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I have been testing the Hoka Women’s Kaha 2 GTX Hiking boot for 4 months, walking regularly in my local woods and on the North York Moors in the depths of winter. They have stomped through mud, snow and ice, winched up steep grassy hillsides and explored rocky sandstone outcrops.

The Vibram® Megagrip rubber with Traction Lug design combined with the broad foot print, provide excellent all-round grip. The 5mm lugs penetrate into assorted surfaces, and the grooved treads on the heel and toe provides stride confidence when moving quickly. The sole is a good balance of strength and flexibility, allowing the foot to move naturally, whilst remaining supported over rougher surfaces.

The midsole is a technical, 2-density CMEVA with HUBBLE® and SwallowTail™ design, which basically is a soft cushion bed designed to provide a forgiving ‘plush’ impact. The bed is symmetrical, so gives a neutral base and has a 6mm heel to toe drop (24mm forefoot and 30mm heel). Hoka also use the late-stage Meta-Rocker, designed to propel you forward and encourage a natural stride, with the transition zone placed in front of the metatarsal heads, which provides a more stable base of forefoot support.

The Gore-Tex lining has kept my feet dry even when walking in the snow when the outer nubuck leather was soaked. Gore-Tex also allows the feet to breathe which is highly beneficial for longer and multi-day walks, year-round.

The  Kaha 2 GTX boots have seen a few changes from the previous model that I also own. They have introduced more sustainably-minded and recycled materials. The ankle support has been redesigned and now scoops down at the back to be more anatomically compliant to prevent potential pressure on the achilles tendon, though this is not an issue I have had on my older pair, it is a change made following customer feedback as the previous model hugged the back of the ankle. This reshaping does not reduce the level of ankle support and area of protection.

The distinctive styling of  Hoka footwear is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I absolutely love the look of them. They are easy to wear as an everyday item, but also hold their own in an outdoor environment, proving you can have style and substance! The large heel tab and 6 fast lacing tabs allow the boot to be put on and laced swiftly with minimal effort. The colour pallet has something for everyone, from stealth black through to bright coral blue. I tested the castlerock/coastal shade colourway which has just enough feminine appeal, without being stereo-typically pink or purple. Sizing is accurate to normal shoe size, so no need to size up or down.

I would highly recommend these if you are looking for a lightweight, waterproof, versatile boot that will carry you far and wide and leave you wanting to wear them to the pub at the end of the day.

Lois Fife
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website. Read more from Lois Fife