A Shoe to Take You Far and Quick – iRunFar

Wanting across the begin line of practically any ultramarathon on the earth, it turns into abundantly clear that the model HOKA has created a line of sneakers cherished by these seeking to run lengthy distances within the mountains. It’s additionally truthful to say that the brand new HOKA Tecton X 3 has come a great distance because the model launched its first shoe in 2009, the HOKA Mafate — a shoe that arguably popularized maximal cushioning in a path working world that was obsessive about minimalism on the time. How issues have modified prior to now 15 years!

The third version of this carbon-plated high-performance path shoe acquired some distinctive upgrades over the HOKA Tecton X 2, some presumably coming from suggestions from HOKA athlete Jim Walmsley, who’s a self-proclaimed fan of the built-in gaiter. Different upgrades on this shoe embody a brand new midsole foam, a change within the design of the twin carbon plates, and up to date lugs.

The unique HOKA Tecton X, launched in mid-2022, was one of many first carbon-plated path sneakers to return available on the market. The revolutionary dual-plate design was impressed by the motion of the tectonic plates within the earth’s crust, and supposed to harness the propulsive energy of carbon plates whereas addressing the problem of their lateral stiffness — which was high-quality for highway working, however posed stability points on the path. The 2 plates, which might transfer considerably independently of one another, allowed the shoe to deal with uneven terrain.

Whereas the brand new HOKA Tecton X 3 maintains the core concept of utilizing dual-carbon plates to create an lively race shoe that may carry out on the paths, updates make it a higher-performing shoe than both of its predecessors. Following, we’ll check out the specs of shoe, just a few of the modifications that make an enormous distinction, and what it’s wish to run with them on mountain trails.

HOKA Tecton X 3 Fundamental Specs

Let’s check out the specifics of the HOKA Tecton X 3.

• Precise Weight: 265 grams (9.3 ounces) for U.S. males’s 9
• Drop: 5 millimeters
• Stack Peak: 40/35 millimeters heel/toe
• Higher Materials: Matryx textile with overlays bonded easily right into a knit built-in gaiter
• Lacing System: Ghillie lace building
• Tongue: Extension of Matryx textile higher, which is related to the higher from the gaiter to the tip of the laces to maintain errant path particles from working its approach into the shoe
• Midsole: Two layers of premium PEBA foam sandwich parallel carbon plates with winglets that present further lateral stability
• Outsole: Vibram Megagrip Litebase with deeper and extra aggressive Traction Lugs than earlier variations of the shoe

Particular Options of the HOKA Tecton X 3

A number of key modifications to this shoe proceed to push the envelope of carbon-plated path shoe efficiency. When individuals first noticed Jim Walmsley working in a mysterious model of this shoe at UTMB in 2023, it was practically universally assumed that one thing related would come to market. On the 2024 Western States 100, HOKA launched a restricted variety of the HOKA Tecton X 2.5 on the market, which was basically a one-off of the shoe line, they usually bought out instantly.

What can solely be referred to as a sibling shoe to the Tecton X 2.5, the Tecton X 3 has arrived as a path shoe designed to go actually quick on reasonably technical terrain for a very long time. The beneficiant stack top ought to present ample safety, the Matryx higher is presupposed to be sturdy and breathable, and the up to date outsole seems to be to supply nice grip with new Traction Lugs in an aggressive design.

Constructed-In Gaiter

The largest visible change within the HOKA Tecton X 3 is the addition of a built-in knit gaiter. This most probably got here from Jim Walmsley wanting a shoe that he might run in over any sort of terrain with out worrying about particles in his sneakers. For path runners who hate the seemingly common inside debate on whether or not to cease and take off a shoe to take away an offending pebble, or simply attempt to transfer it to a distinct a part of the shoe in order that it’s not as annoying, the gaiter will probably be a welcome addition.

The gaiter extends over and hugs the ankle. It additionally extends because the shoe’s tongue, reaching all the way in which all the way down to the tip of the laces. This sealed system appears to stop rocks and pebbles from working their approach into the shoe. The gaiter transitions seamlessly into the ankle collar of the shoe to maintain materials from bunching up and creating scorching spots.

The Matryx higher was launched to the shoe line with the Tecton X 2. This materials wraps every nylon thread in a polyurethane-coated polyester as an alternative of simply coating the ultimate knit materials on the floor. The coating is hydrophobic, which ought to hold some stage of moisture out, whereas retaining the higher sturdy and breathable.

Twin-Layer PEBA Foam Midsole

HOKA has created a brand new midsole made solely with premium PEBA foam. Whereas earlier variations of this shoe used dual-density EVA foam for the midsole, which the model dubbed ProFlyX, the Tecton X 3 makes use of a dual-layer PEBA foam as an alternative. The brand new foam is lighter and extra responsive than ProFlyX EVA foam, and is utilized in different high-performance HOKA sneakers, together with the HOKA Rocket X 2. When in comparison with the ProFlyX foam, which has a popularity for sturdiness, the brand new shoe is considerably extra responsive.

Whereas the general shoe weight is a mere seven grams lighter than the predecessor, the midsole weight have to be considerably lighter, given the extra weight of the gaiter.

The 40-millimeter stack top, which is slighty greater than the HOKA Tecton X 2, positions this shoe firmly within the maximally cushioned class. What the shoe might lack in floor really feel resulting from that stack top, it would hopefully make up for in consolation. On the subject of lengthy distances, a mixture of each cushion and propulsive energy is ideal.

Carbon Plate Winglets

Whereas the essential design of the twin carbon plates stays the identical as in older variations of the shoe, the addition of two small and practically vertical wings on the skin of the foot, simply again from the midfoot, provides further stability to the shoe. Whereas a small addition, the winglets cut back lateral movement within the rear of the shoe and supply extra management over technical terrain. The carbon plates improve the propulsive power of the shoe, and their skill to maneuver semi-independently of one another permits them to deal with technical terrain with out making the shoe really feel tippy.

Outsole Updates

The outsole of the HOKA Tecton X 3 considerably differs from prior shoe variations. The Vibram Megagrip Litebase building is well-known and well-loved within the path working world and a staple in HOKA shoe strains. The Megagrip rubber grips effectively on quite a lot of surfaces, each moist and dry, tough and easy, and the Litebase building solely places rubber the place it’s wanted, shaving weight with out compromising on efficiency. The Litebase building additionally reduces the general thickness of the rubber, resulting in a fair higher weight discount.

As you possibly can see within the photos under, outsole protection will increase within the HOKA Tecton X 3 in comparison with the Tecton X 2, specifically within the midfoot space.

For this shoe, HOKA has additionally added their Traction Lugs. These aren’t solely formed and positioned in another way than the lugs on prior Tecton X variations, however additionally they have added rubber dots round their perimeter, which provides extra floor space to every lug and due to this fact theoretically will increase their grip. Traction Lugs are at present additionally used on the HOKA Speedgoat line of sneakers, together with the HOKA Speedgoat 6.

They’ve additionally made the 4-millimeter lugs a millimeter deeper than the earlier variations, now 5 millimeters tall, which can not look like a lot at first look, however is a 25% improve. When mixed with the brand new outsole protection and lug design, the general improve within the aggressiveness of the outsole ought to really feel noticeable. When in comparison with the prior version, this outsole ought to present improved grip on uphills, and higher braking energy on the downhills with reverse lugs close to the heel.

Operating within the HOKA Tecton X 3

Members of the iRunFar gear check crew are placing the HOKA Tecton X 3 by means of the paces now. Amongst our crew, Bryon Powell, iRunFar’s founding editor, took the HOKA Tecton X 3 out for a primary run on the native trails and dust roads round Silverton, Colorado. HOKA has developed a popularity for creating sneakers that run effectively out of the field, and this shoe isn’t any totally different.

Whereas initially, it could appear that placing the on the shoe with its gaiter might flip right into a wrestling match, they slip on simply — extra simply than some other shoe with a built-in gaiter system. And as soon as on, the gaiter stays cosy across the ankle with none sort of bunching or slipping.

It is a shoe that appears to nail the mix between cushion and responsiveness. Whereas the beneficiant PEBA foam midsole gives loads of cushioning to guard your ft because the miles rack up, there’s not a sensation of working on marshmallows or different overly squishy supplies. It’s a shoe able to go lengthy distances the second the Vibram Megagrip outsole hits the dust.

The newly upgraded outsole with its Traction Lugs are a welcome addition for many who frequent rocky and free trails — like these round Silverton. The shoe grips on the rocks, however the lugs aren’t so overbearing that they make the little bit of pavement and dust highway working to the paths disagreeable.

Total, it is a shoe designed to go the space — and to do it quick.

[Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored by HOKA. Thank you to HOKA for its sponsorship of iRunFar, which helps to make iRunFar happen and free for all to enjoy. Learn more about our sponsored articles.]