Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

HOKA Skyward X

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.6 oz · 5mm drop · 49/44mm stack · Medium/Narrow

How it ranks

The HOKA Skyward X ranks above most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 4 runner reviews and 1 other rated shoe in the Skyward X product line. Another 8 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

HOKA Skyward X

of 5

Good

84/100
Overall
84
Cushioning
95
Durability
83
Comfort
81
Appearance
75
Value
64
Confidence

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

59/100

59

What runners say

“On 5k, 10k, half-marathon distance they feel awesome. I actually see an improvement in my speed.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2
“I can use them for anything from recovery days because of the high stack, to Tempo workouts because of the snappy plate.”
4/5 Full review 18 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS Superblast
“It feels a little unstable on the turns. You have to be careful when you go through a turn as it feels as if the shoe will slip off.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2
“They're a bit heavy for interval workouts but could be used as a one-trick pony if you don't want to invest in an entire rotation.”
4/5 Full review 18 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS Superblast
“There is no broad (2E) size in these shoes, so I had to go a size up to get a decent fit.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2
“I like the fact that the heel lift is not as extreme as many of the other trainers.”
5/5 Full review 9 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3
“There was definitely a break-in period, but after about 30 miles on the shoe, they broke in nicely.”
4/5 Full review 18 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS Superblast
“The feedback from the carbon plate is real.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2
“Awesome cushioning.”
4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

Where to buy

Running Warehouse
20% off
$180 $225

Clear Sea / Alpine Blue (and 1 other)

Buy at Running Warehouse
Price as of Sep 14.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 3:00 AM UTC (8 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.

Other retailers
Dick's Sporting Goods Cloudless (and 1 other)
$225
Price as of Sep 13.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 13, 2026 at 7:31 PM UTC (15 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.

Amazon
$228
Price as of Sep 14, 8:33 AM UTC.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 8:33 AM UTC (2 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.

Amazon prices change often.

Buy at Running Warehouse for $180 · 20% off

Buy

Pros

  • Reviewers praise the cushioning for long runs and easy recovery miles.
  • One reviewer says the carbon plate adds snap for tempo efforts.
  • A 49mm heel stack, the tallest among shoes on sale, on a 5mm drop.

Cons

  • Value draws the lowest ratings of the four reviews so far at 3.8 out of 5, against a $225 list price.

Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale

Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Skyward X rates 84. This shoe has low certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Skyward X

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

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Skyward X 2

    2026 · 2 reviews

    88 Good

    31 Confidence

  • Skyward X This shoe

    2024 · 4 reviews

    84 Good

    59 Confidence

Reader Ratings

4 ratings
5/5 1
4/5 3
3/5 0
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
9.6 oz
Release
2024 Q2
MSRP
$225
Widths
Medium, Narrow
Stack Height
49mm heel - 44mm toe
Drop Height
5mm

Available sizes

Men's sizes

9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–4 of 4 written reviews

Great long run and recovery run shoe

4/5

Overall

The Hoka Skyward X is a wonderful show for high mileage runs and recovery runs alike. For both the midsole really cushions the impact so making it easier on the body.

Anonymous runner · Dec 11, 2024

40 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Altra Paradigm 6

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

An Expensive Long Run Shoe? Worth It

4/5

Overall

After almost 400 miles on ASICS Superblast, it was time for a replacement long run shoe that would keep my feet fresh for 18+ mile runs. The Superblast 2 was sold out so I couldn't just re-purchase the best shoe ever made. My local running store had a demo with Mizuno, but they didn't have my size for purchase in the Neo Vista. In a pinch before a weekend trip where I needed to pack a long-run shoe, I was sold on the Skyward X, with the promise that I could return them in 30 days if I wasn't completely satisfied. Spoiler: I kept them. There was definitely a break-in period, but after about 30 miles on the shoe, they broke in nicely. Like the Superblast, I can use them for anything from recovery days because of the high stack, to Tempo workouts because of the snappy plate. They're a bit heavy for interval workouts but could be used as a one-trick pony if you don't want to invest in an entire rotation. They're no Superblast 1, but they come damn close.

Anonymous runner · Dec 3, 2024

18 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS Superblast

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

Excellent trainer for recovery days especially.

5/5

Overall

I'm 70 years old and due to my many years of running need extremely cushioned shoes nowadays. I like the fact that the heel lift is not as extreme as many of the other trainers.

Braavo Furgi · Dec 3, 2024

9 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3

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

Expensive but a really great running shoe

4/5

Overall

I always wanted to try a carbon plated shoe in the shoe rotation and this turned out to be an excellent choice. I have only done one long run in it so I don't have a great feel about the long runs yet, but on 5k, 10k, Half-marathon distance they feel awesome. I actually see an improvement in my speed. 

The Cons: 

- There is no broad (2E) size in these shoes, so I had to go a size up to get a decent fit.- It feels a little unstable on the turns. You have to be carful when you go through a turn as it feels as if the show will slip off

The Pros:

- The feedback from the carbon plate is real- Awesome cushioning. Please keep in mind its not race legal so as long as you are not in the pro category you should be fine.

Anonymous runner · Nov 6, 2024

35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

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

Alternatives

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
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Reference shoe
Newest
Lightest / Lowest price / Best overall
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.6 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
49/44mm
40/35mm
Drop
5mm
5mm
Release
2024 Q2
2026 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$225
$225
$145
Best price
$179.88
$224.95
$149.99 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Good (84)
Good (88)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Good (81)
Good (85)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Excellent (95)
Excellent (94)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Good (83)
Decent (76)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Decent (75)
Decent (71)
Very good (91) Best appearance
Value
Below average (64)
Below average (66)
Good (88) Best value
Specific shoe

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