Take Away

Hoka Gaviota 2 is a good shoe in terms of performance, fitting, and durability. Nevertheless, it has its shortcomings, and HOKA had to make some changes. In the HOKA Gaviota 3, HOKA designers made some updates that may look small but very significant. HOKA added plush to the upper and stacked up the midsole to improve fitting, stability, and performance.

Hoka One One Gaviota 3 Instant Impression

 It is not easy to find a gigantic stability running shoe with a meticulously done design. When taking HOKA Gaviota 3 out of the box, I noticed its big size, the stacked up midsole and the refined upper.

I liked how my foot slid in and sat into the midsole. The fitting on the upper was a snug fit. I thought Gaviota 3 could go well as a casual shoe too. Oh! My! The upper mesh took the shape of my foot, and it looked stylish!

The lockdown from the midfoot to the heel was on point. I did not have to think about the fitting, but I could not stop noticing the rolling on the forefoot towards the toes. It was like a rocking chair but more pronounced when I tried a heel striking. The roll was not close to what I have experienced in Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit, New Balance 1080v11, and HOKA Carbon X2.

Despite the high heel stack, it felt very stable and easy. The ride was smooth and bouncy. Racking up a 10k with Gaviota 3 won't be a problem. The 9.3 oz weight is not a problem if you are not looking for speed.

Hoka One One Gaviota 3 Upper Design and Fitting

The biggest change is in the upper. Hoka redesigned the upper by making it plusher. The upper has an engineered mesh that cradles nicely around the foot. The engineered mesh upper has perforations extending up to the midfoot areas for increased breathability.  

The major updates are in the collar, heel counter, and tongue. Hoka added more cushioning to the tongue and collar and reinforced the heel counter with a plastic heel cup.

The soft plush padded heel collar and tongue molds nicely around the foot, and they combine well with the heel counter to establish a locked-in. The foot feels supported in the midfoot because it sits exactly into the shoe.

The Hoka Gaviota 3 has a fascinating upper midfoot and lacing system. The upper midfoot has three layers: 

• The plush gusseted tongue.
•  Sturdy lacing system that runs from the top-downwards into the midsole of the shoe.
• Sturdy lacing attached to the engineered mesh.

The design offers a nice lacing style ad a customized fit. The laces run through a single loop in the tongue to lock the gusseted tongue with the alternating two-layered sturdy lacing systems in the upper.   

The plush upper is complemented by a removable thick sock liner that gives a runner a soft, comfortable feel underneath the foot. The Gaviota 3 felt elegant and sumptuous.

While I did not have a problem with the fitting, I noticed the narrowness of Gaviota 3, particularly towards the toe box. I fear that runners with broad feet may encounter fitting issues. The good news is that Hoka Gaviota 3 comes with a wide option for wide-footed runners.

Hoka Gaviota 3 Midsole Design and Performance

The thickly stacked midsole gives HOKA One One Gaviota 3 a domineering appearance. It looks big straight from the box.

HOKA added 2mm extra foam into the midsole of Hoka Gaviota 3 to enhance cushioning and plush ride. The midsole has a 5mm Heel drop. In some instances, a high stack height of a shoe faces instability issues, but with HOKA, things are different. HOKA compensated the high stack height with a broad base and full ground contact. I felt confident running in Gaviota 3 since the 5mm drop combined well with the late-stage Meta-Rocker to create a seamless rolling sensation towards toe-off. The late Meta-Rocker optimizes toe-off and suits well a mid-foot striker like me.

With the late-stage Meta-Rocker, HOKA ensures that you have more landing surface at the midfoot. While it guarantees stability, the problem is that you land flat and somehow disjoint the roll through.

With plenty of cushioning at the heel, you get to enjoy the heel-to-toe transitioning as a heel striker. Still, I felt that the roll-over was not as smooth as in the Nike Infinity Run Fly. The Infinity React Run Flykit has a more pronounced rocker feature than the Gaviota 3, making heel-to-toe transition excellently seamless.

The plush cushioning is complemented with the HOKA's RMAT J-Frame midsole technology and H-frame upper to provide a balanced, supportive, and smooth ride.

The J-Frame refers to J-shaped rubberized foam enveloping around the heel, medial side, and forefoot. 

In the Gaviota 3, the foam making up the J-frame is more solid than the midsole's foam cushioning. The idea is to provide support for an overpronator by steering the foot to a neutral position. It also increases the durability of the midsole.

Since Gaviota 3 is a stability shoe, Hoka did more tweaking in the outsole. One notable change is the increased rubber material in the medial side of the shoe, particularly towards the heel. I could feel my foot hitting the added rubber material in the heel (after the arch) then rolling inwards in a manner meant to curtail overpronation. Hoka also added blown rubber in the forefoot area to give the EVA foam outsole durability and enhance traction during running.

Gaviota 3 rides soft and stable. I have done 90 miles, and the experience is overwhelming. It is bouncy and comfortable. I have never experienced the foot getting tired after racking up a couple of miles because it feels soft underfoot when running in HOKA Gaviota 3.

Why You Shoud Buy Hoka Gaviota 3

HOKA One One Gaviota 3 is not a fast stability running shoe, so you will not reach your speed limit with this shoe. However, Gaviota 3 is the right shoe to go for if you are an overpronator due to its maximum cushioning and excellent medial support. The soft cushioning allows short-distance running up to 10k at a slow pace. It makes running easy and exciting because of the bounciness under the foot.

You can add HOKA Gaviota 3 to your rotations if you have Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 or Asics Gel-Kayano 27 because both are practical stability shoes.

Gaviota 3 is also one of the most solid running shoes in the market. It may feel bulky for runners, more so those into speed runs, but it is not a major concern and can perform best as a daily trainer shoe. The sparkling plush upper is mind-blowing, so a HOKA One One fan will be pleased to own a Gaviota 3.

Buy Gaviota 3 for Men       

 Buy Gaviota 3 for Women 

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Hoka Gaviota 3 is reviewed by Jane Parker, who is a passionate runner. She started running while in high school. It all started as a weight check until running got into her. She has never looked back since. To date, running is her main method of keeping fit.

Published: June 8, 2021