Hoka One One Cavu 3 Shoe Review:
The Hoka One One Cavu has been one of my favorite shoes since the first version 2 years ago. When the original Hoka Cavu came out, I liked how responsive and light the Hoka Cavu is. I found it great for workouts and faster longer runs because I feel more connected to the ground.
If you’ve run in Hoka shoes before, the Hoka One One Cavu 3 is a lot lighter and a lot less shoe than other Hoka models. It’s also similar to a shoe like the New Balance 1400 or Saucony Kinvara versus the Hoka Bondi 6. My body appreciates the cushion of the Hoka Cavu 3, but also enjoys how responsive it is for workouts.
The Hoka Cavu 3 looks boring and not like a Hoka shoe. Just glancing at it, you might not even realize it’s Hoka at all. There is a lot of cushion in the Hoka Cavu 3 without it being heavy or bulky.
Hoka One One Cavu 3 Quick Facts:
Hoka Cavu 3 Weight 7.2 oz
Hoka Cavu 3 Heel to Toe Drop: 4 mm
Hoka One One Cavu 3 Fit:
From previous versions, the Hoka Cavu 3 upper has been completely redesigned. The Hoka Cavu 3 now has a stretch knit upper with a bootie construction. The tongue of the Hoka One One Cavu 3 is attached to the shoe so it doesn’t slide around. The tongue-less construction makes it fit more like a slipper than a shoe. Hoka claims the lace less adaptive stretch knit upper provides a secure fit and I would tend to agree. It almost feels like you could run with the shoe untied and be fine.
As Hoka mentions, the Hoka Cavu 3 now uses zonal perforations within structured sections to allow increased breathability. The perforations allow more breathability in the inclement weather. We haven’t had much of that this winter, but I imagine it’s also good during the summer.
I’ve been wearing a retired Hoka Cavu 2 for living life and I already notice the tongue difference. One thing that I’ve noticed is the Hoka Cavu 3 does run slightly more narrow than previous versions. I typically wear either a women’s 10.5 or men’s 9.5 in the Hoka Cavu and I found even the men’s 9.5 was more narrow than previous versions. Is the Hoka One One Cavu 3 too narrow to run? No, but more narrow than previous versions.
Hoka One One Cavu 3 Ride:
The Hoka One One Cavu 3 has entirely changed from the Hoka Cavu 2. This made me both nervous and excited. I was a fan of the original Hoka Cavu the most and I also liked the Hoka Cavu 2, but still like the original the best.
The cushion is made up of a top layer of PROFLY material with a layer of EVA underneath. This blend makes the Hoka One One Cavu 3 light and soft but also responsive. The updated eva midsole provides more comfort underfoot and cushion in the Hoka Cavu 3 and a reason you can run fast in it.
The outsole of the Hoka Cavu 3 uses rubberized EVA. What does this mean? The Hoka Cavu 3 lacks blown rubber to grab the ground in inclement weather. While the Hoka Cavu 3 is not the worst shoe in icy or inclement weather, I would probably grab a different shoe if the weather is bad.
I’ve run a variety of runs in the Hoka Cavu 3 and find it best for faster long runs or workouts. I like the amount of cushion without being bulky.
Hoka One One Cavu 3 Conclusion:
I like the Hoka Cavu 3 and it will remain in my rotation. I will say, the original Hoka Cavu is my favorite but the Hoka Cavu 3 is a great addition. The lightweight comfort allows you to run fast but not bang your body up too much.
I’ve run about 50 miles in the Hoka Cavu 3 and will continue using it.
Current Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Hoka Bondi 6, Asics Cumulus 21
Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike React Infinity Run
Long Runs: Brooks Ricochet 2 Shoe Review, New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Saucony Ride ISO 2, Hoka One One Cavu 3
Races: New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook I talk about why you need a good running shoe, the anatomy of a shoe, neutral vs stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Hoka Cavu 3?
Have you tried Hoka before?
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