When Hoka first launched maximally cushioned footwear circa 2009 to a working market trending towards minimalism, many sat again, popcorn in hand, to look at what would come of those new footwear with their wild stack heights. Properly, everyone knows the place that storyline went. Now, the model is in a increase section for its carbon plate path trainers, and as soon as once more, we’re having fun with the present.
Till a couple of months in the past, the Tecton X line, at the moment in its third iteration, was the one mannequin of path footwear Hoka had in its lineup that featured a carbon plate. Then, simply final month, Hoka debuted the Mafate X, a completely completely different species of carbon path shoe. If the Tecton X line excels on medium-difficulty trails, then the Mafate X line is a carbon tank, meant to bully its approach via something the path presents.
Over the past 12 months, nevertheless, Hoka aficionados have observed whisperings of one thing else brewing within the model’s carbon plate path shoe program. We noticed distinctive options on the customized footwear Hoka athlete Ludovic Pommeret wore to win the 2024 and 2025 Exhausting rock 100 and take fifth place on the 2024 Utmba. We noticed comparable particulars within the customized footwear Vincent Bouillard wore to win the 2024 UTMB and on his powerful DNF on the 2025 Western States 100. And we noticed the identical options within the footwear of Fu-Zhao Xiang when she took second on the 2025 Western States 100.
Now, we lastly know this shoe to be the Hoka Rocket X Paththe model’s not-yet-released third carbon plate path mannequin.
As early because the 2024 Hardrock 100, rumors swirled about what shoe Hoka athlete Ludovic Pommeret was sporting. He informed iRunFar in 2025 that his customized footwear use the midsole from the Hoka Rocket X Path. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Having now put 120 miles and relying on our personal pair, we will affirm this shoe is designed for pure pace on gravel and non-technical singletrack. An H-shaped carbon plate, unique Aliphatic TPU foam, a reasonably aggressive rocker, and low-profile lugs that also present sufficient grip mix to create fairly the shoe. On the identical time it’s constructed on a few ideas from its predecessors on each the path and street aspect of the model, in addition to a wild science experiment containing options not but seen in path footwear. As we mentioned, what a present this will probably be.
The carbon-plated Hoka Rocket X Path. A science experiment in path footwear. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hoka Rocket X Path Primary Specs
Let’s check out the specifics of the Hoka Rocket X Path:
- Precise Weight: 9.1 ounces (258 grams) for U.S. males’s 9
- Drop: 6 millimeters
- Stack Peak: 42 millimeters on the heel/36 millimeters on the toe for U.S. males’s 10
- Higher Materials: Light-weight single-layer mesh with skinny TPU underlays
- Tongue: Common, minimal
- Midsole: Two layers of Aliphatic TPU foam that sandwich an H-shaped carbon plate
- Outsole: Zoned rubber
- Lugs: 3.5 millimeters
- Launch Date: Fall 2025
- Worth: $250
Hoka athlete Fu-Zhao Xiang opted for the Hoka Rocket X Path throughout a part of her second-place run on the 2025 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Hoka Rocket X Path Particular Options
The Hoka Rocket X Path isn’t a shoe for straightforward runs or strolling the canine. It’s additionally not a shoe that makes you’re feeling assured when the paths get technical. It may really feel downright awkward at sluggish paces and on uneven terrain, however when the tempo picks up, a novel set of options mix to create a race shoe that simply desires to fly over particular sorts of terrain. Let’s take a look at a few the particular options of this shoe.
Premium Midsole Foam
Should you’re following tremendous shoe foam developments, then that Aliphatic TPU (A-TPU) foam is poised to problem PEBA as essentially the most sought-after foam for tremendous footwear. Whereas this foam can at the moment be present in a few different footwear available on the market, that is the primary time it’s being utilized by Hoka. And so far as we all know, it’s additionally the primary time the froth is coming to market in a path shoe. Foam consultants inform us that A-TPU is meant to be much more responsive than PEBA, and we’ll need to agree that this shoe has simply as a lot, if no more, pop than different tremendous footwear we’ve worn — street or path.
The midsole of the Hoka Rocket X Path is tall, by path requirements, with 42 millimeters of thickness on the heel, and 36 millimeters on the toe, in a U.S. males’s 10. Should you come to this shoe from the world of street tremendous footwear, its stack peak will really feel proper at dwelling. However for these extra used to the widely decrease stack peak of path footwear, you’ll really feel the distinction right here.
The stack peak of the Hoka Rocket X Path doubtless competes among the many highest ever utilized in a commercially launched path shoe. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
The shoe wears its peak nicely, compressing extra within the heel than the forefoot, offering cushion throughout the preliminary footstrike and a agency platform for a powerful toe-off. The froth additionally squishes out laterally when beneath load, providing a fair bigger footprint for improved stability. If the stack peak is extra paying homage to street tremendous footwear, the 6-millimeter drop stays within the vary of most path footwear.
The aggressive rocker encourages a midfoot-to-forefoot touchdown and an environment friendly toe-off, a gait that can really feel extra pure on the sooner paces this shoe is designed for.
H-Formed Carbon Plate
As a substitute of a stable carbon plate, like that utilized in many street tremendous footwear, Hoka employs an H-shaped plate for the Rocket X Path. Just like the forked carbon plate used within the Hoka Mafate X on the path aspect and Hoka Skyward X on the street aspect, the plate is extra versatile within the lateral route than a stable one, permitting the plate to flex and alter to altering terrain. It’s price noting that the Rocket X Path’s carbon plate is completely different in form from the one within the Hoka Tecton X 3, which additionally has extra winglets for higher lateral stability.
Certainly, the Rocket X Path feels decidedly much less steady on off-camber or extra technical trails than the Tecton X 3 however presents noticeably extra propulsion with every step. Ultimately, it’s not possible to discern from the place these emotions originate: the new-to-us A-TPU foam, the lofty stack peak, the uniquely designed carbon plate form, its rocker form, or some mixture of the above. Nonetheless, we predict others will agree that the sensation underfoot is simply as distinctive because the shoe’s options.
Vincent Bouillard wore footwear with what seemed like a number of Hoka Rocket X Path options on his approach to profitable the 2024 UTMB. Picture: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Light-weight Higher with Assist within the Proper Locations
Manufactured from light-weight mesh, the Rocket X Path higher is thinner and stiffer than the Matryx higher of the Tecton X 3 and extra paying homage to the uppers on a few of Hoka’s carbon street footwear. Though you’ll be able to see via it, the mesh is ok sufficient to maintain most particles out.
TPU underlays present extra construction across the foot for an honest lockdown, and the heel cup is structurally stable and well-padded to carry the heel comfortably in place. Notably, the tongue is fairly skinny, so it’s crucial that it’s positioned within the correct place earlier than lacing up and tying the textured laces.
Just a few options distinguish this shoe from a pure road-to-trail shoe, together with a strengthened toe bumper that protects from rocks. A built-in gaiter attachment level on the heel nods to the truth that even on filth roads or non-technical trails, generally situations warrant further protection to maintain rocks and dirt out of footwear, particularly over longer distances.
Ludovic Pommeret wore footwear with options just like the Hoka Rocket X Path on his approach to profitable each the 2024 and 2025 Hardrock 100. Right here he’s throughout the 2025 occasion. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Zoned Outsole
Not meant for mud, rubbly trails, or lengthy off-camber sections, the Hoka Rocket X Path outsole, with its zoned design and strategically positioned 3.5-millimeter lugs, offers sufficient grip on gravel and smoother trails whereas saving a number of weight in comparison with a full rubber outsole.
There’s considerably extra tread on the entrance of the shoe than the heel, one other vote towards the forefoot-striking stride that the shoe encourages. The small triangular lugs are extra aggressive on the sides than within the center, and the rear of the outsole makes use of the identical lug design on the edges of the entrance, besides positioned backward to supply braking and downhill management.
With this zoned outsole design, a lot of the midsole is uncovered, rising the shoe’s flexibility and decreasing its weight in comparison with the complete protection of the Tecton X 3 and different extra trail-specific footwear. There’s sufficient rubber to supply grip so long as the working surfaces are comparatively flat and clean.
The minimalist outsole of the Hoka Rocket X Path offers sufficient grip for filth roads and flat, quick trails. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Hoka Rocket X Path Last Ideas
There’s no denying that the Hoka Rocket X Path is a pure go-fast shoe. We additionally must name this shoe what it’s: an enormous ol’ science experiment for path runners.
It has among the many highest stack peak within the path shoe world, a model new, comparatively untested-on-the-trails foam, an uncommon H-shaped carbon plate, and a minimalist outsole that traditionally can be laughed off stage in a contest of path shoe outsoles. However, in very particular situations — particularly, filth street routes and races that blur the road between street and path working — this shoe is quick.
It additionally has options, together with the protecting heel collar and toe bumper, that can preserve your toes pleased because the miles add up.
With the shoe poised to succeed in the market in early fall, the science experiment that’s the Rocket X Path will probably be launched to the plenty for us all to get pleasure from going actually quick on the filth. Till then, we’ve a summer season of racing the place we will proceed speculating about what’s on the toes of Hoka athletes.
Name for Feedback
- The place else have you ever seen potential elements of the Hoka Rocket X Path out and about?
- Have you ever tried this shoe on? How does it evaluate to Hoka’s different carbon plate path fashions for you?
Vincent Bouillard wore footwear with a number of Hoka Rocket X options throughout his 2025 Western States 100 run. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
