These $50 Hoka Look-Alikes Give You Max Cushioning and Floaty Support for a Fraction of the Price

These days, it’s hard to find a pair of quality athletic sneakers on a budget. Be it a pair of walking shoes for casual strolls around the block or sportier sneakers made for long days in the gym, footwear is so dang expensive. The sportier they are, the more pricey they seem to get; most premium athletic shoes cost between $120 and $180, with some models veering into the low $200 range.

So when I learned about of the Nortvi8 ActiveFloat Sneaker ($50) which costs just $50 and has all of the same features of pricier models—max cushioning, all-day support, a breathable upper—I knew I had to try it. As a frequent footwear tester and gear writer, I was understandably skeptical: Could a shoe at this price point compare with the best sneakers from top brands like Hoka, Brooks, and New Balance? Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience.

Nortiv8 ActiveFloat Walking Shoes — $52.00

Sizes: women’s 6.5-11 | Colors: 7 | Materials: mesh + TPU upper, EVA midsole

Pros: 

• Affordable
• Max cushioning
• Comfortable, roomy toe-box
• Slip-proof outsole

Cons: 

• Not as stable as other brands

First impressions

This shoe is from outdoor brand Nortiv8 but it looks like the design was taken straight from the Hoka Bondi (the wavy midsole, the extended heel, the gradient of colors) with a slightly more approachable feel. When I opened the box, I was surprised at the shoes’ quality; the cushioning was squishy and plush, the white color was bright and crisp, and the upper was nicely padded without appearing too thick. From looks alone, these sneaks were promising.

Performance

I put them to the test on my daily walks in Brooklyn where I racked up thousands of steps and even tried them during a 4-mile run. During my walks, they felt surprisingly comfortable and supportive. I found myself reaching for them regularly in my already-stacked rotation of shoes, especially when my feet were achy or tired. Another major reason? The white color stays clean longer than other sneakers because it has plastic TPU overlays that don’t collect dirt the same way that mesh does.

Then, the comfort: These shoes have an EVA foam midsole which strikes the perfect balance between soft and springy, so it feels good both while you’re walking and standing around. Under the heel, you’ll find a few inches of foam, which is important because this is the first place most people put weight when they’re walking. This took some stress off my joints, and the rocker design (lifted at the toe) helped me to roll through my stride.

While I loved these shoes for walking, they wouldn’t be my first pick for running, although I would use them for shorter jogs. About two miles into my run, my left knee started to hurt. My best guess is because these aren’t very secure; the only stability feature is the TPU film on the upper, which adds a bit of structure but doesn’t do as much as internal rails to keep your foot in line. With all that foam underneath, my foot shifted a bit too much as I ran over the broken sidewalks in Bushwick, leaving the rest of my legs to pick up the slack to keep me upright. The ankle hole also felt loose, so I quickly realized I had to lace them up tightly if I wanted to feel secure.

What I did love was the roomy toe box. I have wide feet, and I found the shape to be plenty generous without feeling like I’m swimming in them. After my four miles in 80-degree weather, my toes didn’t feel sore or swollen, which is common for me. However, some reviewers note that they run big, (although I have wide feet and I found them true to size). If you have narrow feet, you may want to size down half a size.

Final thoughts

For $50, this shoe is a steal. If you can afford the Hoka Bondi, it offers more support and has a much more durable foam that will last many more miles. But if you are looking to save some money and get a shoe that is comfortable enough for long days of standing and walking, the Nortiv8 ActiveFloat has got your back (er, feet?) on a budget.