Hoka Rocket X2s Review

Let me give you a little background first because everybody's a little bit different.

I'm 48, 5'11" 170lbs. Prior to these, I was wearing Hoka CarbonX2 as my race shoe. For 10Ks or less, my Dog is my running partner. She runs about a 7:30 pace.  To break in these shoes, we did an around neighborhood 5K, at a 7:13 pace and I was pulling her for a change instead of the other way around.  That was my first indication these shoes are going to be special.

Test number two: Reading Road Race Mark Twain half marathon.  This was a road and dirt road, with about 800 ft of elevation.  These are not a shoe for dirt roads.  I will stick to my Hoka TectonX for dirt and Speed Goats for trails. This was not an easy run, but I felt great.  The meta rocker makes you want to lean, keeping proper running form and go faster.  I actually had a concentrate on not going too fast.  The foam was so cushioning on the downhills. Usually I'm fearful that I'm too heavy going downhill and will hurt my knees. But this is not a concern with these shoes.  For those who want data, I ran a flat Half Marathon in Hampton, New Hampshire 28 days prior, with a total elevation of 90 ft, and was faster on this course by 5 minutes.   Finishing 4 seconds ahead of my wife which will get to later on why that's significant.

Test number three: same day as the wedding race, a 1 mile track race in Beacon Falls, Connecticut.  Again, the high tech performance foam aided in my recovery, Running my second fastest mile this decade. (Second race ahead of wife)

Test number four: Total Image Running 10k, in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Check out my review on that race as well!). This is a dog friendly 10k, So Dio and I were out there cooking it!  Weather was perfect, my 10k PR.  Dio couldn't keep up with me.   Now technically I didn't beat my wife in this one, as she ran the 10 mile race, But her aha moment at the end is what significant to everyone reading here!   Following this race we went to the local running store, where she had to try on a pair for herself.  The meta rocker throwing you forward, the spring of the carbon fiber plate we're immediately evident to her as well. HOWEVER: She hated them.  In the first 30 ft. Of walking with them in the store, She can feel at the arch support was not positioned properly for her feet.  This is why I say it's a must "try on" shoe.  You will have the same. Love hate relationship based on how the arch support hits your foot.

 Test number five: RBC Brooklyn half marathon.  This is my final and ultimate test, to see how they handle in this major road race.  And the weather couldn't have been any better for testing, It rained the night before and started raining at the end of the race.  On the streets of New York and the boardwalk of Coney Island, not an issue.  The white lines on the road, are slippery with these shoes and any other.  The metal city grates, we're extremely slippery with these shoes.

Bottom Line: I do believe these shoes help. You make my 10 minute improvement in my half marathon in 45 days possible.  Sure, some of that might have been my training, did not change my training.  

So that we're comparing apples to apples.
I pronate and sometimes heel strike, as apparent by looking at the pictures of the carbon X2s.  

I will only use my carbon fiber shoes for racing, and my daily runners are either Clifton's or Mach

Started wearing Hoka Clifton6 for my pronation, this is not a comparable shoe.  Doesn't have the great pronation support that the Clifton series has.  If I could give it four and a half stars this is one of the reasons why I would do that.

Tread wear data for reference: I get 400ish miles from my Clifton's6, 300 from my clifton 7 (but then make them my walking sneakers) Carbon x (OG) just 138, Carbon X2 almost 200, and still going.

I am confident I will get over 300 miles from these, hopefully even more with the hefty price tag.

So this shoe comes with a technical mesh upper that so many of the elite running shoes are coming with.  This again is a love-hate relationship.  I used to heel lock method, So getting into the shoe was another challenge.  My wife mocked me because I use a foot long old man shoe horn, beating her in races now so who cares.  I did run into two other runners at other races, and they had the same complaint.  Definitely looks all high tech, but harder to get your foot into.

Another positive, the light rain I experienced at the Brooklyn half marathon was repelled by my shoe!   Nothing I read says it was supposed to be water repellent, but a nice surprise.

Although some people may complain that the rocket X2 only comes in one color and one's gender, I think that is one of its strengths.   Don't waste time on trying to figure out what colors the market wants to buy pick one and go with it.  I do appreciate this marketing strategy.

Original rocket X, a shoe that I considered, Is just plain ugly.  That could be forgiven if it has incredible performance.  This shoe has that great performance. Even if you don't like the color and style of the shoe, try it on and see if it fits you.  It's performance can speak for itself.