Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 Introduction

HOKA stumbled into the plated period sooner than most manufacturers. HOKA was forward of everybody besides Nike. The Evo Carbon Rocket was launched in 2019 but it surely was extra of a racing flat with a plate jammed into it. It solely had a 26 mm heel stack top and a 2 mm drop. Its EVA midsole was very agency and didn’t present a lot power return.

The Evo Carbon Rocket was then break up into 2 separate tremendous sneakers: the Carbon X (2019) and the Rocket X (2020). After 3 iterations, the Carbon X was discontinued however the Rocket X collection remains to be going robust.

The Rocket X is just not the high quality HOKA carbon racer but it surely’s the “friendliest”. Most runners will discover the Cielo X1 2.0 (first launched in 2024) far too unstable. The Rocket X has a extra conventional geometry with a flatter midsole design.

The HOKA Rocket X 2 has been certainly one of my high carbon-plated racers of the previous 3 years. It has a stiff carbon plate that gives loads of propulsion and a mushy, bouncy PEBA midsole with a great deal of long-distance consolation. I’ve raced a marathon within the Rocket X 2 and I wouldn’t hesitate to make use of it for one more.

It’s been over 2 years that we’ve needed to look ahead to the Rocket X 3. It weighs 227 g (8 oz) for a males’s US 9, which is 8 grams (0.3 oz) lighter than the Rocket X 2. Its value stays $250 which now makes it one of many cheaper carbon-plated racers.

Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 First Impressions

My first run was an all-out half marathon race. The primary thought that got here into my thoughts was that the journey felt softer and fewer aggressive than model 2. The midsole of the X 3 undoubtedly felt extra squishy and it took higher effort to get all the way down to my half marathon tempo. I didn’t really feel the outstanding forefoot rocker that I felt within the earlier model so transitions felt extra relaxed.

In the course of the race, there was a hole sound coming from the underside of the sneakers. After the race, one other runner stated that it sounded just like the carbon plate was hitting the bottom. After I inspected the outsole, the froth within the centre of the rearfoot had been ripped to shreds- there was an enormous chunk of froth lacking. The hole sound got here from the centre cavity the place the froth had been grated down by the street.

My end time was 1:32:49, which was a bit disappointing for me contemplating I had no accidents and coaching had been going properly (removed from my 1:24 PB within the Alphafly 3). I wouldn’t use the Rocket X 3 for one more half marathon as a result of it doesn’t really feel aggressive sufficient.

Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 Higher

The Rocket X 3’s higher is much more snug than the X 2 and it feels just like a coaching shoe higher. The higher mesh is softer and it conforms to your ft higher than the plastic-like materials of the X 2.

The dangerous information is that there’s much more padding within the tongue and the collar so it soaks up sweat extra simply. Heel lockdown remains to be excellent although. The tongue is now not semi-gusseted but it surely has large wings to stop lateral slide.

The match of the Rocket X 3 remains to be a slim one and I went up a half measurement from my regular 27 centimetres due to the slim tow field. The size can be a bit shorter than most trainers so most runners ought to measurement as much as get a snug match.

Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 Sole Unit

Whereas the only of the Rocket X 3 doesn’t look very completely different to the X 2, there are 2 massive variations below the hood: the midsole densities and the plate stiffness. These 2 adjustments have altered the journey considerably.

The brand new, softer density foams within the midsole, make the journey of the Rocket X 3 one of many softer ones. It’s a dual-density midsole with the higher layer being softer than the underside one. Its journey is just not as squishy because the Endorphin Elite 2/Adios Professional 4 but it surely’s far softer than the two Metaspeed racers, the Hyperion Elite 5 and the SC Elite v5.

I believe this was the incorrect transfer. The Rocket X 3 has misplaced the punch that made the earlier model really feel so propulsive. It doesn’t really feel as aggressive and transitions undoubtedly really feel slower. On the plus facet, the journey is plusher and it feels extra snug at slower paces.

After I’m operating at my goal marathon tempo (4:15 per km), it feels extra within the wheelhouse of the Rocket X 3. The mushy journey makes it tough for me to get all the way down to my threshold/half marathon tempo. V02 max exercises like hill sprints are additionally not appropriate for the Rocket X 3.

I believe these adjustments will go well with slower runners (4 hour+ marathon occasions) greater than sooner runners as a result of they spend extra time on their ft throughout races and so they want extra consolation. For sooner runners who don’t want a lot help or stability, the Cielo x1 2.0 is the higher HOKA racer.

The carbon plate has a brand new design with a wing that extends out on the lateral facet and you’ll see the sting of the wing. This new design is to enhance stability and I do assume that it does a superb job. There are additionally raised sidewalls to maintain your ft centred. The Rocket X 3 is essentially the most secure carbon racer I’ve examined this yr.

The brand new plate has an extended slit in the midst of it. This makes it much more versatile and fewer snappy than the earlier model. That is the principle cause the forefoot rocker doesn’t really feel as outstanding and it additionally leads to a weaker springboard snap (much less pace help).

The mushy outsole is just not sturdy due to all of the mushy, uncovered foam. It is a racer that it’s important to reserve for racing solely and I don’t count on to get quite a lot of mileage out of my pair since I’m significantly onerous on outsoles. Traction is sweet on a wide range of surfaces together with the observe. I additionally had no points with traction on moist roads.

Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 Conclusions

The Rocket X 3 is a mellower racer than the X 2 and it’s extra suited to longer races. It has a softer journey, a extra versatile plate and a plusher, bulkier higher. The adjustments that HOKA has made has resulted in a racer higher suited to slower runners fairly than sooner ones. It undoubtedly has a stabler and a friendlier journey than its predecessor.

The Rocket X 3 is a disappointing replace for me and I gained’t be utilizing it for an essential race. I might take the X 2 over the three any day of the week. After I lace up the X 3, it doesn’t really feel like a brilliant quick, aggressive carbon racer; it seems like a brilliant coach.

The massive weak point of the Rocket X 3 is its outsole sturdiness concern. The uncovered midsole foam shreds like butter on a scorching pan on regular, tarred roads. Which means that you gained’t get as many miles out of the X 3 as rivals. They should add additional outsole rubber to guard the mushy foam within the subsequent model.

Regardless of the adjustments, I believe the Rocket X 3 remains to be a greater choice for me than the Cielo X1 2.0 which is much too rockered, unstable and versatile for my operating model. Most runners may also want the Rocket X 3 over the Cielo X1 2.0. And it’s $25 cheaper than the Cielo X1.