REASONS TO BUY
Excellent waterproofing that is breathable
Comfortable enough for long hikes
Stable base
REASONS TO AVOID
SwallowTail takes adjustment
Not for technical terrain
Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX Review
This hiking shoe is our go-to for almost every trail thanks to its unending comfort and stability
Credit: Chris Maxcer
By Chris Maxcer ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 13, 2025
Contributions From: Ryan Huetter
RELATED: The Best Hiking Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
Each and every time we test the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX, we are pleased. In fact, we can't wait to throw on these hiking shoes to hit the trails. Their comfort is unbeatable, and the capable traction and waterproofing is ready for just about any trail you put in front of them. They aren't the lightest shoe, but they are far from the heaviest, and we gladly accept the tradeoff of a few extra ounces for a durable shoe. Our only reservations are with the SwallowTail design and the wide, plush outsole. They take some adjustment, and we wouldn't recommend these for tricky 3rd and 4th-class terrain. Otherwise, for most hiking, we can't get enough.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX is a dependable, quality hiking shoe that has impressed us enough to give it our highest award.
The Hoka Anacapa 2 sports some design cues from the company's cushy running shoes line, but the waterproofing, traction, and durability make them ready for off-trail exploring.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Comfort
Comfort is what the Anacapa 2 is known for. Constantly, we were wowed by the cushion underfoot, though it never felt like too much. The outsole picked up much of the heel strike and protected our feet from jagged rocks on the trail.
The SwallowTail was our biggest complaint right out of the box. The extension off of the heel caused our gait to change during our first few hikes, and we needed some time to get adjusted to this. Though once we did, our feet were happy with the smooth transition it offered.
The Hoka SwallowTail sole extends off the rear of the heel. It softens and smooths long strides, making this shoe a comfortable trail cruiser on flat ground.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
We don't have sensitive or inflamed Achilles tendons, but we've known some people who have, so let's focus a bit more on this element of comfort detail Hoka puts into its shoes: Hoka's flared heel design might look a bit unique, but it feels fantastic.
Neutral stance Aggressive angle
The Hoka “Achilles heel comfort build” design is legit. No matter what angle we move our feet, the heel pocket remains snug without putting undue pressure on our Achilles tendons.
Basically, the heel pocket feels typical, snug and secure, but instead of padding around the top of the heel that can rub on your Achilles with some motions while stepping, the top of this heel sweeps away, allowing for many angles. But that doesn't mean there's no support. There's a little channel built into this narrow design, and it fits our Achilles tendons while keeping a bit of cushioning around the sides. Those who have top-of-the-heel issues might want to take a closer look at this design.
The center of the heel sweep has a channel to give Achilles tendons extra space (and seems to also offer a little tactile feedback support, too).
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Support
From our first hike onward, we noticed how supportive the Anacapa was. Underfoot, the shoe's support feels cushioned, but not overly soft. The shoe was still rigid enough to keep us sure-footed as we traversed various types of terrain. Much of this was thanks to the wide base that offered more lateral support compared to most other hiking shoes.
In tricky 3rd and 4th-class terrain, you might find your footing less secure due to the wide base. If you frequent boulder fields and scrambling terrain, another shoe that is narrower and less plush will be beneficial. Still, for most commonly hiked trails, we felt that these shoes had a responsive ride.
The only support weakness to this shoe is when side-hill traversing on very steep ground. The wide sole doesn't allow for much of an edge bite, and the roomy, foot-accommodating upper has a too-casual fit for anything seriously steep. And yes, the photo flattens the angle of the hill to show the shoe's upper flex, but trust us, it's a steep hill!
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Traction
The Anacapa 2 utilizes 5mm deep lugs and a Vibram MegaGrip outsole to tackle the trails. We were pleased with how these performed in terms of traction, with a notable “bite” into the earth as we hiked. The lugs become more aggressive towards the midfoot and toes, which gave us a confident toe off even on softer ground.
Even on wet surfaces, like around streams, we were secure with our footing thanks to the rubber outsole. The width of the platform offers some additional feeling of being surefooted on hardpack, though, as we mentioned before, it can be troublesome for precise footing when scrambling.
The Hoka's wide traction is solid and thoroughly decent but not stellar because the lugs aren't aggressive enough to bite well in loose and difficult terrain.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Durability
Despite its sneaker-like style, the Anacapa 2 is a built-to-last shoe. We had concerns for the recycled mesh toe box, but even after hiking multiple seasons in this shoe, we aren't seeing any signs of holes or rips. The shoe has nubuck leather panels strategically placed in high wear areas that have kept our shoes looking fresh, hike after hike.
Our primary concern with the Anacapa is the thick foam midsole. While we haven't seen any signs of premature wear, we are aware that the EVA midsole could pack in quicker than other shoes. As soon as these packs in too much, it can impact your gait negatively. Otherwise, we are happy with how these shoes have held up to our miles of trails. The metal eyelets are a nice touch, allowing us to tug on the laces to get a good fit without feeling like we will rip the shoe.
There is a lot of durability packed into this photo: We start with a rubber toe kick bumper, followed by an additional TPU layer for abrasion resistance, which flows into a tough-but-flexy mesh polyester upper, followed by nubuck leather sidewalls that help keep the shape of the shoe over time. Meanwhile, check out those traditional reinforced lacing eyelets! Good stuff here.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Water Resistance
This hiking shoe utilizes a waterproof Gore-Tex Invisible Fit lining that is bonded to the inside of the shoe. A common struggle for waterproof hiking shoes is maintaining breathability, since they tend to hold heat in. However, the Anacapa proved to be effective against water and kept our feet cool during testing. In our controlled test, where we stood in water for 5 minutes, we didn't have any water cross the membrane. While we hiked, we had no issue with heat building up either.
We appreciate waterproof shoes for cruising through dewy meadows in the morning and stepping through shallow mountain streams. Plus, when we misstep into mud, we can easily clean off our shoes in a stream without getting our feet wet.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Weight
The Anacapa 2 Low GTX is about average in terms of weight. For our men's 14, we weighed a single shoe in at 18.15 ounces (1.13 pounds). Our size 11 was just under a pound per shoe. The slight increase in weight is due to the thicker-than-average midsole, which inevitably adds a few ounces. Likewise, the nubuck leather increases the weight some, as compared to shoes that are fully mesh.
The weight shouldn't deter you from this shoe, as most hiking shoes are weighing somewhere between 1.5-2 pounds for the pair. We are seeing that light doesn't always equal great, especially when considering the shoe's longevity. We are happy to trade a few extra ounces for the comfort of this shoe.
These aren't the lightest shoes out there, but considering their excellent durability and cushioning, we think an extra ounce or two is worth the benefits. This size 14 weighs a little over a pound per shoe, but typical size 11 options weigh less than a pound per shoe.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Should You Buy the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX?
Our short and long answer is, yes, you should try out these shoes. All around, we think they are great. Each and every one of our testers have great things to say about these shoes. However, for the few looking to summit technical peaks with intense scrambling, this isn't the most sensitive shoe.
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
If you are concerned about the SwallowTail, you might want to compare this shoe to a more traditional soled hiking shoe, like the Merrell Moab 3 or the Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX. Both of these shoes are among our favorites and each offer their own perks worth reading about. If you are the hiker looking to bag peaks and traverse technical terrain, the Salomon X Ultra 5 Gore-Tex is our pick. It is very stable, responsive, and has excellent traction.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX versus top competing products:
—Chris Maxcer and Ryan Huetter
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