HOKA Arahi 8

Running these analyses costs money. Buy through my links to help keep lights on! I may get a small commission.

Overall

#175 in

Road Running Shoes

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score57% positive
23
7
10
Last updated: May 23, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit Iconbiegacz88
6 months ago

Wide foot runner. My milage is 40+ miles a week. I normally stick with new balance. I love the rebels for my daily trainer. I will say my favorite wide shoe is the Hoka Mach 6. I use those for races. I just brought the Hoka Arahi’s 8. It’s alright for the purpose I brought the shoe for.

Reddit IconBusy_Speed_6485
3 months ago

I returned them and got the Arahi 8 so far so good

Reddit Iconfaiqhayaza
3 months ago

Try asics gel-kayano 32, new balance 860, hoka arahi 8 see which one is the most comfortable for you, all three are stability shoes. I personally use the new balance 860

Reddit Iconfrazaga962
8 months ago

If you're looking for a lightweight stability type shoe, look at the Saucony Tempus. But thats if you NEED a stability shoe. I've run both the Arahi 8 and the Novablast 5. I got the Arahi after getting my foot scanned and being told I needed a stability shoe (I've worn stability shoes almost all my adult/running life). But after digging a bit more, mild pronation doesn't mean you NEED a stability shoe. So while the Arahi 8 did keep my pronation in line, I have been trying out other neutral shoes with built in stability elements (ie medial sidewalls, midsole firmness etc). That lead me to the Novablast...which tl;dr wasn't for me. Too plush/soft underfoot leading me to think it was less than ideal for lateral stability. By all means, get scanned/evaluated at running stores, but I think it's better to know what you're looking for in a shoe and tell them I want X, Y, and Z and see what they offer. Do that at a few stores and see where their recommendations overlap and then try those shoes out. If they feel good underfoot/while running then that's the best shoe for you.

Reddit IconGui0312
10 months ago

I went to a running store and after they recorded me walk/run on a treadmill told me I needed stability shoes. Took home a pair of Hoka Arhahi 8’s came back a week later with arch pain in my right foot 10-15 minutes into running. Tried a pair of Brooks Ghost 17 and although no archpain, seems to be some pain in the frontal area. 🤷‍♂️

Reddit IconH8rAV8r
3 months ago

Hey everyone, I’m looking for a new pair of running shoes and would appreciate some input. **Background** 6’0”, 195 lbs, Wide/flat feet, Injury history: left plantar fasciitis and right meniscus tear, Running: 3–6 miles at an easy pace about 3x per week My injuries heavily influence what I can tolerate in daily footwear and running shoes. **Shoes I’ve tried** **Hoka Bondi 7 (4E) — Prior Shoe** Width was mostly adequate, but still slightly narrow through the midfoot. Occasionally irritated my low/flat arches. Felt heavy, especially during tempo efforts. **Altra Torin 7 (Wide) — Current Shoe** Excellent midfoot width and roomy toe box. Fit my foot shape well. Couldn’t adapt to the 0mm drop. It slowed my pace and I recently developed Achilles discomfort. **On Cloudsurfer Next (Wide) - Recent return** Slightly snug toe box and mid foot width, but manageable. Lightweight and noticeably improved pace. Firmer foam + aggressive rocker aggravated my plantar fasciitis. This caused me to return them. **Shoes I’m Considering** 1. Nike Vomero Plus (Extra Wide) 2. Puma ForeverRun NITRO 2 (Wide) 3. Hoka Gaviota 6 (4E) I’m unsure whether I should be in a neutral or stability shoe given my flat feet and injury history. Open to other recommendations that balance spacious width (especially mid foot), moderate drop (not 0mm drop), cushioned but not overly firm. Appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks!

3 months ago

Arahi 8s are what I went with and they’re awesome! Stability and cushioning feels great! The Arahi is definitely lighter than most shoes in this similar category. Also, this shoe is more spacious than other Hoka 4E options. It can accommodate my entire foot even in the foot arch/mid foot area. That’s where I typically have most of my issues. I can’t recommend them enough!

3 months ago

Update: I went with the Arahi 8 in 4E and it has been the best running shoes I’ve had in the last 2-3 years! Cushioning is awesome and the stability is great! It helps manage all my injuries! Also, the mid foot is very wide and accommodating. My prior Bondi 7 and the new Gaviota 7 were too narrow in the mid foot even in the 4E sizing. The Arahi 8 is very spacious and I highly recommend them for those with wide feet!

Reddit Iconhbomb0
8 months ago

I have Arahi's and they're good but my first choice is a gaviota 5, I felt really comfortable in those but couldn't deal with the way my heel sat in them, felt like i was riding too high and slipping like crazy so has to return them and get the Arahi 8.

Reddit IconHex0ff
about 2 months ago

I’ve been running for a year now. I’m getting quicker (though still a beginner really) - roughly 24 min 5K and 49 min 10K. I run around 25K a week so nothing dramatic. I’m not exactly a waif (73kg) but I wouldn’t describe myself as a heavy runner. I’m nearly 50 so I’m fairly happy with my progress and my current speed, but being on the older side I’m a bit protective of my knees - I’ve had occasional IT band niggles after longer runs, but nothing that’s seriously stopped me. I’m in the market for a new pair of shoes - particularly for those easy/lazy day runs (8-10K at around 6.00/km pace) My current shoes are as follows: Saucony ride 18s - my “do everything” shoes. Nice and quick but maybe a little boring and I find them a little hard for easy runs on concrete. Hoka torrent 4s - my trail shoes. Nice and reliable, good ground feel, very comfortable fit. Always my go to for muddy runs and light trails. Hoka Rocket X3s - my race day shoes. Fast, comfortable fit and exciting- but make my knees hurt if I use them more than once in a week. Hoka Arahi 8s - bought these the first time I had a bit of knee trouble wondering if stability would help. They’re okay but they feel very flat - they’re no fun to run in. So I’m after something comfy, cushioned but not too boring. I tried the Clifton 10s and I suspect they fall in the boring camp. They seemed fine but I didn’t feel a spark from them. I’ve been eying up a pair of Nike Vomero Plus, but I’ve been struggling to find somewhere to try them on. I wasn’t sure about the fit of Nikes. I tried the standard vomero in store and wasn’t wowed, but I’m aware that the plus is an entirely different beast. I also tried the novablast 5 and did feel a spark - they felt light, squishy and nicely fitted - but I’ve never had asics before, most of them feel way too loose on me. So my question(s) - do I go hunting for the vomero plus? Are they worth the effort? Is the fit similar to the standard vomero? Is the novablast 5 really the shoe I’m looking for?, or am I missing something else that would be better for this job (easy/relaxed runs, mostly on concrete). I have heel slippage issues with various shoes (pretty much everything brooks make, the Adi zero, and the Hoka Mach X3) so I’m not prepared to buy sight unseen. Not too worried about cost (one of the benefits of being a late career beginner!) Thanks in advance lovely hive mind!

Rankings by Use Case

Top recommendations from others in the same boat

Other Reddit Recommendations: