HOKA

Rocket X

Rocket X
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Good (70/100)

Shoe details

Weight
7.5 oz
Release
2020 Q4
Stack Height
30mm heel - 25mm toe
Drop Height
7mm

Ratings & Reviews

Good (70/100)

Better than about 27% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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This score rates worse than 73% of shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Good (70/100)

Overall ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (70/100)

Rank

Ranks above 27% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Above average (85/100)

Cushioning ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (85/100)

Rank

Ranks above 73% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Above average (80/100)

Comfort ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (80/100)

Rank

Ranks above 61% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Value

Good (80/100)

Value ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (80/100)

Rank

Ranks above 60% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Durability

Good (80/100)

Durability ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (80/100)

Rank

Ranks above 59% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Good (72/100)

Appearance ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (72/100)

Rank

Ranks above 37% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

50%

2/4

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Worse than 73% of 2,532 running shoes ranked.

Good (70/100)

Daily Trainers

Worse than 70% of 1,849 daily trainers ranked.

30%

HOKA

Worse than 83% of 134 HOKA shoes ranked.

17%

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Lightest
Newest
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Supershoe
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.5 oz M Lightest
8.5 oz M
Stack
30/25mm
40/35mm
Drop
7mm
7mm
5mm
Release
2020 Q4
2025 Q3 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$165
Best price
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Below average (27%)
Good (72%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Average (61%)
Good (78%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Good (73%)
Good (78%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Average (59%)
Above average (62%)
Very good (80%) Best durability
Appearance
Below average (37%)
Below average (21%)
Very good (82%) Best appearance
Value
Average (60%)
Average (50%)
Good (74%) Best value
Specific shoe

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Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

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Reader Ratings

4 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–2 of 2 written reviews

Fast shoe for forefoot strikers

Anonymous runner · Nov 15, 2024

4/5

Overall

This is the first carbon-plated shoe I’ve run in, so I can’t compare it to others, but these definitely gave me a boost in speed. The first few times I ran in these shoes, I was surprised at the end of each interval when I checked the time. For the same effort level, my times in these shoes are consistently faster than in non-carbon plated shoes. These were my best road-racing shoes until the rocket x2 came out. Now they are my speed-work shoes.

As a forefoot striker, these shoes feel like they really work well with my stride at faster paces. However, a friend who is a heel striker  did not feel the same propulsion in these shoes.  The rocket X is also “normal” looking and feeling when walking around, so I can’t compare wear them around after retiring them from running.

I found that my strides per minute decreased for the same paces when I started using these shoes for all my fast-paced runs. Anecdotally, this has been true for other people. Perhaps this is true of all carbon plated shoes? Now I only use these shoes for mile pace or faster intervals, which has let me maintain a higher strides per minute while getting in workouts at faster paces.

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

A decent carbon plate shoe, but not the best

Grady Cash · Jul 30, 2023

4/5

Overall

This shoe lacks the cushion of the Vaporfly Next %, but the fit is good. The toe box is wide enough, which is a problem for me in many shoes. I'd rate it as very good, but a notch below the Vaporfly Next% in cushioning. Performance is similar... too close to call. I can't rate durability because I'm a low mileage track runner. 

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