Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Shoe Review

Two years ago I was excited to try the Hoka Gaviota shoe. It’s hard to believe that it has been two years since I reviewed the original Gaviota model. At the time when I first wore the shoes, Hoka One One didn’t have many stability and motion control shoes so I was looking forward to trying them. Fast forward two years and we now have an updated and even better Hoka Gaviota running shoe model.

The majority of my recent miles have been run in the Saucony Hurricane ISO 4. This shoe has resembled the most Hoka like feel without the larger marshmallow like sole. Long story short, I was curious if the updated Gaviota 2 would provide a similar feel.

I am hoping that with the updates to the Gaviota 2 and Arahi 3, that I can find another Hoka shoe that works well for my feet and body. Below is my review of the Hoka Gaviota 2. If you have any questions about the shoe or where to buy, contact me!

The Hoka One One Gaviota men’s and women’s model each have three colors to choose from. All of the colors available are solid choices. My favorite was the one I wore for this review. The actual name of the color was Frost Gray/Seaport.

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Verdict

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If you are looking for a responsive and lightweight stability running shoe, I would recommend giving the Hoka One One Gaviota 2 try. While it isn’t the lightest running shoe, it offsets some of the weight with a responsive feel.

This shoe feels lighter than the actual weight and offers a balance of support and cushion. The forefoot remains to be wide enough for me and the updated mesh upper is comfortable and offers superb breathability.

If you want a motion/stability shoe, give the Hoka Gaviota 2 a try. The one thing that I wish was different about this shoe was the price. While I really like this shoe, I just feel like I can get so many shoes for less than $150.

The longest run I wore these shoes on was 11 miles. Just enough to get a sense of how these would perform on a long distance run.

Where to Buy the Gaviota 2 »

Here are a few pictures of the Hoka One One Gaviota 2 that I wore for this review.

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Initial Thoughts

I was looking forward to trying the Gaviota 2 given my experience with the initial version of this shoe. When I opened the box, I was immediately impressed with the Frost Gray/Seaport color option. As I mentioned earlier, the color options for this shoe are solid.

As soon as I put the shoes on, they felt incredible. The mesh upper was comfortable and the shoe really made me want to take them out for a run.

I started walking around the house in these shoes and really noticed the arch support. The overall support and feel of this shoe reminded me of the original Gaviota.

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Shoe Details

• Weight: 10.9 Ounces (Men’s size 9)
• Shoe Category: Stability/Motion Control
• How It Fits: True to Size (based on normal D width)
• Offset: 5mm heel to toe offset
• Forefoot Width: Medium (wide model available)
• Forefoot Height: 27mm forefoot height
• Heel Height: 32mm heel height
• Previous Model: Gaviota

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Overview

The Hoka One One Gaviota is a premium stability shoe that weighs around 10.9 ounces, which is a little heavier than the original version.

The Gaviota is built upon the RMAT J-Frame, which reduces over pronation by using a new EVA J-Frame Construction. You will notice this if you haven’t worn a shoe that shoe that offers this kind of protection from over pronating.

The redesigned upper of this shoe is comfortable, lightweight and offers improved breathability. The Gaviota 2 is an excellent shoe that can be used for daily or long runs.

Also, in case you were wondering Gaviota means seagull in Spanish, so expect to feel like you are flying with these.

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Sole

I really liked the Early Stage Meta-Rocker sole as it helped propel me forward with each step.

Similar to the Hoka Arahi, the Gaviota is built with RMAT J-Frame shoe technology. This lightweight sole has a firm EVA foam along the medial side of the shoe and around the heel to support and guide the foot. For those who aren’t familiar with RMAT, it is HOKA’s rubber and EVA foam that offers dynamic stability and responsive cushioning.

The sole is made of high abrasion rubber will improve durability and traction on most surfaces. I would recommend wearing these shoes on the road, paved trails, or treadmill.

If you are unfamiliar with the Early Stage Meta-Rocker technology, Hoka One One describes it as being “specifically engineered with a low heel-toe differential and a sculpted outsole radius in the heel and toe, creates a unique fulcrum effect and encourages a guided foot gait cycle.”

Below are a few pictures of the Gaviota 2 sole.

Hoka One One Gaviota 2 Upper

There are a few updates made to the upper with the Gaviota 2. The redesigned mesh upper not only looks great but with improved breathability, something the original Gaviota lacked.

Similar to the original version, the shoe tongue on this shoe was slightly padded and very comfortable. It’s amazing how tongues can impact the overall performance and feel of a shoe.

The Molded Ortholite Sockliner helps with odor management and provides extra support. These shoes really felt great from the first time I put them on.

The Gaviota had a wider fit due than the traditional Hoka D width. Here are a few pictures of the Gaviota 2 upper portion of the shoe.

Let me know what you think of the Hoka One One Gaviota 2running shoe!

If you have any questions or need help finding deals on this shoe, contact me.

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