to me.

In comparison, the Hoka Anacapas feel like a hug on my feet and the thick midsoles are pleasantly springy and supportive.

I did get blisters on the hike (only on my toes) but with blister patches I wasn’t bothered. It certainly didn’t derail my hike.

I have only one gripe – the shoe laces didn’t stay snugly tied up. Towards the end of every day I inevitably started feeling like I was rolling around inside my shoe. But I can’t really say whether it was the laces or down to me not tying them correctly.

Aesthetics

I personally loved the light purple colourway, and while it took me a bit to get used to their chunky look, I love them now. They look as comfortable as they feel.

Final Thoughts

I’ve tried both hiking boots and trail runners and been left wanting by both.

In the Hoka Anacapas I’ve finally found a hiking shoe that’s both comfortable and performs well. I’d recommend these to anyone who feels neither hiking boots nor trail runners are doing the job.

When I wear this pair out, I’ll be buying another pair (though it’ll probably be the high-cut).

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