Hoka Stinson 7 – Reviewed & Tested

Explorer Josh takes Hoka’s Stinson 7 to the trails to see if this all-rounder can really do it all.

This body ain’t getting any younger so when it was time to get myself some new running shoes I gave in to the hype and grabbed myself a pair of plush Hoka road shoes.

Me being me, I was pretty sceptical, but that first run was truly a game changer. Or a game starter, however you want to look at it.

I was hooked and have now become a devoted Hoka road shoe wearer, rocking two different pairs in rotation, depending on the type of run and my mood.

So when I was given a chance to take this newfound love to the trail, in the form of the Hoka Stinson 7, I jumped at the chance.

On the Hoka site the Stinson 7 is described as ‘Max cushion from street to summit’, ‘Known as the Swiss army knife’, and ‘If you’re going to pack just one pair on your next adventure, this is it’.

All pretty big claims, given that it’s pretty widely agreed that high stack, high cushion shoes, and rough trails don’t go that well together.

Read more: Could the büite hardloop be the do it all high stack trail shoe?

First Impressions

The noticeable thing was the weight, which we’ll come back to later. But overall, as per most Hoka shoes, they’re bright and all-around good looking. The pair I have is the White/Evening Primrose, which is risky given that they’re going to be used on trails (and as you can see in the images, they didn’t stay white for long).

Comfort

There are two ways running shoes can go when it comes to comfort. There’s the minimalist approach that relies on your foot perfectly matching the shape of the shoe. Or there’s the plush and padded option.

The Stinson 7 goes into the latter with a nicely, higher volume cushioned heel cup, closure, and tongue. So why’s this good you might ask? It means that it will work for a broad range of foot shapes.

It’s also more on the traditional side of shoe designs, so it won’t be too much of a radical change if you’re just making the step into trail running-specific shoes.

Warmth/Breathability

As a general rule, I find that the more rubber and reinforcement a shoe has, then the less breathable and hotter it’s going to get.

That being said, I’m based in SE QLD where it has been seriously warm and humid this summer. The trails have been wet and everything just generally feels damp.

For a trail shoe, I’ve found the Hoka Stinson 7 to be more on the breathable end of the scale than some other trail shoes I’ve used. But do bear in mind that the point regarding higher cushioning, that I raised in the comfort section above, can lead to a warmer experience overall.

Performance

Durability

I know people whose shoes look absolutely trashed and all they do is road run. On the other hand, I know people whose shoes look brand new, even after clocking up hundreds of k’s on the trail.

Due to being less than 100km in with this pair, it’s hard to rate the long-term durability.

But with features such as the rubberised toe cap, mesh upper, and chunky lug sole I have no doubt this pair will hold up well after hundreds of kilometres of use.

Stability

Hoka is known for making the high-cushion shoe mainstream. And it’s something that has caught on across every brand’s offering of road-focused shoes.

But can this level of cushion work in a trail setting? This is the one thing I was looking forward to finding out. And the answer is… sort of. It all comes down to what you consider a trail.

If your type of trail is a fire road or a cleared and somewhat level dirt surface, then these shoes will be perfect. If you’re into uneven and broken surfaces that require precise contact and support, like I prefer, then I found them to be a bit lacking.

The high-volume cushion is great for any terrain where your foot makes relatively even and flat contact with the ground, but if the surface is uneven and loose, then you’re in for a bit of a wild ride when it comes to stability and predictability.

Design

Size & Weight

Rewind back to where I said I’d talk about weight. Now’s the time. This shoe is heavy.

With a similar foam volume to the well-known Hoka Bondi, but with the addition of a toe cap, internal H-frame for support, and an array of multi-directional lugs, this shoe comes in at a hefty 365g.

That’s over 100g more than my go-to Hoka road shoe, the Hoka Clifton 9 and 65g more than the super popular Hoka trail shoe, the Hoka Speedgoat 5.

So what does this mean? Anytime fatigue starts to creep into your run, the weight of your shoes will have an impact.

It’s quite common to think of fatigue as something that only applies to ultra and long-distance runners, but if you’re just starting your running journey and 5km feels far for you (don’t worry I’ve been there) then fatigue can totally come into play for you too.

And if you’re wearing a heavy shoe. Then you’ll start to feel it sooner.

When it comes to sizing of the shoes. There are all sorts of theories on how to find the best size. My theory is simple. Go to a reputable specialist running store and have them measure your foot.

If this is easier said than done, then as a loose guide for the Stinson 7, I found it pretty true to size, with a moderate width across the forefoot.

Look/Aesthetics

Love them or hate them, Hoka has a unique look that has made them undoubtedly the most recognisable brand on the road and trail. I’m mixed on some of their colour choices, but as above, this pair ticked the box for looks and aesthetics.

Price

When I first started running I baulked at the price of a good pair of shoes. But after seeing a few pairs through a full life cycle, I soon realised that a pair of shoes is one of the best value outdoor products you can have.

I average about 750km out of a pair before they start to lose integrity. Then they get retired to the Sunday coffee walk collection.

So breaking down the RRP of the Stinson 7 which is $289, 38c per kilometre is pretty good value.

Other toys in the adventure cupboard. E.g. Snowboard boots, climbing shoes, and bike tyres definitely don’t get this level of value.

Sustainability

Hoka scores an ‘It’s a start’ rating from sustainability website good on you thanks to their science-backed targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and some eco-friendly materials.

While Hoka does have a corporate responsibility page (that was kind of hard to find, linked at the very bottom of the About Us page) there’s a general lack of specifics and links that don’t work.

Hoka joined the United National Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, but this is non-binding, making it different to things like B Corp or 1% or the planet.

It would be great to see a stronger focus on sustainable initiatives in the future from Hoka.

Final Thoughts

For the record, this has been one of the toughest review conclusions I’ve had to write. I started by looking to the brand for guidance, which took me back to the opening statements about this shoe being a true all-rounder.

So is it? Well yeah it is. But do you really want that? That’s the big question.

If you’re looking for a high-stack shoe that you’re going to predominantly clock up road miles in, then I’d recommend looking at something like the Hoka Bondi or Clifton.

Likewise, if you’re looking for a shoe that is going to be used the majority of the time on a range of trail surfaces, then maybe look at something like the Hoka Speedgoat. But if you are looking for a good entry shoe, with a high stack and cushion, that will work in a range of conditions from road to trail, then yes, the Hoka Stinson 7 is worth looking at.

I find the Stinson a bit lost in my current quiver of shoes. I’m instead going to be sticking with my Cliftons and Mach X for road and instead will be going to something more trail-focused, like the new Hoka Speedgoat for a designated trail shoe. Sometimes you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Is this shoe the unicorn we’ve all been looking for? No. It’s more like the horse you rode on your trip to South America that plods along, not out to set a new FKT, but instead arriving in comfort.

Read more: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Trail Running