Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX Review

We are pretty big fans of the Hoka line and refused to give back the previous edition of the Anacapa after loving it so much. The new Anacapa 2 is just as good with a few improvements, such as adding recycled material to the compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) midsole, a change to the more flexible and pliable Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane, and a bit better durability in the outsole. All this comes at a very reasonable .15-pound weight increase. Overall, this is a dependable, quality hiking shoe that has impressed us enough to give it our highest award.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Comfort is always the headline when it comes to Hoka shoes, and the Anacapa 2 Low is no exception. These are easy to slip into right out of the box, and the medium-wide fit with an enlarged toe box gives the foot plenty of room to splay out and swell after long days. The lacing system is simple and intuitive, and the extended Achilles heel tab adds comfort and padding.

The rockered sole gives an easy-going and balanced stride, and the thick midsole keeps the feet from feeling too much of the sharp obstacles on the trail while remaining just sensitive enough. The extended SwallowTail heel did take a bit of time to get used to on this version. But once we did, it allowed for a more rolling gait, softening the effect of a hard heel strike — though on our pair, we found uneven contact on the first few hikes, which made us feel like we were overly pronating until the SwallowTail conformed to our natural stride. One of the only little gripes we have with these shoes is that the round laces come untied rather easily. This is a very small concern, but we'd recommend double knotting or switching to flat laces.

Support

We gave high marks to the Anacapa 2 in this metric. Built on a CMEVA foam midsole that uses 30% recycled sugarcane, these shoes offer responsive, predictable underfoot support that is not overly soft or squishy. A wide platform helps the foot resist rolling, and the midsole offers medium torsional rigidity for lateral support.

The foot sits low in the Anacapa despite its tall stack height, which makes it feel quite stable. The recycled yarn mesh and nubuck leather uppers tighten securely, giving solid stability, although they do not rise to or above the ankles. Being tall off the ground and having a wide outsole can lead to difficulty in feeling comfortable on steep traversing or side-hilling situations — in terrain like this, we prefer a lower shoe with a narrower sole.

Traction

The Anacapa 2 continues to use high-quality Vibram MegaGrip rubber compound for its outsole, which we have long found to be a perfect compromise between stickiness and firmness, making it an all-weather and all-conditions contender.

The 5mm deep multidirectional lugs provide consistent bite in the forefoot and are more spread out towards the heel, allowing for plenty of surface area contact on smooth slopes. The width of the shoe gives way more contact and adhesion to planar surfaces, but when traversing or edging in difficult terrain like technical talus fields or scrambling routes, the additional width makes these less precise than shoes with a narrower forefoot.

Water Resistance

The Anacapa 2 Low saw an upgrade in this most recent iteration, namely by switching to a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit waterproof/breathable membrane. This updated liner is bonded directly inside the shoe and is designed to be lighter, more flexible, and way more breathable than other versions of Gore-Tex that could be overkill for athletic footwear that requires a high degree of perspiration management.

Our testers found the new waterproof membrane to work great — it passed our submersion test, and we were also pretty happy with how well these shoes dumped heat, another benefit of having treated leather in high-wear areas but using mesh where possible. The Anacapa 2 strikes a pretty masterful balance of water management and breathability.

Weight

The new Anacapa 2 Low GTX weighs in at 1.96 pounds for a pair of size 11 US men's. For such a supportive and comfortable shoe, we are pleased that these come in at less than 2 pounds — even if it's just barely. So many hiking shoes are now coming in between 1.5 and 2 pounds that it can be hard to differentiate products based on weight alone. This is a pair that we would have no problem bringing on a 250-mile long hike considering the performance-to-weight ratio is so good.

There are lighter shoes out there for sure, though the unparalleled comfort of the thick EVA midsole and durable uppers on the Anacapa 2 make it worth a few extra ounces.

Durability

We found the Anacapa 2 to offer a good deal of durability despite being made from fairly light materials. A lot of that comes down to design. More durable nubuck leather panels are placed in high-wear areas on the shoe's upper, while less susceptible areas use a recycled yarn mesh with an abrasion-resistant finish.

This model of the Anacapa uses more mesh in place of a more solid fabric on the toe box area, so we will continue to test them to see how they fare over the long term compared to their predecessors. We will report back with any new findings if necessary.

Should You Buy the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX?

Yes. This is an awesome hiking shoe that fits great, performs admirably, and is so comfortable you might not want to take it off at the end of the day. As prices of hiking shoes come closer and closer together, this shoe stands out as a great value.

What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?