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HOKA Rocket X 2
Unisex Shoes - Yuzu/Cielo Blue
4.2
The HOKA Rocket X 2 is a carbon-plated road racing shoe ideal for the marathon distance.
Best useBest Use Learn More
RacingRacing
SurfaceSurface Learn More
Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
StabilityStability Learn More
Neutral
Stable
CushioningCushioning Learn More
Barefoot
Minimal
Low
Medium
High
Maximal
Product Details:
Making its way to the starting line is the highly anticipated second iteration of HOKA's supershoe, the Rocket X 2. From top to bottom, the HOKA Rocket X 2 has been updated to meet the needs of HOKA's world class athletes as well as the running community as whole. The newly designed midsole features two layers of an ultra-responsive peba foam with a full-length carbon fiber plate sandwiched in between. The pairing of the foam and carbon fiber plate results in a highly propulsive and stable ride from start to finish. Add that combination to the rocker geometry and strategic foam cutouts underfoot and you've got yourself a serious contender to set a personal best.
The outsole has been carefully crafted to maximize grip while keeping weight as low as possible by implementing a zonal rubber placement design. The midsole foam cutout in the outsole not only yields weight savings, but it also allows the plate to accentuate the bounce and springiness that is desired in a marathon racer. Not only will you be running fast in the HOKA Rocket X 2, but you'll also be running in comfort thanks to the race ready fit of the technical synthetic mesh upper that is equal parts breathable and secure. With all the characteristics you'd want in a super shoe, the HOKA Rocket X 2 will have you ready for take-off at your next race.
What You'll Love
- Now featuring two-layers of Peba foam
- Geometric design complements the technology
Model Number: 1127927-YZC
Specs & FitLearn More
Shoe Specs
| Weight: | 7.5 oz 212 grams |
| Heel Stack: | 37 mm |
| Forefoot Stack: | 31 mm |
| Heel-Toe Offset: | 6 mm |
How It FitsLearn More
| Heel Width: | Roomy |
| Midfoot Fit: | Roomy |
| Toe Box Fit: | Average |
Technologies
MIDSOLE
- Carbon Fiber Plate adds stability to the foams as well as a powerful and propulsive toe-off.
- Peba Foam for a soft and ultra-responsive ride.
OUTSOLE
- Durabrasion Rubber is strategically placed to optimize grip while keeping weight as low as possible.
UPPER
- Technical Synthetic Mesh for a race-ready, foot-hugging fit.
Videos
Customer Reviews
Perfect shoeThis shoe is great! Fit is perfect, lockdown is perfect, the foam is perfect, the bounce is perfect. This shoe wants you to move fast and it does. I ran my fastest mile in these shoes today 2/2/2025. One of my favorite Hoka shoes ever (besides the Ceilo X1). The one thing I don't like is the color way. I wish Hoka released the color way the Hoka sponsored athletes have (rainbow color) to the public.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
So fast!Let’s start with the fact that this is my third pair because I like them so much!
The Rocket X is the fastest shoe I have ever owed. At 50 years old i set New personal best in multiple distances wearing this shoe. Coincidence? I would say no!!!
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Too soft heel for a stiff forefoot.Heel sinks and feels like a zero drop - this may work well at very fast paces for forefoot strikers, other than that it feels awkward. Super light. Rocker starts very late.. More cushion in the forefoot than Asics Sky and Adidas Pro 3. Bouncy. Not unstable when cornering, more "normal" feeling. Upper a tad more protection than Sky and Adidas. Toebox feels OK. Hard to put on (heel counter is paper).
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Great shoe; size upSize up a 1/2 size. For example, a normal men’s size 10 will see best results in a size 10 1/2.
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Great shoeFun shoe for anything from 3 to 26 miles.
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Good sneakers!Good fit. Good style. Good overall!
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Blisters from Terrible HeelI purchased the Rocket X2 for a marathon next month. If it were not for a terrible heel, I would rate this shoe 5 stars. It is a good, comfortable fit, super soft pebax foam, and good bounce. On my first long, tempo run my heels kept slipping no matter how tight I tied the laces and I had to cut my anticipated 16 mile workout short to 8 miles due to blisters starting to form and general pain from the weird heel of the shoe. If I had not already worn it outside, I would return the shoe. Instead, I glued a piece of dense foam to the inside back of the shoe to pad the back of my heel from the shoe; it seems to work well. No more slippage and I believe no more risk of blisters. Other people had mentioned this design defect, so it must affect some people but not others. I have been running for fifty years and have never had this issue with a running shoe before. Hopefully a future X3 version will have a traditional heel, even if it adds some weight.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
BlistersI really wanted to like this shoe and think it has great potential but there are some things about it that just didnt work for me.
First the Good :
-The ride was fun, the foam soft and the plate bouncy
-Material was breathable
The Bad:
-Its ideally for runners with a narrow foot. I got the shoe in my usual size and while my foot is not wide for some reason these were just very narrow so maybe size up if you are interested in getting a pair.
-I got massive blisters behind the achilles from my first tempo run in them. Tried them again after the blisters had healed and yep the blisters returned with a vengeance. Disappointing design quality for a $250 shoe especially one which is marketed to and by triathletes who often have to run with no socks and so are more prone to getting blisters in poorly designed shoes.
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One of the best racing shoe!A super shoe that has the best combination of comfort & speed at the same time! Now that’s a racing shoe! My feet don’t hurt at the end of races! Has me feeling fast and comfortable the whole race! Highly recommended!
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Awesome racing shoesThese are some of the best carbon plate racing shoes I have ever worn! Highly recommend these shoes!
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Best ShoeThis is by far the best running shoe I have ever bought, well worth the price and they arrived very fast. Thank you Running Warehouse!
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Amazing Carbon ShoeThis was my first carbon shoe that wasn’t spikes and I must say these were amazing. I got them for my first track 10k and they worked beautifully. My feet did hurt after 4 miles but that’s a given with race shoes and they are pricey but very worth it.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
Rocket X2 for the PRUsed these shoes for a recent half marathon. Out of the box they'll feel a little snug in the toe box. I didn't have any issues with heel slippage but I recall other's have. Maybe it's the placebo effect, but when you put them on for the first time you'll want to go fast. I like the rocker feel, lean forward a bit to speed up. I put about 30 miles on them before the race and they still had plenty of pop. Idk about others, but I felt they run a tad warm, used lighter socks to mitigate this. I know the Hoka brand and it's been good to be so I went with these. I also didn't have a lot of time before the race to grab shoes and I missed the Vapor Fly 3 drop. For the price tag, 250$, had I had more time I'd probably go with Asics Metaspeed Sky or Edge and worked out the kinks with sizing given those seem to be podium shoes at a lot of the races.
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Best Running Shoes - Worth the $$I'm just an average runner and had been using Brooks for 3 years. Heard and read about these shoes and I'll never go to anything else again! I've been running 5K's and have clocked my best PR's and keep breaking them! They are so comfortable, well balanced, and literally rocket you forward with their technology. It almost makes it effortless to run, and I was never a dedicated runner, until now! Spend the money because it is totally worth it.
Because I was so impressed with the Rockets, I bought the Bondi 8's for long distance walking 5-10 miles, and they are amazing as well!
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Best Running Shoes Ever!I've had a few different high-end brands of running shoes, however these are the best I've ever owned. The rocker design and titanium plate were easy to get use to and really made a difference on my 5k time. Loved the brand so much I bought Bondi 8's for walking and they are super comfortable.
Hope you know a good surgeonThis shoe is so close to getting Hoka back in the game. Even though the drop doesn't really put this in the race category I'll accept it as a super trainer with the max cushion and carbon plate. BIG problem is this non-sensical heel cup made of razor blades. What in the what were you thinking Hoka?? The padding comes in nicely on both side of the heel and then just vanished where it is needed the most. I threw this shoe back in the box after it destroyed a pair of Feature premium socks and tried to slice of my Achilles. I went to the same HS as Brad Pitt but I aint goin' out like that. No thanks Hoka....try again!
Hoka Rocket x2Much improved from the original Rocket X, little break in time and been happy with the performance over the first 100 miles. Only concern is the heel that collapses and gives little support, need to make sure laces are supporting. Overall a good high mileage shoe.
Best Performance Shoe!I absolutely love this shoe. It is light, responsive and feels fast. As soon as I put it on, I knew it was going to be awesome. It just fit! No pressure point. No big arch lift like the Alphafly. My toes don’t get jammed and sore after long runs. Not sure what the complaints about the heel are, totally works for me. I will say the shoe is challenging to actually get on at times, depending on your socks. I find Feetures socks kinda sticky and take a little bit of finagling. Darn Tough works great. I absolutely love this shoe. I recently tried on the new Cielo X1 and unfortunately it was just too wide and had too much upper. The fabric was bunching up when I was lacing the shoe. I didn’t even run in it because it just didn’t fit as awesome as the Rocket. For reference, 5’4 female about 125, size 9, 3:21 marathon PB. I use these for long runs and speed.
Super Fast with Bounce. Get good socks!These are legit super shoes. Extremely bouncy, supple yet propulsive. Make sure to get thin, non-cotton running socks or your heels will rub. Traditional cotton socks will not work causing the shoe to fit tighter than it should without good heel lock. Fits to size for me at size men's 11. I tried 11.5 as well but they had too much movement. Highly recommend.
Runs great. Fits small.Excellent candidate to be your go to carbon plated road shoe.
Pros: Very stable underfoot. Well balanced between firm and cushion.
Cons: Runs a half size small. Cut that big toe nail short! Difficult to get the shoe on initially.
Hoka rocket x2This is the second rocket x2 I have..the 1st is my favorite distance racer I own..I ran almost all my races this year,after july, in the rocket x2..before that I used the alphafly but I usually get sore forefoot if the distance gets above 10mi..the rocket x2 is the 1st shoe I've ever used that doesn't go flat above 10mi..my 1st 1/2 was a road/trail race that climbed and decended 2 small mountains and without the cushioning of the rocket x2 there's no way my feet could have taken that much downhill pounding..so steep that I did see a runner tumbling down the pavement cos she couldn't stop her speed..traction was decent on the woods trails..I'm sold on the cushioning and fit..enough that I bought another pr before they ruin the OG..
First race shoeGreat so far, mainly used them for speed workouts while training for a marathon. I'll be wearing them on race day too.
NoisesSometimes a shoe(usually leather dress shoes) make a squeak when you walk... that didn't happen with these shoes. The first time I ran with them I heard a sound coming from my left shoe that sounded like a mixture of bells and a harp gently being played... it sounded like an angel whispering to me, lovingly, and it said, "you've got this, you are great". But from the right shoe I heard a voice that sounded like it came from the other place, the place opposite of where angels don't fly, and it growled at me saying, "run faster, you are going too slow." I have never had an experience like this, and I'm not a fast/good/proficient/coordinated runner, but I cranked out 8:00 minute miles for an hour. That last sentence is a lie, it was more like 8:40... which is great for me. I had no blisters, felt fresh the next day, felt like I was wearing shoes that brought $500 of benefit, and I'm saving these shoes for a special occasion. I'm sure people have had other experiences with these shoes, but mine has been great.
PR’d my marathonSo fast! Not generally a Hoka user but these felt so light and fast. The rocker really made a fast pace feel easy.
Fix the heel!This is a great shoe outside of the heel. Hoka for some reason has deviated from their structures on the heel, and its been misfire after misfire. This time, the material is thin and rubs aggressively against your heel/achilles area; always resulting in a blister. Still better then the high padded heels in alot of their models, but this one is just as bad. I had to Frankenstein and cut the material out. Hoka needs to stop getting cute with these heels and go back to basics.
Heels are Deal KillersI wear Hokas everywhere -- on the roads, on the trails... even in the office. EXCEPT in road races. I've been wearing Vaporflys these last few years. Enter the Rocket X 2. Everybody was raving about these being amazing, so I had to give it a try. True, these are bouncy and should work great in races -- sproing sproing! EXCEPT for what I consider a fatal flaw: The heels. Ooph, they are just awful. There's NO structural integrity to the heel area at all -- the fabric that covers the back of your heels. But for how flimsy they are, they aren't flexible so they actually rub your heels funny. I was SO sad, but I had to return these. I'm gonna just have to keep wearing the Vaporflys until Hoka fixes the heels on these. That would make these perfect!
Hoka Rocket X2These felt amazing out of the box. Took them out for a 10k at half marathon speed for me (7:30/mil). The rocker geometry felt effortless and the ride felt quite natural; however, I got some bruising on the tip of both my big toes. I’m sure a lot of runners will enjoy these at all distances. For me, definitely a 5k to 10k racer. My big toes might be too long (who knows) but I definitely recommend these. Bouncy, springy and just an overall joy to run in.
Hoka RocketHands down the best running race shoe I've ever purchased. Well worth the price tag, I saw an immediate increase in my per mile time.
One big issue not good for meI so wanted to like this shoe and use it in my future races but it has one bad issue for me that makes it no good. It’s the heel cup or actually lack of a heel cup support. It’s only a little piece of flimsy material. I ran two 6 mile runs in this shoe , first run I could feel my heel slipping all over and rubbing badly on the back of the shoe. My second run I got big blisters on both my heels around my Achilles tendon. If it wasn’t for this this would be a awesome, awesome super shoe for me. But I sent them back , will get another pair of Saucony Endorphin pro 3. They are super shoes with out these heel cup issues.
Cruising with CushionThe Rocket X 2 are comfortable, firm fitting, super shoes. They work well on my narrow feet. The uppers are so shear that I can see my socks through through the material. Using the lace-lock system promotes secure heel fit. Together, the fit of the uppers and breathability reduce any chance of blistering. The Rocket X 2 have two thick cushioning layers along with thin bottom soles, all intended for racing. They have great bounce but the bottom soles will not last long as a daily trainer (not recommended). In turn, the shoes are very light compared to my trainers. So far I have run a marathon and 5k in the Rocket X 2. ...cruising with cushion is lovely:-)
great but...Let's start with the good:
It is comfortable, and noticeably faster. I regularly look down at my watch, and see that I'm at a faster pace than intended. It's not effortless speed, it's just harder to run slow in these. The fit is good. I have flat feet, and have no issues in the arch area. some hoka shoes causing chafing in that area, not this one.
The bad:
the grip. it's really bad. the rubber they put on it is worse than the models with exposed foam. it's dangerous to run in wet conditions in these. running uphill in wet, you lose a lot of power due to sliding until contact is made. Lately I will grab my old pair of mach 4s when it's wet. no issues with that shoe, and it also has exposed foam.
I think the colorway is ugly but not a big deal.
The heel counter isn't an issue unless you are one of those degenerates that wear no-show socks.
They are a little hard to put on, but they stay in place. nice snug fit for the most part.
I like them, but they are overpriced for what you get. If a ~2% pace boost is important to you, then maybe it is worth the price. The 2% is what I calculated over several training runs
Issues with heel counterThough the shoes are cushiony and responsive, the heel counter has chafed the back of my heel at the top of the shoe badly and caused me to actually bleed, staining the rear portion of these shoes. This happened within two runs of less than 4 miles each. Luckily I was able to tape my ankle in order to continue using them. Also, they are very difficult to get on because they lack a tab on the back of the heel which normally helps pull them on. I have never had issues like this with a running shoe before, and I do have a pair of the original version of the Rocket X, for that matter, and they were fine.
HOKA Rocket X 2Great shoe. Very comfy and light. Best overall racing shoe I've had.
Not for my feetThe toe box is nice and wide and I love the stability and comfort of this racer. The overall fit would be perfect for my wider foot. However, I also have a high volume foot (meaning my midfoot is really tall) and the sling that they have inside the shoe to keep the tongue in place dug into the line where the top of my foot meets my ankle and felt very tight in that spot. Even just standing there I could tell it would cause problems. Normally I would just loosen the laces to make a bit more room but that internal sling prevents me from being able to do that as much as needed and I didn't want to cut $250 shoes unless I was certain they would otherwise work for me so sadly these needed to be returned.
Great new racer!Hoka has finally come out with a great race shoe. Smooth is the best way to describe these, then comfortable and responsive. You find yourself running much faster than your perceived effort. I used these to run Boston marathon after putting about 10 miles on them. They were great! I PR’d with a time of 3:11:17. No rubbing, no blisters. My legs recovered quickly. Only issue is that it was raining and they were a bit sketchy on painted lines in the road. Otherwise they were perfect. Now Hoka just needs a trainer with the same foam!
Best carbon plate running shoeI’ve had just about every carbon fiber shoe they make. But I have to say the Hoka rocket X2 is by far the most balanced perfect shoe it has just the right amount of snap very comfortable and rolls with your foot perfectly just the right amount of cushion to absorb the shock from the road.
BouncyGreat improvement in the foam for this shoe. HOKA is now in the mix with the other super shoes.
Personal favoriteGreat energy return in a light and comfortable shoe. Heal could use improvement though
Real contenderThe Rocket x 2 offers a smooth ride, plenty of cushioning, and good energy return with better stability than most current racers. The upper feels light, lockdown is good, and there have been no hot spots or pressure points so far. The upper material seems not to absorb moisture or gain weight but may not breathe as well as some. The outsole has gripped well so far and shows only minimal abrasion after runs on asphalt, concrete, and a little gravel. The slightly higher weight compared to several racers seems to come from the generous midsole material and midfoot width. It is less picky about changes in gait with fatigue and seems a serious option for half marathon and longer road races
