It’s a podiatrist favorite, too.

I first learned about the Hoka Mach 6 sneakers when my co-worker and fellow writer, Liv Dansky, shared that her father-in-law, a podiatrist who has been practicing for decades, is a huge fan of them. I immediately added them to my list to try. Like me, Dansky and her family are big into walking, and the podiatrist’s seal of approval only increased my interest.

Hoka let me know that the Mach 7the next iteration of the already-beloved shoe, was launching this spring. Immediately giddy, I excitedly awaited my sample to arrive, and the second it hit my doorstep, I put on my activewear, laced these shoes and hit the road.

Hoka Mach 7 Shoes

$145 at Hoka.com

Immediately, I noticed that the Mach 7 is light as air. The upper is extremely thin, to the point where I can see my hand through it. At first, I wondered if that would be a negative feature, thinking I’d have little support up top and that they’d become flimsy over time. That has not been the case at all; the upper has been just the right level of tight and is so airy that I can feel a cross-breeze if I’m moving fast. Because of that, the Mach 7 has become my go-to for walking outside in hot weather. (We’ve had quite a few days of hot, sunny weather this spring.)

They’re streamlined like my favorite Brooks Ghost shoes, which are my original go-to sneaker for warmer weather. One difference is that the cushion on the Hokas feels a little less stiff or dense—the Mach 7 is springy and cloud-like, with a highly responsive cushion. Now, you might prefer a stiffer shoe like the Brooks Ghost, especially if you need added structure. But I personally like a feathery sneaker, so the Mach 7 has dethroned that Brooks pair.

Because I walk on a variety of surfaces, I made sure to test these shoes on each: my walking pad, the gym treadmill and the roads outside. Just because I love a sneaker on the treadmill doesn’t mean I’ll like them on the pavement. And sometimes, a very light shoe leaves a lot to be desired on the road, leaving my body feeling the impact of my miles-long walk. For a shoe to become a go-to, it really needs to perform across each terrain.

My first impression of the Hoka Mach 7 sneakers was on the road, as I walked on both smooth pavement and pebbly surfaces. Miles later, they remained comfortable and stable. Next was the gym treadmill. Thanks to the shoes’ low profile, I could push myself with ease while maintaining a great grip on the tread. This translated well to my walking pad, too. Since they’re not clunky, I didn’t need to worry about losing my balance or overstepping.

I’ve been wearing these running shoes for close to two months, and I can’t wait to take them down to the beach for all of my summer walking. They genuinely live up to the claims from Dansky’s father-in-law. They’re perfectly balanced with a lightweight body, an impact-absorbing cushion and a breathable upper.

The Hoka Mach 7 is the perfect shoe for spring and summer walks. I’ll be wearing them for miles to come, and if you snag a pair soon, so will you.

Shop More of Our Team’s Favorite Hoka Shoes

Mach 6 Shoe

$140 $105 at Hoka.com

Bondi 9 Shoe

$175 $140 at Hoka.com

Clifton 10 Shoe

$155 at Hoka.com

Skyflow Shoe

$160 $128 at Hoka.com

Guide 8 Shoe

$150 $105 at Hoka.com

At the time of publishing, the price was $145.

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