After years on the toes of execs and serving to Jim Walmsley to win two of extremely working’s largest occasions, HOKA’s Tecton X 3 is accessible for the plenty. So what’s it like?
A protracted standing course file was damaged on the Leadville 100 path race in Colorado this weekend. On a podcast, the boys’s winner David Roche stated the earlier file from 2005 ‘may as well be from 1892’. Within the sport of path working, 19 years is historic historical past.
Couple that with absolutely the growth in street 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 automobile boot
Again in 2021 I reviewed The North Face Flight Vectiv, which was the primary path shoe to characteristic a carbon fibre plate. It was rattling quick, however it was unstable, stiff, and ended up having sturdiness points. I puzzled on the time if the expertise might 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 obtained it actually proper. It’s considerably totally different from the Tecton X2, being the primary HOKA path runner to characteristic the tremendous gentle and bouncy PEBA foam that’s frequent in street racing sneakers. They’ve additionally added winglets to the carbon fibre plates, extra stack top (= extra foam) and dat gaiter.
Find out how to say ‘I imply enterprise’ with out saying it
They’ve additionally had some BIG wins. Jim Walmsely received two of the largest ultramarathons on the planet sporting 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 a number of weeks in the past and I’ve put 45km on them to this point, 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 top: 40mm heel / 35mm toe
Heel to toe drop: 5mm
Lug depth:4mm
Really useful retail value: $380
Twin-layer PEBA Midsole
After I first chucked the HOKA Tecton X 3s on and ran down the footpath, I truly began guffawing. 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 actually felt like I used to be sporting street sneakers, if not for the slight notion of the grippy lugs.
As soon as on the path, I by accident ran very quick. The Velocity-centric MetaRocker™ pushes your foot ahead however it’s not overly intense. You’ll be able to 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 top for street 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 possibly can truly see them on the perimeters of the shoe). Take a look at this diagram, you possibly can see the plates’ place between the 2 layers of froth.
To date this has led to a shoe that’s broad and smooth, but doesn’t really feel prefer it’s going to tip over like street racing sneakers. Should you’re pretty new to path working although, you’ll in all probability need to take a look at one thing extra secure. This shoe is certainly aimed toward skilled path runners and it’s taken somewhat 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 normal for path runners and the Litebase design helps maintain the burden to 283g (34g heavier than the Tecton X 2 due to extra foam, winglets, and the gaiter).
‘Traction Lug’ refers back to the little lugs on the facet of every lug. Yep, the lugs have lugs. And so they truly work. Operating quick over moist, mossy sandstone round Bobbin Head I slipped a number of 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 finest 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, relatively than merely sending my ankle to Hades. This took a number of runs to essentially belief, so be sure 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 at all times thought these S/LAB Salomons with in-built 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 resolution is much better than the aftermarket gaiters you possibly can connect to your sneakers that at all times journey up.
I’ve been utilizing skinny, crew socks that go up increased 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 sporting these, so I just like the theatre of all of it.
No sand and dust within the sneakers is a large win | @heatoburrito
Different Options Defined
Typically out of doors manufacturers, HOKA included, record their options with little-to-no rationalization of what they imply, however I’ve obtained you.
‘Dynamic vamp for foot splay’ implies 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 slender toes and needed to lace the sneakers pretty tight, however I wouldn’t name them broad.
‘Ghillie lace construction’. This was a doozy, primarily it refers to a mode of lacing all the way down to the toes used for Irish dancing. To which I say, form 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 lightweight cloth 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 recreation changer?
That’s the purpose! I’m intrigued by the HOKA Tecton X 3. It seems like a recreation changer with its mixture of pace, cushion, and stability, however the true proof of that can be in how lengthy it lasts on the market. At $380, HOKA have priced it the identical as their Rocket X2 street 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 a number of hundred kilometres on these path runners, get some lengthy runs underneath the belt, and are available again with my ultimate ideas. Keep squishy.
Rather more of this sooner or later please and thanks | @heatoburrito
