HOKA Arahi 8 Review: Softness Meets Support

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

Now in its eighth iteration, the HOKA Arahi has long been synonymous with stability in HOKA’s lineup. And while the Arahi 8 still offers dependable support, it’s been completely redesigned from the ground up.

With a softer midsole, a reimagined upper, a shift in stability tech and a lighter overall feel, the latest Arahi might be hard to recognize. But is that a good thing — or a step in the wrong direction? Let’s dive in.

I can easily say the Arahi 8 is the softest version I’ve ever tested. It’s made with a compression-molded EVA midsole, which is the same as the prior versions. However, HOKA added three additional millimeters of cushioning in the heel, creating a plusher ride and a higher heel-to-toe drop (the difference in height between your heel and forefoot).

When I first took the Arahi out of the box and squeezed the midsole foam on the sides, it sank in without much effort. The shoes are also very flexible, which is a win in my book. I wore these for one walk and one run, and they were really comfortable for each.

At the heart of the Arahi is the HOKA’s key supportive technology, which they call their H-frame™. If you’ve worn previous versions of the Arahi, you may recall that they used J-frame™ technology, a J-shaped hook of dense foam that wrapped around the heel and lined the medial side of the shoe to provide extra durability. So, what’s the difference, and why does it feel like we’re lost in a vat of alphabet soup?

HOKA’s H-frame™ technology is built on the same ideas that created the J-frame™ but with a more accommodating shape. While the J-frame™ focuses on increasing durability on the medial side, the H-frame™ offers the same level of durability on both sides of the shoe. The result is a smooth ride that can be enjoyed by runners with all gait patterns. The Arahi also delivers support through its Active Foot Frame, which uses high sidewalls in the midsole to cradle your feet. While it may look like you’re sitting on top of a thick stack of cushioning, your feet are actually inside the cushioning for a super secure feel.

“The word that kept coming to mind as I ran in the Arahi was “balance,” says Heather. “This shoe has great, balanced support, balanced cushioning and just gave me an overall balanced feet as I ran. When my workout was finished, I walked a while in it, and it felt great while walking, too. The H-frame™ technology that HOKA uses to provide support is unobtrusive, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I was expecting it to feel a little softer but I was definitely pleased with the bounce.”

I found the Arahi 8 to be plenty soft for a shoe in this category, but perhaps Heather was comparing it to more pillow-y HOKA models like the Clifton or Bondi. The Arahi 8 strikes a sweet spot — it offers enough softness to feel comfortable on longer runs, while still delivering the support that runners who place more pressure on the medial or lateral sides of their feet really appreciate. You can learn about your pressure maps with Fleet Feet’s Pressure Plate System, available at select locations.

I went for numerous runs and walks in the Arahi 8 and barely thought about my shoes at all,” Mandy says. “The Arahi felt like it melted away and became one with my foot, so I was more focused on the flowers in the neighborhood or the produce at the farmers’ market than how my feet were feeling. These shoes provide a smooth, easy ride for both walks and runs.”

The smooth, easy ride Mandy’s referring to can be attributed to both the cushioning and the shoe’s gentle rocker shape. HOKA calls this their Metarocker™ technology, and it helps you transition quickly and efficiently from heel-to-toe.

An abrasion-resistant rubber covers key areas of the outsole, like the heel and forefoot, while strategic cutouts reveal midsole foam and help reduce weight. The result is a lighter Arahi than the previous version.

I wore the Arahi for an easy run with some strides as I taper for my upcoming marathon. The shoes felt great for cruising, and they’re light and flexible enough to pick up the pace. I wouldn’t necessarily choose these for a dedicated speed workout, but they can definitely handle some faster paces if and when the mood strikes.

The Arahi 8 feels dreamy on foot thanks to a smooth mesh material, a padded tongue and a flared heel collar that reduces rubbing and friction. There are not one but two extra lacing eyelets, so you can lace up your shoes in almost any way you please (I’m partial to the marathon loop).

According to HOKA, the Arahi 8 features “a new last with a streamlined silhouette.” I thought it fit similar to previous versions of the Arahi, and I was thankful that I ordered my usual half-size-down in HOKAs. But Heather and Mandy received their normal sizes and were happy with the fit.

“This shoe fits like a dream for me,” Heather says. “I would call it pretty true-to-size. I had plenty of room for my toes and my high instep had plenty of space. I didn’t feel cramped or squeezed into the shoe.”

“The HOKA Arahi fits and feels great on the foot,” Mandy says. “Unlike some of the other testers, I wore my usual size for HOKAs instead of going down and they felt great. They were a little bit voluminous, but everything stayed in place on my walks and runs.”

Our different experiences can be explained by Heather having high instep and high-volume feet (feet that take up a lot of space within the shoe), while my feet are low-volume, meaning they don’t take up much space within the shoe. Not sure about the width or volume of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

Compared to the Arahi 7, the HOKA Arahi 8 has a lower weight with more cushioning, which is always a win in my book. Because of the added heel cushioning, it has a higher heel-to-toe drop. I didn’t notice this while I was running, but if you’ve grown accustomed to HOKA’s relatively low heel-to-toe drop you may want to consider easing into the Arahi 8 gradually.

The Arahi 8 replaces the J-frame™ technology with an H-frame™, delivering more support for runners with different gait patterns.

Overall, I found the Arahi 8 to feel softer, smoother and more enjoyable to run in than the 7.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the HOKA Arahi 8 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The HOKA Arahi 8, ASICS GT-2000 13 and Saucony Guide 18 all offer support with extra reinforcements. HOKA does this with their previously mentioned H-frame™ technology.

ASICS uses their 3D Guidance System, which consists of three key components — a wider base, a beveled heel and a forefoot flare. The wider base provides a stable platform for landings, reducing excessive side-to-side motion. The beveled heel lessens impact upon landings, and the forefoot flare helps you easily transition into the toe-off phase.

The Saucony Guide 18 uses Saucony’s Center Path Technology, which features high sidewalls (remember HOKA’s Active Foot Frame?), a wide, broad platform and an asymmetrical profile. This profile uses additional foam on the medial side of the shoe, ensuring the midsole will wear out evenly for runners who place more pressure on the medial sides of their feet.

All three shoes offer comfort and support. Your preference will likely come down to the individual fit and feel of each one. I personally found the Arahi to be softer and lighter than the other two shoes, which aligns with my preferences.

The Arahi is a versatile shoe. It feels really smooth underfoot and can easily transition between paces. Because of this, it can be used as a long run shoe, easy run shoe, and I think it’s light enough to handle some faster paces, too. I’d recommend it to runners who place extra pressure on the medial or lateral sides of their feet and want a little bit of extra durability in those areas.

Remember to get an expert Outfitting at your local Fleet Feet to learn about your pressure map and the support you need.