When Hoka first launched maximally cushioned sneakers circa 2009 to a working market trending towards minimalism, many sat again, popcorn in hand, to look at what would come of those new sneakers with their wild stack heights. Properly, everyone knows the place that storyline went. Now, the model is in a growth section for its carbon plate path trainers, and as soon as once more, we’re having fun with the present.
Till a couple of months in the past, the Tecton X line, at the moment in its third iteration, was the only mannequin of path sneakers Hoka had in its lineup that featured a carbon plate. Then, simply final month, Hoka debuted the Mafate X, a very completely different species of carbon path shoe. If the Tecton X line excels on medium-difficulty trails, then the Mafate X line is a carbon tank, meant to bully its means via something the path presents.
During the last yr, nonetheless, Hoka aficionados have seen whisperings of one thing else brewing within the model’s carbon plate path shoe program. We noticed distinctive options on the customized sneakers Hoka athlete Ludovic Pommeret wore to win the 2024 and 2025 Hardrock 100 and take fifth place on the 2024 UTMB. We noticed related particulars within the customized sneakers Vincent Bouillard wore to win the 2024 UTMB and on his robust DNF on the 2025 Western States 100. And we noticed the identical options within the sneakers of Fu-Zhao Xiang when she took second on the 2025 Western States 100.
Now, we lastly know this shoe to be the Hoka Rocket X Path, the model’s not-yet-released third carbon plate path mannequin.
As early because the 2024 Hardrock 100, rumors swirled about what shoe Hoka athlete Ludovic Pommeret was carrying. He informed iRunFar in 2025 that his customized sneakers use the midsole from the Hoka Rocket X Path. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Having now put 120 miles and relying on our personal pair, we will verify this shoe is designed for pure velocity on gravel and non-technical singletrack. An H-shaped carbon plate, unique Aliphatic TPU foam, a reasonably aggressive rocker, and low-profile lugs that also present sufficient grip mix to create fairly the shoe. On the identical time it’s constructed on a few ideas from its predecessors on each the path and street facet of the model, in addition to a wild science experiment containing options not but seen in path sneakers. As we mentioned, what a present this will likely be.
The carbon-plated Hoka Rocket X Path. A science experiment in path sneakers. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hoka Rocket X Path Fundamental Specs
Let’s check out the specifics of the Hoka Rocket X Path:
Precise Weight: 9.1 ounces (258 grams) for U.S. males’s 9
Drop: 6 millimeters
Stack Peak: 42 millimeters on the heel/36 millimeters on the toe for U.S. males’s 10
Higher Materials: Light-weight single-layer mesh with skinny TPU underlays
Tongue: Common, minimal
Midsole: Two layers of Aliphatic TPU foam that sandwich an H-shaped carbon plate
Outsole: Zoned rubber
Lugs: 3.5 millimeters
Launch Date: Fall 2025
Value: $250
Hoka athlete Fu-Zhao Xiang opted for the Hoka Rocket X Path throughout a part of her second-place run on the 2025 Western States 100. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Hoka Rocket X Path Particular Options
The Hoka Rocket X Path isn’t a shoe for simple runs or strolling the canine. It’s additionally not a shoe that makes you are feeling assured when the paths get technical. It might probably really feel downright awkward at gradual paces and on uneven terrain, however when the tempo picks up, a singular set of options mix to create a race shoe that simply desires to fly over particular sorts of terrain. Let’s take a look at a few the particular options of this shoe.
Premium Midsole Foam
When you’re following tremendous shoe foam developments, then you understand that Aliphatic TPU (A-TPU) foam is poised to problem PEBA as essentially the most sought-after foam for tremendous sneakers. Whereas this foam can at the moment be present in a few different sneakers in the marketplace, that is the primary time it’s being utilized by Hoka. And so far as we all know, it’s additionally the primary time the froth is coming to market in a path shoe. Foam specialists inform us that A-TPU is meant to be much more responsive than PEBA, and we’ll should agree that this shoe has simply as a lot, if no more, pop than different tremendous sneakers we’ve worn — street or path.
The midsole of the Hoka Rocket X Path is tall, by path requirements, with 42 millimeters of thickness on the heel, and 36 millimeters on the toe, in a U.S. males’s 10. When you come to this shoe from the world of street tremendous sneakers, its stack top will really feel proper at residence. However for these extra used to the widely decrease stack top of path sneakers, you’ll really feel the distinction right here.
The stack top of the Hoka Rocket X Path seemingly competes among the many highest ever utilized in a commercially launched path shoe. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
The shoe wears its top properly, compressing extra within the heel than the forefoot, offering cushion throughout the preliminary footstrike and a agency platform for a powerful toe-off. The froth additionally squishes out laterally when below load, providing an excellent bigger footprint for improved stability. If the stack top is extra harking back to street tremendous sneakers, the 6-millimeter drop stays within the vary of most path sneakers.
The aggressive rocker encourages a midfoot-to-forefoot touchdown and an environment friendly toe-off, a gait that may really feel extra pure on the quicker paces this shoe is designed for.
H-Formed Carbon Plate
As an alternative of a stable carbon plate, like that utilized in many street tremendous sneakers, Hoka employs an H-shaped plate for the Rocket X Path. Just like the forked carbon plate used within the Hoka Mafate X on the path facet and Hoka Skyward X on the street facet, the plate is extra versatile within the lateral course than a stable one, permitting the plate to flex and alter to altering terrain. It’s value noting that the Rocket X Path’s carbon plate is completely different in form from the one within the Hoka Tecton X 3, which additionally has extra winglets for higher lateral stability.
Certainly, the Rocket X Path feels decidedly much less steady on off-camber or extra technical trails than the Tecton X 3 however gives noticeably extra propulsion with every step. Ultimately, it’s unimaginable to discern from the place these emotions originate: the new-to-us A-TPU foam, the lofty stack top, the uniquely designed carbon plate form, its rocker form, or some mixture of the above. Nonetheless, we expect others will agree that the sensation underfoot is simply as distinctive because the shoe’s options.
Vincent Bouillard wore sneakers with what seemed like a number of Hoka Rocket X Path options on his approach to successful the 2024 UTMB. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Light-weight Higher with Assist within the Proper Locations
Manufactured from light-weight mesh, the Rocket X Path higher is thinner and stiffer than the Matryx higher of the Tecton X 3 and extra harking back to the uppers on a few of Hoka’s carbon street sneakers. Though you possibly can see via it, the mesh is ok sufficient to maintain most particles out.
TPU underlays present extra construction across the foot for an honest lockdown, and the heel cup is structurally stable and well-padded to carry the heel comfortably in place. Notably, the tongue is fairly skinny, so it’s crucial that it’s positioned within the correct place earlier than lacing up and tying the textured laces.
A number of options distinguish this shoe from a pure road-to-trail shoe, together with a strengthened toe bumper that protects from rocks. A built-in gaiter attachment level on the heel nods to the truth that even on filth roads or non-technical trails, generally situations warrant further protection to maintain rocks and dirt out of sneakers, particularly over longer distances.
Ludovic Pommeret wore sneakers with options much like the Hoka Rocket X Path on his approach to successful each the 2024 and 2025 Hardrock 100. Right here he’s throughout the 2025 occasion. Photograph: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Zoned Outsole
Not meant for mud, rubbly trails, or lengthy off-camber sections, the Hoka Rocket X Path outsole, with its zoned design and strategically positioned 3.5-millimeter lugs, supplies sufficient grip on gravel and smoother trails whereas saving quite a lot of weight in comparison with a full rubber outsole.
There’s considerably extra tread on the entrance of the shoe than the heel, one other vote towards the forefoot-striking stride that the shoe encourages. The small triangular lugs are extra aggressive on the perimeters than within the center, and the rear of the outsole makes use of the identical lug design on the edges of the entrance, besides positioned backward to supply braking and downhill management.
With this zoned outsole design, a lot of the midsole is uncovered, growing the shoe’s flexibility and reducing its weight in comparison with the total protection of the Tecton X 3 and different extra trail-specific sneakers. There may be sufficient rubber to supply grip so long as the working surfaces are comparatively flat and easy.
The minimalist outsole of the Hoka Rocket X Path supplies sufficient grip for filth roads and flat, quick trails. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hoka Rocket X Path Last Ideas
There’s no denying that the Hoka Rocket X Path is a pure go-fast shoe. We additionally must name this shoe what it’s: a giant ol’ science experiment for path runners.
It has among the many highest stack top within the path shoe world, a model new, comparatively untested-on-the-trails foam, an uncommon H-shaped carbon plate, and a minimalist outsole that traditionally can be laughed off stage in a contest of path shoe outsoles. However, in very particular situations — specifically, filth street routes and races that blur the road between street and path working — this shoe is quick.
It additionally has options, together with the protecting heel collar and toe bumper, that may maintain your ft completely happy because the miles add up.
With the shoe poised to succeed in the market in early fall, the science experiment that’s the Rocket X Path will likely be launched to the lots for us all to get pleasure from going actually quick on the filth. Till then, we’ve got a summer time of racing the place we will proceed speculating about what’s on the ft of Hoka athletes.
Name for Feedback
The place else have you ever seen attainable parts of the Hoka Rocket X Path out and about?
Have you ever tried this shoe on? How does it examine to Hoka’s different carbon plate path fashions for you?
Vincent Bouillard wore sneakers with a number of Hoka Rocket X options throughout his 2025 Western States 100 run. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
