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

HOKA Skyward X

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 10.3 oz · Men's 48/43mm · women's 46/41mm stack · 5mm drop

How it ranks

The HOKA Skyward X’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 4 runner reviews so far, with brand history and external ratings also informing the score.

HOKA Skyward X

of 5

Good

80
Overall
80
Cushioning
87
Durability
77
Comfort
74
Appearance
73
Value
67
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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

45 Low

45

External retailer ratings

We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.

The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.

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.

  1. Brand rating
  2. External ratings
  3. Our ratings

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
“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
“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
“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 Oct 22.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Oct 22, 2026 at 3:00 AM UTC (20 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
$225
Price as of Oct 22.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Oct 22, 2026 at 7:32 PM UTC (3 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 Oct 22.

Buy at Running Warehouse for $180 · 20% off

Buy

Cons

  • It is much heavier than the typical daily trainer for sale.
  • It costs much more than the typical daily trainer for sale.

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 80. This shoe has low confidence. 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

    77 Decent

    61 Confidence

  • Skyward X This shoe

    2024 · 4 reviews

    80 Good

    45 Confidence

Runner 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
10.3 oz
Men's / women's
Men's 11.3 oz · Women's 9.2 oz
Release
2024 Q2
MSRP
$225
Widths
Medium
Stack
Men's 48/43mm · women's 46/41mm
Drop
5mm

Available sizes

Men's

9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 12.5

9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11.5, 12

43, 44, 44.5, 45, 46, 47

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

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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
Lightest / Newest
Lowest price / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
10.3 oz
9.1 oz (women's) Lightest
9.9 oz
Stack
48/43mm
48/43mm
40/35mm
Drop
5mm
5mm
4mm
Release
2024 Q2
2026 Newest
2022 Q3
MSRP
$225
$225
$165
Best price
$180
$225
$95 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
80 Good
77 Decent
99 Exceptional Best overall
Comfort
74 Decent
76 Decent
99 Exceptional Best comfort
Cushioning
87 Good
84 Good
99 Exceptional Best cushioning
Durability
77 Decent
71 Decent
97 Exceptional Best durability
Appearance
73 Decent
69 Below average
75 Decent Best appearance
Value
67 Below average
69 Below average
77 Decent Best value rating
Specific shoe

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