expected more
3/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · May 21, 2018
53 mpw training for middle distance came from the Saucony Kinvara 8
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 2/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
HOKA Cavu
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.4 oz · 24/20mm stack · 4mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Cavu FN replaced it
How it ranks
The HOKA Cavu’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 6 runner reviews so far, with brand history also informing the score.
Bottom-tier
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
68 Moderate
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Brand rating
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“The only downside is the durability, as my shoes had to be retired at 500 miles but I can usually get 600 or so out of shoes.”
“This shoe was so firm it felt like running on cement.”
“I did size down a half size in this shoe.”
“I don't feel like I am on stilts like the older Hoka models.”
“It felt a little bit too clunky because of how big the sole was.”
“The toebox isn't super wide but the upper is very forgiving.”
“My right foot has always felt weirdly constricted in this shoe.”
“I would not recommend it for very long runs (probably not anything over an hour, at least not for me).”
“Great cushion and energy return.”
“The fit is much better than other Hoka shoes.”
“The shoe is light, comfortable, and fast.”
Prefer this shoe over another
14% 1/7
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Averaging 7.3 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is well under the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and two reviewers use it for tempo and quicker runs.
- It lists at $110, below the $150 median for daily trainers for sale, and reviewers rate value 4.7 out of 5.
Cons
- Two reviewers find the ride firm, one comparing it to running on cement.
- Three of six reviewers so far record it as running big, and one sized down half a size.
- The Cavu 2 after it scores 87 on three reviews, against this version's 53.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Cavu
Each dot is one version of the Cavu, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2019 · 3 reviews
78 Decent
65 Confidence
-
Cavu This shoe
2018 · 6 reviews
57 Bottom-tier
68 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 7.4 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 8.2 oz · Women's 6.5 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q1
- MSRP
- $110
- Stack
- 24/20mm
- Drop
- 4mm
Runner reviews
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from HOKA
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
HOKA Cavu In Context
Reviewers Also Ran In
- HOKA Clifton 4 1 runner
- Saucony Kinvara 8 1 runner
- Saucony Kinvara 7 1 runner