It’s always humbling going back to a more affordable, beginner pair of shoes. They’re fairly basic and very much imperfect. But at the end of the day, they do what you need them to do. Run.
Shoes like the Hoka Arahi 7 are fantastic examples of what a beginner running shoe should be.
Perfectly amazing? No. Utterly simple and functional? Yes!
Left Wanting
I’m not gonna lie. From the moment I first put these on, I’ve been critical of them. Coming from a much nicer pair of shoes like the Altra Superior 7s, these are lack luster.
From the thick puffy tongue, traditional fabric upper, and annoyingly tight eyelets, these give an impression of being cheap. Even running in them, they’re nothing special. I haven’t had a run yet where I take notice of the shoes doing an excellent job.
Instead, I’m left wanting for a better pair of running shoes. Ones that are thinner and lighter. But then I remember they my feet don’t hurt on the runs. Nor are there any times on a run that I’m inconvenienced by the shoes.
They do their job. Even if the runs aren’t remarkable.
The Price
Whenever I talk to someone who’s decided to start running, they usually have one or two items they want in a pair of shoes. But overall, they’re not sure what to look for. Aka, they’re easy to please.
But here’s the hard part. Most people, including myself, just want a solid pair of running shoes to start with. Nothing fancy, just something that’ll last for a few months.
We don’t want to spend an outrageous amount of money to start with either. That’s where these struggle.
The Arahi 7s retail price is a steep $145. Especially when you have other shoes like the Altra Superior 7 or Hoka Mach 6 shoes that are cheaper and better!
Thankfully, it’s not hard to find a deal on the Arahi 7s. (Right now, Hoka has a few different colorways on sale for ~$116.) But the same goes for the Hoka Mach 6s. They’ve been out for longer and it’s even easier to find a discount on them.
Why These?
I really wish there were things that set these apart as truly great running shoes. But they’re not.
If anything, Hoka is trying to undercut Brooks and their Ghost 17 running shoe. The price on those is $150. If I had to choose between these two, I would go with Hoka.
Where the Brooks may look flashy and modern, the materials are the exact same as the Hokas. LOTS of fabric.
Both shoes feel like you’re putting on a new pair of shoes from five years ago.
But the Arahi 7s have a lower heel to toe drop of 5 milimeters, while the Brooks have a 10 mm drop. Which for me means the Hokas don’t hurt my feet, but the Brooks do.
The Recap
I’m not trying to bag on these shoes or Hoka. Comparing these shoes to the Brooks Ghost 17s, make them an easy yes. Especially for someone new to running.
But if you expand your scope, there are much better options.
Options that are seriously better shoes and cost less.
So, if you’re wanting to give the Arahi 7s a shot, then make sure to find ones that are on sale. Or, if you’re a long time Brooks-only runner and hesitant to branching out, then these are a great transitional shoe.