Hoka’s Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX Is a Serious Winter Sneaker

A few years ago, I joined a winter rec basketball team (no further questions) and one of my adult teammates had these waterproof, slip-on shoes that were part sneaker and part slipper. They were it. They were like the grown-up, winterized versions of recovery slides that didn’t make it look like she just rolled out of a locker room. These particular shoes were The North Face’s Thermoball traction mules and I have since had a similar pair of Adidas’s now-defunct Puffylette shoes.

While those slipper-sneakers serve their purpose well (mostly to take out the trash and get coffee around the block), they have always felt just a bit flimsy for really wearing outside for an extended period of time. They’re perfectly fine: a barely there outdoor shoe that replaces a summer slide or an easy Birk. But when it’s very cold and the ground is covered in snow, a shoe that’s too low-profile just won’t do. So every winter, I hunt for a shoe that can do it better.

This year, Hoka came out with a shoe that begged to replace these old ones. They had the slip-on structure, puffy upper, and waterproof fabric I had grown accustomed to. (Slip-on and waterproof felt essential for make-it-easy-to-get-out-of-the-door mission. The puffy upper is just a plus.) They were more like a slipper than a boot, and more like a sneaker than a slipper.

HOKA Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX

Winter boot benefits without being a boot.

The original thermo slipper stuck out to me many years ago because it looked warm, was waterproof, and seemed a hell of a lot easier to get on and off than a snow boot. Of course, the issue with those shoes that lean more slipper is that they are really just warm. They’re not giving you traction or protecting your feet from any abrasive elements. Not so with these Hokas.

First, the stuff that’s great. The Hoka Kaha Frost 2 feels much more substantial than a slipper. It doesn’t quite have all of the bounce and response of a normal Hoka sneaker, but there is certainly more than you’d have in a slide. Your foot is on top of a dual-density midsole, which is sitting on top of the holy grail Vibram outsole. These are truly grippy. I’ve worn them to and from skiing, around New York City streets when rain has frozen over, and I was pleasantly surprised. No, it’s not quite as sticky as a snow boot, but it’s quite a bit better than any other sneaker you might be wearing in the winter.

The shoe is waterproof, designed with a Gore-Tex membrane and water-repellent, squishy outer. Because I did not take these to the Arctic, unfortunately, I can’t tell you if it hits the marketed -25°F-weather rating. But for cold mountain mornings at about 9 degrees, they did not steer me wrong. Also, the stretchy fleece around the collar is a nice, comfy little touch.

Beware of the sizing.

I read all the online reviews I could find for this shoe, and nearly everyone who had something to say about the shoe had something to say about the sizing. Most reviewers said the shoe ran small (even Hoka’s website recommends sizing up), while others said the toe box ran small but the heel ran big. I have these in my normal Hoka size, and I thought for sure they were a whole size too big. Which is not at all what others who have tried the shoes said.

To address my personal if not outlier of a conundrum, I added a shearling insert I was going to use to replace the lining of a boot. I also made liberal use of the quick-lace toggle, which really did not do as much tightening as my apparently narrow foot would’ve needed. The toggle is a little bit more prop than truly functional. While my feet stayed warm and dry, by the end of a whole weekend wearing them, my heels were a bit beat up by that oddly shaped heel.

I think that I could have done with a whole size smaller on these, while, through extensive internet rabbit hole research, I can’t find a single other person on the internet who is remotely in this camp. Maybe I have very narrow feet. Perhaps I got a fluke pair. Regardless, the sizing (or shape of the shoe) is just a bit off and not a direct swap for your normal Hoka shoe.

Should You Buy the Hoka Kaha 2?

I—maybe. I have been searching for a shoe that would fill this slip-on, easy-to-wear, won’t get my feet soaked in the winter for so long that I think the pendulum might be swinging too far the other way to say that they are worth all $200, no exceptions. Because there are notable exceptions. First, the sizing is quite weird. Some people (most people leaving online reviews, at least) have complained the toebox is narrow but the heel is big, and that getting a different size did not eliminate the issue. I, though, think they are just too big for me. My heel is certainly slipping, and if the toe box is indeed too narrow I haven’t seen it yet.

They also are not quite as easy to get on as I envisioned. They are absolutely still easier than snow boot. But, you really have to use the pull tabs on both the front and back of the stretch collar to get your foot inside without collapsing the heel. I think this is something I can get past, but I’d also understand if this defeats the purpose for you.

But I also know that a sneaker that can sub in for a boot is hard to come by, and these have done a pretty good job so far of completing the task. I’m not looking for a true hiking or running sneaker, after all. I’m looking for a shoe that will keep my feet warm and dry without much thought involved. And if you’re hunting for that, too—and if you don’t have an issue with the hefty $200 price tag—then I say go for it. Still, I’ll be waiting patiently for a possible upgraded pair next season.

HOKA Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX

Colors	3
Sizes	3.5-15.5
Materials	GORE-TEX, fleece, Vibram
Waterproof	Yes