HOKA Rocket X Trail Review

The HOKA Rocket X Trail is for you if...

You‘re looking for something fast, light, and fun for smooth to moderate trails 

You run ultra or sub-ultra distances on low-technical terrain 

You want a max cushion, carbon plated trail shoe for long races or fast workouts 

What is the HOKA Rocket X Trail made for?

First came the Rocket X, a carbon-plated road racing shoe that took a more balanced approach to fast running, providing speed but with an accessible and stable ride. In 2025, the Rocket X 3 brought updates that emphasized smooth transitions, stable geometries, and propulsion in a lightweight package. Now, HOKA is bringing this light, supportive agility to the trails. 

The Rocket X Trail is a performance trail racing shoe with speed, control, and responsiveness inspired by road racing. Great for sub-ultra distances and longer fast efforts, the dual-layer ATPU superfoam midsole provides protective cushioning for long distances, with stability inherently derived from a wide net base. An H-shaped carbon fiber plate delivers propulsion without sacrificing control, while an aggressive rocker geometry keeps you moving forward. Zonal rubber in the outsole saves weight while offering protection, with 3mm lugs that are ideal for navigating gravel, smooth trails, and non-technical terrain. The shoe also has a lightweight mesh upper and a dynamic, stretchy vamp to achieve a race-like fit.

Fast, stable, lightweight, and approachable—we couldn’t wait to get these on our feet. But without further ado, let's see how the principles of Rocket X perform when they’re taken out on the trails!

Comfort

Easily the biggest surprise for us was just how comfortable this shoe is! The Rocket X Trail has the blend of softness and bounciness that we hope for in max cushion performance trail shoes. It’s unexpectedly lightweight, considering how much foam is beneath the foot, and strikes the ideal balance of underfoot comfort and bouncy energy assistance. The Rocket X Trail’s heel collar has just the right amount of padding, and it has a thin tongue with strategic padding in the crucial spot near the top. The upper is nicely thin, breathable, and lightweight enough for race day, yet tough enough to handle the outdoors. Although we didn’t get a chance to test these in very wet conditions, we get the impression that these shoes are non-absorbent and would drain and dry quickly.

Performance

Wowza, this feels impressive. We can definitely feel the super road shoe influence of the Rocket X 3, just lightly adjusted for the trails. It works so well for groomed trails and road sections, making it versatile and fun. For open and rolling terrain (as opposed to tight and twisty), the Rocket X Trail absolutely SINGS, and on Forest Service Roads it SLAYS. We could wear these for racing, but also find them comfortable enough for long and slower efforts. 

On the upper, we like that it is breathable and fits comfortably. However, one of our testers found that a lot of debris was able to get inside the shoe, creating a chafing effect during one of their runs. While we did not test these shoes with gaiters, we did want to note that the Rocket X Trail is gaiter attachment compatible, which could help avoid pesky debris for other runners. 

The Rocket X Trail is intended for smooth to mild and moderate trails. When we took these out on more technical trails, they did fine—we didn’t experience any major stability issues—but they were clearly a bit out of their element. There were a couple of balance checks where we experienced a quick tipping outward that we were able to correct in time. Those moments were mild to moderate, rather than severely concerning, but they were good reminders to stay ever-present and aware of our form and foot placement when landing

With optimal technique, and especially when keeping to the shoe's preferred terrain, the Rocket X Trail is a very fun and fast ride for low-technical trails, with a very noticeable feeling of performance boost. The weight-to-cushion ratio is great, which gave us a fast yet protective ride.

Fit

We love the fit of the Rocket X Trail. It has excellent midfoot and heel lockdown, with scalloped performance laces that stay in place. The clever web underlay in the upper provided just the right strength and security when lacing up firmly. This shoe fits true to length and width, with pretty good volume that will work for a variety of foot types.   

One of our testers noted that the subtle taper in the toe (as opposed to a more significant toe taper) let them stay quite comfortable throughout testing. It has a spacious forefoot for comfort over long miles, and enough room for wearing thicker socks. With narrow feet being able to achieve a secure lockdown, and higher volume feet having room to swell, the fit on the Rocket X Trail is approachable and race-day ready.