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 peak 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 cut up into 2 separate tremendous footwear: the Carbon X (2019) and the Rocket X (2020). After 3 iterations, the Carbon X was discontinued however the Rocket X sequence remains to be going robust.
The Rocket X isn’t the top 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 gentle, 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 an additional.
It’s been over 2 years that we’ve needed to look forward 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 worth 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 positively 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 distinguished forefoot rocker that I felt within the earlier model so transitions felt extra relaxed.
Throughout the race, there was a hole sound coming from the underside of the footwear. After the race, one other runner mentioned that it sounded just like the carbon plate was hitting the bottom. Once I inspected the outsole, the froth within the centre of the rearfoot had been ripped to shreds- there was a giant chunk of froth lacking. The hole sound got here from the centre cavity the place the froth had been grated down by the highway.
My end time was 1:32:49, which was a bit disappointing for me contemplating I had no accidents and coaching had been going nicely (removed from my 1:24 PB within the Alphafly 3). I wouldn’t use the Rocket X 3 for an additional 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 much like a coaching shoe higher. The higher mesh is softer and it conforms to your toes higher than the plastic-like materials of the X 2.
The unhealthy 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 superb although. The tongue is not semi-gusseted but it surely has broad 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 cushty match.
Hoka One One HOKA Rocket X 3 Sole Unit
Whereas the only real of the Rocket X 3 doesn’t look very completely different to the X 2, there are 2 large variations underneath 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 isn’t 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 improper 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 positively really feel slower. On the plus facet, the journey is plusher and it feels extra snug at slower paces.
Once I’m working at my goal marathon tempo (4:15 per km), it feels extra within the wheelhouse of the Rocket X 3. The gentle journey makes it troublesome 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 swimsuit slower runners (4 hour+ marathon occasions) greater than sooner runners as a result of they spend extra time on their toes throughout races and so they want extra consolation. For sooner runners who don’t want a lot assist 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 may see the sting of the wing. This new design is to enhance stability and I do assume that it does an excellent job. There are additionally raised sidewalls to maintain your toes centred. The Rocket X 3 is essentially the most steady 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 distinguished and it additionally ends in a weaker springboard snap (much less velocity help).
The gentle outsole isn’t sturdy due to all of the gentle, uncovered foam. This can be 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 notably onerous on outsoles. Traction is nice on quite a lot of surfaces together with the monitor. 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 moderately than sooner ones. It positively has a stabler and a friendlier journey than its predecessor.
The Rocket X 3 is a disappointing replace for me and I received’t be utilizing it for an necessary race. I might take the X 2 over the three any day of the week. Once I lace up the X 3, it doesn’t really feel like a brilliant quick, aggressive carbon racer; it appears like a brilliant coach.
The massive weak point of the Rocket X 3 is its outsole sturdiness challenge. The uncovered midsole foam shreds like butter on a scorching pan on regular, tarred roads. Which means you received’t get as many miles out of the X 3 as rivals. They should add further outsole rubber to guard the gentle foam within the subsequent model.
Regardless of the adjustments, I believe the Rocket X 3 remains to be a greater possibility for me than the Cielo X1 2.0 which is way too rockered, unstable and versatile for my working fashion. Most runners may also want the Rocket X 3 over the Cielo X1 2.0. And it’s $25 cheaper than the Cielo X1.
