“I tried going to work wearing old man sandals”… I tried on the sneaker-style sandals ‘Hoka Hopara 2’[동아리]

2024-07-13 10:00:07

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Sneaker-style sandals are popular in hot and rainy weather
Stylish design that breaks away from ‘old man sandals’

Hoka Hopara 2

This club is about shoes. The main character is ‘HOKA’. Among them, we chose a pair of sandals, which are summer shoes that match the season. We personally purchased and experienced the brand HOKA, which has recently been receiving a lot of attention domestically and internationally, and the sneaker-style sandal product ‘HOKA HOPARA 2’. We also tried ‘wearing sandals to work’ as a reverse idea.

The ‘Era of Hoka’ Sneaker Market… Trail Running Fundamental Brand Goes Mainstream

Hoka is a brand that has recently gained much popularity among young consumers. Like Salomon, it was born in Annecy, France. It was founded in 2009, making it much younger than Salomon (1947). If we were to pick out the ‘roots’ in the shoe category, both Hoka and Salomon can be considered trail running. Both brands are from the French Alps. In Salomon’s case, it started with ski equipment and expanded its business to outdoor products. Hoka has been developing its brand from the beginning as a trail running shoe. To be exact, it is said that it was a slip-on running shoe that could be worn when coming down from the mountain. In Korea, with the recent running boom, Hoka is being chosen a lot for road running, which is mainly done in the city.

The official brand name is ‘Hoka One One’. It is known to be derived from the language of the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. It is said that the Maori word was used as the brand name to express respect for the adventurous spirit and passion unique to the New Zealand region. Hoka is a verb meaning to fly or to fly, and One One is a noun referring to the Earth, and when combined, it means ‘flying around the Earth’. This can also be seen as the reason why Hoka emphasizes ‘FLY’ in various phrases and slogans (FLYLAB, FLY HUMAN FLY, etc.). However, since 2-3 years ago, they have been communicating only as Hoka, excluding One One. One One cannot be found on the brand’s official homepage or channels. It seems that One One was deleted for marketing purposes because the brand name was too long.

The sole of the Hoka Hopara 2 is engraved with the official brand name, the Hoka One One logo.

In terms of marketing, although the brand has been established for 15 years, it is said that it first launched a large-scale global campaign only 2-3 years ago. Until then, it had grown solely through word of mouth, mainly in the running community. In the early days of the business, Hoka’s unique combination of thick soles and rounded silhouettes was said to have received much criticism. However, it is said that even at that time, it was consistently highly evaluated for its comfortable fit. Later, in the 2020s, as ‘ugly shoes’ became popular, consumers’ perspectives on Hoka’s design changed. In addition, it is analyzed that the global marketing that started at the right time and the increase in consumer interest in health after the endemic created conditions for Hoka, which had built an image as a running shoe brand, to grow rapidly. The slump of Nike, the ‘sneaker empire’ that had dominated the market, also fueled the growth of other brands such as Hoka, Salomon, and On Running.

I tried putting a paper shoe tree on only one side of the Hoka Hopara 2.

Even with the freedom of dress code, the ‘old man sandals’ are a no-no… The shoes of office workers with no alternative

The rainy season is here and the heat is on the rise. As clothing becomes lighter, it is time to wear cool and comfortable shoes. As more and more companies and organizations implement dress codes, office workers are increasingly required to choose clothes and shoes appropriately for the season or situation. Although it may be inconvenient and troublesome for some, survey results are continuously showing that the majority of office workers prefer dress codes. Dress codes are a trend of the times. However, the scope of dress codes is still in a transitional state. For example, shorts, tank tops, and sports brand slippers are implicitly excluded from the scope of dress codes for work. (In the case of slippers, it is quite common to change into them after work and wear them in the office.) Some companies are implementing dress codes for a limited range, such as business casual. Most office workers agree that dress codes should be implemented within the scope of considering the nature of the work, situation, and manners. Until now, for male office workers, sandals were one of the items that were not included in the scope of dress codes, along with shorts, tank tops, and slippers.

In particular, the combination of white socks and sports sandals is called ‘old man sandals’ even in everyday life, not just at work, and is considered a ridiculous fashion. Recently, it is known that the old man sandal style has become popular among some female consumers. In the case of women’s sandals, there are many formal designs that are suitable for work attire, so it was not a big problem even before the dress code was liberalized. In addition, open-toed or strap shoes that reveal the tips of the toes, leather sandals, and mules are also considered women’s shoes. Due to the times and roles, men’s sandals have developed relatively slower than women’s sandals. There is also a factor of low demand because male consumers do not like to wear sandals. As a result, the options for office workers to choose cool shoes even in hot weather were inevitably limited.

Hoka Hopara 2 heel velcro style heel strap. This is a feature that the Hopara 1 does not have.

The Evolution of Old Man Sandals, ‘Hoka Hopara 2’… “The Appearance of Sandals That Can Be Used Like Sneakers”

In this situation, the sandal products that various brands including Hoka have been releasing since last year are interesting. Although they are sandals, they are characterized by a design that can be used like regular sneakers. It is also a rather cool evolution of old-fashioned sandals. From the perspective of office workers, sandals that can be worn casually without worrying about what others think when going to work have appeared. Representative products include Hoka Hopara and Hopara 2, Salomon Techsonic, and Asics Gel-Sonoma SE. Personally, I don’t necessarily want to wear sandals to work. However, sandals are an item that most office workers have considered taboo even in the era of dress code autonomy, so I think it is meaningful in that it breaks the existing custom. One more product option has been added that office workers can wear more comfortably during the hot summer. After much deliberation, I chose the black color of the ‘Hoka Hopara 2.’ As of now, most of the popular colors and major sizes of the Hoka Hopara series are sold out. Although it is not a limited edition product, it has gained a lot of popularity due to seasonal factors, and supply is not keeping up with demand. I bought the product around May, and even at that time, most of the popular colors and major sizes for women were sold out, and major sizes for men were also selling out quickly. The Hopara 1 was not displayed in stores and could only be purchased online. Joyworks, the official importer of Hoka, must have anticipated the popularity, as they raised the price of the Hopara 1 by 20,000 won. It was 159,000 won as of August last year, but is currently being sold for 179,000 won. It is the same price as the Hopara 2, which improved on the shortcomings of the Hopara 1. In addition, the Salomon Techsonic was not easy to purchase, and the Asics Gel Sonoma SE is a product I recently found out about.

I went to work wearing the ‘Hoka Hopara 2’… I confirmed the true value of the sneaker-style sandals

I also liked the design of Hokara 2 the most. Its design is characterized by its sandal-like sneaker-like appearance. As summer begins in earnest, Hokara 1 seems to be more popular than Hokara 2. Both products can be classified as sandals, but Hokara 1 has a design that is a bit closer to sandals. The heel and the upper are open on both sides in a sandal-style. Hokara 2 is completely closed except for the heel with mesh material. Hopara is an outdoor sandal designed for hiking. The mesh material covers the upper to prevent sand grains, tree branches, and other foreign substances from entering the shoe when running or walking on rough terrain. The mesh upper is also a key factor in determining the sandal-style Hopara 1 and the sneaker-style Hopara 2. Therefore, Hopara 2 is more suitable for the purpose of finding sandals for work.

However, the upper of the Hopara2 is mesh-like and the inside is completely transparent. If you wear socks of a different color than the sandals, you should be careful because they can be easily revealed as sandals. The result of going to work with dark socks and Hopara2 was successful. No one saw them as sandals. The ‘sneaker effect’ of sandals in hot weather was more satisfactory than expected. However, it is not enough to solve the heat all at once while wearing socks. This is because they are less open than regular sandals and the front part is closed like sneakers. When you enter a cool indoor space with the air conditioner on, cool air comes into the shoes. It would have been more comfortable if you hadn’t worn socks, but I will end the small deviation of office workers here. The front is round and wide, so you should be careful when operating the pedals when driving with Hopara2 for the first time.

The Hokara 2 is actually a product focused on outdoor leisure activities, and is more suitable for running barefoot along the water or in the grass than for commuting to work. Since there is no insole inside the shoe and the material that absorbs moisture is minimized, it seems suitable for use as an aqua shoe for playing in the water at the pool or beach.

In terms of functionality, Hokara 2 was also quite satisfactory. The cushioning was quite different from the Hoka Clifton 9 that I had worn before. The Clifton 9 is characterized by a soft and fluffy cushioning, and to exaggerate a bit, it feels like walking on clouds. It feels even more so because it is light at around 250g. Just looking at the exterior design, the sole is quite thick. The design is not my personal taste.

The Hokara 2 is not as soft as the Clifton 9. Instead, it holds the foot securely. It seems to have been designed for long-distance hiking with moderately firm cushioning and grip. However, since it was not purchased for outdoor use, I wish it had a little more cushioning. The overall silhouette looks sleek in the photo, but it is actually wide and round. The overall design and style of the Hokara 2, which looks masculine and solid, looks more stylish than other Hoka urban running shoes.

Inside the Hoka Hopara 2. There is no insole. The material composition focuses on dryness and water resistance.

It weighs around 300g, which is heavier than the Clifton 9. The upper part of the instep is made of 100% recycled (regenerated) knit material, and it is water-repellent, so it does not get wet easily. It is good to wear barefoot during the rainy season. Also, the Cordura mesh, which is 100% recycled material, is wrapped around it, so that water or liquid can easily drain when it seeps into the inside of the shoe. The overall material seems to focus on waterproofing and drying functions. The sole is said to be made of 30% vegetable sugarcane extracts for the top sole and midsole. The outsole is made of solid rubber. A solid rubber toe cap was added to the front of the toe to protect the toes when they get caught on rocks or obstacles while hiking. It seems that there is no need to worry about getting your feet hurt even if you step on them in a crowded place. The heel heel strap is a function that the Hokara 1 does not have, and can be tightened or loosened appropriately using the Velcro (hook and loop) method. The shoelaces are quick lace toggle style, making them easy to put on and take off. For the size, I chose my regular size as usual. Many people recommend going up 5mm to 10mm when recommending shoe sizes, but most brands, except for some, choose the regular size. In the case of the Hopara2, the regular size is wide enough (usually based on the width of the foot) and fits comfortably. The outer length of the shoes is longer for the same size Salomon XT6 and Asics Gel Sonoma. The Hopara2 is produced in Vietnam.