Hoka Tecton X 3 Review
The Hoka Tecton X 3 is a carbon-plated trail running shoe designed to offer sufficient underfoot protection for ultra-trail races. The cushioning is soft and responsive, and the carbon plates provide the Tecton X 3 with some propulsion.
The Hoka Tecton X 3 is significantly different from its previous versions. While it remains designed for use in ultra-trail races on hard-packed trails, the fit and feel of the Tecton X 3 are notably distinct from its predecessors. The first noticeable change is the integrated booty in the upper, designed to prevent debris from entering the shoes. This feature, used by La Sportiva for several years, is now appearing in other brands’ shoes. The upper of the Tecton X 3 fits like a sock, with the shoe being pulled on over your socks before being tightened with laces. The cuff is very stretchy, and I had no issues putting the shoes on. The cuff is made of a very soft, woven material with an open weave under the laces to help the shoe breathe and prevent your feet from becoming too warm. Below the cuff, the upper is made of a very durable Matryx material, which is highly resistant to abrasion and wear. The Matryx upper is also hydrophobic, which helps prevent water absorption and reduces the likelihood of water entering the shoe.
The fit is the classic Hoka narrow fit. The big toe line is straight to aid in a positive push-off, but there isn’t much room in the toe box. If you’re comfortable with the regular Hoka fit, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you use a wide fit in Hoka or prefer more room for your toes to spread, the Tecton X 3 may feel a bit too snug.
There is no plastic heel cup, but the Matryx material offers some rigidity to help the upper maintain its shape. The heel cuff features two sections of padding on the inside and outside of the heel, designed to fit under the ankle and prevent heel slippage. This construction is similar to that of the Hoka Mach X 2. The advantage of this fit is that the shoe adapts to the shape of your heel, providing a more customized fit. However, it doesn’t offer the locked-in feel that you might be used to in other shoes. When laced up, the Tecton X 3 secures your feet, though your heels won’t feel squeezed by the heel cup. Instead, when the laces are tightened, the entire upper snugly wraps around the foot, providing a secure, locked-in fit. I experienced no heel lift and didn’t slip forward in the shoes on steep descents. Despite the shoe’s narrowness, my feet felt free to function inside the shoes. When contouring, I did feel some movement inside the shoes, but the flexible and soft midsole absorbed the impact, preventing any issues.
The midsole consists of two layers of Peba foam sandwiching two carbon plates that run side by side from the heel to the forefoot. The Peba foam is very soft and bouncy. To prevent the shoes from feeling too unstable, the carbon plates are broader at the heel and have wings that offer stability. The stack height for men is 40mm at the heel and 35mm in the forefoot, while for women, it’s 39mm and 34mm, respectively. Although this is a relatively high stack height, you don’t notice it as much as in other shoes, partly due to the softness of the midsole. Even when standing, you feel like you sink into the midsole. Additionally, the midsole’s medial and lateral flex ensures you don’t feel like you’re wearing a shoe with a large, broad midsole. Despite its Hoka DNA, the Tecton X 3 offers stability by guiding your foot through the gait cycle. The midsole is broader than your foot at the forefoot, midfoot, and heel, further enhancing stability.
The 5mm heel-to-forefoot drop encourages a more midfoot landing, which helps load the carbon plates and provides additional propulsion. The midsole is curved, creating a rocker shape that reduces the stance phase by keeping your foot moving when it touches the ground. This promotes a more upright running posture, making the runner lighter on their feet with a quicker cadence. Running with good posture distributes the workload among all the running muscles, reducing stress on the body and delaying fatigue.
The outsole is made from Vibram MegaGrip Litebase, a rubber designed to grip both wet and dry surfaces while offering high durability. The rubber isn’t as durable as that on road-running shoes, so if you use the Tecton X 3 too much on tarmac, the outsole will show signs of wear. However, it is suitable for mixed trail use. When running on tarmac, I noticed a clip-clopping sound, similar to that of VJ’s trail running shoes or Icebug’s trail running shoes on tarmac. Both of these shoes have outsoles that offer a similar sticky grip with comparable durability. The lugs are 4mm long and flat, providing enough bite on softer ground while maintaining a good amount of surface area contact on harder, smoother surfaces.
Although the Tecton X 3 isn’t stiff and clunky, it is best used on firmer tracks and trails. The shoe’s wide base and soft, bouncy midsole reduce ground feel, which is important on more uneven terrain. However, I found it more versatile than previous versions. The grip was much better on soft ground, and the more flexible midsole allowed the shoe to absorb more of the trail’s irregularities, resulting in a smoother ride.
While the Peba midsole and carbon plates provide some propulsion, the rocker shape and overall design of the Tecton X 3 are tailored for ultra-trail races. These shoes aren’t meant for shorter races where a nimble, fast-feeling shoe is required. The Tecton X 3 is designed to keep you moving quickly when tired, rather than to speed you up.
Hoka has spent a long time developing the Tecton X 3. The prototype was worn by Jim Walmsley to win the UTMB 2023 and Western States 2024 before Hoka employee and shoe designer Vincent Bouillard used the Tecton X 3—a shoe he helped design—to win UTMB in 2024. Although they are designed to be a race day shoe, I believe many runners will find them comfortable enough for weekly long runs, not just the occasional ultra race.
The Men’s UK 8 weighs 283 grams, and the Women’s UK 5 weighs 224 grams. This is light, especially considering the weight includes a built-in gaiter. Hoka shoes are similar in length to New Balance, Karhu, La Sportiva, and Inov-8. If you wear Brooks, Saucony, Scarpa, Topo, or Altra, it’s recommended to try half a UK size smaller in Hoka. Hoka’s tend to be on the narrow side, and the Tecton X 3 is no exception.
In summary, the Hoka Tecton X 3 is a great choice for a combo of good cushioning and propulsion during ultra-trail races.
Other Considerations
Altra Mont Blanc Carbon: Like all Altra shoes the Mont Blanc Carbon has a broad rounded toe box designed to give your feet the room to spread on impact and function inside the shoes. This helps run with a good posture and reduces how much your feet swell during long runs. The carbon plate is so flexible that you don’t notice it in the shoes. This gives the Mont Blanc Carbon a much more natural feel. Like the Hoka Tecton X 3 they are suitable to Ultra Trail races and runs. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-mont-blanc-carbon-review/
Brooks Catamount 3: These are a plated shoe designed for running quickly in. They don’t have the same level of cushioning as the Tecton X 3 but, feel nimbler and zippier. So, could be a better option if you are looking for a trail shoe with some propulsion for races under a half marathon distance. Alternatively if you prefer to have more of a feel for the ground then these shoes could be used for longer races too. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-catamount-3-review/
Nnormal Kjerag: The Nnormal Kjerag isn’t a plated trail running shoe but, is Nnormal shoes for all distances and speeds. The ride is firm and response with a bit of bounce. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-kjerag-review/
VJ Lightspeed: Like the Brooks Catamount 3 the VJ Lightspeed is designed for moving fast on the trails over short distances. The caster oil plate gives some propulsion and protects the foot from rocks and thorns. The fit is snug and the shoes have a very nimble feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-sport-lightspeed-review/
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