Hoka shoes are one of the most popular running shoe brands known for ultra comfort. While you can do training, hiking, trail running, and literal marathons, can you wear your Hoka shoes to play pickleball?
Are Hokas Good For Pickleball?(Is It Safe?)
While your Hokas may be comfortable, they are not recommended for pickleball since they are not designed for lateral and medial movements that are required on a pickleball court.
Hoka Shoes Vs Tennis Shoes Design
Running shoes like the uber popular Hoka One One Mach 4s are designed for moving in a forward motion. They’re also generally more cushioned for repetitive movement like moving forward as you do with running.
Court shoes or tennis shoes on the other hand are specifically designed for movement in all directions. They give you lateral support as well as the support to move forward and backwards.
Hoka Shoes Vs Tennis Shoes Material
Court shoes have a studier, harder sole to give you traction. You can see the sole of the adidas Barricade Tennis Shoe versus the Hoka Speedgoat 4 below for comparison.
Having the extra grip of the tennis shoes is important for pushing off, sliding, and changing directions on the court. You want a sturdy pair of shoes that are designed for you to be able to perform all these different movements.
Foot injuries from suddenly moving and then stopping or changing directions can happen even playing with the right footwear. You certainly would not want to take any chances and play pickleball with a pair of shoes that are not designed for those movements and surfaces.
The tennis or pickleball court surface can also be rough on shoes. If you speak to players that regularly play pickleball or tennis, you will find that even most court shoes will not last them more than six months. For some, this number is as low as one month. Below is an example of a pair of tennis shoes after 5 months of playing pickleball 4-5 days a week.
Shoes with material that are not designed for court surfaces will wear out even faster and will be required to be replaced more often. That means you will be spending more money to replace your Hoka shoes that are really not meant for the court.
What Are The Best Shoes For Pickleball?
So if your Hoka shoes are not recommended to play pickleball with, what are the best shoes for pickleball? The best shoes for pickleball are court shoes or tennis shoes. The exact brand and model of shoes are subject to preference based on your feet width, arch, and desired support.
However, there are certain brands and models that are rated highly by the tennis and pickleball communities. You can check out the next article for the exact models and recommendations.
Read Next: Best Court Shoes For Pickleball