Reviewed by Karen Hamilton - Sportlink.
Karen says...
Founded in 2009 by French trail runners Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, Hoka One One came to the market with a different approach to running shoes with shoes that cradled the foot, with maximal cushioning , yet were still incredibly lightweight. Fast forward to 2019 and the launch of one of their new shoes the Rincon, so named after the famous surf spot.
Having run for many years in their trademark neutral shoe the Clifton and the slightly firmer Elevon, I was excited to try this on a run. Weighing in at 179g for Women and 218g for Men and with a revised early stage meta-rocker this instantly felt more stripped back and extremely responsive, yet without compromise on the level of cushioning. The single layer mesh upper held my foot well which I was surprised with considering how light it felt.
My first impression was that the Meta-Rocker (the curved mid-sole) was not as noticeable as in the more cushioned Clifton, but this could be down to the shoe giving a much more responsive feel. The majority of Hoka shoes, including the Rincon feature a heel to toe drop of 5mm. Having run in shoes with a higher heel to toe ratio, it didn't feel particularly flatter due in part to a slightly higher heel stack and the curved midsole promoting a more midfoot strike. I did find the sizing really generous, which is little unusual for Hoka, as we generally advise half a size bigger, but my usual size felt roomy in length.
The asymmetrical design on the upper and the sleeker profile makes the Rincon look much less bulky than some of the other models and makes for a very pleasing aesthetic. The Rincon feels fast but equally has enough cushion to make it a very comfortable all-purpose shoe. At a retail price point of £105, it sits slightly lower than a lot of similar shoes from other brands which normally range around the £120 mark, giving the shoe a slight edge over some competitors.