The HOKA Rocket X 3 marks the latest edition of the HOKA racing lineup. It has a feeling very similar to the typical PEBA carbon plated racing shoes on the market. HOKA stuck to what works with its dual-density PEBA foam, carbon fibre plate and sticky rubber. On the whole, it is very close to its predecessor. The carbon plate features new winglets, supposedly increasing support. I can confidently say the shoe does a really good job with this. The majority of the changes come in the upper. Here we have the removal of the gusset, a streamlined collar and overall breathability improvements. HOKA made huge steps toward creating a competitive carbon plated racing shoe with the rocket X 2. How does the Rocket X 3 compare?
Upper and Fit of the HOKA Rocket X 3
What works for me
One of the stand out aspects of the HOKA Rocket X 3 is its breathability. On numerous occasions I tested these out on extremely hot days, during hard, sweaty workouts. Yet, despite being put to the test in extreme conditions, the shoes consistently felt breathable. The lockdown is great, no slippage or unwanted movement. Meanwhile, the non-gusseted tongue did not bother me at all. With some extra padding in the heel and sides, parts of the upper almost felt more familiar in a daily trainer. This is ideal for those seeking a bit more of a supported and padded heel.
What doesn’t work for me
On that note, while the upper is great and I am a fan of its breathability, I believe there may even be an excessive use of materials and padding. I find this particularly in the sides and heel collar. For a racing shoe, the upper maybe feels too much like a daily trainer. While it performs amazingly in the forefoot and sides, I would have loved to see more of this gauze material throughout the shoe, saving weight and maybe even making it more breathable. The lockdown was very solid, my only point would be that the lacing and general fit of the shoe is on the narrow side, perhaps a half size up would be recommended for those with wider feet.
Midsole and Ride of the HOKA Rocket X 3
What works for me
As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the shoe feels very familiar to your top-end racing lineup from many different brands. The dual density PEBA midsole is soft and bouncy, providing very good energy return. The shoe seems to have a slightly increased stack height to its predecessor, with 2mm increase in drop from 5mm to 7mm. Noticeable? I’m not sure. The carbon fibre plate with winglets again provides that familiar spring that you would expect from a racing shoe, snappy, but not too aggressive.
In a world where carbon plated shoes with maximal stack height are often unstable, the Rocket X 3 provides a surprisingly stable ride, even in cornering at high speeds. I took this shoe out for a few hard track and road sessions and found that the energy return was really great, even on softer surfaces. I would definitely say the midsole is a “you get what you give” kind of a shoe. The more power/energy you put into your stride the more the shoe seems to propel you forward. As a forefoot runner with a relatively high cadence, I definitely felt the propulsion more at faster efforts, where my stride length was a bit longer, seemingly, that front PEBA feeling just a little more springy and responsive.
What doesn’t work for me
There is very little I didn’t like about this midsole and ride. On the note of the shoe giving back as much as you put in, I feel that perhaps the shoe is better suited towards slightly heavier runners. I am a rather light runner, with very minimal ground contact time whilst running. I found that when I drive my feet down harder, the propulsion is much enhanced, leading me to believe that perhaps the shoe is better suited towards heavier or stride length runners, rather than high-cadence, light runners.
Additionally, I’m not sure how much of a difference the winglets on the carbon plate really make towards stability or energy propulsion, even when testing rolling the foot outwards, there was no significant alteration in springiness or stability from other shoes on the market. With that said, it was quite difficult to find something I disliked about the ride of this shoe.
Outsole of the HOKA Rocket X 3
Grip and Traction
The HOKA Rocket X 3 features a generous amount of rubber along the entirety of the outsole. I did not experiment much with wet terrain. But, as mentioned in the midsole section, the shoe handled cornering very well, even at high speeds. The rubber, while not “sticky” has really good grip for a racing shoe and seems extremely durable.
Durability
I did not notice any signs of wear in the rubber outsole, despite rigorous use on track and even some gravel terrain. There are a few bits of exposed midsole, particularly towards the middle and rear of the shoe that I could see getting battered in the long run. However, the rubber outsole protects most – if not all of the core area of the shoe. In comparison to most of the carbon plated market, this shoe is extremely durable with much more rubber than many of its competitors. I can definitely see it standing the test of time.
Conclusion
Value for Money
$250 for a Raceday shoe is pretty normal nowadays, especially when many of the top-end racing shoes now trail and $300 or more. For what the shoe gives, especially in durability and quality of material, I would say the price point is fair.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
I believe the HOKA Rocket X 3 is designed for longer races maybe even workout days. With the Cielo being the lower stack slightly more aggressive shoe – the Rocket X 3 is your go to half marathon and up race day shoe. You could definitely use this for shorter efforts, I even tested it out in a speed workout. However, I believe the best use case is those longer races and workouts. The shoe is a very versatile shoe, thanks to its durability, I think it can be used in almost any way you want without losing too much of its life.
Final Verdict
The HOKA Rocket X 3 is a comfortable, springy and familiar race day shoe that provides some minor upgrades to its predecessor, particularly in upper and breathability. An extremely durable build makes this a versatile option for longer race days, workouts and even speed sessions.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
HOKA Rocket X 3 vs Diadora Gara Carbon 2
Thys: Both feel extremely similar, with a bouncy PEBA midsole and springy stride. The Grra Carbon 2 gives you a little more energy return. This is true especially when running fatigued, however feels less stable and durable than the HOKA Rocket X 3.
HOKA Rocket X 3 vs adidas Adios Pro 2
Thys: Very different approaches from both brands, the carbon plate feels far more springy and less rigid than the rods of the adidas Adios Pro 2. The PEBA foam from HOKA is softer, however, feels less snappy and aggressive than that of the adidas Adios Pro 2.
HOKA Rocket X 3 vs Nike Vaporfly Next%
Thys: The carbon plate in the HOKA Rocket X 3 is much less stiff than that of the Nike Racing line. This makes for a less aggressive ride, yet still a very familiar and springy ride thanks to the extremely bouncy and soft PEBA in the forefoot. The ZOOMx foam is difficult to compete with, yet I believe the HOKA Rocket X 3 has an extremely competitive midsole material.
HOKA Rocket X 3 vs New Balance SC Elite v4
Ivan: In some ways, the two shoes feel similar. I prefer the stronger rocker and softer cushioning of the NB SC Elite v4, but neither qualifies as a true top-tier racing option for me. That said, both offer value for workouts at different paces and feel comfortably versatile.
Other Opinions
Andy’s Take on the HOKA Rocket X 3
I think I agree almost entirely with Thys’ assessment that this is a very familiar feeling shoe. If you have run in a carbon plated race show in the last few years, you will have a good idea of what the Rocket X 3 feels like. This is no bad thing, it will work for the majority of runners. It has the edge on stability and probably durability over something like Nike’s ZoomX. However, it does not have a unique feeling or edge to it.
The HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 is a much more unique feeling shoe much like the Nike Alphafly. Uniqueness is a double edged sword. While it may give some a real boost to their performance, there will be many who find the alienness simply too much to enjoy. In some cases, they may find the wildness that makes it a hit for some an injury inducing detriment. You won’t have this issue with the Rocket X 3. It feels as you would expect a conventional carbon plated race shoe to.
I have used it for road, track and grass sessions and it has performed well on all occasions. It has been an enjoyable ride at all paces for me. I have taken it to top end speed for 200m reps and the final kick of a club race. It has also done me well on longer more marathon paced reps. Meanwhile, it is also a shoe which feels comfortable for those bits on the way to and from the track and the rest between the reps. It rolls well at lower paces for warm up and cool down sections. This is good if you don’t have the capacity for carrying multiple shoes on a workout. I have found it equally comfortable at 6:30/km as I have at 200m rep pace.
Overall, this is a good update to the current line and it fits well in the market. The Rocket X 3 may not offer anything different enough to make it an instant purchase. However, if you need a new race shoe, this is very well worth the consideration. It will work well for the majority of runners while the foam and plate combo do give it a pleasant zip!
Ivan’s Take on the HOKA Rocket X 3
I agree with Thys that the breathability of the Hoka Rocket X 3 is excellent. However, it feels disappointing if breathability is the main standout feature of a premium racing shoe. I actually appreciate the extra padding around the heel collar and tongue, which provides a secure lockdown and solid comfort. Yes, this reduces some of the pure “race feel,” but my US 8.5 pair still weighs just 195g. Even if trimming the upper saved another 10g, I doubt the trade-off would be worth it. I also enjoyed the unusually sturdy heel counter, which is rare to see in a racing shoe.
Unfortunately, the fit is a major issue. The shoe is simply too short. I am often between sizes and usually fine going a half size down, but not here. Even in my regular size, it feels cramped, something that almost never happens to me. For a 5k or 10k I could tolerate it, but for longer races it becomes unacceptable. Since I see the Rocket X 3 as a half and full marathon shoe, the sizing problem is a dealbreaker. Hopefully, my pair is a production error, otherwise I believe many runners will face the same problem.
Some details of the upper also feel unfinished. The flossing around the tongue, for example, lacks refinement. Considering the price, I expect a more polished finish. The design is also underwhelming – though of course that is subjective. My white, blue, and black version looks lackluster compared to Hoka’s usually strong design work. On race day, most of us want a shoe that not only performs well but also looks sharp and fast.
As for the ride, I agree with Thys that the shoe demands you put real force into it to get the best out of it. Like Thys, I’m light and have a high cadence, which means I’m not getting much return. It simply feels neither propulsive nor aggressive to me. While it works fine for uptempo workouts, it lacks the punch I’m looking for at race paces. Stability is fairly average compared to most other racing shoes, despite the winglet design and sturdy heel counter.
On the positive side, the shoe feels versatile and remains comfortable even at slower paces. It also seems durable, making it a solid choice for a wide range of runs. I can also see it being a decent option for recreational runners who want a reliable, less aggressive racing shoe. As Thys noted, heavier runners or those with long, powerful strides might get more out of it than we do.
