Hoka Rocket X Trail Review: Blazing Trails

Introduction to the Hoka Rocket X Path

TAYLOR: There’s a continuing comparability between highway and path in the case of efficiency footwear. Whereas the one utterly knowledgeable the opposite initially, this new technology of path racers has seen its largest divergence over the previous few years.

We’ve principally seen this in foam and plate expertise, the place footwear like the unique The North Face Flight Vectiv and Hoka Tecton X had been the pioneers. Whereas each sequence proceed to push the boundaries in their very own respects with their newest fashions (Summit Vectiv Professional 3 and Tecton X 3), we at the moment are seeing new racers pop up with extra particular goals.

Apparently sufficient, Hoka’s latest racer takes a swing again to the times of immediately adopting highway shoe tech. The Hoka Rocket X Path is a brand-new racer that lands someplace between the model’s marathon race day shoe and standard path racer. 

This design drop is likely to be somewhat bit complicated as a result of there are lots of variations of profitable plates or rods used particularly for trails already. So, why use the overall geometries and supplies present in Hoka’s Rocket X sequence? Properly, apparently, the unique order of the Hoka Rocket X Path got here immediately from Jim Walmsley himself. 

He wished the cushion to go the gap, however the pop to propel him ahead that he has loved from the Rocket X. Voila! 

Properly, the completed product isn’t precisely a one-for-one. Whereas the midsole geometry is the closest comparability, there are a number of extra particular path variations: a unique tremendous foam compound, an H-shaped carbon fiber plate, and a trail-specific higher. These variations make the Rocket X Path a spicy shoe designated for smoother terrain.

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What we like concerning the Hoka Rocket X Path

TAYLOR: Effectivity is the secret in path ultrarunning.  It’s actually not an argument that that is a very powerful characteristic of a shoe on this class, and few have created a package deal centered round this concept. Like with the On Cloudultra Professional (one other favourite shoe of the 12 months), I really feel effectivity is essentially the most ahead sensation with the Rocket X Path. 

There’s lots that contributes to this, however one of many principal causes is the shaping of the midsole. Draw a line from heel to toe, and also you’ll discover a extra aggressive rockered heel and a late-stage rockered forefoot — which means that the tipping level to toe-off comes later within the foot’s transition. Neither is overly aggressive, however as a result of each side of the shoe have this rocker, a really clean footstrike and toe-off are ensured. 

A broader base additionally helped with stability and management to help with this ahead, environment friendly movement.

Let’s get to that foam, although. If ATPU is the new new foam, then the Rocket X Path is on hearth! This shoe has extra of it than another path shoe available on the market. There’s a brief listing of footwear that make the most of this foam. On the roads, we’ve the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3, Speedland RX:FPY, and Tracksmith Eliot Racer. For grime digging, we actually solely have the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Path and now the Hoka Rocket X Path.

And, like I mentioned, there’s loads of it underfoot. A part of the good thing about this supercritical midsole materials is that it might probably provide related power and underfoot cushion as PEBA (many race footwear make the most of this materials), however it’s usually rather more sturdy and barely denser, too. I feel all is true on this case, and I loved the underfoot feeling lots. 

The 42/36 mm stack midsole has a medium-soft, spongy, energetic trip that felt pretty much as good on the roads as on gentle trails. Along side the midsole shaping, the H-shaped carbon plate added much more stability and snap, which made for a constantly zippy and surprisingly regular trip. True cushion, power return, and a subtly snappy toe-off had been all obvious. The general trip makes me consider a mix between the Asics Metafuji Path and the Hoka Tecton X 3. 

This underfoot goodness could possibly be all for nothing if the match lacked accountability. Whereas the flimsiness of the Tecton X 3 higher dissatisfied me, the construction within the Rocket X Path excites me essentially the most. It has an identical padded and stout heel development to the Hoka Mafate X, which helped anchor the foot appropriately over prime of the reactive trip—snug and purposeful.

A technical engineered mesh with a webbed cage of innerlays continued the construction up prime with out going overboard. Once more, I actually favored how this made my foot really feel safe sufficient to run confidently, even on reasonably technical terrain. This light-weight and sturdy possibility is difficult to not evaluate to the Matryx higher discovered on the Hoka Tecton X 2.

Many runners will recognize that whereas the midfoot and heel had been “fitted” however not tight, the forefoot felt barely accommodating for the lengthy haul. Despite the fact that there have been minor match points (seek advice from the following part), I used to be fairly snug on runs that pushed a half-day or additional.

I’ll point out this once more, however I actually imagine that the higher development and match permit the Hoka Rocket X Path to be extra versatile than even Hoka offers it credit score for. 

Lastly, that outsole has a equally versatile development as many race-day choices. The three.5 mm lugs within the forefoot and heel felt nice on something from pavement to gentle trails. The rubber is surprisingly cheesy and carried out nicely on moist trails that weren’t soupy. Despite the fact that this outsole sample has its identified limitations, I recognize the flexibility, flexibility, and light-weight development. 

Since I’ve already made the comparability between highway and path tremendous footwear, I feel it’s essential to notice that whereas many highway racers are constructed solely to final a restricted time, the Hoka Rocket X Path has solely proven indicators of lasting longer. Even the froth, after 50-plus miles, has nice character and exhibits no indicators of slowing down. I’d dare to say that this shoe will last more than a lot of its opponents (aside from the outsole), even the Hoka Tecton X 3.

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What we don’t like concerning the Hoka Rocket X Path

TAYLOR: Sturdiness is a chief concern of race-day footwear. As talked about, I do imagine the Hoka Rocket X Path will final surprisingly lengthy. My solely actual doubt is the outsole. The lugs round my toes have already been eaten up, and the remainder of the forefoot lugs are displaying some indicators of degradation. 

Whereas the shorter Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole on the unique Tecton X and Tecton X 2 wasn’t good, it did its job rather well. The sturdiness alone makes me surprise why they didn’t persist with that ingredient. 

Apart from that, match nuances are my solely different fear.

As talked about, the toe field is barely accommodating by way of width. It did really feel “stumpy” to me, although. Relying on desire for long-distance racing, I’d advocate going up a minimum of a half dimension out of your typical, possibly even a full dimension. 

Additionally, despite the fact that the spec sheet features a Dynamic Vamp, I felt there wasn’t any play with the match. It is a characteristic I’ve come to like with Hoka’s choices just like the Mafate 5, Mafate X, and even the Speedgoat 6.  The technical mesh higher won’t stretch like a conventional mesh, and the vamp wasn’t truly elastic both. So, the match might be a get-what-you-get state of affairs out of the field. This isn’t solely unhealthy; it’s simply one thing to notice. 

The tongue is made from an identical however barely extra versatile materials because the higher. It was so flimsy that it bunched up fairly a bit each time I tied my footwear. I didn’t expertise any discomfort due to it, however it’s undoubtedly a primary state of affairs for one thing to pop up over time, whether or not that’s topical irritation or odd pressures on the foot.

Closing ideas on the Hoka Rocket X Path

TAYLOR: Am I pleased? In a common sense, very.

I used to be somewhat shocked by the Hoka Rocket X Path’s efficiency-over-anything sensation; nonetheless, the extra I ran, the extra I discovered to adore it. Don’t get me fallacious, it nonetheless has an brisk and pretty snappy really feel. With a reputation like Rocket X Path, I merely anticipated that blast-off sensation. My notion of that comes immediately from spending somewhat little bit of time in highway racing choices just like the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0. 

Hoka’s Rocket X Path is made for the smoother, sooner segments of path operating. Whereas it’s a nice providing for doing simply that, I actually imagine Hoka is underselling by merely tagging it within the “gravel” class. I’m glad to say that the general match and underfoot operate make this an amusing shoe to put on for quite a lot of path operating.

As with all $250 shoe, I’m pleased to report that apart from outsole sturdiness and slight match nuances, there’s not a lot that ought to deter a runner from attempting out the Hoka Rocket X Path.

You’ll be able to decide up the Hoka Rocket X Path for $250 from Operating Warehouse (that includes free delivery and 90-day returns) by utilizing the buttons beneath.

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