I Wore Hoka's New Winter Shoe in a Snowstorm-Here's How It Held Up

"When I heard that Hoka's first-ever footwear collaboration is with female-led, Olympic-founded brand Halfdays, I was, of course, intrigued, but equally cautious. I trust both brands for different reasons-Halfdays for reliable ski suits and Hoka for comfortable running sneakers that have carried me across countless cities. I was skeptical-after all, I've seen plenty of collaborations fall short before: sometimes performance is softened for design or style compromised for function."

"Over the past month, I wore the Hoka x Halfdays Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX shoe across city conditions that expose weaknesses quickly: a New York blizzard, with sidewalks half-cleared and slush refreezing overnight, and Northeast ski trips where sub-freezing mornings, icy parking lots, and long stretches of packed snow are unavoidable. I wore them the way I wear anything I end up trusting: to work, on coffee runs, and for longer walks when trains slowed or stopped."

"The first thing I noticed is how lightweight these slip-ons are. Traditional snow boots rely on bulk and stiffness to signal durability, which quickly becomes cumbersome if you're moving through the city or across any uneven terrain. Instead, these bad boys feel more like a technical travel or running shoe adapted for winter-nimble without sacrificing protection. Even better, the squishy, flexible top of the shoe means I can actually pack them in my suitcase for winter trips."

The Hoka x Halfdays Kaha 2 Frost Moc GTX is a low-profile, insulated slip-on that sits just above the ankle and aims to replace bulky winter boots. The shoe combines total Primaloft insulation, a fleece-lined collar, and a Gore-Tex membrane. Real-world testing included New York blizzard conditions, slushy refreezing sidewalks, and Northeast ski-trip environments with icy parking lots and packed snow. The shoe proved lightweight, nimble, and packable, feeling more like a technical travel or running shoe while maintaining protection and warmth for daily use and longer winter walks.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler