Hoka Carbon X 3 Performance Review

The Hoka Carbon X 3, the third version of Hoka’s original race day shoe, the Carbon X, is now a high end speed day shoe with an awesome rocker. Is it worth your hard-earned cash? At WearTesters, that’s what we always aim to find out in our reviews. Keep reading down below for our full thoughts..

Pros

Rocker

Hoka’s signature strength, the early stage Meta-Rocker, is the true star of the Carbon X 3. This shoe is incredibly smooth heel to toe and seems to glide through each foot strike. That kind of effortless ground contact is the main reason you’ll reach for this shoe again and again on speed days. It’s mentally comforting that your stride is so fluid. When your feet are light and your mind is right, you’ll be able to really pump out those fast miles (or laps).

Bounce

I can’t call the Hoka Carbon X 3 plush, but man is it bouncy. The slight formula change to the ProFlyX versus previous iterations makes a difference. You feel less ground impact and get more of that forward, upward push that we’ve come to expect from top tier carbon-plated running shoes. I’ve got an asphalt track at a park near me and the Carbon X 3 just felt right when doing 400s and 800s. If you’re looking to pick up the tempo, the Carbon X 3 can do it.

Cons

Polarizing upper

As with most sock-like knit uppers on running shoes, it’s a mixed bag. Personally, my high volume (meaning tall) foot really enjoyed this particular knit upper. I tied the laces once and from then on the Hoka Carbon X 3 became a slip on. It molded more and more to my foot with each wear. I also thought the achilles pillows, heel flare and engineered knit all contributed to the comfort. Oh and the two-toned upper is 100% vegan.

But…others may not fill up the upper’s knit the same way I did. I could see someone with a less voluminous foot having extra room above the foot and not being as comfortable. So either try these on at your local running store or be ok returning them if you order online. To me, it’s worth the gamble on the upper if you prioritize and enjoy a great rocker and nice bounce.

Winter traction

For rubberized EVA, the traction held up quite well. Durability is on the high end of rubberized EVA outsoles. But the outsole is not perfect. If you’re running over frosty surfaces, snow or the tiniest bit of ice, the Carbon X 3 slips with every step. Since much speed work doesn’t happen in those conditions, there’s no reason to wear the Carbon X 3 in them. Save it for dry days when you’re seeing how fast your legs can take you. You’ll regret it if you bring them out in wintry conditions.

Hoka Carbon X 3 Summary

The Hoka Carbon X 3 is a bouncy, smooth shoe meant for the days you turn on the jets. It’s a little pricey for what it is, but it’ll make people going for effortless speed very happy. However, if you don’t like knit uppers on your runners or if you run in a lot of wintry weather, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, enjoy the smooth transition as you speed things up a bit.