Guide to the best HOKA race day shoes
Guide to the best HOKA race day shoes
It’s always a tough choice when it comes down to race day, and what the best shoe for you is. There’s no one size fits all so we thought we would highlight some of the characteristics we’ve found from shoes in Hokas range, to hopefully make your life a little easier.
First up is Hokas newest super shoe, the Ceilo X1 2.0. This is an all out race day option. High stack, super responsive foam, carbon plate and lightweight.It’s not a shoe for everyone, but if you’re at the pointy end of the field and like to run on your forefoot when you pick up speed then it should suit you. Its medial cutout means it’s less stable at slower speeds, but that helps drop some more weight out of the shoe, which now in its second iteration has dropped more than 40 grams from the previous version, which is a lot when we’re talking about a shoe that only weighs 228 grams! This shoe covers a massive range of distances, from short fast 5k’s, right up to the marathon, thanks to its speed centric rocker and huge wedge of super soft and responsive dual density PEBA foam.
If you’re after a more classic Hoka racer then the Rocket X2 is still going strong over 2 years on from initial release, and there’s a reason for that. This racer was Hokas first genuine competitor to the fastest shoes on the market. A complete redesign from its previous generation brought a brand new super responsive PEBA foam sandwich with a snappy carbon plate as the filling. It’s loved by all kinds of athletes thanks to its low weight, responsiveness and stability. That also makes it a great choice from triathlon. When the fatigue sets in, this shoe provides a stable base that allows you to keep up the pace rather than fight against those jelly legs.
If you’re after a more budget friendly racer that can also double up as a great up tempo training shoe then the Mach X2 might be what you’re after. Instead of the carbon plate it sports a Pebax plate for that bit of extra propulsion. This means you get the feel of a racing shoe, without the price, and with that extra bit of stability and extended mileage that the thicker rubber outsole provides. This shoe also works great with a wider variety of foot strikes, leaving you to chase that PB and let the rocker profile do the work for you.
Finally, for those who prefer the more traditional race shoe, before the world went carbon crazy, Hoka has the Mach 6. Now in its 6th iteration this too underwent a complete redesign. New supercritical EVA foam makes the shoe responsive with a great energy return. Its low weight of 232 grams means the shoe is always ready to pick up the pace, and the rubber outsole also means it’ll last a bit longer than the supershoes. That means there’s no reason this shoe can’t also be used when your legs just need that little extra bounce to pull you through a tired training session. Suitable for heel strikers also this shoe is worth considering for anyone.
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