HOKA Carbon X

Name: HOKA Carbon X
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.6 (34 reviews)

Racing · Neutral · Road · 8.8 oz

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Carbon X 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Carbon X is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who came to it from another shoe preferred it. The rating rests on 35 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Carbon X product line.

Exceptional

99/100

Overall

Exceptional 99

Appearance

Excellent 97

Cushioning

Excellent 95

Comfort

Very good 90

Durability

Decent 76

Value

Below average 64

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

99/100

Very high 99

What runners say

“Snappy, responsive race ride with cushioning and support that outshines competitors”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mach 2

“With every foot strike, I had a second foot strike on the carbon plate”

3/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon

“Propels you forward without feeling forced”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for ultramarathons

“Stiff ride, but doesn't wear down legs as miles creep up”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Nike Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo

“Buy half a size bigger to avoid losing your little toe”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Clifton 6

“Dramatically firmer than any other Hoka on the market”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Triumph 17

“After breaking in, felt cushy, responsive, with great energy return”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Feels better and better the faster you run”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

“Guides your foot through its gait cycle with a gliding feel”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Ride ISO

“Collar is quite snug and cannot be slipped on/off without untying”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Triumph 17

Prefer this shoe over another

78% 25/32

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers find the rocker and carbon plate roll them smoothly at speed.
Runners describe it as cushioned and stable for marathon-distance racing.
Many find it comfortable enough for tempo work and long runs too.

Cons

Three reviewers report fast outsole wear and keep it for races.
Value is its lowest-rated dimension at 4.0 out of 5, and one reviewer calls the sockliner surprisingly cheap for the price.
A few report heel slippage and a firm, stiff ride early on.

Carbon X rates 99. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Carbon X

Each dot is one version of the Carbon X, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

99 2019 85 2020 88 2022

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Carbon X 3

2022 · 6 reviews

88 Good

58 Confidence
Carbon X 2

2020 · 4 reviews

85 Good

64 Confidence
Carbon X This shoe

2019 · 35 reviews

99 Exceptional

99 Confidence

Reader Ratings

35 ratings

5/5 23

4/5 11

3/5 1

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 8.8 oz
Release: 2019 Q2
MSRP: $180

Runner reviews

Write a review

Still quite new!

5/5

Overall

I have been using the Carbon X-shoes for about two months now, and I am very satisfied! I play soccer, so having a pair with great cushioning is crucial for preventing sore ankles and knees. And I’m also in love with the responsive carbon plate, which I feel gives me the edge;) I really love the appearance as well:) Not sure how durable they are yet, but I guess I’ll find out

Anonymous runner · Aug 10, 2019

18 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v1

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

They feel really good when you go fast!

5/5

Overall

I love these shoes. A new HOKA convert, but as one coming from a minimalist background and still liking a responsive shoe, these fit the bill perfectly. They’re comfy, they feel good on long runs, and if you feel like sprinting you’ll feel like you’re an Olympian. Speedwork in these shoes is just pure delight!

Anonymous runner · Aug 9, 2019

14 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Vibram Fivefingers EL-X

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Wasn't sure. Had to try them. Glad I did.

5/5

Overall

These shoes are nothing short of amazing. They feel great, both cushioned and stable. The stack height seems like it could be an issue, especially for those used to a traditional lightweight trainer, but it was not at all. The rocking motion encouraged by the heel to toe arc is very noticeable walking around the first few steps, but it quickly fades into the background after a few minutes running. The Carbon X really shine at faster speeds. They don't necessarily feel *fast*. I think smooth is a better description. They just feel smooth. And the faster you run, the smoother they feel. I've never run in HOKAs before. I didn't care for the aesthetic, and I still don't. But I do love the way the shoes feel and perform.

Anonymous runner · Aug 9, 2019

45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Tartherzeal 6

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Hoka Carbon X Review

5/5

Overall

I was very very iffy when trying this shoe just because I had never run in any Hoka shoes before. Hoka is known for their maximum cushion huge midsole shoes which led me to think that they couldn’t create a perfect shoe for me. I tried out the shoes at my local running store and they felt good, so, with being down over a hundred dollars, I laced them up and went for a run. My initial thought was that I didn’t like the shoe on the first run. The shoe was stiff and the midsole was as well. I seriously thought about going back to the store to return them. I decided to give the shoe a couple more tries and on my 3rd run I noticed a difference. The shoe felt cushy, yet responsive and I could feel the energy return back to my feet after pushing off from the pavement. The carbon plate in the midsole and the foam just needed to have time to break in. Overall this is a solid shoe that I recommend and it even has a great aesthetic. Kudos to you Hoka!

Anonymous runner · Jul 30, 2019

70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 3/5

Needs tighter heel

4/5

Overall

Heel slips out. Needs to be lighter. Love the stiffness

Anonymous runner · Jul 25, 2019

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Tracer 2

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

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Analyses

HOKA Carbon X

Exceptional