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When I’m not actively testing shoes, Hoka is the brand I reach for most often. My regular Hoka rotation includes the Clifton 9 for leisurely days, the Mach 5 or Rincon 3 for moderate days, and the Tecton X for trail running.
When it comes to tempo runs, speed workouts, or races, however, Hoka hasn’t been on my radar. Since they jumped into the supershoe competition three years ago, Hoka’s premier go-fast carbon fiber racing shoe has been the Rocket X, which, for my stride, didn’t compare favorably to competitors’ racers like the Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2, Alphafly NEXT% 2, or Asics Metaspeed Sky+. The foam was too stiff, the rocker too far forward, and the ride felt dated.
One 2021 study tested seven supershoes on 12 male runners at a 6:02 per mile pace over two visits and found the Rocket X to be the least efficient of the seven. It’s not that the Rocket X was a…
