HOKA Carbon X

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

Racing shoe · Neutral · Road · 8.0 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 compared it with another shoe preferred it. The rating is based on 35 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Carbon X product line.

Exceptional

Overall

Exceptional 97

Appearance

Very good 92

Cushioning

Good 89

Comfort

Good 84

Durability

Decent 72

Value

Below average 67

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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

97 Very high

Very high 97

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Brand rating
Our ratings
External ratings

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

“Does not handle slower paces well—it's designed as a racing shoe”

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

“Rolls your foot perfectly through the gait cycle”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Mach 2

“First pair got around 300 miles before the fiber ripped”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon

“Every step feels comfortable yet propelled forward”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

“Not squishy, but gives good spring forward effect”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike LunaRacer 4

“More forgiving, less aggressive, and stable than competitors”

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

“Will not last long; major wear on side heel”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Altra Escalante 1.5

“Heavier than other racing flats with a slight bulkiness feeling”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

“Estimated service life of 250–300 miles”

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

“Comparatively loose fit versus the 4%”

5/5 Full review 4 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 6

“Bottom plate will not last a long while”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 940 v4

“Much taller, felt like platform shoes at first but adapted quickly”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4

“Almost brand-new after a couple hundred miles”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 6

“Noticeable rocking motion when walking around”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Tartherzeal 6

“More cushioned but rigid than other shoes”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4

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 Oct 22.

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 97. This shoe has very high confidence. 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

97 2019 80 2020 80 2022

Release year

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

Carbon X 3

2022 · 6 reviews

80 Good

68 Confidence
Carbon X 2

2020 · 4 reviews

80 Good

79 Confidence
Carbon X This shoe

2019 · 35 reviews

97 Exceptional

97 Confidence

Runner 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: 8.0 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 8.8 oz · Women's 7.2 oz
Release: 2019 Q2
MSRP: $180

Runner reviews

Write a review

Best Carbon Fiber Shoe

5/5

Overall

This shoe blew my expectations. I was a little skeptical switching to this shoe from the Nike Zoomfly because I've owned like 7 Pairs of Zoomflys and they were my favorite running until I decided to switch. I've owned many shoes with a carbon fiber plate and this one was outstanding. I've owned two pairs of Carbon X and the first pair got to around 300 miles before the fiber ripped a hole but, I'm 250 miles into this pair and they are in way better shape than the first. This shoe has created a long-lasting and loyal customer to Hoka.

aidan.carterr · Jan 9, 2020

45 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Best Carbon Fiber Shoe

5/5

Overall

This shoe blew my expectations. I had little expectations going into this shoe because I came from Nike's Vaporfly 4% which was a pioneer in carbon fiber shoes and when I switched I wasn't expecting the shoe to be better than the Vaporflys but, they are way better than them. I now have owned 2 pairs of Carbon X and they are still responsive after 250 miles. I have now become a loyal Hoka Customer.

Anonymous runner · Jan 9, 2020

45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%

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

Great value great shoe

5/5

Overall

I was worried about the durability of the shoe when I first purchased them, but I've put in a couple hundred miles of them so far, and they are almost brand-new.

Anonymous runner · Jan 9, 2020

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

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

Hoka Carbon X

5/5

Overall

I purchased for the 2019 Richmond Marathon and used in the Savannah Half a few weeks before. The price tag (and durability) means I'll only use them for races (and will put a change of shoes in my bag drop bag so I'm not just walking around in them), but they are super light and comfy.

Anonymous runner · Jan 5, 2020

60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36

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

Elite running shoe

4/5

Overall

The Carbon X gave me a smoother stride and speed while doing just about any distance. These shoes make are incredibly versatile; I would do long runs (8-12 mi.) in them and they felt comfortable the whole time and allowed me to pick up my pace with ease as the shoes feel better and better the faster you run. They’re also great for tempo and speed work at sub threshold pace and I even used them for sprints and they perform nicely. Overall the shoe is incredibly versatile, speedy, and responsive for any runner looking for faster runs

Anonymous runner · Jan 2, 2020

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

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

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HOKA Carbon X

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