We have not had this shoe under a caliper or on a foot. Everything below is HOKA’s published specification and one independent lab figure, read by a foot and ankle surgeon — and the two disagree in a way that matters.
It carries no score and no seal, and it cannot earn either until we test it. Here is what testing means on this site.
The published specification
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stated drop | 5 mm | HOKA |
| Lab-measured drop | 11.2 mm | RunRepeat lab |
| Lab-measured heel stack | 38.0 mm | RunRepeat lab |
| Lab-measured forefoot stack | 26.8 mm | RunRepeat lab |
| Weight, men’s US 9 | 298 g (10.5 oz) | RunRepeat lab |
| Widths | Medium and wide | HOKA |
| Removable insole | Yes | HOKA |
| Midsole | Sugarcane-blend EVA | HOKA |
| Outsole | Vibram EcoStep Recycle | HOKA |
| MSRP | $155 | HOKA |
What a foot and ankle surgeon reads into these numbers
The Transport is HOKA’s walking and commuting shoe rather than a running model, and the specification reads that way. A 38 mm heel stack is substantial cushioning, and the Vibram outsole is a meaningfully more durable compound than the blown rubber on most road trainers — which is the right trade for pavement, transit and standing rather than mileage.
Two things stand out clinically. First, a higher effective drop unloads the Achilles and the plantar fascia and loads the forefoot instead. If the true figure is nearer 11 mm than 5 mm, this is a friendlier shoe for insertional Achilles pain and heel pain than the spec sheet implies, and a less friendly one for forefoot problems. Second, the removable insole matters more than it sounds: it is the single feature that decides whether a real custom orthotic will fit, and a shoe with a thick moulded factory insole often has the volume for one where a thin flat one does not.
Orthotic fit
HOKA states the insole is removable. That is necessary but not sufficient — what actually decides the question is internal volume and heel-counter depth once the stock insole is out, which is exactly what our Orthotic Volume Rating measures and exactly what we cannot tell you from a specification. This shoe has no OVR yet. If you wear a custom device and you are choosing today, buy from somewhere with a returns policy and try the device in the shoe.
Who should be cautious with the Transport 2
- Anyone buying it as a running shoe. At 298 g with a Vibram commuting outsole, it is heavier and firmer underfoot than HOKA’s road line. This is a walking and standing shoe. Based on the published geometry, not on wear.
- Anyone with forefoot pain — metatarsalgia, a neuroma, sesamoiditis. If the measured 11.2 mm drop is the real one, more load sits on the forefoot than the 5 mm spec suggests. Based on the published geometry, not on wear.
- Anyone choosing on drop alone. Two credible sources disagree by more than 6 mm on this shoe. Until someone measures the pair in your size, treat the drop as unknown rather than as 5.
What we cannot tell you until we test it
HOKA Transport 2 — HOKA MSRP $155; Amazon pricing varies by size, colourway and seller. Price last checked 3 September 2026. We have not tested this shoe — if you buy it, buy it on the specification and on a returns policy, not on our word.
Podiatrist Tested is reader-supported. We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Commissions never influence a score or a ranking, and we publish shoes we recommend against. Read the editorial policy.