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Hoka Brings Back a Long-Lost Running Shoe as a Plush Everyday Sneaker

Old dog, new kicks.

Hoka shoeHoka

By Jack Seemer

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When Hoka released the Elevon in 2018, the brand still went by Hoka One One. Eventually, it dropped the “One One,” and with it went the stability-focused shoe that Runner’s World once said could make you “run like a rockstar.”

Well, you can’t keep a good shoe down. As first revealed by Highsnobiety, the Elevon is on its way back but not as an everyday trainer for racking up the miles.

Instead, Hoka reimagined the Elevon shoe as a lifestyle sneaker for walkers, commuters or anyone who just wants a little more bounce in their step.

Hoka Elevon X

The updated Elevon shares little in common with the running shoe of yore beyond a name — and even that got a refresh thanks to the addition of a midsole plate (which adds an “X” per Hoka convention).

Hoka shoe
The plate is visible via cutaways in the midsole of the shoe.
Hoka

The only visual clue hinting at the shoe’s previous life is its wave-shaped detailing where the chunky midsole connects to the upper, a characteristic seen on both the original Elevon and Elevon 2.

Hoka shoe
The original Elevon (pictured) had wave-shaped detailing at the top of the midsole, similar to the new Elevon X.
Hoka

Beyond that, the Elevon X charts new territory for the Elevon series but still plays within Hoka’s established sandbox, albeit in new and unexpected ways.

For starters, the brand traded the airy mesh upper of the original Elevon for one crafted out of Nubuck leather. It also gave the new shoe a full-grain leather mudguard. That said, it’s hard to see the luxe Elevon X venturing too far off the beaten path.

Hoka shoe
Nubuck leather turns the Elevon X into a luxe lifestyle shoe.
Hoka

Finally, the model features extended winglets around the heel — a trait that’s well on its way to becoming a Hoka signature. You can also see those on the performance-oriented Mach X 2 and Tecton X3, both of which came out earlier this year.

Hoka shoe
The winglets on the heel here are reminiscent of the Mach X 2 and Tecton X3 — both released in 2024.
Hoka

Pricing and availability

All in all, the Elevon X is a very unique shoe, even by Hoka’s standards. The leather upper will no doubt keep it confined to casual civilian use but the combination of a midsole plate and winglets show Hoka reinforcing its performance chops.

The Elevon X has already started to appear on Hoka’s overseas sites, with the US shop in tow. It retails for £170 un the United Kingdom, suggested a price of around $225.

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