HOKA - Rocket X 2

Hoka Mach 6 are a good fast/fun long run shoe, I also use them for speed work. They seem like they offer more durability than the carbon plated shoes I keep my Hoka Rocket X 2 for races

For me it’s Hoka Mach x2/Rocket x 2 the shoes are very similar.

I set my PB on the Hoka Rocket X2! Hoka’s could be used for marathon as well (did 36K long run on them yesterday)!

I have the Takumi Sen 10 and while I have shoes I like better (Hoka Rocket X2), my PB on the 10K is in the TS10s.

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 & Hoka Rocket X2 or X3 are the some of the most stable carbon shoes out. I have the Endorphin Pro 3 and love them as someone who usually runs in stability or stable neutral shoes. Otherwise the Asics Superblast are another pair of shoes I like, they arent carbon plated but they are still fast and fairly stable for a huge stack of race foam

* Easy/Recovery: Hoka Skyflow (52 mi) - Honestly, not my favorite shoe, but I bought them so I'll keep using them. It's probably back to my trusty Rincons after these are done. * Speed: Hoka Mach X (224 mi) - Still one of my favorites, especially for tempo runs. * Speed: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (225 mi) - The original speed was one of the first shoes I fell in love with, and this shoe has different mechanics from the Mach X. * Long/Race: New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 (190 mi/19mi) - I have two pairs. One that I've done all of my long marathon training runs in, and the new pair that I'm using for Philly this weekend and then Love Run in March. I wanted something wider and cushioned enough for longer runs, and while these aren't the fastest supershoes I've ever used, they're certainly reliable enough for 26.2. Ideally I'll replace them with the Cielo X1 3 when they're released. * Race: Hoka Rocket X 2 (146 mi) - I think these have one more race in them and then they'll be relegated to training. I adore this shoe and have to decide if I grab another pair or go with the 3 when I replace them. Also in my closet but not currently in use: * Brooks Ghost 15 (136 mi) - These feel like having a 2x4 strapped to your foot. They really ruined the shoe with this model and it's made me hesitant to try Brooks again. * Hoka Clifton 9 (153 mi) - I like the Clifton, they're just not ones I reach for on a regular basis. * Hoka Mach 5 (153 mi) - I bought these because of the hype around them, which I ended up not agreeing with. They're "fine" enough. * Hoka Skyward X (113 mi) - I've tried on and off to use these, but they make my peroneal tendonitis flare up. * New Balance More v4 (155 mi) - Another shoe that was overhyped for me. They never felt as "plush" as others talked about. * Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 (65 mi) - I bought these to use for my half marathon last year because of how much I loved the previous version. I strongly dislike this as a half/full marathon shoe because of the firmness, and it's not comfortable over 9 miles, to the point where I ended up using my almost-dead 3s for the race. They don't have a place in my rotation because the Rocket is a more aggressive shoe over the 5K/10K distance. I may end up using them for speed work when my current speed shoes are done.

I'm in that pace range and wore the Hoka Rocket X2 for my half marathon last weekend (building up to a Philly in a few weeks) and they felt so comfortable! I've worn the ASICS Metaspeed Sky for a 5k and 10k and it felt much more aggressive and less stable, and although it helped me go faster I didn't feel like I was really running in "my" shoes, I felt like I was rocking along on something that was technically good but almost intimidating! The Hokas felt almost as comfortable as the shoes I train in but a bit more race-y. So I haven't yet worn them for a full marathon but I'm feeling confident.

I can highly recommend the Hoka Rocket X2 and X3. I ran two half marathons and two medium marathons in them last year. I have stability problems with my left ankle because I've torn all the ligaments in it three times playing soccer.

As a note, the Cielo x1 2.0 has a massive cutout on the medial side of the mid/outsole. It’s a great shoe with an aggressive rocker, but it’s likely going to be more squirrelly than the EVO SL and Neo Vista. If you want something more firm/stable and in line with the SB2, the Cielo x1 2.0 is not that at all. If you can find v1, it’s closer. And v3 might be an option, but I wouldn’t choose v2 for your use case. If you want to try Hoka, rocket x2 or 3 would be closer (3 has a more aggressive rocker). If you’re looking for something on sale, endorphin pro 4 is on markdown and it’s fairly stable (and not particularly soft). Megablast may also work - although it’s not “poppy” and it’s not cheap.

Hoka Rocket x2 is very stable supershoe, if not the most stable of them all.

I really like my X2’s for fast sessions and shorter paces. They don’t keep my right ankle’s pronation in place very well but over the shorter distances it’s not really an issue.