Hoka Tecton X 2 Trail Shoe Review. The Matryx Upper Is Back!

The Hoka Tecton X 2 is the second generation trail racer from Hoka that is built for speed. This update is all about the new Matryx upper and the added performance benefits. We go deep into the weeds with this highly anticipated shoe.
Shop Men’s Hoka Tecton X 2
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Shop Women’s Hoka Tecton X 2
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:13 Disclaimer
1:33 Shoe Stats
2:40 Materials
5:16 Tecton X vs. Tecton X 2 upper
8:09 Midsole
10:07 Finn testing mileage
10:58 Brett testing mileage
11:39 Fit analysis
14:50 Brett’s favorite part of the Matryx upper
16:27 Ride analysis
21:36 Competitor shoes
23:22 Outsole comparisons
24:17 Durability
25:46 Does it need the plate?
27:00 Removable vs. non removable plate
28:39 Is this a trail super shoe?
29:25 What did Hoka design this shoe for and does it hold true?
33:44 Value
34:24 Upper overlay issue
36:51 Debate question for the listeners
Music provided by Argofox:
Noxive - Bacon Sandwiches
• Noxive - Bacon Sandwic...

[@esoxmagnum]

"Trail is really where the purity of the sport ultimately lies." I have always felt this is the case and never has my love for running trails been defined or diminished by which shoe happens to be on my feet that day. Damn, you guys are good. Thank you for another outstanding review!

[@ConversationalPace]

Thanks for watching and we appreciate the love!

[@maciejkuroczycki1863]

this conversation is really educative - thank you men

[@ConversationalPace]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad it was helpful

[@trailsofanoldrunner]

At last! A reviewer questions the carbon fibre as simply a rock plate. Thank you BH for saying what I’ve been mumbling all along about trail super shoes

[@ConversationalPace]

hahaha I'm all about keeping my reviews honest and I'll always try my best to answer the hard questions! 😅

[@matthewmyers7826]

I think the likes of the Trabuco Max 2 have the potential to be a super shoe, with max height responsive midsoles. Not that they are faster, but can keep your legs fresher deep into a race. Will report back after July (assuming I decide my ankles can take 100 miles on stilts).

[@ConversationalPace]

That's a great point, there actually might be elements of trail shoes that benefit some in more ways than other. Maybe one needs something to save the legs on descents, while another needs something to aid climbing efficiency. I do get foot fatigue pretty bad in long races, so have always gravitated towards the bulkier shoes that keep my legs fresh. Comfort = speed in ultras for me. Thanks for watching!

[@ajayhanspal8857]

The best thing about the Tecton X 2 is that I picked up the OG version for £95 ($100)! Racing the Lavaredo Ultra Trail in them. Can fly down runnable descents in these thic bois, quads feel slightly less beat up than in my Scarpa Spin Infinity's or Kjerags - both also great shoes.

[@ConversationalPace]

Definitely a great time to pick up the first gen Tecton while you can still find it. Thanks for watching!

[@ericperramond3463]

Great work as always, guys, am enjoying the X2 as well. I think it bears mentioning that the shoe gained not just in price, but just a tad in weight (have to say it), a few grams only, but the biggest step sideways is that it is no longer as wide toebox friendly as the previous version because the Matryx doesn't stretch. Still not a huge fan of the thin tongue-top (still think the MafSpeed4 tongue is a dream by comparison), but at least the new tongue has a scooch more padding in it. YES, better drainage, but just a heads up for people if they are thinking of getting this - it may not work, and you might just have to go a size 1/2 up. I'm still on the fence whether I'll use it for Leadville.

[@ConversationalPace]

Thanks for watching! I wish I had my 1st pair of Tecton X to compare weights, but I had a feeling they were very similar. Still a very light shoe. Agreed, that Mafate tongue should have just carried over to the TX2. I wasn't able to comment as much on the toe box width comparison due to both of them being adequate for me, but thanks for chiming in!

[@rmsrmsrmsrms]

Topo MTNR3 would be a good next shoe to review! Salomon Genesis could be another

[@mcgovski]

I am drooling for the MTN3 to arrive. review it!

[@ConversationalPace]

Agreed, we're stoked to try that new Mtn Racer! Topo has been churning out some 🔥🔥shoes lately!

[@irunovermountains]

I don't think $25 extra for Hoka to fix an upper is justiable or accurate! They're just hiking up the price on the back of inflation and the fact us dummies will still pay it. Keep p the good work guys.

[@ConversationalPace]

I'm sure we as customers pay the $25 extra dollars that Matryx is likely charging as a licensing fee for their name and upper. I do like it a lot more than the OG upper, but I also agree, it would have been nice for Hoka to have not changed the price and just cut their margins a bit. They're going to make all their money in the Speedgoat and Clifton anyways 😅

[@adramalech707]

Awesome 👏🏻 really enjoyed this review! Really on the fence and after having the first version I still haven't gotten a good feel of where it fits in my rotation. I think it is a very specific shoe and it has a purpose in those conditions but focusing on more verty mountain course ultras this shoe just doesn't fit. I feel the gs:tam has better versatility for the price. I am curious about what Saucony does to counter this shoe and where does Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro with energy blade fit in the spectrum of trail "super shoes"? Definitely feel there isn't a general solution to a "trail super shoe". I think it has to be course or terrain specific. The more technical stuff vs the less technical. Mountain vs buff runnable. I think you are correct in it being a "great equalizer"!

[@ConversationalPace]

Definitely a very specific shoe for sure. This TX2 shines on relatively level trail that is buffed out to moderate technicality. Anything off camber though, and I didn't like the additional stiffness of the carbon. I think one of my dream shoes would be the Pulsar Trail Pro with the S/lab Ultra 3 Matryx upper. The current knit upper is still a little too unstable for more technical running. I am a huge fan of the underfoot feel though.

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

Such a great shoe and it’s even better! Thanks for your review. Please consider the North Face Vectiv Summit Pro, which is a huge improvement over the original Flight Vectiv.

[@ericperramond3463]

Troy - do you own the new Vectiv Pro? I keep hesitating based on a handful of reviews that claim the carbon winglets dig into their big and small toes (either side). That would be unacceptable at 250! Otherwise, X2 is better but it's lost some of the toe space it had based on the new lacing/upper, and it gained a bit of weight.

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

@@ericperramond3463 Eric, good morning - I have about 50 miles in the Pro and I really like it! The wings haven’t been an issue. The rocker is smooth and best-suited for moderate to smooth terrain, but it still performs well on rocky trails given the surprising stability of the platform. It is somewhere between the Mafate Speed 4 and the (for me, unstable) Saucony Endorphin Edge in terms of ride. Toebox is ample, too. Lots to like!

[@ConversationalPace]

Really hoping to get that Vectiv Summit Pro in for testing this summer. I wore the Original Flight Vectiv and found that shoe downright dangerous on technical terrain for me due to the loose heel counter. New one looks much more stable though. I have also heard of some people whose feet are wider than the base of the shoe having issues with the carbon wings. Definitely curious to try them out myself though!

[@matthewmyers7826]

I have almost 400 on the 1's and the outsole is still holding up, although peeling away a bit at the heel. It also has ripping on the midsole. the upper is still great. Midsole is holding up in terms of bounce.

[@matthewmyers7826]

I also would like it without the plate. It's too "slappy" and firm for me.

[@ConversationalPace]

that's a pretty impressive amount of trail miles for a 'race shoe'!

[@mcgovski]

I really enjoyed the Tecton 1. I will likely try the 2. Thanks for the review. (sidebar, wildhorse 8 was a torture device....cannot reccomend. thank good ness for 30 day return at South Sound Running)

[@ConversationalPace]

Dang! What didn't work about the Wildhorse for you?

[@mcgovski]

@@ConversationalPace achillies rub was bad, never went away (40 miles) and 10 mile run felt like 100km race fatigue wise. Ironically I like the Zegama. feet are so weird

[@ConversationalPace]

So strange! Yeah wouldn't have been able to predict that one.

[@muhammadaamir4552]

Great

[@tommilam6320]

Saucony Xodus Ultra- yes you’ve got swap the laces out but once that is taken care of, I feel like a could run a very long time over a wide variety of terrain. It’s the “not to much or this or that….just right sort of shoe for me.” Super shoe for me means I can run it racing, everyday and junk miles. One to rule them all…..BUT, I do mix it up and run in different brands/models. But if I was stuck with only one shoe….right now this would be it.

[@ConversationalPace]

You're not the first to call that Xodus Ultra one of the goldilocks type shoes out there, and it really sounds like something that I would enjoy based off that feedback. I'm curious to see how it will compare to the Endorphin Rift that is set to release in July. Thanks for your feedback!

[@tommilam6320]

@@ConversationalPace yeah, saucony hasn’t been on my radar for a long time but it is now due to Xodus. Look forward to the rift release. Thanks for doing the show…truly unique what you both are doing and it’s really great!

[@Kvnwkr7]

@@ConversationalPace This would be an epic comparison vid once the Rift comes out!

[@ConversationalPace]

100% agree with that!

[@tommilam6320]

@@Kvnwkr7 the rift will be interesting for sure! I just started run in the edge and absolutely hated them at first but now I can seem to stop running in them 😂. Will be cool to compare rift to edge as well.

[@pedroppa8221]

Thanks for your reviews :) How do you compare the tecton x 2 and the pulsar trail pro 2, that you also reviewed recently? Confort/cushion, technical terrain, etc. Wich one would you choose for distances around 100/120 k and single tracks like UTMB? Thanks a lot :)

[@ConversationalPace]

For more technical trails, I would lean towards the Tecton X 2 over the Pulsar trail Pro 2 because of the upper differences. I think I actually like the underfoot feel more of the Pulsar, but the upper security isn't great, which definitely has me worried about more technical trail. That Matryx upper is tough to beat!

[@pedroppa8221]

@@ConversationalPace thanks for your help!!! :)

[@matthewvanleeuwen9086]

I don’t think there is or ever will be a trail super shoe for the reasons you discussed and others. Also, I would definitely be pissed if my $225 shoes starting falling apart, even if it was just cosmetic damage, on the first run!

[@ConversationalPace]

Yeah the upper delam was super unfortunate. Had this shoe not been for testing purposes, I would have sent them back and gotten them swapped out. I'm still the only one I've heard of that had that problem, so hopefully it was just one of those one off manufacturing defects. Thanks for watching!

[@colinmcc8564]

How would you compare the Tecton X with the Nnormal Kjerag as far as use case? It seems like yall like Tecton X a lot for road use in addition to trail. If I'm picking my Black Canyon 100k shoe, I am nervous about water crossings in the Kjerag as my experience in humid conditions has me worried as the gusseted tongue absorbs a lot of sweat, also hosing them off after runs they seem to hold water. Would love to hear a podcast episode where you both pick shoes for all the major races, bonus if theres a shoe swap strategy like in JFK 50.

[@colinmcc8564]

I guess y'all haven't reviewed a Nnormal shoe yet, nevermind.

[@ConversationalPace]

I think both the Tecton X 2 and Nnormal Kjerag could work at Black Canyon. It will just depend if you prefer that more protected, muted feel like the TX2, or lower to the ground and nimble like the Kjerag. I haven't gotten to wear the Kjerag yet, but just based off the specs and having worn the TX2, the TX2 would be my choice for Black Canyon. Love the episode idea! We were planning on having a favorite shoes so far episode, but I love incorporating shoes for specific races as well.

[@ConversationalPace]

Oh and I'm all for the shoe swap strategy at JFK 50 BTW 👍

[@colinmcc8564]

@@ConversationalPace awesome, appreciate the insight and great videos as always.

[@preyforeyes07]

👀

[@ConversationalPace]

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️