REASONS TO BUY
Ultra stable
Great underfoot comfort
Protective
REASONS TO AVOID
Thick stack won't suit all runners
Lacks responsiveness
No sensitivity
Hoka Stinson 7 - Women's Review
Runners looking for an ultra-plush trail experience may love what this shoe has to offer
The Stinson is designed for comfort.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
The Hoka Stinson 7 is known to be a fantastically cushioned crossover shoe, taking runners from roads to mild trails and back again. Part moon boot, part snowshoe, and part daily trail companion, this clunker is heartily capable of handling whatever you choose to throw at it. Weighing in at 10 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Stinson stands at a towering 40 mm in the heel with an 8 mm toe drop. The durabrasion outsole, lug pattern, and 4.40-inch outsole width provide a solid launch pad for ultimately padded adventures. This crossover shoe provides very little sensitivity, making it less suitable for technical, speedy trails.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Hoka Stinson 7 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best for Comfortable Zero Drop Performance | Best for Long Distances on Technical Trails | |
| Price | $170.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $145.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $130 List $129.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods | $98.93 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $190 List $189.95 at Backcountry |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This thick-soled trail shoe is comfortable and stable and provides serious underfoot protection | If a well-tractioned powerhouse of a shoe is what you're after, this 7 mm-drop, stacked-with-tech shoe is the one for you | This is our go-to recommendation for runners seeking a comfortable, well-tractioned shoe for short and long distances alike | Featuring an upgraded upper and a stable zero-drop design, this shoe is a dependable and comfortable trail running option, ensuring comfort even during extended runs | A unisex shoe that offers superior performance across the board, boasting a protective yet sensitive ride with a grippy outsole and exceptional durability |
| Rating Categories | Hoka Stinson 7 - Wo... | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Hoka Stinson 7 - Wo... | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 11 US | 5.5 - 11 US regular, wide | 5 - 11 US regular |
5.5 - 12 US regular and wide |
4 - 14 US regular |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 40 mm | 28 mm | 26 mm | 20 mm | 27 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 7 mm | 4 mm | 0 mm | 9 mm |
| Rock Plate | No | 1.5 mm Dual-Density compressed EVA Rock-Guard in forefoot | No | TPU | Not disclosed |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.8 mm | 3.8 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.2 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Measured Weight | 9.51 oz | 9.11 oz | 7.52 oz | 8.14 oz | 8.05 oz |
| Upper | Engineered jacquard mesh | Air Mesh / Thermal Adhesive Microfiber / High Frequency Welded Ripstop Overlays | Mesh | Ripstop Mesh | Anti-Debris mesh with sockliner |
| Midsole | EVA | 4mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex | EVA | Altra EGO | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection |
| Outsole | Durabrasion rubber | Bi-Compound FriXion® XT 2.0 V-Groove3 | Rubber | MaxTrac | Salomon Contagrip MA |
| Heel Tab Type | Pull tab | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 5 mm | 6 mm | 5 mm | 0 mm | 8 mm |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Hoka incorporated a new H-frame on the Stinson 7, a device that provides incredible stability. Strong stability is coveted, especially with a sky-high 40 mm stack. With an 8 mm drop and wide outsole, the stability can help you maintain some speed around tight trail turns.
Performance Comparison
With a huge 40 mm stack under the heel, the Stinson 7 is designed for long-distance comfort and stability.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Foot Protection
The Stinson 7 has an undercarriage unlike just about any other shoe in our lineup. Even without a rock plate, it stands at 40 mm tall in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot. This stack is ultra-protective, comprised of EVA foam, Hoka's new H-frame, and plenty of durabrasion rubber. The result is powerful underfoot protection that bleeds seamlessly into a plump heel collar, plush tongue, and protective upper. The engineered jacquard mesh upper is tightly woven, protecting feet from unwanted sand and particles you may kick up as you run. As with most non-waterproof shoes, splashes and water are let in easily. The Stinson doesn't dry quite as quickly as more minimalistic style shoes, but as long as you don't plan on splashing through rivers on your runs, the Stinson is worth considering. The rubber coating of the toe cap is more fashionable than functional, which detracts from the overall protection of this shoe.
If you are looking for a trail shoe with serious underfoot protection and cushion, this is the shoe for you.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
The Stinson was released as a crossover shoe, and its traction pattern demonstrates this. Its outsole is coated in lugs of all shapes and sizes, some of which are texturized and others that are not. The lateral lugs are arrow-shaped, with sharp edges that allow for control and bite on uneven terrain. The Stinson scored lower in this metric because its traction is not as equipped as the traction on more rugged shoes. This is not our recommendation for runners tackling high alpine or otherwise technical terrain. If your running predominately takes you across gravel roads, local meadow trails, and bike paths, the Stinson would be a great, high-profile shoe for you.
The width and unique texture of the Stinson's outsole provides solid traction, though its overall build inhibits most of its agility.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
The Stinson 7 stands out as the least sensitive shoe we have ever tested. During the course of our testing, we intentionally stomped on rocks and felt nothing. While our preference is to run in trail shoes that provide trail feedback so we can adjust our gaits, other runners may have different preferences when it comes to sensitivity. Because of how stable the Stinson is, we did not find its lack of sensitivity to degrade the overall experience we had while running in these shoes. If you want a thickly padded shoe for long, slow miles and recovery runs, the Stinson may hit the mark perfectly.
The underfoot stack of the Stinson is so thick. At 40 mm in the heel and 38 mm in the forefoot, this is not a shoe that runners who love a sensitive ride will enjoy.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
We all know that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and the Stinson 7 certainly shouldn't be judged based on its stack height alone. We tend to think of super-stacked shoes as being less stable, especially when we think about how far a rolled ankle has to go before hitting the trail beneath us. The Stinson, however, demonstrates an exceptional balance between stability and stack height thanks to its new H-frame design. The H-frame runs the length of the shoe and sits beneath the midsole cushion and above the outsole, adding to the Stinson's overall height. This frame helps prevent overpronation but does so without correcting gait patterns. The result is stability if your ankles start to wobble but standard-feeling comfort during typical runs. If stability is your number one priority when looking for a trail crossover shoe, we suspect that the confidence inspired by running in the Stinson will suit you well.
The H-shaped frame embedded underfoot helps make this shoe super stable, even though you are riding high above the trail.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Comfort and Fit
As we've said, don't let the countenance of the super-stacked Stinson 7 sway your opinion of it. At first, the stack feels different than your average trail shoe, especially if your average trail shoe is on the lower end of the height spectrum. The Stinson is one of the rare types of shoes that is almost immediately comfortable, though its underfoot bulk takes a bit of getting used to. The well-padded heel collar and tongue work in tandem with the classic Hoka midsole comfort to create a balanced ride. The Stinson will not be the shoe if your taste skews toward more minimalist shoes. For recovery day comfort and ultimate underfoot cushion, the Stinson gets the job done.
The Stinson 7 is an awesomely comfortable shoe for recovery days and super long runs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
It is not surprising that the new Stinson 7 weighs more than the average trail shoe. In fact, this is one of the heaviest trail shoes we tested. The Stinson's beefy outsole and prime comfort features add up to weigh just shy of 10 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe. Other shoes in this realm are laden with rugged, technical features, but the Stinson has chosen to take the comfort route that will thrill and delight runners actively seeking a cushy trail crossover shoe. The bulk of the weight rides underfoot, which can initially feel clunky. After an awkward first run, we grew to appreciate the weighty comfort of the Stinson and often reach for this shoe on recovery days.
The Stinson is not a minimalistic shoe. If you don't mind toting extra weight underfoot for protection and cushion, you'll like this shoe's ride.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Hoka Stinson 7?
The Stinson 7 is not a shoe that we outright recommend because it doesn't have everything that we desire in a trail shoe. That said, it is a solid shoe to consider if it checks your boxes. It is durable, reliable, protective, and comfortable, arguably some of the most necessary features when it comes to running footwear. The Stinson's trail prowess is lacking, making it a great choice for runners who want a mellow crossover shoe.
Though not our highest-scoring trail shoe, the Stinson offers plenty of great elements all rolled together in one plush, stable package.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
While the updated Hoka Speedgoat 6 isn't as thickly stacked at the Stinson, its fit is comparable but comes with notably more trail features. The Hoka Challenger is another shoe with a thick stack, but it comes equipped with more robust traction and weighs nearly 3 ounces less per shoe. If you know that stability is crucial but the underfoot chunk of the Stinson doesn't appeal to you, we recommend dipping your toes into zero drop waters and checking out what the Altra Lone Peak 8 has to offer.
—Ally Arcuri
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