The HOKA Tecton X 2 is the new update to arguably one of the best trail running shoes, so it has a lot to live up to. Like its predecessor, it features a duel carbon fiber plate and is designed for running fast over the trails.
It comes in a little heavier than the first edition at 211g in the women’s shoe versions 196g for the previous model, and is £10 more expensive. Is the extra weight and price tag worth it? Let’s find out.
HOKA Tecton X 2 technical details
Weight: 211g (women’s)
Drop: 5mm
Lugs: 4mm
Price: £185
Sizes: 3.5 to 9.5 (UK women’s)
Special technology: Parallel carbon fiber plates
HOKA Tecton X 2 pros and cons
pros
- great propulsion
- Comfortable, cushioned landing
- excellent grip
cons
- Snug fit not for everyone
Who is this shoe for?
This is a trail shoe aimed at racing. It’s a carbon plated shoe, with a meta-rocker and HOKA’s Profly-X foam; all elements that are there to help you move over trail quickly. It’s aimed at longer distance trail races up to ultra marathon.
How does the shoe fit?
The HOKA Tecton X 2 was true to size in my UK size 6 in terms of length. They are a snug fit though, so may not suit runners with wider feet or who prefer a bit of wriggle room. However, my foot felt secure in the shoe with no slipping and I found the fit worked well for running fast over trails.
Is it comfortable?
The Profly-X foam gives a nice, cushioned landing even on hard trails and road. The sole hasn’t changed much from the original HOKA Tecton X, so if you were a fan of that it’s a similar experience underfoot – similar, in fact, to a lot of HOKA running shoes. The changes for this second edition are in the upper which has been redesigned and now has ‘hydrophobic’ properties – basically it repels water.
HOKA Tecton X 2 running review
Trail running can encompass a very broad spectrum of terrain, so I set off aiming to cover as many different variations as I could in a seven mile run. Yep, I ran seven miles in them straight out the box which was a bold move, but I’ve been running in the previous model for the past year so I was confident I wouldn’t have any issues. Spoiler: the new model were absolutely fine.
My route took me through some woods, along light gravel paths, hard baked mud and grassy river paths. I felt secure in the shoe with the fit really hugging my foot and not budging. The grip provided by those 4mm Vibram lugs was brilliant and the cushioning on those harder surfaces made them a dream to run in.
It’s difficult to judge the propulsion of a carbon plate on rough ground. However, my route also took me along a short section of road and that’s when I could really assess it. There was a good amount of spring in each step that helped my tired legs pick up the pace.
These aren’t marketed as a road-to-trail shoe, they’re very much a trail shoe. However I did find that they handled the road sections well and I would happily run in these on a mixed route. The only caveat to that is that we haven’t had any rain recently so I didn’t get to test them in the wet.
All in all, these are a great option for trail races and is up there with some of the best running shoes. Having run cross country races and a trail relay in the first edition, I’ll gladly replace those with version 2. But, if you want to save yourself some cash, you can pick up the first edition heavily discounted now.
Where can I buy it?
The HOKA Tecton X 2 is available directly from the HOKA website.
