Physical and mental well-being depends on regular exercise, which can be anything from your visit to the gym to doing your daily errands or commuting on foot. Unfortunately, some people experience painful soles, toe cramps, or heel aches when moving around, which makes it tough for them to stay active.
So, in order to tackle the situation you have to consider a good pair of supportive shoes to help achieve your daily goals. In this regard, two brands that will get you covered are Hoka and Ryka.
If you’d want to discover more about their features then keep reading this article till the end to better understand which brand is actually better for you. Let’s begin.
Comparison Table Between Ryka And Hoka:
| Ryka | Hoka |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1987 | Founded in 2009 |
| Cushioned | Thick Chunky Cushioning |
| For Women Only | For Men, Women, and Kids |
| Popular | Got Worldwide Fame for running |
| Rich Long History | Relatively New |
| Slightly low Prices | High Prices |
| Attractive and minimalist | Bulky and colorful |
| Can be washed in a Machine | Wash by hand |
Overview of Hoka:
HOKA makes and sells high-quality, high-performance shoes for anyone who wants to get the most out of their shoes, from professional athletes to regular wearers.
HOKA sponsors many professional athletes, such as runners Stephanie Bruce, Scott Fauble, and Thibaut Garrivier.
Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard started HOKA in France in 2009 in the town of Annecy. They both launched the brand so they could make shoes that would help them run downhill and get around in rough terrain.
HOKA’s main office is in Goleta, California. Deckers Brands owns the company and runs it as a subsidiary, they bought the company in early 2013.
Shoes from Hoka are designed with a cushioned midsole to reduce impact and relieve stress on the joints.
The Meta-Rocker technology makes use of a low heel-to-toe drop, implying that there is minimal variation in height between the heel and the middle of the feet, and a rounded sole to help in forward motion.
The Clifton is the most popular and best-selling model from HOKA. It has soft cushioning, a lightweight design, and a little bit of style, which makes it a great choice for a wide range of activities.
All kinds of athletes quickly fell in love with HOKA running shoes because of how well they cushioned and held their shape. If your shoes are weak and unstable, you may twist your ankle or fall more often, that’s why people love this brand’s designs because they are stable.
Overview of Ryka:
Since its beginning, the mission of the brand Ryka has been to constantly believe in and celebrate each day as every woman deserves strength and happiness in the world.
Sheri Poe founded Ryka in the United States in 1987 intending to develop a better-fitting sporting shoe for women. It was the first company to design sports shoes specifically for the “foot shape, muscle movements, and build” of women. Moreover, the company manufactures athletic apparel, bags, activewear, and other accessories.
In addition, Ryka merged with Global Sports in 1997, and later this sports industry sold its branded division to American Sporting Goods Corporation in 1999.
Presently, Brown Shoe owns this brand after buying American Sporting Goods in 2011.
In their huge collection of shoes, Devotion plus 2 Fitness Walking shoes are the latest version of their iconic style and one of their bestselling models with more than 800 positive customer reviews on the website to date.
It is a classic sneaker silhouette with leather overlays that reinforce the lacing holes, heel, and toe for increased durability.
Furthermore, the Ryka FIT Program and the company’s partnership with fitness organizations like Curves are aimed to develop and boost women’s confidence.
Major Differences between the Brands:
Now we’ll examine their features and differences to help you decide if one is better than the other. So, let’s begin with the ultimate shoe battle of Hoka vs. Ryka!
1) Comfort:
Ryka shoes for women are made to be as comfy and effective as possible, no matter what kind of performance activities you do. Their sneakers include cutting-edge comfort and support systems which also make them incredibly lightweight.
Their RE-ZORB responsive cushioning absorbs shock and protects against impact, so your feet will not ache even if you walk all day.
Moreover, the anatomically refined soles give you extra support, and the Skeletal Guidance System helps you move in a way that is beneficial to your health and comfortable in any condition.
Ultimately, the molded EVA footbed offers customized cushioning to the parts of your foot that need it the most for an overall enjoyable experience.
Alternatively, Hoka utilizes marshmallow-like cushioning in the heel and thicker foam in the forefoot, allowing a pleasant landing and a quick push-off.
Additional notable features include a compression-molded midsole, inner heel support, and PROFLY technology, which is intended to propel you forward and promote a more natural stride, while also improving traction on uneven or rough terrain.
Hoka shoes also have a broader toe box than many other popular sneakers, making them more appropriate for people who have a wide forefoot that lowers the chance of painful conditions such as ingrown toenails or aching heels.
2) Popularity:
Ryka shoes are more popular among women who have active lifestyles such as fitness walkers. The footwear of this brand has been covered by PR Newswire, CNBC, Outside Business Journal, and NBC News, among many other media outlets.
On the other hand, Hoka ranked among the top 10 best-selling running brands worldwide according to Footwear News in 2019.
Moreover, these shoes are originally popular for their oversized midsoles and are now getting hyped due to fulfilling the needs of a wide range of runners, walkers, fitness enthusiasts, podiatrists, and adventurers.
3) Target Market:
Hoka targets its footwear for men and women who have different kinds of lifestyles. The brand usually focuses on the triathlon community, athletes, and runners of all skill levels. The brand see significant growth in the consumer demographic aged 18-34 in recent years.
Alternatively, Ryka manufactures, advertises, and offers versatile shoe styles for women ages 21–35 who are looking for high-performance athletic footwear. The United States and Canada make up a large portion of their clientele.
4) Price:
When comparing the costs of Hoka and Ryka shoes, keep in mind that prices vary depending on the model and type of shoe.
Hoka shoes for men and women cost anywhere from $90 to $250 and most of their running shoes have a mid-range price of $100-$180.
Ryka, on the other hand, also has a large selection of shoes for women, but their prices tend to be lower than Hoka’s which charges from $59 to $169.
Design:
Hoka shoes are designed to look sleek that also have bright hues, giving them a unique appearance. The brand incorporates unique materials that are lightweight, responsive, and extremely durable so that you can protect your body without sacrificing performance.
Their Meta-Rocker design of shoes, which has also been popular as “wheels for your feet,” is the brand’s smart way to use geometric features to make a shoe shape that matches a runner’s normal gait cycle and moves them forward with ease.
Additionally, the Hubble heels and chunky soles on some models work best for athletes for lowering their knee and back pain. Last but not the least, Vibram’s high-traction bottom and supportive footbed made these shoes durable for long adventures on varied terrain.
Conversely, Ryka shoes are specifically designed for women, taking into account their distinct structure, foot shape, and muscle mobility which sets this brand different from other sneaker companies.
When women run, the excess weight is shifted to the outside edges of their feet, leading to a condition known as “instability at foot strike,” which increases the risk of injury to their feet. To make a shoe that “fits the shape of a woman’s foot perfectly,” the brand gives it a roomy forefoot, a secure footbed, a slimmer heel, and an increased instep volume”.
Also, if you are an athlete who enjoys running or workout regularly, then you will be able to get more value out of your Ryka shoes for a longer amount of time because they will not wear out soon.
Conclusion: Which Is Better For You?
This Ryka VS Hoka review has everything you need to know when deciding on the right pair of shoes, no matter if you want to walk or run a long road race.
From our point of view, Hoka seems to be the ideal choice for all types of runners whereas Ryka made the best shoes for walking and performance for women.
Also, HOKA shoes are a bit more expensive than Ryka, but the investment is well worth it due to their wider variety for both genders including the kid’s collection.
In general, the materials, and technologies of Hoka and Ryka shoes are different from one another so, it is up to the buyer to find out which type of style will work best for their needs.