To distract myself on long runs, I often look at the shoes and clothes of other runners around me. More often than not, I see Hoka gear. The brand—founded in 2009 by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, both of whom previously worked at Salomon —is well-known for its running shoes and apparel, and can regularly be found on ‘best of’ lists for athletic shoes and gear. Hoka sponsors several road and track, trail, and triathlon athletes, as well as road races like the Big Sur International Marathon , and is generally a big name in the running world. I’ve personally run several halfs in the brand's Rincons , lightweight running tanks, and hats , and can vouch for the high-quality materials used and comfortability of its clothing, particularly in hot weather . Non-runners love ’em, too: Commerce editor Meaghan Kenny swears by the Hoka Cliftons for long travel days, walks, and workout classes—“I wear them everywhere,” she says.…