Womens hoka one one anacapa hikers mid gore-tex

Women's HOKA® ANACAPA MID GTX :: Gear up for adventure in your Women's HOKA Anacapa Mid GTX hiking shoes. Sustainably crafted from lightweight nubuck leather and recycled materials, GORE-TEX® makes this waterproof hiker a perfect pick for any weather. With a grippy Vibram® Megragrip outsole and innovative extended heel design that's been trail tested over 1,300 miles, the Anacapa Mid GTX is your versatile gateway to the outdoors.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inca trail approved! Perhaps the most perfect hiking boot ever.
By Kate Mahoney on July 8, 2022

For starters, you should know that while I bought these boots to wear specifically for hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, I am actually a professional hiker for a living and have tried ALL. THE. BOOTS. and ALL. THE. HIKING SHOES. I have a part time job taking peoples dogs off leash pack hiking in the mountains around the Salt Lake Valley where I live. I've been doing this for about 4 years now every day through every season (rain, snow and blazing desert summer sun) and have been through a lot of boots and shoes, so I know what's good and what isn't. I have also completed hikes such as mount Timpanogos and Half Dome among others.

My very first pair of hiking boots when I started this job were the Hoka One Speedgoat Mid trail runners and I loved them. . . while they lasted. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to Hoka boots and shoes that anyone with real experience will tell you is that those amazing thick and cushy luxury EVA soles they have just don't hold up for a long time. That's really unfortunate considering how expensive they are, which is why I never bought another pair after my Speed Goats degraded after one season.

I switched to Salomon boots and hiking shoes which are my favorite every day hikers and have been for years now. They are well made, comfortable and hold up to lots of abuse. That being said, my Salomon winter boots are not only getting old, but they're pretty rigid, and not as comfortable for my feet as I wanted for the Inca trail. I turned 40 the day we summited Machu Picchu and foot fatigue is my biggest battle on trail, so I wanted every advantage I could get in the shoe department.

I can't tell you how many shoes and boots I tried on before settling on these for my trip, but they included Keen, Salomon Predict (which were my second place finishers), Altra Lonepeak (DON'T DO IT) and Merrill among others. Here were my criteria:

- The softest, most comfortable boots I could possibly find
- COMPLETELY waterproof in reality, not just on paper
- Durable
- Super traction
- Laces that stay laced and don't drive me bonkers
- Don't look totally ugly
- Require very little break in time

These boots checked every single box for me and then some, and trust me, I put them TO THE TEST! Not only did I break them in hiking through the snow and rocks of Utah before my trip, but after the Inca trail, I wore them in the Peruvian Amazon jungle and to the desert oasis of Huacachina. They were absolute BEASTS!! Other people in my group were complaining about foot pain, foot fatigue, blisters, hot spots, wet feet, you name it! But me and my friend who bought the big sister of the Anacapa, the Sky Kaha, had ZERO complaints!

Some highlights that set these boots apart from the rest:

- 100% waterproof. Just TRUST!

- GREAT grip and traction

- You will not find boots with a more comfortable sole that shields your feet from feeling all the rocks and tree roots and trail debris you step on. This is why I HATE Lonepeak boots and shoes (and I've tried them)! They are super comfortable until you're actually out on trail in the real world. The soles just aren't thick and rigid enough to protect your feet from what you're stepping on. You won't necessarily notice it in the moment, but trust me, that adds up to lots of foot fatigue when the miles pile on!

- FABULOUS laces and lacing system! I really love the locking laces the enable you to customize where the boots are tight and where they are looser. This is a game changer for people like me who tend to get numb toes when boots are laced too tightly over the bridge of my foot.

- Super well made and durable

- Super supportive! I've had several ankle rolls while hiking in these boots and none of them actually hurt or weren't easily walked off. In other boots or shoes they surely would've cause more damage or possible injury.

- LIGHT WEIGHT! I defy you to find a waterproof boot this supportive that weighs as little as these.

- Unique and cool looking! I love the color!

- Fit is great, and I was able to buy my true size! I normally wear 8.5 in shoes and ended up with an 8.5 in these as well. Normally I buy boots half a size larger to account for sock layering and leaving room for my toes to not hit the front of the boots during steep descents, but Hoka seems to have accounted for that for me and my toes never touched the front.

- Little to no break in time. I wouldn't say these really took any breaking in, just more getting used to.

- Easy to clean. These clean up really nicely with a wet cloth and look great again!

The thing you should anticipate before you try or buy these is that they will feel different than any other boots you try on. They are extremely chunky, the soles will make you taller and the way the sole sticks out from the heel might feel odd at first and take some getting used to. I think their bulk and unique soles put some people off at first because it feels a little weird until you get used to it, but I'm telling you right now, THAT'S THE BEST PART!! Don't be off put by the unusual feeling until you give them a fair shot. Your feet will thank you! Also, that extra chunk makes them a lot more of a pain in the butt to pack, but again, WORTH IT.

So, what about the degradation of the EVA soles that I mentioned in the beginning? Well, I'm fully anticipating that will happen again with these. That being said, they are looking almost as good as new after Peru and 2 months of local hiking, so I will have to update when they do start to degrade. BUT even if and when they do, I must say that at least for a big hike like the Inca trail, they were worth EVERY PENNY. In fact, even if they only last me a couple years on my local trails, I'm at an age now where the protection from the impact of hiking on my feet, knees, ankles and hips that these boots offer is worth the price, as steep as that is, even if they don't last as long as other brands and models. I've learned that with hiking boots and shoes, everything is a tradeoff, and for me, comfort is king. So, if I can buy the most comfortable boots out there but they don't last as long as less comfortable boots, I'll take the comfortable ones every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Speaking of price, I bought mine locally for $185 (which wasn't a sale - that was full price) for reference.

Since I've returned from Peru, I have been hiking my favorite shoes again (Salomon XA Pro 3D) that I hiked Half Dome in, just because it's summer and hotter and I like lighter, more minimal shoes. But I have to say, after spending a few months in the Anacapa's my feet got SPOILED and even in my favorite hiking shoes of all time I noticed a significant amount of additional foot fatigue that I have not had since wearing my Anacapa's, and that's just in short 5 mile hikes! HOKAs will spoil your feet in the best possible way haha. Now I think I have to buy some HOKA hiking shoes for summers!

One more pro tip for the ULTIMATE foot comfort of serious hikers, ultra or trail runners and backpackers. After lots and lots of testing and experimentation with different combinations, I feel like I have stumbled upon the perfect "recipe" for happy feet on trail, free from fatigue, blisters, calluses, hot spots, sweaty feet, chafing, ALL OF IT. Here it is, you may thank me profusely later.

Layer 1 - Injiinji crew sock liners WITH INDIVIDUAL TOES. Not the socks, the sock liners. The individually wrapped toes make all the difference.
Layer 2 - Dr. Fredericks gel toe caps (for use on big toes OVER the sock liners)
Layer 3 - A pair of Darn Tough FULL CUSHION boot socks
Layer 4 - Hoka One Anacapa (or Sky Kaha) boots

I sincerely hope this review has been helpful to someone else! And yes, I paid FULL PRICE for these. Feel free to ask any questions. Happy trails, friends!

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