I know that the rocket is lighter but which shoe is the better overall for long runs, so things like cushion and energy return.
I know that the rocket is lighter but which shoe is the better overall for long runs, so things like cushion and energy return.
Personally I like the HOKA ONE ON ROCKET X the best and I think is a super fast shoe ( and obviously I'm sponsored by HOKA fyi). Of course this depends on what event you are doing (i.e. road marathon or half or 10kkm etc), as well as your running form and foot shape. Some people are doing to feel the plate differently in different models and something like the Carbon Rocket fits quite a bit more narrow than the Carbon X2 for example. There are 3 different newer carbon fiber shoes from HOKA now: The Carbon Rocket The Rocket X The Carbon X2 (featured in tomorrow's 100km road record attempt). The Rocket X is what you see NAZ pretty much extensively wearing in workouts at last year's Olympic Trials.
Which One? wrote:
I know that the rocket is lighter but which shoe is the better overall for long runs, so things like cushion and energy return.
Been wondering Sage, would any of the guys (or girls) in the 100km tomorrow prefer to be wearing the Rocket X?
Obviously this is a big Carbon X2 marketing launch so they won't, but would there be any feeling that records are more within reach with the snappier Rocket X?
If it's good for a marathon, isnt it good for 100km? The carbon rocket was an absolute push to the marathon by Faubs in Boston IMO, but the Rocket X seems like it would handle the jump in distance nicer.
Sage can you describe the feel difference between the Rocket and the Carbon series?
I assume the Rocket wouldn't be good for daily trainer but maybe speedwork off track.
Hoka has a naming problem, it's confusing, there is also the X-SPE
Carbon seems designed for heel-strikers with that big tail
I’m no Sage Canady, but the Rocket X and X2 are two different rides! I have both and have worn every Hoka Carbon shoe. I feel if you want a fast workout shoe or half or fiull shoe, pick Rocket X. If you want a cushioned shoe for a long run or an ultra, go with X2’s.
Easy to mix these up .
For starters, there is no such thing as a "Carbon Rocket"
FYI:
1st Gen - Carbon X & Evo Carbon Rocket
2nd Gen - Carbon X 2 & Rocket X
Tried the Rocket X for a couple runs this week including my long run today.
Some random thoughts:
After ten years Hoka finally has a shoe -almost- as fast as Adidas Adios. I always want to give Hoka a chance because I feel they are a good acting company with great athlete sponsorship but nothing they've had previously excited me except cheap cliftons/Napali for recovery runs.
Except these are almost $200 after tax and I can get clearance Adios for $50-60
Except it's a harsher ride than the adios
Except it's twice the stack height of the adios so it feels "dangerous" if you have to switch off the road to the dirt/grass
And it definitely feels dangerous to step/turn on wet painted lines like you are going to slip-slide away because you are running directly on the foam without tread vs continental rubber on the adios which has crazy traction you don't think twice about
Aliphine must be extra incredibly amazing to win the trials in these, my stryd says I am working way harder in them, she'd be seconds per mile faster in adios (and ridiculous in vaporfly). Heck all the Hoka athletes must be extra amazing to make these shoe looks that good.
I can't feel the plate, its effect at all. It's like it's not real or not actually there. Uphill seems oddly easier than adios, that's about it.
I seem in less discomfort after two hours in them vs adios. But I won't know for 24 hours if these hurt my legs more or less after my long run, I'll update if anyone cares at all but the reviews on RoadTrailRun apparently aren't wrong, just optimistic and generous as typical.
Were the tracers anything like these? I never got to try them and they are gone now I think.
Time for Hoka to invest in newer modern foams to replace eva or they are going to end up a walmart rack brand by the end of this decade, Adidas, Nike Asics and Saucony are going to destroy them with alternative foams.
Hope they come up with a newer prototype for the Olympics for their athletes since the prototype rules seem to have gone out the window, I'd like to see some podiums.
I agree with this, my heart rate is higher running in the Carbon X2/Rocket X versus the Vaporfly at the same pace, indicating my body is having to work significantly harder. They're not slow shoes and they're pretty comfortable for long miles, but Hoka really needs to go with a TPU/Pebax type foam to compete at this point with the other speed machines. That said, to the original question, the X2 is slightly more cushioned with a higher stack and more of a rocker feel, while the Rocket X is lighter and a bit faster.
Been trying a few more runs in the Rocket X, still not excited at all by them but I did accidentally discover something.
On a whim I swapped out the insoles from my adios because they are exact fit in the same size and the hoka insoles are barely anything obviously to save weight.
What it seems to do is convince me to load the shoe more on impact, where the factory insole is so thin that I immediately push off the moment I feel the ground contact. I get more bounce out of them now, I suspect because I am loading the plate more as it takes another fraction of a second to feel the ground.
Sage do you use the factory insoles or do you have your own favorite replacement?
Anyone seen a cutaway of the Rocket X? I am really curious what the plate looks like.
Just did a tempo run in the rocket x. It is a nice shoe. However, it makes me appreciate how well Aliphine ran at the Trials. Hoka is simply behind in the foam game. The Rocket is behind the Endorphin Pro, Hyperion Elite 2, Next% and Adios Pro. Until Hoka incorporates a more modern foam, their athletes will be at a disadvantage.
I've used the Rocket X and Carbon X on long runs and I have to say the Rocket X is far superior. The Carbon X is awesome but can beat up the feet, but the Rocket X is just insane. It doesn't have the "pop" of the Vaporfly but it's much more stable and really does earn its title as a super shoe. I love to push the pace on my 2 hour long runs and when I did that in the Rocket X I wound up averaging 5:57 per mile for 20.14 miles. In the Carbon X my best long run was like a 6:09 average mile.