The iconic packed Hoka shoes are now on sale and ready for your biggest challenge
We put HOKA’s latest off-road model to the test to try out everything this premium shoe has to offer.
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When? Jim Walmsley of the United States won the UTMB race in 2023 many eyes were on her shoes as well as her stunning performance.
His shoes were the prototype of the model that is now on sale and named HOKA Tecton X3.
Like all of the brand’s carbon shoes, the X in the name indicates that they contain a carbon plate, in this case two. A pair of carbon plates run side-by-side the length of the shoe, embedded in layers of PEBA foam.
HOKA Tecton X3
The twin carbon plates act as they do in many travel models and add some traction, but here, separated along the center of the shoe, they also allow it to adapt to uneven terrain and extreme contouring. – long distance mountain race.
The two layers of the PEBA cushion have different densities. The upper layer, which sits directly under the foot, is soft for comfort and soft cushioning. The bottom layer, while still relatively soft, is slightly more stable for a more confident stance on the trails.
The responsive cushioning is most noticeable on firmer trails, and I noticed plenty of “energy return” on the roads and gravel sections of my test runs. Once on softer ground, the carbon sheet seems more noticeable and firms up the ride a bit, providing a good combination of cushioning and control.
HOKA Tecton X3 – Vibram outsole
The Tecton X3 features a Vibram Metagrip Litebase sole. This is Vibram’s lighter off-road sole unit and offers 4mm deep lugs. After over 100 miles of trail riding around Chamonix, they were clearly adequate for the Walmsley, so fingers crossed they’ll be adequate for your local trails.
I’ve found them more than adequate for the various routes I’ve tried them on, and they cope well enough in any conditions. In deep mud they might struggle, but then you probably wouldn’t wear a carbon shoe on that kind of ground.
The upper features a bot-style design that extends into the shoe with a sock-like ankle section. Easy to pull on, but remember to wear slightly longer socks. I went for a crew length sock to avoid sliding it down the top of the shoe and eliminate any chance of chafing on the ankle. This worked perfectly for me.
The MATRYX upper is reinforced for durability, but remains soft and flexible around the foot and offers enough protection from the undergrowth on my local trails.
READ MORE. UTMB preview
The HOKA Tecton X3 has proven to be a great shoe for me that I would choose for trail races of any length, even if it’s not the 100+ miles of the UTMB.
Check out the HOKA trail running range here
HOKA Tecton X3
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