When we first fitted wear-testers for this shoe, many were skeptical about its stability on trails because it appears to position your foot so high off the ground. After logging a few miles, however, they were praising its luxuriously soft ride--ankles sprain-free. "The height was a little odd at first," says Michele Gallen, from Reading, "but the cushioning really helped so you don't roll an ankle." How so? That foam cushioning is soft enough to deform around trail obstacles, rather than glance off as harder materials are prone to do. The outsole features lugs shaped like Hoka's bird-in-flight logo that have enough sharp edges to firmly grip nearly any surface, but its uniform height allows a smooth ride on pavement.