Type: Neutral
Price: £220
Weight: 236g
Drop: 5mm (36mm heel, 31mm forefoot)
The shoe
Hoka’s carbon-plated contributions to the running world have thus far failed to set hearts aflutter. It certainly has some able super-shoes in its arsenal – including the Carbon X line – but nothing to frighten the Nike Vaporflys of this world. But that changes with the Hoka Rocket X2 – a technology-packed, race-day option to rival the big guns. The racer comes complete with a carbon-fibre plate, sandwiched between two layers of super-responsive foam, and an internal midfoot cage for a locked-down fit. At 236g in a men’s 9.5 and 190g in a women’s size 6, it’s lightweight and designed with PBs firmly in mind.
What is the Hoka Rocket X2 like to run in?
There’s a noticeable sense of propulsion when running in the Hoka Rocket X2. The rocker shape pops you up on your forefoot, while the carbon-plate combined with the new Peba midsole creates a responsive feel underfoot.
The significant stack-height of 36mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot might ordinarily result in a bit of lateral instability, but this is offset by the relatively wide footbed. RW felt stable cornering in these and was impressed by how comfortable and secure the Rocket X2 felt at a variety of paces.
Weight-savings have been made through a barely-there upper. Although the paper-thin heel counter is likely to divide the crowd, there’s no arguing with the shoe’s internal midfoot cage, which locks the foot in place and creates the kind of secure feel you’ll value on race-day.
How does the Hoka Rocket X2 fit?
The Hoka Rocket X2 fits pretty much true to size. If anything, we’d say it fits about a ¼ size small. So if you’re a large 9, you might consider going for a 9.5, particularly if you'll be using these for half and full marathons. Some wider-footed runners might also prefer a little more room in the forefoot. That said, RW found the shoe comfortable across a variety of distances and would have no hesitation reaching for it on race day.
RW verdict
In terms of responsiveness and go-faster creds, we rank the shoe among some of the best race-day options available. It also gains points for its versatility and comfort over a range of speeds and distances. With the Rocket X2, Hoka’s carbon-plated credentials finally have lift off.
