HOKA Rocket X 2

Name: HOKA Rocket X 2
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.7 (7 reviews)

Racing · Neutral · Road · 7.5 oz · 5mm drop · 37/31mm stack · Medium/Narrow

How it ranks

The HOKA Rocket X 2 is one of the strongest racing shoes in our data. Durability and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 18 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Rocket X product line.

Exceptional

97/100

Overall

Exceptional 97

Durability

Exceptional 97

Comfort

Excellent 96

Cushioning

Excellent 95

Value

Very good 93

Appearance

Good 80

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

89/100

High 89

What runners say

“They feel the same after ~120 miles; guys take them to 400 miles still going strong without noticeable damage to outsole or midsole.”

4/5 Full review 12 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Streakfly

“Very responsive and helps my legs feel fresh even on hard efforts.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

“Half a size up fits perfect.”

4/5 Full review 12 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Streakfly

“The Rocket X 2 doesn't have the same feeling, and my calves fatigue much quicker.”

4/5 Full review 15 mpw training for middle distance came from the HOKA Rocket X

“Feels great for everything from half marathon pace tempos to 5K road races.”

4/5 Full review 12 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Streakfly

“Best high cushion racing shoe with lots of energy return, very responsive and comfortable.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Rocket X

“Lightweight but good cushioning.”

5/5 Full review training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Magic Speed 3

Prefer this shoe over another

80% 4/5

Where to buy

Dick's Sporting Goods

$250

Lava

Buy at Dick's Sporting Goods

Price as of Sep 13.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 13, 2026 at 7:31 PM UTC (14 hours ago).

Our prices come from feeds the retailers send us. We refresh them every day, but a feed is sometimes wrong. Tell us and we will look into it.

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Buy at Dick's Sporting Goods for $250

Buy

Pros

Reviewers report durability holding up well past 100 miles.
Runners use it from 5k races to marathons and tempo workouts.
At 7.5 oz on a 37mm heel stack.

Cons

At 7.5 oz it is heavier than most carbon-plated racers.

Rocket X 2 rates 97. This shoe has high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Rocket X

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

Rating

40 60 80 100

72 2020 97 2023 89 2025

Release year

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

Rocket X 3

2025 · 2 reviews

89 Good

44 Confidence
Rocket X 2 This shoe

2023 · 18 reviews

97 Exceptional

89 Confidence
Rocket X

2020 · 4 reviews

72 Decent

40 Confidence

Reader Ratings

18 ratings

5/5 14

4/5 3

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: 7.5 oz
Release: 2023 Q2
MSRP: $250
Widths: Medium, Narrow
Stack Height: 37mm heel - 31mm toe
Drop Height: 5mm

Available sizes

Men's sizes

9.5, 10, 10.5, 11

Runner reviews

Write a review

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Nov 8, 2024

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

Hoka Pebax Rocks

5/5

Overall

First Hoka supershoe, blew my expectations. Very responsive and helps my legs feel fresh even on hard efforts

Anonymous runner · Mar 3, 2024

30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

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

Best first(and vesatile) supershoe!

5/5

Overall

Best high cushion racing shoe with lots of energy return very responsive and comfortable it is decently durable and works for a big variety of Paces and types of workouts this shoe will work for beginner runners to the most experienced runners

Warren · Dec 6, 2023

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Rocket X

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

Faster than Vaporflies imo

4/5

Overall

Crazy durability, they feel the same after ~120miles in, I have seen guys taking them up to 400 and still go strong without noticable damage to outsole or to midsole.

Feels great for everything from Half marathon pace tempos to 5k road races - For me 5:40/mi-4:57/mi

Have to say that trying the shoe on in the store I went half a size up and it fits perfect.

Emils · Oct 25, 2023

12 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Streakfly

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

Not as good as the first Rocket X

4/5

Overall

I bought this shoe because I loved the original Rocket X. The major difference in the Rocket X 2 is the rocker from mid-foot to toe is way less pronounced. The aggressive rocker(mid-foot to toe drop) of the old Rocket X made me feel like I was rolling down to my toes and I could feel that it took a lot of pressure off my posterior chain. The Rocket X 2 does not have the same feeling, and my calves are fatigue much quicker.

Tim Jones · Sep 23, 2023

15 mpw training for middle distance came from the HOKA Rocket X

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

Alternatives

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99/100 rating

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98/100 rating

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HOKA Rocket X 2

Exceptional