Women’s HOKA Hopara 2 Hiking Sandal Review

Bottom Line

The HOKA Hopara 2 is the perfect blend of sneaker and sandal. Unlike conventional water shoes, these waterproof and protective footwear is designed to manage rocky paths and steep descents just as effectively as they navigate muddy trails and stream crossings. Featuring HOKA’s distinctive chunky midsole, the Hopara 2 meets the needs of hikers seeking better support and cushioning compared to standard hiking sandals.

The robust midsole and sneaker-inspired upper enhance their suitability for rock-hopping while preventing most trail debris from entering.In our testing, these performed exceptionally well on most trail conditions, such as dry dirt, gravel, and bare rock.

However, they had difficulty providing traction on extremely silty surfaces. Also, while we truly appreciate the spacious footbed and toe box, they may not be suitable for hikers with narrow feet. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Hopara 2s firmly secured a spot in our list of top-performing hiking sandals after evaluating them across various trail surfaces.

How We Tested

We’ve worn the HOKA Hopara 2s for over 20 miles, traversing forest road walks, single-track trails, and road runs through the mountains. While wearing them, we continually assess their performance in six key areas: comfort, stability, traction, durability, weight and packability, and ease of use.

Comfort

Overall, these shoes felt incredibly comfortable and very bouncy, providing lots of energy return, which makes them excellent for faster-paced trail activities such as quick hikes, jogs, and trail runs. The midsole is somewhat stiff, definitely more so than a typical trail shoe or what would be considered an “approach shoe” (i.e., light hikers or trail runners). However, that didn’t bother us, even when running downhill. 

During our initial break-in period, we noticed a bit of a hot spot starting to appear after about two miles with socks on. No blisters formed after the subsequent 6+ miles on the same day, even with several of those miles being sockless. We were thankful to discover that the ankle collar of the shoes didn’t irritate our skin at all; it’s actually quite soft and flexible. We also experienced no issues with the open area on the heel causing hot spots or abrasions. 

Wearing relatively thick socks (Darn Tough mid-cushion hiking socks), our tester, who has fairly neutral feet, found the shoe width perfect. The toe box and forefoot felt roomy, yet not overly spacious. Our toes had ample room during downhill segments, even while running. We noticed they felt a bit loose without socks, and the adjustment mechanism didn’t provide a snug fit. Individuals with narrower feet may not have a good experience with the Hopara 2s.

Stability

This is not a minimalist shoe, that’s for sure. The midsole is thick and has a 5-millimeter heel-to-toe drop. Even though the midsole is thick (especially for a sandal), it is not plush. It’s quite hard, actually, and does not absorb much shock at all. The upside is that this stiff midsole is bouncy and provides excellent energy return, which could be beneficial for individuals who sometimes feel like the terrain is a magnet to their feet. 

Don’t mistake bounciness for instability, though: we found these to handle a variety of terrain very well. We took them over gravel, scree, large rocks, dirt, and grass, and we didn’t once encounter a lack of rigidity or over-plushness. 

Due to the thicker midsole and full upper, the Hopara 2 definitely feels more like a sneaker than a sandal, which can be a positive attribute in certain scenarios. For instance, we believe these are an excellent option for warmer weather and more rugged hiking that a typical sandal can’t handle. Additionally, because of their sneaker-like structure, our ankles feel much more stable in these than in traditional hiking sandals.

Traction

The Hoka Hopara 2 excelled at moderate angles on dry dirt, grassy areas, and bare rock. However, during our testing, we took them up scree slopes where they did not perform well.

Descending a short but steep scree face, our tester ended up having to scoot on her butt and use her hands for balance. We were somewhat surprised, as the outsole lugs are relatively deep and the tread pattern is robust—similar to that of a trail running shoe. This left us wondering if the lack of traction was due to the outsole material, which feels more plasticky than rubbery. 

Durability

After more than 15 miles of use, we believe the Hoka Hopara 2 will be among the most durable hiking sandals we’ve tried. The mesh upper is quite flexible while being tightly woven—almost plasticky, similar to the midsole. 

The midsole and outsole are tough, making it difficult to flex and extend the shoe with your hands fully. While this may not be considered a positive trait in every context, it contributes to the shoe’s durability. 

While we haven’t noticed any issues yet, we could see the soft, stretchy knit section of the upper (ankle collar area) fraying or losing its elasticity over time. It’s made of a softer woven material and is only slightly elastic, which raises concerns when we consider stretching the ankle collar to slip the shoes on each time.

Weight & Packability

At 20.8 ounces for the pair, the Hopara 2 is among the heaviest hiking sandals we’ve ever worn—don’t even bother packing these as a second pair of shoes. That said, we’re not entirely sure we can label this as a clear negative, given that the Hopara 2 is a hybrid sneaker-sandal. It’s reasonable to expect that they are heavier than traditional hiking sandals. 

In a way, we can view this as a positive aspect, as it suggests that you don’t need to pack a pair of sandals. What we mean is, these are well-suited for rugged hiking and water crossings, allowing you to wear just one pair and forgo the need for additional sandals, potentially saving weight in the end.

Ease of Use

For the most part, the Hopara is easy to get on and off. Our tester struggled a bit with the quick-lace mechanism: the toggle got stuck a couple of times. You need to press the sides of the toggle in a specific way for the mechanism to operate smoothly. The Velcro strap on the heel is simple to use and also facilitates sliding the shoes on and off easily.

One important thing to note: We do not recommend these for very silty terrain. Our tester took these up a short scramble that consisted mostly of a sandy surface with loose, small rocks. Many dirt particles and several small pebbles ended up in the shoes, and because they are unlike traditional sandals, she couldn’t just shake her foot around to dislodge the pebbles. She had to take the shoes off to dump them out. With socks, this isn’t an issue, but it becomes rather annoying when wearing the Hopara 2s without socks.`

Should You Buy the HOKA Hopara 2?

The HOKA Hopara 2 is a solid choice for hikers seeking an all-in-one shoe suitable for wet-weather hikes or water crossings. The hybrid design of these shoes eliminates the need to carry a pair of hiking sandals and switch out of hiking shoes for wet sections.

The Hopara 2s also offer an excellent trail running experience in warm conditions. Even with socks, they allow the feet to breathe more than typical trail running shoes while providing the same level of protection for the toes and soles. Although they’re not inexpensive, they can effectively replace two pairs of shoes (sandals and tennis shoes), making them a great value. 

What Other Women’s Hiking Sandals Should You Consider?

The Hopara 2 may be a niche hiking sandal, but if you’re into it, there are some similar options worth considering. 

Keen Newport H2 Review: Like the Hopara 2s, which offer complete toe protection and a sneaker-like feel, the Keen Newport H2s may better suit narrower feet due to their slender footbed and tapered toe box.

Keen Rose Review: Another similar pick from Keen, the Rose sandals are slightly lower profile and feature a more sandal-like—versus sneaker-like—midsole. They still provide a secure fit and total toe protection.

Ecco Yucatan Review: The Yucatan Eccos provide a similar midsole feel to the Hopara 2s, as they are rigid and sturdy, and offer a secure sensation, thanks to the sandal’s upper that cradles the outside of the foot. However, they are open-toe, so you lose that protection (but gain freedom for your piggies.)