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

Fast and Comfortable

5/5

Overall

These shoes are amazing. I love running in them. Every step feels comfortable yet propelled forward. The cushioning is light and yet still feels good. Compared to some other shoes I’ve used, the shoe is extremely light yet doesn’t feel like I am going to hurt myself. The outsole is exposed foam and is seeing some wear, but that is to be expected. Looking to get tons of good miles out of this shoe

Anonymous runner · Jul 21, 2019

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

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

Carbon X - the only carbon plated shoe for the masses

5/5

Overall

This is not your average carbon plated shoe. Stiff enough for a snappy, responsive race day ride, but the level of cushioning and support outshines any other carbon shoe on the market. A lot more forgiving, less aggressive and stable than it's competitors.

Anonymous runner · Jul 15, 2019

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mach 2

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

Awesome

5/5

Overall

Been trying all sorts of cushioned -neutral training shoes for over 45 years- this one hits the mark

Happyguymb1 · Jul 9, 2019

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Challenger ATR 5

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

Literally Flying

5/5

Overall

Have only got to to run a few times in these but each time I felt like there was a spring underneath my foot. The shoe is designed with an aggressive rocker, it's very visible when just holding the shoe and viewing from the side. It propelled me into the air every step and had enough to keep me going fast. I am eager to try these some more once I am able to. I would wear these for faster days or maybe even some races, depending on how other shoes feel compared to these. Historically the 4% have been very tight, but the Carbon X fit was actually lose! I had to use all the eyelits to get a secure fit to prevent my heel from slipping.

Anonymous runner · Jul 8, 2019

4 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 6

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

One of the most versatile shoes I've ever ran in

5/5

Overall

I use this shoe for recovery runs, strides, and long runs. It feels great at every pace. I think this is one of the most versatile shoes on the market right now. The fit is great, not too narrow and not too wide, just about right. Love it!

Anonymous runner · Jul 4, 2019

65 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

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

Alternatives

Other shoes worth considering.

Alphafly 3

Racing

99/100 rating

$143

Top Rankings

By Category

Best Deals

Explore

Start Here

Analyses

HOKA Carbon X

Exceptional