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Nike Vaporfly 3 Vs. Hoka Rocket X 2 Review: 2 Top Racing Sneakers Face Off

Which top-performing marathon shoe gives you your best chance of snagging that first place finish? We found out.

hoka rocket x 2 v nike vaporfly 3Ben Emminger

By Ben Emminger

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When it comes time to toe the starting line, you want your equipment to give you the best chance possible at success. That means gearing up with the proper apparel, accessories and (of course) footwear before that starting gun goes off. In this day and age, it seems every brand has a worthwhile racing shoe within their respective rotations … but few have garnered the same buzz as the Nike Vaporfly 3 and Hoka Rocket X 2.

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When looking at these premium silhouettes from two of running’s most trusted brands, it’s somewhat funny to see the dichotomy at play. While Nike’s profile earns its praise by building off past successes, Hoka’s silhouette serves as a newcomer in a discipline previous untouched by the brand.

So, what’s an athlete to do when two running shoes hold similar values when it comes to racing? Compare and contrast the competitive silhouettes, of course.

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Hoka Rocket X 2 vs. Nike Vaporfly 3: What We Think

I’ve been comparing and reviewing fitness gear for a while now, and this is one head-to-head where I can truly state there’s no true winner or loser. Both the Rocket X 2 and Vaporfly 3 racing shoes boast premium build qualities sure to help any athlete gain that much-needed boost on race day. It also helps that both silhouettes are priced similarly, so there’s no need to take budget constraints into the decision, either.

For my money and running style, I prefer the Vaporfly 3s thanks to their snappier response and lighter frame, but don’t think there isn’t room for the Rocket X 2 sneakers to take off every now and again. Hoka has created a damn fine racing shoe that’s more of a steady cruiser than a peppy pace setter. Engaging either sneaker for the sake of better split times is a breeze — it’s all a matter of how you want to run your race.

Pros

  • Great lockdown thanks to the internal midfoot cage
  • More resilient outsole that's sure to hold its own over multiple races

Cons

  • Less structured heel can lead to some slippage without the proper lacing setup
  • Less energy return and pop than other marathon running shoes of a similar build

Pros

  • Premium pop and responsiveness thanks to the ZoomX foam midsole
  • One of the lightest marathon-oriented profiles on the market

Cons

  • Flyknit upper, while breathable, doesn't lend itself to protection in inclement weather
  • Non-gusseted tongue can be tricky to secure at times

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

Step-in security is a little more present in the Vaporfly 3s

nike vaporfly 3
The more structured and padded makeup of the Vaporfly 3’s heel makes it a better fit and stable ride straight from the box.
Ben Emminger
hoka rocket x 2
The Rocket X 2 from Hoka, however, will require a lace lock lacing system to achieve a similar sense of security.
Ben Emminger

Both the Hoka and Nike racing shoes fit true to size, with ample lockdown across the top of the foot. I really appreciate the comfort and security experienced here, and the fact that there’s minimal fussing to be had to achieve such stability is a nice touch (you don’t want to be running out of your marathon shoes on first push-off, right?). That said, the Rocket X 2s do feature less of a structured heel, which can lead to slippage for some along the Achilles tendon.

I only noticed this a few times during longer training sessions, but the fact that the heel slip was noticeable at al is enough to call it out in this review. Now, correcting the issue with a simple lace lock was easily accomplishable … but I simply didn’t have the same experience with the Vaporfly 3s. The counter and more rigid nature of the heel component did more than enough to help me stay in the shoes, even at faster paces.

I do recommend most competitive racers employ a lace lock regardless of their shoe’s fit — it’s just a good safety net to have on the race course — but if you have to choose between a shoe that needs a lace lock and one that doesn’t, which are you ultimately going to go for?

The Rocket X 2s showcase a thicker rubber outsole, which promotes better longevity.

hoka rocket x 2
The thicker rubber placed along the outsole of the Hoka Rocket X 2 does add weight but helps bolster the racing shoe’s durability and longevity.
Ben Emminger
nike vaporfly 3 Ben Emminger

Okay, so marathon shoes aren’t intrinsically designed for the long haul. After all, you’re only supposed to be wearing these kicks for competition (and a handful of pre-race training sessions). With that being said, having a durable pair of racing sneakers can go a long way in preserving your investment.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with either the Vaporfly 3s or Rocket X 2s when it comes to durability, I did notice a heightened presence of rubber with the Hokas when it came to the outsole design. While this feature does add some weight to the build overall, it can be viewed in a positive nature when viewing this tech in terms of racing potential. More rubber along the outsole means the material is less likely to wear out after just a few wears. This can mean more races competed and more bang for your buck in the long run.

Sure, the lessened rubber along the Vaporfly 3 outsole is nice for weight cutting, which is always a consideration. But if you’re only getting a handful of runs in with your $250+ kicks before the tread wears out entirely, is it really a wise investment?

Both racing shoes deliver a responsive ride, albeit in differing fashions.

hoka rocket x 2 v nike vaporfly 3
Both the Hoka Rocket X 2 and Nike Vaporfly 3 deliver excellent energy return and responsiveness, but the quality of ride between the two is consdierable, depending on your racing style.
Ben Emminger
hoka rocket x 2 v nike vaporfly 3 Ben Emminger

There’s no denying the fact that both the Hoka Rocket X 2s and Nike Vaporfly 3s deliver on performance. I found both carbon plates easy to engage, and the ride of each quality racing shoe is something to behold. Naturally, though, there are some slight differences that are worth pointing out.

If you’re looking for that peppy, snappy experience underfoot, I would recommend the Vaporfly 3s. The integrated plate technology and bouncy ZoomX foam along the midsole practically flings you forward with every stride, greatly influencing your running mechanics for the sake of heightened speed.

The Rocket X 2s, on the other hand, have a nice sense of energy return, but thanks to the rockered geometry and less springy spoon-shaped plate, the return is a little more subdued. I view this Hoka silhouette as a great cruiser rather than a drag racer, and if you’re more inclined to space out your performance from mile 1 to mile 26, this can be a definite perk.

In the end, you really need to weigh your wants and needs when it comes to how you want your race experience to go. Do you want to aim for your best time yet and sprint more than keep with the crowd? My recommendation lies with the Vaporfly 3s. If you want to put down quality split times but want that performance maintained throughout the entirety of the course, the Rocket X 2s may be a safer bet.

Hoka Rocket X 2 Vs. Nike Vaporfly 3: Alternatives

As stated before, there’s no shortage of marathon-focused running shoes on the market, so if these two top-performing kicks don’t suit your needs, you have other options to choose from. One other silhouette I’ve grown to favor over the past year has been the Endorphin Elite from Saucony. This lightweight, responsive profile provides all the lockdown and energy return as these Nike and Hoka offerings, but admittedly, the geometry and rockered setup can take some getting used to if you’re not accustomed to the performance-minded silhouette.

You can also opt for the Alphafly 2 from Nike in place of these sneakers. This impressive kick has a laundry list of accomplishments and is more aligned with the “super shoe” aesthetic. But that performance is handcuffed by the segmented midsole design, which eliminates the chances of a quality mid-foot strike. If you tend to land at your mid-foot or heel, I would recommend forgoing this high octane specimen and dig a little deeper into the Vaporfly 3 or Rocket X 2, as both of these silhouettes are better equipped for a wider variety of foot strike patterns.

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