Revelation: Top-tier runners primarily opted for Hoka footwear in this year's Western States race, as per a recent survey on athletic footwear.
The 2025 Western States 100 ultra race, held in June, saw a clear dominance of the trail running shoe market by Hoka. With a significant 32.6% market share among the 369 runners analyzed, Hoka emerged as the most popular brand among ultra runners[1].
Hoka's popularity can be attributed to its range of shoes that offer cushioning, comfort, Vibram outsoles, and fast options with carbon plates. Models like the Hoka Tecton X, Mafate X, and Rocket X Trail were particularly noted for their suitability for the race's terrain and pace[1].
Other brands such as La Sportiva, Salomon, Altra, and NNormal also have a presence in the ultra running scene, particularly at races like the Hardrock 100. However, at the Western States 100 specifically, Hoka clearly stands out[3].
In the race's top finishers, more than half of the male and female runners chose plated trail shoes, many of which were from Hoka[5].
Here's a breakdown of the brands and their key features:
| Brand | Market Share at 2025 Western States 100 | Key Features | |-----------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------| | Hoka | 32.6% | Cushioning, comfort, Vibram outsole, carbon plates (Tecton X, Mafate X) | | La Sportiva | Not specified for WS, 12.2% at Hardrock | Mountain pedigree, rock protection | | Salomon | Not specified for WS, 8.4% at Hardrock | Rugged terrain focus | | Altra | Not specified for WS, 7.5% at Hardrock | Zero-drop, natural foot shape | | NNormal | Not specified for WS, 7.5% at Hardrock | Stiff rocker chassis, efficiency |
Notable mentions include Tara Dower, the Appalachian Trail champ, who ran the Western States 100 but did not finish (DNF) at the 73-mile mark. Fuzhao Xiang, who finished second in the race, was wearing the yet-to-be-released Rocket X Trail from Hoka. Kilian Jornet, who finished third, was wearing shoes from NNormal[2].
Interestingly, Caleb Olsen, the overall winner, raced in the new Ultraflys from Nike, while the runner-up, Katie Schide, was seen in Salomon shoes[2].
It's worth noting that Hoka's popularity in the Western States 100 race is significantly higher than that of the second-place brand, Altra, which was seen on only 12.4% of runners' feet[4]. Brooks, an early pioneer of trail running shoes, has slipped down in favor, coming in sixth place[4]. Nike, which hasn't previously been known for paying much attention to trail, is in fourth place at 6.3%[4].
The Denver-based running brand Hoka, known for its low-to-zero drop and wide toe box, continues to make waves in the trail running community[6].
[1] iRunFar and TrailRunningReview.com survey analysis [2] Western States 100 race results [3] Hardrock 100 race results [4] Market share analysis for Western States 100 [5] Analysis of shoe choices among top ten finishers at Western States 100 [6] Information about Hoka's shoe designs and features
- Despite the presence of well-known brands like La Sportiva, Salomon, and Altra in the ultra running scene, Hoka dominates technology-savvy sports enthusiasts, particularly during the Western States 100 race, with its range of sports-oriented gadgets, including shoes with cushioning, comfort, Vibram outsoles, and carbon plates.
- The popularity of sports-analysis tools and gadgets in the trail running community is evident, as more than half of the top finishers at the 2025 Western States 100 race opted for plated trail shoes, many of which belonged to Hoka, signifying the brand's dominance in the market.
