HOKA Tecton X 3 Reviews

Light, quick and buoyant yet stable on rocky mountain paths, with good impact damping. The gaiter collar and durable upper kept her feet dry and debris-free. One for your list if you have a trail race or running holiday coming up.

Their favorite carbon trail shoe and the most sure-footed on technical terrain, with more pop than v2 and no loss of stability. Better on full strides than in rock gardens. Can feel overbearing when you aren't running engaged; overkill for beginners.

Her go-to for workouts and long runs: light, responsive and cushioned on almost any surface, and a viable 100-miler shoe. The knit collar shows some wear at 300 mi. The high stack, the price and the ankle gaiter may put some off.

About 150 miles, including a 100 km race, plus other runs. They had no blisters or hot spots and no foot pain outside the race, and found the grip reliable and the cushioning comfortable and responsive. They lost toenails on the race's relentless descents, the built-in ankle sleeve makes the shoe hard to get on, and it runs narrow for wide feet (half a size up suggested). By their own estimate it should last about 400 miles, and they would use it for races and some sessions, not daily training.

Three testers, with roughly 25 miles, about 60 km and runs of up to a couple of hours between them, mostly on UK trails. They liked the lively, protective ride, reliable grip and a roomier fit than expected despite the built-in gaiter, and one had far less leg fatigue after big descents. The drawbacks are a wobbly, less stable feel when tired or on steep, technical or cambered ground, a snug toe box for some (half a size up suggested), little toe protection and a high price. Best for experienced trail runners.

Two testers with about 137 and 122 miles each, including a 55k and a 100K race, on steep rocky climbs, smooth trail and night running. They liked the soft, bouncy foam, strong climbing efficiency, secure lockdown and a built-in gaiter that kept debris out, and the foam still felt lively after a 62-mile race. One needed 70 to 80 miles to get the bounce under control, one upper tore at the seam on a branch, and the midsole held water for a while after soaking. They see it as an advanced shoe for racing and training.