If I didn’t tell you, you might never even know they existed. With little in the way of fan fair or major announcements. Hoka has released their newest model, introducing the Hoka Solimar. Named after the famous Southern California Solimar Beach. The brand says that they offer a “sublime ride”. And are great for every day running. But what makes the Hoka Solimar unique? Below we’ll break down the specs, photos, and unique features.
Introducing the Hoka Solimar
Price: $125
Link: Click Here
Weight: 8.5 Oz
Surface: Road, Active
Drop: 6 mm
Stack: Unknown
Volume: 539 cm3
Spring: 31 x 33 mm
Carbon Plate: Unknown
Color Options: Black / White, Harbor Mist / Castlerock, Blue and Black (in promo photos)
Solimar – Features
- They are light at 8.5 OZ.
- Feature a 6mm drop.
- The soles are compression molded.
- A late stage Meta-Rocker is designed to provide a smooth transition.
- There is an Anatomical Achilles Construction for increased support and stability.
- The shoe’s volume (cushion) is relatively low at 539 cm3.
- They did not list the stack height.
Hoka Solimar Overview – What We Know
Taking its inspiration from the laid back beach vibe of southern California and its namesake, Solimar Beach. With the introduction of the Hoka Solimar, the brand has taken another step closer to fully entering the functional fitness market. With the Solimar getting listed as both a road runner and “active” shoe. And you will notice the initial promotional image (shown above) features a barbell and olympic weights. It’s a market that Hoka would love to be in, and this shoe looks to be a clear sign they are making their move
On initial first look, the Hoka Solimar doesn’t look like a Hoka brand shoe. And if you removed their logo, you might get the feeling it was released by a brand like ADIDAS or Altra. The look is stylish and features a much less aggressive stack height. With Hoka calling the stack height “approachable” but not listing the actual height on the website just yet.
The shoe also features a 6mm drop. Something that is definitely unique for the brand, who are typically known for featuring a lower 4-5mm drop. Functional fitness shoes often range from 4mm (NoBull) to 7mm (Nike Metcon).
The shoes overall volume (amount of foam padding) is down at only 539 cm3. With most Hoka placed somewhere in the 700+ CM3 range. You can tell the brand made a concise choice to drop the overall height and weight of the Solimar. And a decision that will either make or break the shoe.
Solimar Performance
I have not had a chance to test the Hoka Solimar just yet. But I will be getting my hands on a pair in the near future. Until then, if you have had a chance to test them. Please let me know what you thought in the comments below. Or shoot me a message!
Is This a Limited Release?
Right now there are only two color options available on the website. With the blue / black featured on the promo material not being available just yet. This tells me that they have either ordered a limited run to test the product. Or placed a priority to get some stock in and get to market as soon as possible. Hoping not to miss the summer vibe these shoes are perfect for. I think we’ll know by the end of October. If new colors are not available then you can guess this was a test run to see how well they performed.
Hoka Solimar Photos
Conclusion
I must admit, I’m interested. Introducing the Hoka Solimar was a great idea for the brand. As it fits a hole in their lineup that would target a lot of their current clients. I’m a big Hoka fan, and if they had some options for casual and functional fitness that didn’t look like runners. I’d wear them. Those thick soles are amazing for running. But for lifting, you need stability. So I’ll be keeping an open mind until I try these. Hoping for something I can do more than run in. And will update this section once I get a chance to test them.
