HOKA Rocket X 3 Review
By Andrea Myers and Matt Klein
The HOKA Rocket X series, starting with version 2, was HOKA's first foray into super shoes. While the Rocket X 1 was a super low drop, carbon plated, EVA shoe, the Rocket X 2 was HOKA's first super shoe to feature A PEBA midsole, finally qualifying the series as a super shoe. While the fit was a little off (a little short for some people), the midsole and geometry made it one of the few stable neutral racing shoes in an era when stability racing shoes had disappeared completely. It was also one of the few low drop super shoes at a time when most sat at 8-10 mm. The Rocket X 3 returns with as a completely updated shoe that fixes the upper, smooths out the transitions and moves to a more moderate drop of 7mm, although it still feels low. The revisions still keep it in the stable neutral racing category, but move it to a faster and lighter ride than previous.
Hoka Rocket X3Price: $249.99 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.4 oz, 210g (men's size 9 / women's 10.5) unisex sizing
Stack Height: 40mm heel / 33mm forefoot
Drop: 7 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Racing Shoe
Pros: One of the few stable neutral super shoes on the market, light weight, responsive midsole
Cons: Will likely not work for runners without medial stability needs, questionable outsole durability
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a super racing shoe for those who want a fast shoe that has a stable neutral ride. The new single-layer engineered mesh provides a true to size, snug, secure and breathable fit for those with normal to narrow width feet. The full length, winged carbon fiber plate provides snappiness and additional central guidance along with significant sidewalls and a wider midfoot. Two layers of PEBA midsole foam provide a bouncy and aggressive ride that works better the faster you go. A refined and faster version of its predecessor, the Rocket X 3 is best for those with mild stability and guidance needs wanting to go fast.
SIMILAR SHOES: Diadora Gara Carbon 2 (similar midsole feel)
PAST MODEL: HOKA Rocket X 2
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Hoka Rocket X 3 fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The single layer engineered mesh is thin but secure, providing plenty of breathability that was missing in the last version. The fit is snug throughout the length of the shoe with moderate volume that allows for a little more room. The forefoot fits slightly snug but the slight stretch from the mesh and moderate allow allows for more room. The toe guard over the medial toe did not bother me and despite the slight taper in the toe box, the upper stretched and did not cause any pressure on my 5th toe. The midfoot fits snug with a thin, non gusseted tongue. The tongue does have some mild cushioning to it, which does protect the top of the foot from the laces. The tongue is wider and can slip it not laid down flat when putting the shoe on. The laces are quite secure and do not need to be tightened due to the already snug fit. The heel fits normal to slightly snug with thin heel collar padding. There is a mildly flexible, rounded heel counter that is noticeable but did not bother me. Those with sensitive heels (Haglund deformity) may not do well but others wanting some security in the rear will like this. Although the upper is comfortable, I would use socks with this shoe due to noticeable rubbing from the toe guard and overlays. This do secure the foot but make going sockless not an option.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Andrea: The HOKA Rocket X 3 fits true to size in my usual women's size 9.5 (men's 8.5 in HOKA's unisex sizing). I had a little less than a full thumb's width from the end of my big toe to the front of the shoe and the toe box has sufficient width and volume that I did not experience any discomfort at my 1st or 5th MTPs. Many HOKA shoes do not work for me due to their prominent medial forefoot sidewalls, which give me blisters on the inside of my 1st MTP joint, but the Rocket X3 did not cause any skin irritation, despite the presence of significant medial and lateral sidewalls in the midfoot and forefoot. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal width and fit my feet comfortably. The non-gusseted tongue is held in place by a lace loop and I had no issues with the tongue moving or folding over on itself. The rearfoot features a smaller, semi-flexible heel counter and a moderate amount of internal padding for a racing shoe. It was easy to lock down the serrated laces and I did not need to stop during any of my runs to re-adjust the tightness of the laces. The mesh upper is highly breathable, which I appreciated during my 80F test runs. I am happy with the overall fit of the Rocket X3 and have no fit-related complaints.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average to Below Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a super racing shoe. It features an increased stack height from the prior version to 40mm/33mm with a now 7mm drop. The weight has dropped from version two and with a slightly lower volume overall, the Rocket X 3 feels quite nimble and fast. It features a full length carbon plate with winglets for additional stiffness sandwiched between two layers of PEBA foam. Despite a supposed increase in heel drop, it still feels like a lower drop, aggressive racer. The midsole in the forefoot feels slightly firmer and aggressively responsive, while the rearfoot feels bouncier and softer. The heel transition feels smooth and sometimes transitions so quick I forget it is there. The forefoot feels aggressive due to the slightly firmer relative nature and the sharp forefoot rocker. There is a decent amount of toe spring, so those with toe mobility problems will need to approach cautiously. This comes specifically from the plate, which I could feel at the end of my toes initially until the shoe broke in. There is absolutely no flexibility in this shoe thanks to the plate. This makes the forefoot especially snappy and fast. The overall ride of the Rocket X 3 is quite fast and I have done some of my speediest workouts in this shoe (getting back to 5:10 - 5:20/mile pace during road intervals while pushing a stroller). While it feels stable, it feels too aggressive for me to use for long runs and easy runs. Uptempo, tempo and faster runs feel best, with the shoe feeling better the faster I go.
The best has been during short and long intervals, when the foam and plate really come alive with how quickly they respond. As the shoe has broken it, the Rocket X 3 has felt better on warm ups and cool downs. However, this is not a shoe for easy runs and should not be used for slower running. It does best running quickly and will work best up to the half marathon for most people and the marathon for those who can handle the aggressive forefoot.
Traction-wise, this shoe is great on road, track and the wet versions of both. I would not take this on any type of trail surface due to the amount of exposed midsole on the bottom. Like the previous version, the durability is already under question after 30 miles. I have 30 miles on my pair and am already chewing through the lateral aspect of exposed midsole in the midfoot. The midsole has remained responsive and I have not yet torn off the posterolateral heel outsole piece, but have concerns about ongoing durability. Outside of the durability concerns, this is the fastest stable neutral racer on the market right now.
Andrea: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a bouncy, propulsive racing shoe with a firmer midsole and energetic ride. I have greatly enjoyed running in the HOKA Cielo X1 1.0 and 2.0, but have not gotten to test the previous versions of the Rocket X, so I was excited when Rocket X3 arrived at my door. I knew the Rocket X has a reputation for being a more medially stable super shoe, so I wasn't sure how I would get along with it as a runner who benefits from lateral stability. My first run in the shoe was a 6 mile easy run with some short pickups from marathon pace down to threshold pace. I found the shoe to feel comfortable for lateral midfoot landings and I definitely noticed the responsive and propulsive ride, particularly when I picked up the pace. I didn't particularly notice the stability features of the shoe on this run. My next run in the shoe was a progression run from half marathon pace down to 5k pace, and of course I used it for my warm up and cooldown as well (because I normally run from home), and this run was a total of 7 miles. Once I got into the progression run, it became apparent that the shoe made it harder for me to properly load the medial aspect of my forefoot and particularly my 1st MTP to prepare for push off. I was able to do the run and didn't feel like it held me back pace-wise, but I could feel some soreness in both posterior tibialis tendons during my cool down.
By that afternoon, I had aching pain in both anteriolateral ankles as well as more soreness in both posterior tibialis tendons. This soreness resolved after an easy run in different shoes the following day. I decided to give the shoe one more chance on a steady 8 miler that ended up being 15"/mile slower than marathon pace. While I again enjoyed the propulsive ride and could definitely feel that the shoe was helping me run faster, I had soreness in both posterior tibialis tendons during and after the run, as well as soreness in both ankles after the run. I was also quite aware that I wasn't pushing off properly at my 1st MTP joints and that I was weightbearing at terminal stance too lateral at the forefoot. Thankfully, this pain resolved after a recovery bike ride the following day, but I am definitely done running in the Rocket X3 due to these issues.
While I will not be running in the shoe again, I can definitely say that it performed well at every pace I tested it at (easy pace down to 5k pace). The ride feels relatively aggressive in that the midsole feels firmer at initial contact and the early forefoot rocker encourages a quick turnover, making the shoe feel quite propulsive. I like the firmer midsole feel of the Rocket X 3, despite the issues I had with the stability features. The shoe feels a little lower than its stated 7mm drop due to the moderate heel bevel and early forefoot rocker, and I did not feel like the rearfoot got in the way of midfoot landings, even at easy paces. I have some concerns about the durability of the exposed midsole material, as it is showing a fair amount of wear after only 21 miles. I did not get to test the shoe on wet roads and it is hard to say how the outsole will perform due to the larger amount of exposed midsole in the midfoot.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a stable neutral super racing shoe. While it does not have traditional stability measures, there are several guidance methods that all add up to a surprisingly medially stable shoe. These include a large posterolateral heel bevel, significant sidewalls, a wider midfoot sole, and additional outsole material on the medial forefoot compared to the lateral forefoot. The posterolateral heel bevel is large enough it almost creates a varus wedge. This promotes a lateral deviation at heel contact. The heel and midfoot feature a wider sole with a central cut out. The midfoot does not narrow and has additional material that gently resists both medial and lateral motion while promoting central guidance thanks to the groove.
Additionally, there are also significant medial and lateral sidewalls in the midfoot and heel which keep the foot centered as it passes through these areas The forefoot features more outsole material on the medial side with less outsole material and a midsole cut out on the lateral side. This promotes more stiffness on the medial side and guides the foot laterally during toe off. Essentially, this creates medial forefoot stability. Thus, the forefoot and heel have medial stability / lateral guidance with a centered midfoot, which will work for those with mild medial stability and guidance needs best.
Andrea: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a rare stable neutral super shoe with features that provide a fair amount of resistance to medial motion. The shoe features prominent sidewalls in the midfoot and forefoot that sit higher on the medial midfoot as compared to the lateral midfoot. Many super shoes have a narrow rearfoot and midfoot base, but the Rocket X3 has a fairly wide rearfoot and midfoot and a very wide forefoot base, which help to center the foot from initial contact to push off. The large central midsole groove in the rearfoot and midfoot also further helps to center the foot in mid stance. The carbon plate features what HOKA calls winglets, which are extensions of the forefoot plate that wrap up around the forefoot. The forefoot also features a central groove that extends into a moderate size cutout in the lateral forefoot, while the medial forefoot has only a small area of exposed midsole, but no cutout. The additive effect of these features may provide some resistance to medial forefoot motion, which is likely part of what caused my issues in the shoe. There is also a large amount of sole flare in the forefoot which is wider medially than laterally, which also resists medial forefoot motion.
While some of the features of the Rocket X 3 provide centered guidance, the totality of the stability features provide noticeable resistance to medial motion, from the rearfoot and midfoot due to the higher medial sidewalls, to the forefoot due to the asymmetrical cutouts and sole flare. The Rocket X 3 will work well for those with medial stability needs, but for those with lateral stability needs like myself, will likely not work well at all.
Thoughts as a DPT: A Tale of Two HOKA Super Shoes
By Andrea Myers
The HOKA Rocket X3 is a rare stable neutral super racing shoe that provides a decent amount of medial stability. The combination of Rocket X3 and Cielo X1 2.0, HOKA's other super shoe, gives HOKA a well rounded lineup of racing shoes that most other manufacturers lack. While Rocket X3 is quite stable, Cielo X1 2.0 is a neutral shoe whose geometry will feel unstable for those who need medial guidance. It is worth exploring the features of the two shoes to help runners understand what makes the Rocket X3 medially stable, and Cielo X1 2.0 medially unstable. The primary difference between the two shoes is the difference between the midsole grooves in the two shoe. The Rocket X3 features a large, centrally located midsole groove in the rearfoot and forefoot, while Cielo X1 2.0 has a central groove in the rearfoot that extends into a diagonal groove in the medial midfoot. This design decouples the medial rearfoot of the Cielo X1 2.0 from the rest of the shoe, which results in minimal resistance to medial midfoot motion, even at slower speeds. As someone who tends to land to far laterally at my midfoot, I like the feeling of less resistance to medial midfoot motion in the Cielo X1 2.0 and find it very comfortable to run in because it feels easier to load my 1st MTP prior to push off. In comparison, the central groove of the Rocket X3 serves to center the rearfoot and midfoot, while the large medial midfoot and rearfoot sidewall provide noticeable resistance to medial motion.
While the design of the midsole cutout in the two shoes is the largest difference between the two shoes, there are a couple other notable features that contribute to the significant difference in stability. The design of the carbon plate in the Rocket X3 features "winglets" in the forefoot that wrap up around the foot, which also resist medial and lateral forefoot motion, helping to keep the forefoot centered up to push off. This may work well for those with medial forefoot stability needs, but it did not work for me as someone with the opposite issue. The rearfoot and midfoot base is wider in the Rocket X3 as compared to the Cielo X1 2.0, which also helps center the foot during initial contact and mid stance. The narrow midfoot base of the Cielo X1 2.0 is noticeable and further contributes to the reduced resistance to medial midfoot motion. The heel bevel of the Cielo X1 2.0 is significantly more aggressive than the Rocket X2, which encourages a more forward initial contact, whether further forward on the rearfoot for rearfoot strikers, or, in my case, making midfoot landings feel even more natural. The smaller heel bevel of the Rocket X3 is enough to make the rearfoot get out of the way for midfoot landings, but isn't so aggressive that rearfoot strikers will feel like they are forced to land further forward than their preferred movement pathway.
I applaud HOKA for making two very different super racing shoes, which will mean that one of these shoes will very clearly work better for each individual than others. It is hard to imagine that both shoes will work equally well for many people. As always, we encourage you to actually test out your racing shoes at a local shoe store on the treadmill or outdoors to help you determine which racing shoe will work best for your specific needs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Rocket X 3 improves on almost everything from version 2. The weird fit has been fixed so it now fits true to size. The forefoot doesn't feel like going over a speed bump. The ride is lighter and faster. My only suggestions are around durability and the heel counter. I would highly suggest Hoka consider a full length strip of outsole rubber on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe. The exposed PEBA foam is getting torn up and I have serious concerns about the durability. These strips could be thin but they at least need to be full length. My other suggestion is to consider going to back to not having a heel counter. While I understand adding additional security, it was a great option for those with Haglund deformities and other heel sensitivities. Outside of those two things, this is a great shoe and I am happy that it has maintained its stable neutral ride.
Andrea: While the HOKA Rocket X3 did not work for my mechanics, I still greatly appreciate the shoe as one of the few stable neutral super shoes on the market that actually provides a fair amount of medial support. In this regard, I do not have many suggestions, except that the high amount of exposed midsole material is likely going to limit the shoe's durability and possibly its traction on wet roads. If HOKA wanted to improve the shoe's durability and utility, I would recommend looking at adding a little more rubber coverage. Otherwise, I am glad that HOKA is providing this shoe as an option for those who want a super shoe that meets their medial stability needs.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a stable neutral super racing shoe for those who want a lightweight, snug-fitting, snappy racing shoe for a variety of distances. The midsole geometry will work for those who want a super racing shoe that feels lighter than its listed weight, feels lower drop, has a softer heel and a stiff, snappy, aggressive forefoot. The fit will work best for those with normal to narrow width feet wanting a secure, breathable upper that fits true to size. The ride will work from 5k to marathon, although those taking them for long distances will need to make sure they can tolerate the more aggressive forefoot. It is great this shoe has not increased in price from $250, although I still have concerns about the outsole durability. The significant medial stability/guidance features make this the rare super shoe that will work for those with mild stability/guidance needs, which is incredibly rare in today's market. However, as noted with Andrea's experience, those sensitive to medial stability will not do well in this shoe as it will push you that direction. For those individuals, the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 is a much better option and contrasting shoe as it is far more neutral with a completely different ride. Overall the Hoka Rocket X 3 is a solid improvement on the prior version and keeps all the things that made it great while refining some of its challenges into its strengths.
Andrea: The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a stable neutral, bordering on medially stable super racing shoe that has a firmer, propulsive ride. At 7.4oz for a men's 9, it is decently light weight and a good value at $250, particularly when many super shoes are $275-300 (or more). Due to its medial stability features, this shoe will not work for those with lateral stability needs like myself. It will be best for those who find the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 far too unstable but prefer the fit and ride of a HOKA.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Slightly snug, secure, breathable fit. Moderate volume allows the upper to stretch a bit)
Performance: A- (Fast ride with aggressive and snappy forefoot. Feels lighter than listed weight. Best for faster efforts only for as long as you can hold them)
Stability: A [Stable Neutral] (A true stable neutral racer with plenty of medial stability/guidance in the heel/forefoot and central guidance at the midfoot)
Value: B (Great that they didn't increase the price but early outsole wear leaves some serious durability concerns. However, it is a unique fast and stable shoe that has seen major improvements from the prior version for the same price)
Personal: A- (I really like this shoe and it has become my go to for faster and fast longer efforts. However, the durability may prevent this from being my shoe of the year, but time will tell)
Overall Design: A-
Andrea
Fit: A (very comfortable fit, sufficient room in toe box, no complaints)
Performance: B (This grade is primarily due to the foot and ankle pain the shoe caused me, which is due to its incompatibility with my lateral stability needs. However, I did enjoy the midsole feel and propulsive ride, which performed well at every test pace.)
Stability: [stable neutral] A (One of the few stable neutral and actually medially stable super shoes out there. This shoe will work great for those with medial stability needs and will not work for those with lateral stability needs.)
Value: A ($250 is on the low end of the super shoe price range, and this shoe is light weight, propulsive, and performs well at a large pace range.)
Personal: C- (Posterior tibialis and anteriolateral ankle pain due to medial stability features means I won't be running in the shoe again.)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORHOKA Rocket X 3Price: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
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