The very first thing I seen in regards to the Rocket X 3 was how simple it was to get on. I usually felt like I needed to battle the Rocket X 2 to get it on my foot, however the brand new model has a extra structured heel collar that enables my foot to slip in additional simply. The X 3 additionally has serrated laces, which I discover helps me get a safer lockdown within the shoe.
The Rocket X 3 appears to run true to measurement—I put on my regular ladies’s 9, which provides me loads of room between my huge toe and the entrance of the shoe (key for when my toes swell up on lengthy runs). Like many quick sneakers, although, the Rocket X 3s are slender. I normally put on an everyday width, and these are simply huge sufficient for my toes (I solely seen a little bit tightness throughout the widest a part of my foot). However if you happen to usually put on huge sneakers, you could need to assume twice about attempting to suit into these.
On the run
I examined the Rocket X 3s on a mixture of runs between three and eight miles. A few of them had been velocity exercises, whereas others had been extra informal—I let myself run as quick or as sluggish as felt pure in sneakers.
I discovered that the Rocket X 3s inspired me to quicken my turnover (in different phrases, they helped me decide up my foot off the bottom sooner to take one other step). I seen myself pushing the tempo once I didn’t imply to—even in horrible climate situations and on days when my physique was feeling a little bit off, I used to be darting up hills that normally sluggish me down.
Underfoot, the Rocket X 3s are tremendous bouncy, however not in a approach that makes me really feel unstable or out-of-control, like another tremendous sneakers do. I can see how the winglets within the plate might make conditions like rounding a good nook in a race or avoiding an sudden impediment on the paths really feel safer. They felt okay once I slowed down too—one other bonus that may be exhausting to search out in a brilliant shoe.
These sneaks are fairly comfortable too—and solely as soon as, on my longest run, did I discover that my sweaty toes began to slip round in them. (Though, to be truthful, I’m unsure if there’s any shoe that would have prevented this.)
Backside line
At $250 a pair, the Rocket X 3 is certainly an funding. That stated, Hoka hasn’t raised the value from its earlier model even amidst all of the upgrades, and $250 is definitely on the low finish in the case of tremendous sneakers. So, if you happen to’re an skilled runner who’s available in the market for a quick racing shoe, the Rocket X 3 ought to be in your checklist—particularly if you happen to worth extra stability and assist in your sneaks.
I’ll be reaching for the Rocket X 3s for velocity exercises and races. I must log extra double-digit runs to search out out if I need to take them for a marathon-distance experience, however I’ve a sense that 26.2 miles is simply what they’re made for.
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