Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX Review

The Anacapa 2 Mid GTX employs some pretty cool and novel new materials and designs, such as the heel tab to provide Achilles support, a Swallowtail heel that gives more cushion for those that heel strike when walking, and a plush dual-density foam midsole made out of 30% recycled sugarcane. We loved almost everything about these boots, although a couple of things could be improved upon.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Hoka has long been the brand where comfort is king. Known for their ultra-plush midsoles that soak up jarring impacts, the Anacapa 2 is no exception and is a welcome comfort to tired feet when on long hikes or traveling over hard surfaces. The nubuck leather on the upper is less pliable right out of the box than many of their other models that use synthetic materials, though we only found that it took a few hikes before it began breaking in.

The fit of the Anacapa is generous but not wide; we found a lightly cushioned sock to be a great fit for a medium-volume foot, leaving plenty of room for feet to swell on warm hikes. These boots don't dump heat as easily as models made with lighter materials or with more mesh, so they may not be the best choice for desert walks. Our biggest comfort complaint was the positioning of the lacing hooks. It is tough to get a good angle on the laces to get them to stay in the locking cleats.

Support

We found the compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) midsole featured in the Anacapa 2 to offer great foot protection and support. The Swallowtail heel, a rockered extension off the heel, allows for a more stable stride with more consistent surface contact for those who heel strike. That said, this unique design takes a bit to get used to, especially in uneven terrain, as the boot is taller and longer in the back than normal boot designs.

Lacing these boots up securely gives decent ankle support for carrying heavier loads, though as a mid-top boot, they do not provide the same full security as an over-the-ankle boot. There is a good bit of midfoot flex, though overall, the torsional rigidity of these boots is greater than many of the lighter mid-top models we have reviewed, and the overall width feels stable and secure.

Traction

The Anacapa 2 Mid uses the Vibram MegaGrip rubber compound for the outsole of the boot, a product that we have long appreciated having on many pairs of different hiking footwear. Sticky enough to smear on smooth slabs and featuring deep multidirectional lugs, this boot offers good bite in loose terrain.

Water Resistance

Now using a Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable membrane to ensure waterproofness, the Anacapa 2 has a reasonably tall 4-inch flood height. The 2-inch plush sole gives them an added height advantage as you can slosh through some pretty deep puddles before even making the Gore-Tex liner do its job. We did not find this boot to leak, and it passed our submersion test with flying colors. Once saturated, the Anacapa does take longer to dry out than other boots with synthetic uppers.

Weight

At 2.3 pounds for a pair of Anacapa boots in size 11 US, this boot isn't light — but it provides a lot of comfort and support in exchange for the weight. The cushioned sole, durable leather upper, and dependable support are worth an extra half a pound.

Durability

Made up of several panels of waterproof nubuck leather, the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX will last longer than many other boots that employ lighter and less robust materials. We took these boots into talus gardens and scree fields (i.e., lots and lots of rocks) and were surprised at how little wear we found after all our testing. Of course, there are a lot of seams on the upper, and the leather is not as thick as found on some of the really burly boots we have reviewed, but for the weight of the Anacapa and the high-tech nature of some of its construction, the durability is notably above average.

Should You Buy the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX?

This is not an inexpensive boot, but it does offer some excellent performance for its price, and we would argue that it is a good value. We recommend it for those who want a stable and comfortable hiking boot that feels more like a shoe and will likely last a good long while.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?