Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX Women's Hiking Boot Review

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Hoka is best known for their heavily cushioned trail runners, but I have to admit being impressed by several of their hiking boots over the years. Now in its second iteration, the Anacapa Mid does a nice job highlighting the brand’s max-cushioned ethos while still checking the major boxes for hikers. The boots did show some weaknesses during testing in the Canadian Rockies, including a narrow fit and a couple questionable design choices, but overall, they strike me as a nice option for Hoka fans who stick to the trail. Below I outline my experiences with the women’s Anacapa 2 Mid GTX. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best hiking boots and the best women’s best hiking boots.
 

Table of Contents

• Comfort
• Weight
• Traction
• Stability and Support
• Waterproofing and Breathability
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Comfort

Overall, I would rank the comfort of the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX as good but not great. On the bright side, there’s a healthy dose of padding underfoot (as expected from Hoka), and the tongue and collar are similarly well cushioned. The boots are also fairly flexible, lending an athletic and sprightly feel on the trail. My only real comfort-related complaint has to do with fit: Paired with midweight hiking socks, the boots are noticeably snug around my entire foot. This led to some numbness and discomfort during break-in, although they have loosened up a bit over time. Wearing thinner socks helped, too, although I wish I had opted for the wide version of the boots to account for swollen feet after long days of hiking.
 

Apart from being on the narrow side, the boots have good energy return, making it easy to move quickly on the trail (and even jog for stretches if that’s your thing). The lacing system is also well-executed, featuring three sets of locking eyelets at the top that help ensure a secure fit. For reference, I didn’t experience any rubbing or movement within the boots, even when wearing thin socks to help with the narrow fit.
 

Weight

At 1 pound 15 ounces on my scale for the pair in a women’s size 8.5 (they’re listed at 1 lb. 13.4 oz.), the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX boots aren’t the lightest on the market, but they’re not overly hefty, either. In my opinion, they strike a nice balance: There’s enough structure and support that I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle when the terrain turned challenging, but I was still able to break into a jog on stretches of easy trail. For comparison, the Arc’teryx Kopec Mid GTX boots that I also tested in Canada weighed in at 1 pound 7.5 ounces on my scale for the same size (listed weight is 1 lb. 8.7 oz.), but it didn’t feel like too big of a jump swapping into the Anacapas. They are bulkier, but the extra heft wasn’t noticeable when alternating between the two.
 

Traction

In my opinion, traction is one of the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX’s biggest selling points. The outsole features Vibram Megagrip rubber, which is widely regarded as one of the grippiest compounds on the market. The lugs are also pretty deep at 5 millimeters, and there’s enough space between them to minimize caking when walking through mud. I found the boots easy to trust on everything from well-trodden trails to granite boulder fields, on slopes from mellow to steep. That said, it’s worth noting that the middle of the outsole (right under the arch) has sections of blown rubber, which isn’t great for grip or longevity. It’s not a huge knock against the boots, but some may find it noticeable on technical terrain, and these patches will almost certainly wear faster than the rest of the sole.
 

Stability and Support

Considering the amount of cushion underfoot, I found the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX to be a fairly stable and supportive boot. Personally, I like the level of squish, but those coming from something less cushioned may find the Anacapa a little tippy at first. Thankfully, the boots offer decent stiffness and a wide base that should meet the needs of most on-trail hikers. As I mentioned earlier, the lacing system also makes it easy to achieve a secure fit, and there’s enough arch support to help stave off fatigue.
 

However, if you plan to venture off trail or into challenging terrain when ankle rolls are more of a concern, this boot wouldn’t be my first choice. Instead, I prefer something with a more planted feel underfoot—like what you get with Salomon’s X Ultra 5 Mid GTX or La Sportiva’s TX4 Evo Mid GTX (my go-to boot for technical backpacking).
 

Waterproofing and Breathability

As its name suggests, the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX features a Gore-Tex liner for sealing out moisture. As I’ve come to expect from Gore-Tex, the boots showed no weaknesses in shallow creek crossings or marshy conditions. That said, it’s important to note that coverage ends fairly low at the back of the heel. You’ll want to be mindful of water depth before stepping in.
 

Unfortunately, waterproofing and breathability are often at odds, and I found the Anacapa to be a relatively poor breather. Temperatures were quite warm while I was in Canada, reaching into the high 70s Fahrenheit during the afternoons, and I ended up with sweaty feet by the end of each day. This issue occurred with all the Gore-Tex boots I was testing, but the Anacapa felt like the worst breather of the bunch, which was likely due to its leather upper (rather than synthetic). Hoka does offer the Anacapa as a non-waterproof shoe, which is worth considering if you do a lot of hot-weather hiking.
 

Build Quality and Durability

Hoka included numerous premium touches with the Anacapa. As I touched on above, the upper is made of leather—more specifically, nubuck leather. You also get high-quality Vibram rubber and trusted Gore-Tex waterproofing, along with a sturdy toe cap that effectively absorbs the impact of direct hits to the front of the boot. The lacing system is solid, too, with a combination of thick laces and sturdy eyelets (two plastic and one metal) for locking things down at the ankle.
 

However, there are a couple of questionable design choices that detract from the boot’s otherwise premium feel. First, the back of the mid- and outsole sticks out a good distance behind the heel, resulting in excess bulk—a downside for scrambling and other instances when your foot might get caught between objects. Second, the patches of blown rubber on the sole detract from overall traction and longevity. Again, it’s not a huge deal, but I wish the Anacapa had a full rubber outsole. Finally, while it makes the boots easier to get on, the inner heel piece at the back of the ankle is a bit polarizing in terms of looks. Hoka claims it helps with Achilles comfort, which it might, but it also adds more complexity to an already busy design.
 

Fit and Sizing

I went with my usual size (a women’s 8.5 US) in the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX and found the fit to be narrow from the toe box to the heel. For reference, I have a fairly average foot and rarely have issues with the width of my shoes. As I mentioned above, this led to some numbness and discomfort while breaking in the boots, which has lessened over time but hasn’t completely gone away. If I had to choose again, I would opt for the wide version (which, at the time of publishing, is not as easy to find).
 

Sustainability

Like many outdoor brands of late, sustainability has been on Hoka's mind, and the Anacapa 2 has a few notable eco-friendly features. This version incorporates recycled materials in the face fabric (71%) and uses sugarcane in the midsole and outsole (30%). While this is a great step in the right direction, we do hope that Hoka continues to push for more eco-forward changes. We hope to see a greater use of recycled and natural materials as well as Bluesign and Fair Trade certifications, which would ensure the brand is meeting high standards for ethical manufacturing. 
 

Other Versions of the Hoka Anacapa

I tested the women’s Anacapa 2 Mid GTX for this review, which is also sold in a men’s version for the same price. In comparing the two, the men’s model is slightly heavier and offered in different colors, but otherwise retains the same construction and feature set as the women’s boot. For our full breakdown of the men’s boot, check out our in-depth Anacapa 2 Mid GTX review. For those who prefer a lower cut, the Anacapa Low GTX will save you a bit of cash and weight compared to the mid-height versions. There’s also a Freedom variation of the low-top, which features a slip-on design. Finally, for hot-weather hiking, the Breeze Low and Breeze Mid look and feel a lot like the Gore-Tex models but without the waterproof membrane, resulting in better breathability.
 

What We Like

• Classic Hoka cushion underfoot, along with thick padding at the tongue and collar.
• Light enough that it’s easy to move quickly, but with enough structure that ankle rolls aren’t too much of a concern—especially if you stick to the trail.
• Vibram Megagrip outsole is aggressive and easy to trust on most terrain.
• Well built with a hardwearing nubuck leather upper, solid toe cap, and quality components throughout.
• Lacing system is well executed with three sturdy eyelets for locking things down.
• Gore-Tex membrane is reliable for shallow creek crossings, patches of snow, and boggy conditions.

What We Don’t

• Sections of blown rubber in the middle of the outsole detract from overall longevity and grip—especially when the going gets technical.
• The heel design, which includes protruding rubber and an inner piece that’s not fully connected, strikes me as odd and fairly polarizing.
• Those who prefer a planted feel will likely find the boots tippy and unstable, especially on technical terrain (they are best suited for on-trail hiking).
• Waterproofing ends lower than expected, so you’ll want to be mindful before stepping through water or snow.
• While not hefty by any means, the boots have a pretty bulky look that won’t appeal to the minimalist crowd.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

The Anacapa 2 Mid GTX is a well-cushioned and grippy boot, but there are plenty of alternatives to consider. As I mentioned above, I was also testing the Arc’teryx Kopec Mid GTX boots at the same time as the Anacapa, and I consider them to be more well-rounded. Despite weighing around 5 ounces less per pair (comparing the listed weights), the Kopec offered ample support and structure for both hiking and scrambling, and the Vibram sole is easy to trust on most terrain. While less cushioned underfoot, the Kopec also has a more planted feel (which I prefer), along with a more accommodating fit.
 

Another Hoka hiker to consider is the Kaha 3 GTX. However, despite being the pricier option, the Kaha doesn’t offer many upgrades over the Anacapa. Both boots feature quality nubuck leather uppers, Gore-Tex liners, and Vibram Megagrip tread. The Kaha is also slightly heavier and bulkier, checking in at over 2 pounds for the pair. Added up, I see little reason to spend up for the Kaha when the Anacapa will get you similar performance and quality at a better price and lower weight.

Last but not least is a more traditional leather hiker: Lowa’s classic Renegade. The latest Renegade Evo GTX Mid features a full nubuck leather upper, along with a reliable Gore-Tex membrane and a tacky Vibram sole. The Anacapa is lighter by around 5 ounces per pair and more agile as a result, but the Renegade is a step up in capability and performance for off-trail hiking or shuttling a heavy pack. That said, if you stick mostly to maintained trails, the Anacapa is plenty of boot and will save you a good chunk of change.
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