HOKA Rocket X Trail Review
By Matthew Klein
HOKA Rocket X TrailPrice: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.2 oz, 261 g (men's size 9), 8.1 oz, 230 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 42 mm heel / 36 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Trail Racing Shoe
Pros: Fast Ride, Highly Rockered, Road/Trail Versatility, Stable Neutral Ride
Cons: Fit Runs Short, Shallow Lugs May Wear Early on Rough Surfaces
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Hoka Rocket X Trail is a super trail shoe for those who want a highly rockered and responsive ride for faster and racing efforts. The single-layer engineered mesh provides a secure but short fit, so those doing longer distances may want to go up a half size. The midsole is an ATPU superform that provides a highly responsive ride that holds it feel over both fast and long miles. An internal H-plate, wider platform, large sidewalls and aggressive rocker make this shoe stable and rolling. As one of the only stable racing options for the trail, the Rocket X Trail is a great option for those with stability needs wanting to go fast and/or on softer surfaces.
SIMILAR SHOES: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Hoka Rocket fits me slightly short in my men's US size 10. Although the upper has improved over the 70+ miles I have run in it, I would highly suggest most people go up a half size unless they want a close fit for shorter distances. The upper is a thin but tough engineered mesh that holds the foot well on the platform. It does not stretch much at first, which combined with the medial toe guard and tapered toe box makes the shoe feel short. This is also partially due to the aggressive toe spring, which inherently shortens shoes. I have had some pressure on my first toe from this but have not been blistered. I have done up to 12-13 miles on trails with no issues but definitely wish I had more room after 7-8 miles. For those using these for marathon/ultramarathons, going up at least a half size is a must. The tapered toe box does open in a normal width forefoot. The volume is lower but the upper hugs the foot well. This continues into a normal to slightly snug midfoot. There is a thin tongue with strategic padding that sits well against the foot. It is thin, so the laces cannot be tightened too much to avoid pinching on the top of the foot. The secure fit, fortunately, does not require the laces being tightened.
The heel fits normal-to-slightly snug with slight heel collar padding on the side and more padding in front of the counter. The heel counter is quite stiff and not great for those with sensitive heels. Fortunately, there is enough padding in front of it that the heel is protected. Those with irritated Haglund deformities or insertional Achilles tendinopathy will not do well but those wanting a stiff counter will. The inner mesh is rough, which when paired with socks does create more security. This shoe cannot be worn sockless, although I have thin socks to be fine and help the slightly short fit feel better.
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
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Not Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Hoka Rocket X Trail is a super trail shoe meant for racing or faster efforts. The midsole is full length ATPU foam, which is slightly firmer than PEBA foams but feels snappy underfoot. Despite the large size and reported 9.2 oz / 261 g weight, the shoe feels light on, especially when running faster. It does not feel feather weight, but the cushioning underfoot and efficient ride make it feel smooth. The ride is highly rockered with a large heel bevel and a sharp forefoot rocker. There is significant toe spring, so those with toe mobility issues may have some trouble. There is no flexibility in this shoe at all thanks to the thick sole and H-Plate. This does make a really snappy ride when the pace picks up and is my favorite trail super shoe to run fast.
The forefoot transition was slightly stiff at first but breaks in quickly. This allows easier efforts but this shoe works far better running faster. Fartlek, tempo run, hill repeats and longer faster efforts are where this shoe shine most. I have done several workouts on both the trail and track and found these shoes to work great. They are not great for all out speed workouts (sprints) but are great for long intervals and tempo runs. For me, this makes these great options for 10k distances and up. I personally would keep this to 50k distances as the midsole may feel too aggressive for longer distances but the stability could certainly carry you longer.
The traction is fairly average for a trail shoe as the lugs are smaller and spread out more. The smaller lugs make this shoe feel fine on road, although I have kept this shoe on trail and track as much as possible. This does allow surface versatility across road and trail but does limit this shoe from aggressive, muddy terrain. Surprisingly, the durability has been fantastic over my 70 miles in this shoe, probably because I have done only a few miles of road. The midsole has retained its original feel and has not firmed or softened up. This makes for a surprisingly durable and fast super trail racer that can go as long as you can handle it.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Hoka Rocket X Trail is a stable neutral shoe. While there are no traditional methods of stability in this shoe, the wider platform, H-Plate, rocker and large sidewalls make this quite stable. The platform is quite wide with a midfoot that does not narrow and heel/forefoot flare. The heel extended pod design allows the lateral side to collapse independently, making for a smooth heel transition. The wider sole keeps the foot centered, especially with the help of the large sidewalls in the heel and midfoot. These also contribute to keep the foot centered and work well along with the H-plate. The H-plate creates stiffness and makes transitions snappy while resisting motion in lateral or medial directions. Finally, the rocker creates a quick transition forward no matter what is underfoot. While there are no sidewalls in the forefoot, it is still quite stable given the large sole flare. All this makes for a stable neutral ride, particularly in the heel and midfoot, which makes the Rocket X trail one of the only truly stable neutral super trail racing shoes.
Thoughts as a DPT: Stability Needs on Trail
By Matthew Klein
Despite the inherently softer and less stable terrain associated with trail running, there are limited stability trail shoes. The Salomon Genesis and Hoka Stinson 7 are the only true listed stability shoes (The ASICS Trabuco series no longer feels like a stability shoe). Many other maximal trail shoes are frequently stable due to their increased width and tall sidewalls. However, these features are not always present across all maximal trail shoes or even trail shoes in general. The majority of super trail shoes thus far have been quite unstable. Most keep their platforms narrow and often feature a narrow midfoot without sidewalls to save weight. This is strange given that trails are by definition softer and less unstable.
Some people with mobile ankles on roads may find that trail running is easier on their feet and they don't need as much stability because they are better at adapting to surfaces rather than trying to shock absorb excessively on harder road. Others, like me, have too much motion and need a little help with guidance. This is especially true for an even larger group of people when fatigue sets in, which is one of the key challenges in trail running given how much longer you are out on trails for compared to road. This makes the quickly changing and multiplanar terrain even more challenging for longer efforts. Especially with taller stack height shoes on unstable terrain, inherent guidance is key, especially as fatigue sets in. For those reasons, I have been extremely confused with the initial super trail shoe designs that are inherently unstable. The Rocket X Trail is one of the first (outside of the Tecton X 3) to correct this, and I hope to see more of this. Not because I think every trail shoe needs to be a stability shoe, but the inherent demands of the surface require an inherent level of centeredness not just for guidance/stability but also to keep your foot on the platform with unstable terrain.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Rocket X trail has been great for me, given its highly stable neutral design and snappy/fast ride. My major suggestions revolve around the upper and forefoot design. While the upper has improved after many miles in this shoe, I would love a little more room at the medial big toe. Especially for a trail shoe with varying inclines/declines, I would suggest a little more room rather than less at the toes to avoid abrasion. This may be solved by reducing the toe spring at the forefoot. The forefoot rocker is fine, but this much toe spring shortens the shoe. Hoka loves toe spring in their racing shoes, but holding the toes in extension creates unnecessary tension on the plantarfascia and the underside of the toes. Especially in a distance shoe, I would suggest keeping the forefoot rocker but reducing the toe spring to keep the toes in a more neutral position where there will be less stress over long miles.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Hoka Rocket X Trail is for those who want a stable and fast super trail shoe for workouts and races across varying but less aggressive terrain. The wider platform, sidewalls, and geometry will work for those with stable neutral needs. The midsole will work best for those who want a highly responsive ride that works best at uptempo to faster efforts. The upper will work best for those who want a close, racing style fit, although most should still consider a half size up. The rockered ride will work best for those who use a more hip/knee dominant running strategy and want a rolling ride. I did not do well with the Tecton X 3 as I found the upper too short and the shoe felt heavier than its listed weight. The Rocket X Trail is the answer I was looking for with a true stable trail racer, like its road counterpart.
If I do any trail races (unlikely since I do almost all my miles with a stroller), this would be the shoe I would do it in. The price is classic for a super shoe and fortunately, the durability seems worth it at this time. I have been waiting for an aggressive and stable racer like this for the trail. Hopefully other companies can learn from this design and understand that trail requires an even more stable, not less stable design compared to road. While the upper needs a little work, overall, this is a great first outing for the Rocket series on the trail.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B- (Short Fit, may need to go up a half size, slightly harsh but secure upper.)
Performance: A- (Fast ride with ATPU midsole with rockered geometry that keeps you rolling. Best for uptempo to long faster efforts, especially races, tempo runs and intervals. Can handle road, track and trail but less versatile over aggressive terrain)
Stability: A {Stable Neutral] (Truly stable neutral with wider base, heel/forefoot sole flare, large sidewalls and H-plate design)
Value: A- (Lugs may wear out but outsole and midsole durability is great. A true super trail racing shoe)
Personal: A- (My favorite super trail shoe as the only faster stable neutral option. May need to get a half size up though)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORHOKA Rocket X TrailPrice: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
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