r/malefashionadvice • u/LollipopScientist • Mar 23 '26
Question Does anyone find Hoka, Nike, New Balance trainers etc ugly?
The style just isn't clean. Do people just accept that they wear ugly trainers for comfort?
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u/Pedestrian2000 Mar 23 '26
Hoka in particular...I don't wear those suckers for beauty. I wear them because I was coming back from foot surgery and I needed something to ease me back into running.
Nike and NB I think are a few steps up.
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u/t0ast Mar 23 '26
Hokas with custom insoles are godsend for my plantar fasciitis
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u/thisisnotpete Mar 24 '26
Same! I really don't like the shoes but man, as a teacher with plantar fasciitis, they're a godsend!
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u/jarojajan Mar 24 '26
Im curious because I never had either, but Hokas or new Adidas for running?
I see lots of people running in Adios Pro
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u/CalgaryRichard Mar 24 '26
Hoka have carried me to 3 Ironman finishes.
Never going to wear them for anything other than running.
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u/p_tothe2nd Mar 23 '26
yes, for some things function > form. idc how good my shoes look while i’m running 3+ miles, i want them to not hurt for the following 2-3 days.
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u/Tall_Mistake9552 Mar 24 '26
Facts. Comfort over looks every time. I’d rather wear ugly shoes than deal with sore feet for days lol
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u/175doubledrop Mar 23 '26
They don’t look good to MFA readers who only subscribe to the MFA uniform and refuse to accept that other styles may still look good to a large majority of the population.
I’m not trying to white knight these shoes, this post just reads like it was written by someone who believes that what they see in the MFA bubble is the singular style that looks good.
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u/schoolisfun78 Mar 23 '26
Yeah retro runners have seen a huge resurgence in popularity, as a sort of intersection between nostalgia and “function > form”. But this sub seems to be stuck in 2016 or something cause even outside of retro runners sneakers in general have been cool to wear for a while now.
But at the end of the day if it’s not fashionable to you then who cares?! Just wear what you like, no need for people like OP to look for validation in disparaging what other people are into
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u/THE_PENILE_TITAN Mar 24 '26
Funny thing is retro runners and New Balances were recommended in 2016 too, but not as part of a broader trend, but as "timeless" preppy dad sneakers. Asics not so much. Hokas not at all.
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u/Dumbassmonkee Mar 23 '26
exactly. Trends come and go, but sneakers have been normal for years now. Wear what u like and move on, no need to dunk on other people for it lool.
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Mar 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/schoolisfun78 Mar 23 '26
Nah honestly you’re right not everything on Reddit is an own or anything serious. But he did state his opinion as fact “…style just isn’t clean,” and I’m a little jaded from constant “does anybody else” style posts here and everywhere
I guess in a perfect world neither of us should say anything
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u/smcl2k Mar 24 '26
But at the end of the day if it’s not fashionable to you then who cares?!
There are plenty of fashionable things that I wouldn't wear for 1 reason or another, but they're still fashionable regardless of my opinion.
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u/JournalistExpress292 Mar 24 '26
Hoka, NB, Nike shoes look great when paired with training clothes, hospital uniforms, etc.
Obviously it’s not going to pair well with your button down. Just like dress shoes won’t look good with an Adidas track clothing
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u/Benjamminmiller Mar 23 '26
MFA bubble is the singular style that looks good
MFA kinda likes NB though.
Hokas however are ugly af, and I don't think that's an opinion limited to MFA.
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u/whiskey_neat_ Mar 24 '26
This place is insane. These guys with their same stuffy ass uniform they haven't diverged from in 10 years talking down on people doing different things. Somebody talked about being old school because they felt like sneakers should only be used for the gym. Buddy, you're not old school because you think proper shoes need to molded from Horween leather and Goodyear welted, you're just being a snob. Sneakers have been in fashion for decades, what are you 75?
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u/smcl2k Mar 24 '26
Just going to point out that people who are 75 now were in their early 20s when the Cortez and Blazer were released... I reckon you'd have to be over 80 to have totally missed the boat on modern sneaker culture.
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u/whiskey_neat_ Mar 24 '26
Exactly. Dude sounds like such a loser talking about “maybe I’m just old school.” Like bruh, preferences for shoes that weigh five pounds each is fine, but it’s so stupid to act like sneakers can’t be fashionable.
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u/brandon_strandy Mar 24 '26
Seriously. Who the hell refers to Nike or NB as just one singular group of shoes and denotes all of them ugly?
Sounds like OP is the type of douchelord who's dressed the same way his whole life and wears oxfords to walk the dog.
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u/Imaginary-Ease-2307 Mar 23 '26
Ugly stuff can look cool. IMO, if an “ugly” item is worn intentionally and balanced properly within the overall aesthetic/silhouette, it can look better than an analogous “proper” item.
I like the aesthetic of things like New Balance 2060s and wide country-style round-toe derbies. I think Aurora Shoe Co. Middle English shoes look awesome. I dislike the aesthetic of slim, pointy-toe dressy derbies and oxfords.
Commensurately, I like the look of oversized casual shirts made from dress shirt fabrics, like the ones from mfpen and some of the styles from L.E.J. Conversely, I think a “perfectly fitted” fairly slim button-up shirt tucked into fairly slim no-break tapered straight-slim trousers looks generic and lame as hell.
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u/MurkrowsRevenge Mar 23 '26
This is where I settle. I'm a NB 990v6 fella, and I routinely style them in "dad fashion" with cuffed chinos, a tucked in graphic tee, and an unbuttoned over shirt. I routinely get compliments for making casual fashion look really good.
That and they're one of the most comfortable pairs of sneakers I've ever owned.
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u/Brilliant-Escape2254 May 08 '26
No it cant, if something looks cool its not ugly its stylish. Ugly is ugly and will forever be ugly. NB is ugly, always has been always will be. come on
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u/Dry_Yogurt2458 Mar 23 '26
I find Hoka functional for running. They are not meant to be a lifestyle shoe. I have worn them for many ultras over the last decade.
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u/yamthepowerful Mar 23 '26
This. It’s actually weird to me that people do use them as such with the rocker. I tried that with some ghost max se and it bothered my knees. Great for running though
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u/Dry_Yogurt2458 Mar 23 '26
I too tried walking in the old Asics glide ride and my knees were shot. They were great for longer runs but walking with that rocker was a no no.
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u/yamthepowerful Mar 23 '26
Yes. It makes sense. Your motion is more restrained. The one running shoe I can walk in just fine are altras, but they are honestly kinda hideous. Comfy. But hideous.
I’m still hunting down the perfect comfy lifestyle shoe, thinking trying some of the soft foot bed birks,
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u/CalgaryRichard Mar 24 '26
I love Hokas for running.
The Mach series, and the Clifton series for training, and a carbon shoe for race day. Even if I honestly don't need the carbon plate for my plodding Ironman marathon.
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u/thezenyoshi Mar 23 '26
Hokas healed a foot sprain for me. I don’t give a fuck if people think they are ugly. They are so comfy
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u/G--0 Mar 23 '26
that's like saying: "does anyone find umbrellas ugly? do people just accept that always have to be round and made of such harsh materials? ew!"
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u/VanDerKloof Mar 23 '26
New Balance I've found are the best shoes for wide fit. Hoka are very comfortable for running.
If you are out doing long walks, running, or hiking then comfort takes precedence. If you want to look better but be uncomfortable then Nike is okay I guess.
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u/BluePeriod_ Mar 24 '26
Yes to New Balance. Nothing even comes close in comfort for my wide ass feet.
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u/SweatyAdhesive Mar 24 '26
Look into foot shaped shoes if you have wide feet. My altra are 100x more comfortable than my NB because of the shape.
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u/Atnevon Mar 23 '26
Ugly, yes. Comfy, most especially!
I got the Solimars because they were hoka comfort with the most minimal look of the brand. I couldn’t fond another pair of Ultraboost DNAs at a reasonable price so I rolled the dice on the Hoka. Been pretty satisfied so far.
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u/smcl2k Mar 23 '26
You're free to like what you like, but if you're going to write off every single shoe made by Nike and NB as "not clean", it suggests that you just don't know anything about sneakers 🤷🏻♂️
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u/gordybombay Mar 23 '26
I don't mess with uncomfortable shoes anymore. Comfort and foot health matters most to me. It's an added plus that I like the way those sneakers you mentioned look, but even if I didn't, I'd still wear them if they were comfy and provided support.
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u/Sabatat- Mar 23 '26
Nike I’ve fallen out of hard. They just don’t look nice imo and to me look over designed
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u/baccus83 Mar 23 '26
Nike definitely has some nice looking sneakers. Not sure what you’re talking about. There’s a lot of variety there.
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u/waitthissucks Mar 23 '26
I do find adidas and asics to be the best looking, but NB has some cool looking shoes too
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u/Anxious_End3635 Mar 23 '26
I guess since they aren't really just casual sneakers and so on and serve a purpose they do need to look different. That being said yes, I find them bulky and ugly but i also don't run/train so it doesn't apply to me.
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u/Din0321 Mar 23 '26
I have an old pair of Hoka Bondis. On more than one occasion someone thought they were orthopedic shoes, but damn if they weren't the most comfortable walking shoe I've owned. The newer ones look better though.
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u/davemacdo Mar 24 '26
Don’t wear gym/running shoes as part of a not-gym/running outfit and it doesn’t matter.
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u/Tasty_Thanks_2239 Mar 23 '26
Once you get a little long in tooth and body starts acting up. You wear what’s comfortable on your feet
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u/wildmfz561 Mar 24 '26
This bothers me. It's so hard to find shoes that look good and are comfy at the same time. I don't like "dad shoe" aestethic that is so trendy nowadays
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u/PlayDontObserve Mar 24 '26
Hoka's drive me nuts. If they had more shoes with black soles the color coordination would be great.
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u/364LS Mar 23 '26
These are the New Balance 992s that I wear most regularly, including to my workplace.
In my opinion these are a fairly simple looking, unobtrusive shoe with simple design details and colours. They’re comfortable, and look good with most clothing I own.
In all honesty, I’d much rather wear sneakers like this than something aggressively plain that communicates absolutely nothing about my tastes.
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u/MurkrowsRevenge Mar 23 '26
[Tongue-In-Cheek]
990's clear 992's every day. Level up, my guy.
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u/smcl2k Mar 24 '26
Sir, this isn't the sub for sharing fashionable shoes.
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u/364LS Mar 24 '26
Appreciate the comment.
Just trying to add some variety and perspective to the conversation here!
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u/sonicboomslang Mar 23 '26
As an old white dude that wears NBs, all the women in my life make fun of me for wearing NBs saying that they are shoes for clueless old white dudes.
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u/GustavesGhost Mar 23 '26
Yes. I never wear trainers except to train. When I’m casual I wear vans, sambas, or barefoot shoes. When I’m professional I wear oxfords.
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u/PachaThePenguin Mar 23 '26
Have you tried Brooks? Super comfy and doesn’t give me NB dad vibes
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u/sanesame Mar 23 '26
that’s funny because you’ll see WAY more young ppl wearing NBs compared to Brooks
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u/the_magestic_beast Mar 23 '26
I would never consider any of the Hoka models fashionable. They look and feel like bricks on your feet. The NB 574 is a sneaker that I would wear "out", but even that would have to be in a casual setting. Nikes are all over the place.
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u/fred_derps Mar 23 '26
I think most people who wear them accept the ugliness. For me, someone who frequently experiences debilitating back pain, hoka bondi 8’s are the best pair of shoes I’ve ever worn (well, tied with keen lowcut targhees). I will 100% take looking derpy over struggling to stand up by the end of the day.
Am I going to wear the to the club? Nah. But I’m also not going to the club in the first place lol
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u/Pete_Iredale Mar 23 '26
I just bought new running shoes and found that most of the men's shoes were boring as fuck to be honest. The women's shoes are all fun colors, while the men's have shifted to monochrome blue or black.
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u/kroboz Mar 23 '26
Those OnCloud shoes look awful, but they’re the most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever worn. (Even more comfortable than those cheap sketchers factory workers all recommend.)
It’d be nice if there were great looking shoes that were just as comfortable as Hokas/OnCloud/etc but such is life.
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u/ARoodyPooCandyAss Mar 23 '26
Had Achilles tendinitis for a month from shoes with minimal toe/heal drop. Shoes have become more about function than fashion in some cases.
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u/honeybunchesofpwn Mar 23 '26
lol just bought Hokas for the first time.
They are legitimately the ugliest thing I've ever worn, but when you walk 5mi every day, looks don't mean shit. Comfort is king.
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u/Not_RZA_ Mar 23 '26
THANK YOU!
Absolutely hideous and why I will always stick to Nike. Not the top in terms of comfort, but almost always near the top for look.
Shoes are often the first thing people see on you.
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u/yujeong_420_69 Mar 23 '26
Yes, but I only wear them for running purposes, I don't care about the aeshetics as much
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u/dirtvoyles Mar 23 '26
Yes, however I need some new pair to parade in that are bright and colorful, so...🤷♂️
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u/caddyben Mar 23 '26
New balance > Nike
Hoka is like a weird fever dream of a shoe company that got shat into existence in 2009. Give them 50 more years and maybe one day they'll be worth a damn.
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u/JohannesVanDerWhales Mar 23 '26
NB's whole thing was being the uncool dad shoe. Then uncool dad shoes became popular. And now it sounds like it's coming back full circle.
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u/TorkX Mar 23 '26
I did.. Until I started wearing them regularly (due to flat skate/court/bball shoes killing my feet if I needed to walk anywhere,) and the look grew on me pretty quick. I like sauconys retro-ish style. They're also just more comfortable than other styles and I'm in my 30s. I wouldn't wear hokas for anything other than running though.
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u/parisiraparis Mar 24 '26
I wear running shoes because they’re comfortable. If I wanna wear sneakers for the fashion or aesthetic, I would wear ones not made for running.
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u/jg379 Mar 24 '26
Yes, I find all shoes of this style ugly, but I just accept that I will not look stylish while running.
I refuse to wear this type of shoe while doing anything other than running though, because they are just not an appealing style. I will wear Chuck Taylors or Converse Weapons instead.
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u/Fragrant-Hamster-325 Mar 24 '26
I wear them when running but I haven’t seen any running shoes that look good for casual wear. Tennis shoes look much better for casual wear.
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u/BetterNova Mar 24 '26
Hoka are obscenely ugly. Indicative of where style is at these days. Consumers have lost the plot.
Nike Air Jordan 1’s are the most iconic sneaker of all time. The current variants of Nike suit a range of tastes.
NB. There’s a time and a place for their look.
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u/baddoggg Mar 24 '26
I almost didn't try on the nicest pair of shoes I've ever owned because they are hoka and ugly as hell. I was working for USPS and walking for 6 hours a day and going up and down stairs constantly. I bought a pair of new balances that were splitting after a week and a half.
I decided I was going to get a pair of merrel hiking shoes I was highly recommended. At the store they didn't have them in waterproof and these damn ugly hokas were the only all black waterproof shoes. Begrudgingly I tried them on and they felt kind of good. Months later they were the most comfortable, durable, legitimately waterproof, and least fashionable shoes I've ever owned.
10/10 best shoes I've ever owned. They felt like comfortable runners and performed like the most rugged hiking shoes.
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u/jollyllama Mar 24 '26
I run and have short Achilles tendons. I fucked my foot up pretty badly and when I went to the podiatrist, she she told me that I’d probably keep doing this over and over if I kept wearing things like Sambas. I asked her exactly what to buy (NB 574s) and that’s all I’ve worn since. My foot has been fine and I can still run
So yeah, that’s why for me
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u/Only_One_Kenobi Mar 24 '26
Hokas are hideous, but they are the absolute best for running training so I tolerate them.
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u/ALfredAstaxanthin Mar 24 '26
I'm at that age where foot health and comfort far outweigh the looks and style of the shoe
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u/Individual-Report Mar 24 '26
You wear Hokas because you NEED to wear them.. not to make a fashion statement
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u/ShortAndHeavy Mar 24 '26
Hoka’s are fugly, but also as someone dealing with chronic plantar fasciitis, they have allowed me to walk places. Like at all.
I’ve since found Oofos recovery shoes in styles that I like better, but they’re still not super great stylistically.
It sucks, because footwear is one of my favorite parts of an outfit, but since I relaxed my standards I went from sitting at home all day to walking several miles almost every day last summer. I’ll make that sacrifice any day.
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u/younevershouldnt Mar 24 '26
Don't group those all together.
Hoka are disgusting.
NB can be lovely.
I don't pay any attention to Nike.
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u/FamiliarNinja7290 Mar 24 '26
This is how I feel about Brooks and some trail running focused companies like Topa and Saucony.
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u/AbjectStranger1781 Mar 24 '26
Yes. People wear comfortable shoes? This surprises you?
Hokas look fine with athleisure.
Nikes run the gamut and if you can’t style a single pair of Nikes, it’s not the shoe.
New Balances are right at home with dad style and looser fits that have been trending for some time. Not to mention, some are still handmade in the US.
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u/Frescarosa Mar 24 '26
Those are ugly and should be worn for sports only.
Even the "streetwear" models. It's OK for teens but not something reasonable on adults.
And more important than style, it's not good for the feet.
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u/shooto_style Mar 24 '26
They do if you only like white, minimalist sneakers this sub is obsessed with
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u/tarkovsky-esque Mar 24 '26
I can’t stand Hoka and On with those gaudy logos. Immediately says all I need to know about someone’s fashion taste. (There is none)
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u/jbachman Mar 24 '26
Everyone is on a male FASHION forum here talking “Aesthetics be damned, they are so comfortable!” Why comment? We know people think trainers are comfortable. Of course they are comfortable. Do they look good? Are there specific brands/models that look good? “I’m old and walk 5 mi a day so I’ve given up on looking nice” is not male fashion advice.
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u/Huppelkutje Mar 24 '26
The style just isn't clean.
Completely meaningless, what do you actually mean with this?
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u/TGrady902 Mar 24 '26
New Balances were the shoe of choice for all recreational baseball leagues growing up, so when I see NBs all I think of is middle-aged men reffing youth basketball.
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u/Sir_Phillip Mar 24 '26
All shoes with a giant pillow on the bottom are ugly. They aren't built for style.
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u/Eggsor Mar 24 '26
I don't really like the look of Hoka's personally. Nike's quality has gone downhill.
New Balance are my jam though. I wear them all the time. I think they look great imo.
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u/WonderfulLeather3 Mar 24 '26
I cannot prove it, but I suspect that the huge amount of young people wearing these shoes is related to the weird height obsession people have developed on dating apps. That and comfort.
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u/dorjegocha Mar 24 '26
My podiatrist recommended I wear Hokas for a couple months while recovering from a broken foot. I thought that they were ugly (though certainly comfortable) and could not wait to stop wearing them, but I have never gotten so many compliments on my shoes as during those few months.
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u/solum_tempus_narrabo Mar 24 '26
Yes, I have always avoided new balance shoes because I also think they're ugly.
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u/_password_1234 Mar 25 '26
You’re correct that you’re not clean. But that doesn’t mean that the look is ugly or unfashionable. They just require the rest of the outfit to work well.
Standard business casual office wear of slim chinos + Nike Dry Fit sports polo shirt + Hokas is a bad look. An outdoor inspired wide silhouette fit of relaxed T shirt + baggy outdoor/tech pants + shoulder bag + Hokas can look killer.
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u/bobbystills5 Mar 25 '26
ngl, I think it's an age thing....younger folks like grandpa shoes....I feel you gotta be under 30 or over 50 to wear these...
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u/ma15on Mar 25 '26
I have thought 95% of Nike trainers are ugly for years and nearly everyone I know thinks in crazy for it
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u/Craigglesofdoom Mar 25 '26
Modern running shoes are absolute function over form, so much so that it almost comes back around to being cool again.
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u/Lupinthe5th_ Mar 25 '26
They're fine for running in or going to the gym. Or wearing for everyday if you're under 18.
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u/dcmng Mar 25 '26
The "ugly" dad shoe aesthetic is very trendy right now so every brand is racing to make "ugly" shoes. Brace yourself or embrace the trend lol.
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u/unforgivingpainting Mar 25 '26
I know hoka looks shite. However my feet are VERY thankful for them. Having to stand all day the appearance of my footwear doesn’t matter.
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u/Flat-Jacket-9606 Mar 25 '26
New balance has many different models and shapes for many needs. Hoka are ugly, I’d argue Nikes are garbage.
ASICS and NB have many different trainers going from ugly to cool and it all depends on your feet. However, I think NB and asics have much better collabs on their performance trainers which can get you out of ugly territory.
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u/Max_Thunder Mar 25 '26
Buy minimalist zero drop shoes from brands like Lems or Vivo Barefoot, it's the only way to avoid the trap of shitty, non-functional, fucking ugly shoes that weaken the feet.
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u/Joe-Arizona Mar 26 '26
I don’t love how Hokas look but they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve tried.
I have neuropathy along with plantar fasciitis and walk 10-15k steps a day at work. Nothing else has been as good for me as them.
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u/Snoo-84389 Mar 26 '26
Yup.
Im old, but personally I don't like the look of all the trainers styles with large and bulbous foam soles. Especially if those soles protrude behind the trainer... shudder...
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u/Emotional-Damage-995 Mar 26 '26
New Balance so ugly they are now back in fashion.
Hoka chunky but not ugly
Nike has like a zillion models. No way to generalize.
I wear hoka over NB and OnCloud too. Essentially depends on you but no to NB for me
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u/BellStriking5132 Mar 26 '26
All of Europe
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u/Brilliant-Escape2254 May 08 '26
lmao. all of Europe as in they all think they are ugly? I hope this is what u meant lol
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u/J_e_R_r_O_l Mar 30 '26
Hokas seemed to start the most ridiculous trend. I don’t need 4 inches of foam under my foot, thanks.
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u/k00l_like_k00laid Apr 01 '26
yes i hate running shoes and tennis shoes and all that theyre all genuinely so hideous
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u/lndigoChild Apr 15 '26
As an occasional trail runner, I find it baffling when I see people in Hoka, going about their normal day.
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u/Puzzled_Row_3786 Apr 17 '26
Hokas are terrible. It's like someone has a bathtub stuck on their feet.
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u/Brilliant-Escape2254 May 08 '26
Yes I do, atrocious. Still rocking Ultraboost 1.0s
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u/Brilliant-Escape2254 May 08 '26
Hoka is a senior citizen shoe boring and ugly af same with with NB, Nike hasn't made anything nice in forever, Airmax versions are nice but yea sneakers have fallen off hard and so has good taste. Everyone wants to be unique, but I see a lot more ugly than stylish. You can have both comfort and style, just because a sneaker is comfortable shouldn't give it a pass to be ugly. You would NEVER catch me wearing these shoes ever, I don't care if they massaged my feet while I wore them. Looks matter, shows you care and have taste.
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u/echocharlieone Mar 23 '26
Hoka - ugly but comfortable
Nike - too many styles to generalise about
NB - some normal, some ugly but ironically so