HOKA Rocket X 2 Reviews

Loves the Rocket X 2: a fast, stable racer.

A runner loved the Rocket X 2's stability and lower-drop feel, but landing behind the forefoot bump made runs uncomfortable even though it was fast.

4.5/5. Nothing to be ashamed of against the competition: a race shoe as effective as any, and more stable than many. Strengths: weight, dynamism and comfort. Price is a bit high.

A real contender: the team was surprised to agree that it was their current top race-day pick among shoes readily available (the original Alphafly is still their favorite). Underfoot feel and energy return put it at the top.

A great carbon shoe and the best racer Hoka has made. Any concerns are minor, but minor differences separate the top carbon shoes, so he'd reach for a few bouncier rivals (e.g. the Alphafly) first on race day.

Now worthy of its name: much faster, softer and more speed-assisting than v1, and Hoka finally has a proper super shoe. He would race a full marathon in it. Relatively stable and fairly durable. The forked plate gives less propulsion, and it's heavier and far pricier than v1.

Fast and enjoyable race shoe. True to size, with a fitted toe box and a secure, race-focused midfoot. The heel collar was his main problem: it rubbed near his Achilles and became painful on the first long, fast workout. Do a short test run before a long one.

Ran 1:31:26 against a 1:35 goal: the soft cushion didn't fatigue his legs, and he picked up pace in the last 5 km. Good grip on damp, rainy roads, and the outsole was almost undamaged afterward. A great first carbon racer that rivals the Vaporfly and Adios Pro. Expensive at ¥35,200.

Felt good at Kanazawa: plush cushion and a rebound that lengthened his stride, like the original Vaporfly. He'll race Kobe in it. Some instability on sharp turns and U-turns, and it slipped on wet early-race roads, so beware wet white lines and manholes.

Ran their first 5k race in the Rocket X 2 and set a new PR by 30 seconds; their Rincon 1 and Mach 4 had lost their pop within 200 miles.