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The Hoka Rocket X3 doesn’t aim to compete with the best carbon plate running shoes purely on speed, but instead offers a more stable and supportive ride than most super-shoes, while still being very light and quick.
We enjoyed running in the shoe and it’s a versatile training and racing option, and certainly more stable than the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, the other racer in the brand’s line-up. However, there are shoes we do find faster, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, so if speed is all you’re seeking, we wouldn’t pick the Rocket X3.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £220/$250
- Weight: 208g/7.3oz (men’s UK 9 / US 9.5)
- Drop: 7mm
- Upper: Lightweight warp knit with minimal padding
- Midsole: Dual-density PEBA layers with winged carbon plate
- Outsole: Thin layer of sticky rubber on forefoot and heel
Hoka Rocket X3 review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Kieran tested out the Hoka Rocket X3 for our review and both found that the shoe was the right length in their normal size. Nick had a good fit in general, but Kieran had to lace the shoe carefully to avoid his heel slipping.
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The Run Test: Likes
The Hoka Rocket X3 does live up to its billing as a more stable super-shoe, with a comfortable and supportive ride. The sidewalls of foam and lack of medial cutouts make it more stable than shoes like the Cielo X1 and Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4, and it works well at slower speeds as a result.
It is still a fast shoe, and a very light one. It’s the lightest Hoka carbon racer to date, in fact, while having some of the stability the Hoka Cielo X1 offered. Nick took the shoe to the track for some all-out 400s and did longer reps at half marathon and marathon pace, and the Rocket X3 certainly performs well at a range of workout and race paces.
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The ride is also smooth and more natural than very rockered shoes. The Rocket X3 still has a rocker, but it rolls you through less aggressively than a shoe like the Fast-R 3, and it is more accommodating when you tire and your form starts to break down.
It would be a great marathon running shoe in particular, thanks to the extra comfort it has compared with many modern racers, which are generally now focusing on being lighter and more aggressive.
The Run Test: Dislikes
To make the Rocket X3 more stable than other super-shoes Hoka has sacrificed some speed, and when it comes to race a lot of runners will simply want the fastest shoe on their feet. In that case, it wouldn’t be the Rocket X3 for us, we’d look at the Fast-R 3 or Asics Metaspeed shoes instead, and the Cielo X1 2.0 is punchier too.
While the Rocket X3 could still serve a great role as a trainer/racer, you’re paying super-shoe prices for that, so you might be better off looking at a more affordable super-trainer like the Hoka Mach X2 instead.
Verdict And Alternatives
We enjoyed running in the Hoka Rocket X3 and if you’re a runner who needs more support and stability than you get from most carbon super-shoes to excel on race day, it’s one of the better options on the market.
For pure speed, we’d look at a few shoes ahead of the Rocket X3, including the Cielo X1 2.0, Adios Pro 4, Asics Metaspeed range and the Puma Fast-R 3. That’s especially the case for shorter events; when it comes to the marathon and beyond the Rocket X3 is more competitive, because of its balance of comfort and speed.
The shoe does work well in Hoka’s range though, as an alternative to the Cielo X1 2.0 that can do a similar job to the Cielo X1 as a fantastic fast training and racing shoe. If you have the budget to slip it into your line-up for that purpose, the Rocket X3 is a good shoe to have around.
Hoka Rocket X3 vs Hoka Cielo X1 2.0
Hoka’s two raving options have very different ride feels, with the Cielo X1 2.0 being more rockered and aggressive than the Rocket X3, which is more comfortable and stable. The Cielo X1 2.0 feels faster to us, but speed comes at the cost of stability, and for long races the Rocket X3 might edge it.