Hoka One One Rincon 4 Introduction
Back in 2019, before the Mach series became the powerhouse that it is today, the Rincon was the default, lightweight speed trainer in the Hoka lineup. The plated Mach X didn’t exist back then, so when you wanted to do your speed training, you reached for the Rincon. Those who found the Clifton/Bondi too heavy or too arch-intruding, used the Rincon as their daily trainer.
Since then, the Rincon has fallen out of favour at Hoka. Complaints of the Rincon’s short cushioning lifespan and rapid outsole degradation resulted in Hoka putting the Rincon on the back burner- this, in combination with the rise in popularity of the Mach series.
3 years ago, in 2021, the Rincon 3 was launched. It’s been 2 Rincon-less years since then. Now, Hoka has decided to bring the Rincon back. It’s no longer classified as a speed trainer but a lightweight daily trainer. The Mach 6 (which is now a Hoka bestseller) is still the flagship, plateless lightweight, speed trainer.
So why has Hoka decided to bring the Rincon back? It could be due to popular demand or it could be that because the latest version of the Mach (6th version) has changed so much, they want to offer a trainer which resembles the previous versions of the Mach, which were immensely popular.
The 2024 Rincon 4 is unrecognisable and it resembles the Mach 4/5 more than any previous Rincon version. The biggest change is that it now has a full-length, rubberised EVA outsole, similar to the Mach 4, 5 and Supersonic versions.
The Rincon 4 weighs 8 oz (227 g) in a men’s US 9. This is 0.6 oz (17 g) heavier than the Rincon 3. It has gained 3 extra mm of stack height in the heel and the forefoot. Its price has remained at $125 (the same as in 2021), which is an impressive feat.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 First Impressions
My first run was an easy 10K. At first, I thought that going true to size was a mistake because of how narrow the toe-box was but fortunately it gave me no issues. If I were to buy it again, I would go up a half size because I prefer a roomy fit.
The ride didn’t feel like any previous Rincon. It felt very familiar though and it reminded me of the Hoka Mach Supersonic. The ride was relatively firm (for Hoka) but buttery smooth.
It definitely felt like a lightweight, tempo trainer; not a daily trainer, like Hoka says, due to the firmness of the ride. It felt firmer than the Mach 6, Clifton 9 and the Mach X.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 Upper
The Rincon’s upper is a snug, speed fit. It has a very thin, engineered jacquard upper with outstanding airflow and it has ventilation holes across the toe-box for better breathability.
Unfortunately, the padded tongue is not gusseted but I didn’t notice any tongue slide thanks to the lace loop in the middle of the tongue that holds it in place.
There are reflective panels at the first 2 eyelets as well as on the top of the toe-box for low-light visibility.
The Rincon 4 has a very narrow forefoot and toe-box typical of Hokas, so most runners will need to go up a half size or get the wide version. It’s also a tad shorter in length than most running shoes. I don’t recommend it for wide feet.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 Sole Unit
The majority of the Rincon 4 reviews on the Hoka website are negative. Most people complain about the firm ride and the tight fit. They also say that the Rincon 4 is nothing like the Rincon 3.
I agree that the ride is firm but I don’t mind the firm ride. That’s what sets the Rincon 4 apart from the Mach 6 and the other trainers like the Clifton 9. This shoe is for runners who want something light and firm that feels fast. Hoka has plenty of other soft trainers to choose from.
Hoka states that it’s an injected EVA foam in the Rincon 4. This is one step down from the supercritical midsole of the Mach 6 which has more compression and more rebound. The Rincon 4 midsole is denser and doesn’t feel as lively or energetic as the Mach 6. The midsole does however feel more responsive than versions 1, 2 and 3 of the Rincon.
With 36 mm stack height in the heel and 31 mm in the forefoot, the Rincon 4 has substantial cushioning, however the stack heights feel much lower when you’re running in it due to its firm ride.
The longest run I did in the Rincon 4 was 38 kilometres. It had enough cushioning and the ride was stable enough however I would have preferred a shoe with a bigger forefoot rocker to make it feel more efficient. Hoka advertises that it has a MetaRocker but it’s not very prominent compared to their other trainers.
The Rincon 4 is best suited to short or middle distance runs however, if you’re used to firm rides, you could use it for long runs too. It feels most comfortable doing steady-paced runs. It’s too firm for easy/recovery runs while it lacks the energy return and speed assistance for tempo runs or anything faster. There’s no stiffening device in its midsole so it has a flexible forefoot with a natural ride.
The Rincon 4’s rubberised EVA outsole is twice the thickness of regular outsoles. This is necessary because of how fast it wears down. There is noticeable wear on my pair on the outer lateral heel areas.
If you’re hard on outsoles, and you want a shoe that lasts a long time, the Rincon 4 might not be the ideal shoe for you but I have noticed that the outsole wear isn’t as bad as versions 1, 2 and 3. Those versions had more midsole foam exposed on their outsoles.
As you’d expect from an outsole so smooth, traction is not very good on wet, smooth surfaces. Traction is fine on dry surfaces.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 Conclusions
While the Rincon 4 doesn’t have the fun factor that other modern, more energetic Hoka trainers have, its price is significantly lower and it has remained the same as 3 years ago, when most shoes have increased in price. At only $125, the Rincon 4 represents great value and it doesn’t feel like a budget trainer.
The firm ride and weight increase might be off-putting for runners who were fans of the previous Rincon versions. Its upper is also less accommodating. It does however feel more responsive and more polished than previous versions so in my opinion, it’s the best Rincon to date. It feels more like previous versions of the Mach than previous versions of the Rincon.
At only 8 oz (227 g), the Rincon 4 is super light for a daily trainer. It’s lighter than the Clifton 9, Mach 6 and a lot lighter than the Skyflow and Bondi. This makes it feel nimbler than most of Hoka’s behemoth trainers.
