After years on the ft of professionals and serving to Jim Walmsley to win two of extremely working’s largest occasions, HOKA’s Tecton X 3 is accessible for the lots. So what’s it like?
An extended standing course report was damaged on the Leadville 100 path race in Colorado this weekend. On a podcast, the boys’s winner David Roche stated the earlier report from 2005 ‘may as well be from 1892’. Within the sport of path working, 19 years is historical historical past.
Couple that with absolutely the growth in highway working ‘supershoes’ over the previous decade, the place manufacturers have been pairing extremely light-weight and springy foams with carbon plates for construction, and it appeared that path working was additionally due for a shakeup.
Besides it hadn’t actually occurred, till now.
Common path runner’s automotive boot
Again in 2021 I reviewed The North Face Flight Vectiv, which was the primary path shoe to function a carbon fibre plate. It was rattling quick, but it surely was unstable, stiff, and ended up having sturdiness points. I questioned on the time if the expertise may ever translate to the paths.
The HOKA Tecton X 3 is the third iteration of the Tecton vary from HOKA and this time I reckon they’ve bought it actually proper. It’s considerably completely different from the Tecton X2, being the primary HOKA path runner to function the tremendous gentle and bouncy PEBA foam that’s widespread in highway racing footwear. They’ve additionally added winglets to the carbon fibre plates, extra stack peak (= extra foam) and dat gaiter.
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They’ve additionally had some BIG wins. Jim Walmsely gained two of the most important ultramarathons on the planet carrying a prototype model of this shoe. He took out UTMB, a 174km race round Mont Blanc within the Alps, and Western States, a 161km race within the US. Plainly carbon fibre path runners are right here to remain.
HOKA despatched me a pair just a few weeks in the past and I’ve put 45km on them thus far, together with a really quick, technical, and well-timed 12km path race. Right here’s what I reckon of its options.
Do I choo choo select the Tecton X 3s? | @heatoburrito
Fast Specs:
Weight: 284g (Dimension 10)
Stack peak: 40mm heel / 35mm toe
Heel to toe drop: 5mm
Lug depth:4mm
Beneficial retail value: $380
Twin-layer PEBA Midsole
Once I first chucked the HOKA Tecton X 3s on and ran down the footpath, I really began laughing. It’s about 500m to my native trailhead and it’s usually a agency, clompy affair in my path runners. It was a breeze in these, it truthfully felt like I used to be carrying highway footwear, if not for the slight notion of the grippy lugs.
As soon as on the path, I unintentionally ran very quick. The Velocity-centric MetaRocker™ pushes your foot ahead but it surely’s not overly intense. You possibly can nonetheless comfortably heel strike, which is nice for sending it down steep sections and giving all 40mm of froth within the rear a exercise.
40mm of froth is the utmost authorized peak for highway trainers | @heatoburrito
Patent-pending parallel carbon fibre plates with winglets for stability
The Tecton X 1 and a couple of had parallel carbon plates, however the X 3 provides ‘winglets’ on the surface of every plate (you’ll be able to really see them on the perimeters of the shoe). Try this diagram, you’ll be able to see the plates’ place between the 2 layers of froth.
To date this has led to a shoe that’s huge and gentle, but doesn’t really feel prefer it’s going to tip over like highway racing footwear. When you’re pretty new to path working although, you’ll in all probability wish to have a look at one thing extra steady. This shoe is unquestionably geared toward skilled path runners and it’s taken a bit of little bit of getting used to.
Vibram® Megagrip Litebase Outsole With Traction Lug
Okay possibly going with the web site’s names for issues was a mistake however we’re dedicated now. Vibram Megagrip is the gold customary for path runners and the Litebase design helps maintain the load to 283g (34g heavier than the Tecton X 2 because of extra foam, winglets, and the gaiter).
‘Traction Lug’ refers back to the little lugs on the aspect of every lug. Yep, the lugs have lugs. And so they really work. Operating quick over moist, mossy sandstone round Bobbin Head I slipped just a few instances and felt the shoe grind over the rock like sandpaper. Even when there’s not a lot traction available the 4mm lugs do their greatest to carry on.
4mm lugs are a candy spot for pace and grip | @heatoburrito
I additionally discovered that the versatile midsole of the shoe helped it wrap round path options, somewhat than merely sending my ankle to Hades. This took just a few runs to actually belief, so ensure you have some observe runs earlier than you’re taking them out for a race.
Gaiter-like Prolonged Knit Collar
Everybody’s simply calling this a gaiter so I’ll too. Sizzling take: gaiters are superior. I’ve used them in a number of races and all the time thought these S/LAB Salomons with inbuilt ones have been cool (no not these ones).
If you’re working quick or racing alongside trails, getting sand, sticks or stones in your shoe will certainly gradual you down. This answer is much better than the aftermarket gaiters you’ll be able to connect to your footwear that all the time experience up.
I’ve been utilizing skinny, crew socks that go up larger than the gaiter, sliding my foot in and utilizing my fingers to flip the heel on. It’s undoubtedly extra fussy than a traditional shoe, however you’re not about to go for a traditional run if you happen to’re carrying these, so I just like the theatre of all of it.
No sand and grime within the footwear is a large win | @heatoburrito
Different Options Defined
Generally out of doors manufacturers, HOKA included, record their options with little-to-no rationalization of what they imply, however I’ve bought you.
‘Dynamic vamp for foot splay’ signifies that the vamp, which is the a part of the shoe that covers the highest of your foot, is a bit versatile. I’ve fairly slim ft and needed to lace the footwear pretty tight, however I wouldn’t name them huge.
‘Ghillie lace construction’. This was a doozy, primarily it refers to a mode of lacing right down to the toes used for Irish dancing. To which I say, type of? They lace down additional than another path runners within the closet, that’s true.
‘Matryx® textile upper’ refers back to the tremendous powerful and light-weight material used within the higher. I’ve by no means had Matryx fail in a path runner earlier than one other a part of the shoe. It’s good things.
Is the HOKA Tecton X 3 a sport changer?
That’s the purpose! I’m intrigued by the HOKA Tecton X 3. It seems like a sport changer with its mixture of pace, cushion, and stability, however the true proof of that will probably be in how lengthy it lasts on the market. At $380, HOKA have priced it the identical as their Rocket X2 highway shoe, which is dear. However so is R&D, and so helps Jim Walmsley dwell in France so he can lastly win UTMB.
I’m going to try to put just a few hundred kilometres on these path runners, get some lengthy runs below the belt, and are available again with my ultimate ideas. Keep squishy.
Rather more of this sooner or later please and thanks | @heatoburrito
