Hoka’s Bold New Collab Trail Shoe Swaps Branding for Function in Stunning Fashion (Exclusive)

As California running and Australian cycling influences blend into a Tecton X 2 unlike any other, here’s the back story and a sneak peek.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published July 7, 2025

·

Updated July 8, 2025

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

As product nerds know, not all collabs are created equal. While some involve little more than co-branding, others run a bit deeper.

The latter is certainly the case regarding Hoka’s collaboration with MAAP on a new limited-edition version of the Tecton X 2.

hoka x maap tecton x 2 diagonal — This limited-edition Tecton X 2 marks the first collaboration between Southern California-based running brand Hoka and Melbourne, Australia-based cycling brand MAAP.

Though the trail-ready yet fashion-forward kicks do not launch until later this week, Gear Patrol got an exclusive sneak peek and a chance to speak with two key players: Hoka Senior Director of Collaborations Thomas Cykana and MAAP Chief Creative Officer Misha Glisovic.

What follows in words and pictures is all you need to know about this “more than meets the eye” kind of shoe.

Tale of a team-up

One particularly cool element of this collab is how seemingly natural its genesis was. While scouting store locations in Los Angeles, MAAP co-founder Jarrad Smith crossed paths with Cykana — and together they recognized that although Hoka and MAAP focus on different sports, they have much in common.

“Both our brands are kind of disruptive in the space and bringing a new perspective to running and cycling,” explains Glisovic, “So it’s a very organic [partnership], which makes it more fun to work on, when there’s a shared passion.”

hoka x maap tecton x2 on bike — The parallels between gravel riding and trail running made the Tecton X 2 a natural fit for Hoka x MAAP.

Once the two brands agreed to work together, the Tecton X 2 quickly emerged as the ideal platform due in part to its unspoken connection with cycling’s fastest-growing segment.

“I think trail running has the same vibe as gravel biking,” notes Cykana. “It’s a very come as you are space that is not compromising on performance attributes but definitely letting people know, ‘you’re not here to be judged.’ That shared ethos made me think, Oh, we’re going to build something special.”

hoka x maap tecton x 2 action — While it carries streetwear vibes, this shoe can absolutely hold its own off the beaten path.

Such a parallel is particularly fitting for MAAP, whose commitment to gravel can be seen in its extensive collection of Alt_Road apparel and gear. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Glisovic was already a big fan.

“A few of us in the office had the shoe already, and we love it,” he says. “It’s at the pointy end of what Hoka does with carbon [plates]; it’s very performance-oriented, and we thought it was a good opportunity to bring it into a more lifestyle place.”

Form follows function

Even so, this new edition retains the key characteristics that make the Tecton X 2 such a compelling go-anywhere option.

Highlights include a cushy dual-density ProFlyX midsole foam, a parallel carbon plate for propulsive energy return and a Vibram Megagrip outsole for reliable traction on varied terrain.

hoka x maap tecton x 2 vibram megagrip outsole — The Vibram Megagrip outsole helps you stay upright when the trail gets gnarly or slippery.

However, these shoes also feature a very significant departure from many Hokas.

“You know the Tecton X has got a very large logo on the side which we thought was maybe not as applicable for a streetwear-leaning shoe, and amazingly through the collaboration process, Hoka was like, ‘yeah you can take that off,’ ” says Glisovic.

“And there’s a device we use, our hi-viz reflective vertical strip that’s on a lot of our jerseys to help with visibility on the road, which we used on the shoe.”

That strip in the area where you often find a logo is quite striking, particularly when you consider how protective some brands can be of their identity when it comes to collabs.

hoka x maap reflective strip — Carried over to this Tecton X 2, MAAP’s trademark hi-viz reflective strip makes the shoe safer than ever on the road.

It speaks to a level of confidence on Hoka’s part that they did not hesitate to surrender that space in service of a larger purpose.

“The truth is, we’re not interested in doing collabs to stay in our comfort zone and stay the same,” notes Cykana. “There is certainly discourse around the placement as it’s pretty ownable Hoka real estate, but we’re really eager to push the envelope and do the radical thing because that’s what our brand has really found success in.”

“To see the reflective bar and have not just a [MAAP] brand application but a functional application on top of that, it’s a really powerful statement on this product and definitely one that will turn heads.”

Finishing touches

Rounding things out are some cool aesthetic notes, including hot melt overlays and splatter paint details.

As Cykana points out, the limeade-color laces feature an intarsia graphic, an 8-bit-like treatment that extends to the branded lace holder near the top of the tongue.

hoka x maap tecton x 2 lacing detail — The intarsia graphic treatment on the laces/lace holder is a more subtle but equally unique feature of these Hokas.

As with all Hoka collabs, this one comes in a Nickelodeon-coded “crag box” with fine packaging details.

Extra special for this collab is GroupTherapy, a series of community experiences, including runs and rides taking place in Melbourne, Los Angeles and Berlin.

hoka x maap tecton x 2 group — The GroupTherapy launch events will emphasize the shared passions of the running and cycling communities.

“It’ll look a bit different in each of the cities,” Cykana says. “But we’re really excited to use those spaces to bring people together and then hit the trails.”

Availability and pricing

The HOKA x MAAP Tecton X 2 launches exclusively at MAAP stores on July 11, followed by a global release on maap.cc and hoka.com on July 15 for $230.

HOKA x MAAP Tecton X 2

Learn More

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.