So, as I write this post, I was kind of struggling because I really wanted to just do a piece strictly on Hoka brand shoes but chose to broaden the scope a bit and include other brands.

Let’s begin with Hoka’s though since that is what inspired the post in the first place. Looking at most Hoka’s from an aesthetic standpoint, the overall design is neat, but the first thought is they look like something an old person would wear or a buddy at work said it made him think of a shoe a diabetic would wear. So overall, they have some neat colors and stuff, but the first thing that really stands out is the super thick sole of the shoe, which seems to draw the most attention. This is a look at the form of Hoka.

Once you dig in though and do a little research into what makes Hoka brand shoes so popular is actually in the sole of the shoes. It stands to reason that with a thicker sole the shoe is going to be pretty comfortable right.? Well after years of seeing them and thinking they just weren’t for me, I tried some on and almost instantly fell in love. That was without even really walking around in them. After walking around in them for a while I had this feeling like I was being almost propelled forward, it honestly felt like I had a spring in my step. It was absolutely, F-ing amazing! Like I said I also did a little research and what I found was that Hoka actually has a rocker in the sole that basically allows the foot to or the shoe to almost roll forward which feels like it helps you move so effortlessly.

At the point of writing this post, I have absolutely no sponsorship from Hoka, nor am I a brand ambassador at the moment at least not a paid one. I am truly just a person that tried on some Hoka’s wore them around fell in love with a shoe (as much as a person can fall in love with an inanimate object.) As I stated earlier, from a form point of view they weren’t my cup of tea, but from a functional point of view these shoes are in a class of their own.

I would recommend these shoes for anyone who is on their feet all day and especially those who have to do a lot of walking for walk. Jobs that these shoes would be great for would be nurses, doctors, restaurant workers (assuming they have non-slip version), retail workers, honestly just anyone who does a lot of walking and wants to feel like they have a bit of a motor propelling them. If you are skeptical, because let’s be honest for some the price is a little prohibitive, but you don’t necessarily have to pay retail to get your first pair.

I bought my first two pairs at a thrift store for $3.00 each, which is an absolute steal. I have also seen the Hoka’s at Nordstrom Rack in OKC, and I think I have also seen a few pairs in Ross Dress for Less in OKC as well. These discount retailers are also a good way to get some great shoes that are brand new, but at a much lower price point.

My overall breakdown is that Hoka’s are growing on me from a fashion as form standpoint now and they absolutely have my loyalty from a functional standpoint. Even after wearing OnCloud shoes which I can review at some point, I feel like for comfort Hoka’s leave OnCloud shoes in the dust, even though I think OnCloud look cooler and trendier. Where form meets function with these shoes, I say go for it and treat yourself to these little bundles of joy for your feet. Your feet deserve the best and in my humble opinion the best for your feet is a pair of Hoka’s, more specifically the Bondi7.

Form over function for me is one of my favorite brands, The North Face and Patagonia which for me pretty much go hand in hand even though they are likely competitors. The North Face and Patagonia have very loyal customers and I am really trending more towards Patagonia, mainly because The North face has become very mainstream which is a bit of a turn off for me, but who am I kidding I still love it. The deal here though is that even though Patagonia and The North Face create some extremely functional gear, it has become more of a form of wanting to look like we have some money to spend on what we perceive to be a bit of a status symbol.

Truly and you can see it in another post that basically 60% of my T-shirts are The North Face brand. I am leaning towards the Patagonia, because it is a lot less mainstream and yet probably just a little higher quality. Once again though it’s still more of a form than a function, but at the same time they do have a really high functionality and are great for those who like to be outdoors especially in nature. Here in OKC we have an outlet mall with The North Face outlet store which is a great place to get good deals. Another place here in the city that I like to check out which has a lot more gear like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and they also carrier outdoor gear such as camping equipment is REI Co-op. REI Co-op is like the outdoorsman and the backpacker’s nirvana and the only other place here in OKC that really even compares is Sun and Ski Sports which I would also recommend checking out.

Anyways let’s wrap this up. When it comes to form vs. function, I think both are quite important, but it really depends on the occasion. For work, function should be the most important, but doesn’t mean you necessarily have to sacrifice form, and when it comes to going out for a night or day on the town function doesn’t have to be sacrificed so that the form can shine. It’s funny and I have done this as well, where usually women are most guilty of this, but trying to squeeze your foot into a shoe that doesn’t fit comfortably just for the sake of the form looking good. In the debate of form vs function in fashion, it is possible to have your cake and eat it to.

As always, get out there and plant some seeds so you can start bearing some amazing fruit.

-Magbunga.com Founder