Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1500046
8 • Footwear Insight ~ May/June 2023 footwearinsight.com R unning brands Hoka and On have both launched their first ever collections of footwear for kids this spring. Hoka's new line includes youth sizes of three of the brand's most popular styles, the Clion 9, Speedgoat 5, and Ora 3 Slide. Meanwhile, On's foray into youth footwear utilizes its CloudTec technology in the Cloud Play style for kids aged 4-8 and a Cloud Sky style designed for ages 8-15. Hoka describes its new shoes as having "kid-centric features" with a focus on fit. And the youth styles come with all the signature tech found in Hoka's adult products. e Hoka Speedgoat 5 Youth, $110, features a woven mesh upper with 21% recycled poly- ethylene terephthalate (rPET) yarns, a 30% sugarcane midsole, and durable lugs for grip. It also features a quick-toggle lace system, for easy on-and-off usage. It is available in sizes 3.5Y-7Y. e Hoka Clion 9 Youth, $110, also has a 30% sugarcane midsole as well as 31% rPET yarns woven throughout the upper. It is available in sizes 3.5Y-7Y. e Hoka Ora Slide 3, $50, is a recovery style that features 20% sugarcane across the midsole and topsole. e sole has rubberized EVA for traction It is available in whole sizes 4-7Y. On, meanwhile, has redesigned its CloudTec technology to be more lightweight, adapting it to the needs of younger wearers. "When developing the shoes, we were inspired by the boundless imagi-nation of children," explains Gérald Marolf, head of product at On. "We wanted to create a fun and flexible shoe that encourages movement and therefore creativity. We have adapted our Swiss technology, which is pri-marily designed for first-class comfort, so that it can also survive the oc-casional growth spurts of the little ones." The On Cloud Play children's shoe ($99.99) is designed for ages 4-8, and the On Cloud Sky shoe ($109.99) is made for ages 8-15. n Hoka & On Launch Youth Lines NEW COLLECTIONS THE FOOTWEAR EYE Hoka (top photo) and On (photo at left) are both targeting the younger set with new collections.