Hoka Rocket X3 Review | The Super Shoe That Prioritizes Stability

Here is our Hoka Rocket X3 review after testing on the roads and around the track to see just what it can do for speed.The Hoka Rocket X released to A LOT of fanfare. It was a top pick for many many runners, except Coach Amanda who found the underfoot great but the heel ripped her foot apart. Everyone agreed the X2 improved on that aspect, but some didn’t love the update quite as much as the original.

We’ve seen this pattern with other super shoes like the Nike Vaporfly.

Which had us all very curious to see just what the Rocket X3 would have in store with an additional 4mm of cushion. It’s not their top tier, front of the pack race day shoe the Hoka Cielo x1 2.0, but it’s also not shy on speed or comfort! We admit it’s confusing when they call it their fastest shoe…but it’s not.

Hoka Rocket X 3 Overview

There are some notable changes from the X2 and so far, we have to say, we love them. The additional 4mm heel stack reduced the overall drop to 7mm while giving us more of that soft bouncy feel we seek from a carbon plated racer.

For my first test run, I took these shoes  to the track for a pyramid workout. 10 minutes up,  400,800,1000,1000,800,400 with 90s recovery. My warmup pace was around 12 minutes. This is not a shoe meant for easy runs or midfoot striking, for the entire warmup, my weight was heavily shifted to the outsides of both feet. It wasn’t uncomfortable, it was just noticeable that I wasn’t using the plate.

Once the workout began is when the fun started! These shoes were easily able to accelerate to my 5k pace (high 7’s), and gave enough stability to handle the recoveries without losing much pep.

This is a shoe that helps you run faster, as you run faster!

I surprisingly ran an 800m PB, in the heat of summer training! I normally fall apart on the second 1k of the pyramid, but the Rocket X 3  really helped delay the muscular fatigue I’m used to.

While these are snappy and responsive enough to handle short intervals and shorter races (5k), I think the stability of the shoe is really special and sets the shoe apart from other shoes in this category. I would use these for a threshold workout, half and even full marathon.

Whereas most high stack shoes feel like bouncing on an uncontrollable trampoline, the Rocket X 3 is reminiscent of a pogo ball (child of the 90’s anyone?). Stable base, but can get really wild with big jumps, the more you hop.  These shoes are everything anyone could ever want in stability and responsiveness.

As noted, the specific set up of the carbon plate with winglets adds to the feeling of stability that is so often missing in these fast race shoes. This widens the scope of who can use and enjoy this shoe!

Hoka Rocket X 3 Fit

From out of the box, and onto my feet, these  felt a little snug at the toe box, so much so that I double checked the box to make sure they were the correct size.  I didn’t run in to any issues while running, but certainly noticed the fit each time I pull them on.

However, once I started moving, the breathable upper provided more space, and my toes were able to spread. This is a credit to the design of the upper, which is extremely lightweight, breathable and feels more flexible. So we’ll file this under not a major complaint, but something to consider if you like more toe space. 

I wear a 10.5, and would say these are true to size for length.

The heel collar is more streamlined than its predecessor, and the shoe never moved while running.  Though Coach Amanda says it’s still not an ideal fit for her (heel blisters) and she remains sad because she wants to spend more time in the Rocket.

Tongue is super thin, but not sharp which we have seen in some of these. Like most carbon shoes, they are cutting weight every where they can which means taking out that padding and even the laces are very thin. While there is a hole for heel lock lacing, they won’t be long enough to pull it off. As noted, we felt locked in so again aren’t chalking this up as a negative, but a note.

Aside from the initial feel of the toe box being too narrow, the The Hoka Rocket X 3 is a shoe I will keep coming back to for longer, sustained efforts. The added dual density layer of SCF PEBA foam at the midsole does a great job of feeling responsive to speed pick ups.

Who Tried it?

I’m Alison, a 42 year old solid middle of the pack runner. I primarily run on the road, but won’t turn down a good treadmill workout. I equally love solo and group runs, and have a large network of friends I run with in the DMV area.  My favorite distance to run is whatever 45 minutes equates to. My favorite distance to race is the marathon. When I’m not marathon training, I typically maintain 25-30 miles per week. I take my coffee black, and love confetti flavored pop tarts. When I’m not running, I’m thinking about my next run. You can find me on instagram @alioop_0_o_runs.

What to read next?

• See all of our carbon plate running shoe reviews
• Are there any downsides to running in carbon plated shoes? We dug in!