Hoka Rocket X 2 | FULL REVIEW | The Race Day Shoe We've Been Waiting For

Meaghan and Thomas review the Hoka Rocket X 2, a completely new shoe from top to bottom. The upper features a technical synthetic mesh, gusseted tongue and an internal midfoot cage. Beneath the foot is a redesigned carbon fiber plate sandwiched between two layers of Peba foam. Finally, a viable race day option from Hoka! Available now for $250.
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Hoka Rocket X 2 (Men) ➡ bit.ly/SHOP-HOKA-RACING-MEN
Hoka Rocket X 2 (Women) ➡ bit.ly/SHOP-HOKA-RACING--WOMEN
INDEX
INTRO (00:00)
UPPER (1:45)
FOAM (3:55)
DROP (5:37)
OUTSOLE (6:10)
PRICE (7:21)
WEIGHT (7:32)
RED OR GREEN LIGHT? (8:32)
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We run legit miles in our shoes and provide honest, no BS reviews of running shoes, running gear, and running races.

[@jeremysedlock9293]

Does anybody have more fun than marketing departments for shoe companies? "Technical synthetic mesh" "Zonal rubber placement" "PROFLY X construction" "Early stage meta-rocker"

[@richardjackson6056]

Hmmmm sounds like someone doesn't understand shoe engineering. That's ok the 70s want you to run in their shoes

[@jeremysedlock9293]

@@richardjackson6056 It's okay if you didn't get it.

[@andrewh7599]

Yay! Hoka is finally making a PEBA move!!!!! I hope they use it some of their other shoes.

[@user-kw6gc3np3v]

Прогрессируешь братка! Давно уже за тобой слежу) все лучше и лучше становится

[@tagoresanketh5938]

Waiting so desperately to hear about the vaporfly 3s from you🙈🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️. More excited about your review than the release of the shoes hehe 😁

[@frankehbrecht]

We need a “between two shoes” battle between the Rocket X2 and VF3!!! Give the people what they want…😂

[@mr-w4812]

Great review guys. Upper material reminds me of the Zoom Fly 1 SP

[@thecaptainchas2820]

Really excited for this one. Have been saving up bucks for another super shoe, and it’s likely between the Rocket X 2 and the Endorphin Elite. I’m thinking the Rocket X 2 will be more versatile. 🤷‍♂️

[@manuel_877]

Good morning for all the runners from Spain. Like for Meaghan and Thomas. Thanks for this new information about the rocketx2.¡¡¡¡¡¡The run is freedom!!!!. A nice day for everyone.

[@ericguqin]

tried this in a local store today. OMG that midsole is bouncing like a spring! The only letdown for me as an over-pronator is the lack of heel support.

[@briansleepylee]

Surprised that Hoka didn't call the foam Profly Peba Plus or something like that

[@chrisvarelabenitez4690]

The heel gives me Adios Pro 2 vibes. If that’s the case, there shouldn’t be a problem. The outsole looks interesting! Definitely more on the durable side. PEBA foam, wow. HOKA making moves! Can’t wait to see a Mach with PEBA foam in the future.

[@anthony7828]

Excellent video!!! One question…. Hoka rocket x 2 or Saucony endorphin pro 3?

[@marcusbuschmann3281]

Looks amazing😊!

[@82powpow]

excited to run my half in 2 weeks with these and if they’re solid i’ll be running these for LA marathon 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽☝🏽

[@ryanland8951]

How were they?

[@aarondavidson907]

I got to try on the Rocket X 2 for some strides last week, and while it's certainly a great entry to the market, it felt to me like a slightly inferior version of the Adios Pro 2

[@davebelcher8374]

As one who is on course for four hours and whose mechanics tend to break down in the late stages, it’d be helpful to know if this is a viable option - along the lines of shoes like the the RC Elite 2 and Endorphin Pro 3, which have served me well over the past couple of years

[@Believeintherun]

If those work, this will work too. Maybe even better.

[@petersalama4561]

Ordered in Europe already...its on its way to me...fingers and toes crossed it my race day shoe this year! Belfast Marathon in April is the first race test.

[@Believeintherun]

Let’s go!

[@jamesoneill2662]

How was it over the marathon length?

[@mouahmong]

I want to try Hokas so bad. It just sucks that I have super wide feet and every pair (in wide) I’ve tried caused blisters or my toes rubbed so much they started bleeding.

[@melodiewashington2849]

I live Hoka Award leading sneakers this year and last year everybody else trying to compete trying to make their sneakers under feet cushions thicker. I suffer with Heel Spurs very very painful I am an elderly senior citizen I wore the HOKA Bondi 8 the entire time for over five hours that entire day "No Pain At All" Like walking on a Cloud Very light weight Comfortable sneaker will be with HOKA for the rest of my lifetime here on earth I brought two pairs continue to buy and purchase more HOKA LOVE!!! LOVE!!! LOVE my favorite sneakers HOKA

[@bubbie23jw]

Gotta get me a pair

[@matthewledvina8323]

Beautiful

[@jakebonin6367]

Anyone have a preference or opinion on these vs the endorphin pro 3? For race days from 5k to half marathon

[@aldrete5]

Great video guys! That's what I'm expecting! Mine come in today but question on the size? So it seems like it was off? For example I'm a size 7 in women and 5.5 in men but when I purchase the shoe it showed 5.5 men and 6 women.

[@aldrete5]

Such a bummer! They didn't fit. The shoe comes in pretty narrow so I had to order 7.5, men's 5.5 is def not a true women size on their chart. Ladies order your normal size or even a 1/2 bigger show size.

[@jaychu3850]

High praise

[@davidzlotnick1899]

Hi Thanks for the review How is the sizing ? ( I’m a 10.5 in Nike but an 11 in saucony ) How does the toe box width compare to the endorphin pro 3 Thanks again !

[@Believeintherun]

They felt true to size. You might need to try them on.

[@alexanders4911]

@ 8:05: come on meg! Im pretty sure someone or something (Thomas? Ice Cream?) has given u a sensation comparable to the alpha flyes! Great review btw! ✌️👍 There is really hard comp between brands in 2023! Keep up the great work. Always luv ur videos. ❤️ From Sweden

[@Believeintherun]

Ralphie the dog is Meg’s Alphafly

[@cwalker1569]

Great to hear Jarrod ran in it. What is your thought for us clydesdales?

[@Believeintherun]

A great shoe for the wide and Clydesdale folk

[@maximilianklein2062]

The original Alphafly is the best race day shoe of all times, but I think this one is better than the alphafly 2... so I might get a pair...

[@thegumbychronicles4892]

I've got the original Rocket 1 that I wore for a couple of races. I liked it and now use it for track workouts. I'm racing the Outer Banks in November 2023 and it's likely that version 2 will be on my feet.

[@gregoryluna535]

Was behind an old timer waiting for the start of a 5k yesterday, and he was wearing a minimalist heel. May have been these. It looked awful. His heel wasn’t against the heel of the shoe. Just floating. I was thinking that no way could that be good.

[@moreybrown870]

Rocket X2 vs Endorphin Elite ???

[@darylguerra4544]

Looks like it was inspired by the Bondi X

[@jimoconnor8597]

I'll watch for your next marathon to see if ya'll are wearing this shoe. 🤣

[@stevemcneely3214]

Which would you choose for marathon between this shoe and the Asics Metaspeed Sky?

[@Believeintherun]

This one

[@stevemcneely3214]

Definitely have to try this one! Thank you for the recommendation!

[@rajkumarraosinhji1397]

@BITR Fantastic review. Will find store to try and get it. Your SpeedBlast suggestion helped. Hard to believe last week you were in Tokyo. Is #BITR pro-runner group made up of Super-individuals!!!

[@Pipppetto]

Given the fact that Hoka finally nailed it with flying colors, what's the meaning of still having a Carbon X (not that welcome shoe, AFAIK) in their lineup ? What's your take ?

[@Believeintherun]

Carbon X was always a long cruiser or daily for us.

[@Pipppetto]

@@Believeintherun wasn’t it too stiff for that purpose ? Anyway, I always read/heard about being well below par compared to direct competitors.

[@na-dk9vm]

Would these be a good choice for an all out 2 mile race/ 2 mile time trial??

[@Believeintherun]

Why not

[@kassanbherbertm2298]

Изейший камбэк, не ожидал такого)

[@antonioromulodelcarmen283]

Pulling the trigger on these… after the 100-200 mile review. Can’t shake off that old Hoka experience with the Rincon/Clifton bottoming out at 150miles. Good review though.

[@mpott4090]

It looks like the upper is very similar to the original Vaporfly

[@taurusx1000]

The original rocket seem to have gotten alot of positive reviews from others but this seems to be a completely new version the french do have a sense of tasteful design compared to that green monstrosity of the Saucony elite

[@Believeintherun]

The colorist for Hoka is not French. Hoka is based in the states. The founder is French. But they sold to Deckers years ago. Luckily Jean Luc is getting more involved with Hoka again. He is a certified genius. Take a listen to our podcast with him.

[@taurusx1000]

Thanks 👍

[@tono1665]

You guys said 40mm heel 35mm toe giving a 5mm drop. Hoka website says 36mm 31mm? Still 5mm drop but how did you guys get that measurement

[@Believeintherun]

With the sock-liner, it’s 40mm/35mm - which is the measurement that world athletics uses.

[@tono1665]

@@Believeintherun thanks for the info. Gives me more confidence for them now(on pre order in the uk) for my upcoming marathon.

[@irunovermountains]

The big question with ever Hoka shoe is, will this last 100, 200 or 300 miles. Lifespan is not predictable with this brand.

[@thegumbychronicles4892]

If a marathon shoe lasts 100 miles, I'm really happy. I don't wear race shoes beyond that mileage to avoid injury.

[@chreplok7488]

Would love to hear Jarrett comments on this shoe with his wide feet, as mine are too, before spending this amount of money.

[@Believeintherun]

He did a first thoughts with Meaghan

[@keithisaacs6092]

This is the nearest Hoka have come to making an out and out racing shoe, but for me it's still too heavy.

[@HankAaronJoseph19]

Hoka hey

[@Olie23231]

Versus Endorphin Pro 3 video coming…?

[@andrewjknoxuk]

Yep, feel a between two shoes vid dropping soon 😀

[@lauchongkiat52]

Better than saucony pro 3?

[@paulmulks]

Doubt it lol

[@Believeintherun]

Yep

[@paulmulks]

@@Believeintherun No chance 😎

[@Believeintherun]

@@paulmulks let me know your opinion when you’ve run in it 😎

[@Hurts4MVP1]

@@paulmulks ​ What do you know? Thomas and team are experts. I trust their knowledge over your nonsense.

[@i.p2088]

Magan what?

[@jeffdelro5161]

Stock vs Stalk talk 😆😆

[@rizkimd1815]

Seriously? top of 2023 racing shoes? 😛😛

[@ElGuapoDeSantoPoco]

Judging on the clean sole, you guys didn't put it through it 's paces.... And I agree, the heel construction looks rubbish.

[@Believeintherun]

Are you looking at the photos that were taken before we ran in the shoe? We had a combined 50 miles in the shoe.

[@hikerboater]

Too bad it's an oz heavier than the Rocket 1

[@LFKY13]

My only issue with this shoe is how cheap the materials looks. Maybe it's the colorway, but it looks all plasticky and like they just slapped some stickers on it. The upper could def use some improvements. This shoe gives me Nike Zoom Fly SP ripoff vibes. At least it's good to know the PEBA based midsole is decent...

[@Believeintherun]

I agree. When I first saw it, I didn’t think it looked polished as a final product. When you run in it, you don’t care what it looks like though. -T

[@undeadly1103]

$250 😬

[@tonybowen455]

Price point kills this, though. Hoka keeps missing the mark with the super shoes.

[@ptheiss0428]

It’s the same price point as many other racing shoes.

[@tonybowen455]

@@ptheiss0428 Exactly

[@B1gC4st]

Minimal heels are annoying.

[@tadejdanev5030]

Too bad it's 210-220€ :(