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Do you need a performance trail shoe? Maybe…maybe not, but it turns out the Tecton is pretty fun, which we learned with the second version. The Hoka Tecton X3 carbon plated trail shoe isn’t just for speed, it’s truly for function of runners that are out there DOING the hard things.
Last year a lot of us scoffed at the idea of putting carbon plates in a trail shoe. Then I took the Tecton X2 out and found myself really…really enjoying the shoe. Due to the tread, I also found it pretty easily when from road to trail, which is pretty common for Colorado Front Range running.
The Tecton X3 has had some upgrades, specifically around the lugs and cushion so it will now be part of my trail only rotation. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves! Let’s talk about the features, the specs and why this shoe is going to surprise a lot of you.
As always, I note that I am super honest in my reviews about what works, doesn’t work and of course I have preferences in shoes after 20+ years running and testing hundreds for trails, roads or treadmills! So take what seems most valuable to you from here and decide if it’s a shoe worth adding to your rotation.
Hoka Tecton X3 Review
I’m starting to feel mildly biased in my Hoka trail shoe reviews because I thoroughly enjoyed the Challenger, the Speedgoat 6 and now again the Tecton X3. Though, as you’ll see I had some minor gripes with it, much like I had a few things with the Mach X2 that put it in the category of “I like this, but not sure it’s a go to”.
Is this a trail racing shoe? Yes.
Is this an ultra running shoe? Yes.
Is this a great easy day running shoe too? Yes
In fact, this updated model was designed based on a protoype used by ultra running champ Jim Walmsley to win Western States and UTMB Mont Blanc. It’s not uncommon for elites to be running in a model that’s not quite what is on the market yet or slightly customized to them. In the case of road running, the shoe must be made available to the public which we’ve seen with On Running and Helen Obiri’s wins in shoes that were released.
This shoe is best for trail runners who are looking for moderate cushion, some speed, great grip to cover a variety of terrain and distances. It’s obviously a great race day option, but equally fun at a variety of paces.
There have been some big updates to this version of the shoe and I would say 95% are an improvement over the last model, which was already pretty good.
Let’s start with the most obvious update which is the gaiter design. For anyone who has run through sand, trails with lots of pebbles, or just deals with things getting in your shoes, you know how valuable that can be. The last thing you want to deal with while running 100 miles is stopping because something is in your shoe and you better or it will rub and create a new issue.
The upper is also extremely breathable. Trudging through water it feels like the shoe drains quickly, of course the gaiter material is thicker and will stay wet longer, but with wet socks it’s really not an issue.
Moving down to the midsole, you’ll find both a change to the foam and now there are 2 carbon plates.
The new plate design is referred to as ‘winglets”. These parallel plates in a trail shoe make the midsole and forefoot more flexible, so the foot is less rigid when moving over rocks and boulders. It’s also said this adds to stability, but as you’ll see in feel below I ran in to some stability issues.
As expected with a carbon-propulsion shoe it’s sandwiched between two layers of PEBA foam. The top layer provides that soft great cushioned feeling we are seeking, while the lower layer is firmer to allow the plate to do it’s work and protect from rocks.
And last, but certainly not least they revised the lugs.
As noted, I could use the older version for road to trail, but these 4mm deeper, larger lugs are all about providing traction for the trails. You can see based on the different position and size, Hoka is focused on making this a trail shoe that can handle it all.
Specifications
Just the facts…
The updates to the shoe have added to the overall weight, about 1.2 oz in the men’s. This is coming both from more foam, the gaiter and I believe the bigger lugs, so it’s a trade off in features for some weight.
Tecton X3 Fit
The first question I received when sharing these on Instagram was “how do you wear these with socks?” And I laughed so hard because I couldn’t think of what to say besides, I put on my socks and then the shoes, which immediately received a laughing response.
That being said, of course these are a little different to get on. I have big ol’ feet and it takes a second to get them in to the gaiter, but once on that melted away and the overall shoe fit was pretty similar to most other Hoka shoes.
It’s not narrow and not wide, it’s just right in the middle and lengthwise I always go with my standard size 11.
The spot where the gaiter connects to the shoe was an off and on concern for me. I didn’t end up with a blister, but I certainly felt like the shoe was breaking a bit around that point and digging in a little. It’s not a hard edge or anything like that, but again it’s one of those things that makes me hesitate when reaching for it.
And because of the gaiter, there are no back holes for lacing to do any kind of heel lock. Because the shoe does feel pretty roomie through the midsole and toebox, I actually think the heel lock would have been good.
It’s not so much your foot pulling out of the shoe, but just having the heel feel more locked in.
Tecton X3 Feel
We’ve talked all about the features, how the shoe fits, but what did it actually feel like on the trails?
I tried it on a different variety from 9,000 feet in the mountains with steep big rocky trails to dirt roads to a more rolling gravel path. And honestly, it performs on them all great.
While the extended heel and winglets do help with stability in a shoe with such a big stack height, I did still at times feel like my foot was rolling inward a bit unexpectedly.
Beyond that, I was a pretty happy camper with the underfoot feet. When I’d hit a patch of dirt road, I could feel the energy return to play with some speed, when I hit a rocky uphill section I knew the shoes were grabbing, when I did hit a small stream (and intentionally went in to it) the shoe drained and I didn’t really feel any blister concerns going forward.
The PEBA foam is lightweight, but absolutely gives that nice light bounce of cushion. Not overly plush that you sink in to, but cushioned enough that it felt really good for those longer miles.
Similar Shoes to the Tecton X3
Carbon plate trail shoes are becoming more common, so there are a few things out there that could be considered similar:
Who Will Like the Tecton X3?
Not sure if this is the trail shoe for you? Let’s look….
- Great for newer runners who might need a little stability
- Going to hold up well for super long trail days with both cushion and protection
- Solid cushion that feels good, but isn’t so soft it changes your foot strike
- Soft cushion that still allows for speed
- A shoe that feels stable, but is not a stability shoe
Honestly, you’ll see novice to advanced runners in this model because it really does check off so many boxes while remaining at a good price point.
Who Will Not Like the Tecton X3?
While this is a fun shoe, it’s got a high price tag and definitely isn’t meant for everyone.
- The look will be a turn off for many folks, I get it. We don’t all need a gaiter.
- It’s pricey, so if you don’t need a carbon plate…it’s debatable if you really need this shoe.
- If you need stability or arch support because of your foot rolling inward, this shoe isn’t going to provide it.
All right, I hope this Hoka Tecton X3 review helped you with making an informed trail running shoe choice!!
As always, we ask that you leave feedback if you’ve tried this model or a previous one! It’s absolutely helpful to get input from a variety of runners to help everyone with shoe decisions.
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