HOKA Skyward X vs HOKA Skyward X 2

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• Retrospective: a comfortable cushioned shoe that was too big, too heavy, and too expensive to earn a regular slot in his rotation.

  Ride:Comfortable and bouncy in retrospective wear-test, but heavy and clunky enough that Nick never made it a rotation mainstay; even on easy days it felt like 'a lot of shoe' under foot.

  — The Run Testers , source

• The biggest, most extreme stack on the list — bulky but really fun, with a plate that lets it pick up the pace better than the other max-stack shoes; a fan favorite of his channel.

  Ride:Massive 48mm stack with soft squishy PEBA + supercritical EVA, but the carbon plate adds enough stiffness to keep it stable and bouncy at marathon and half-marathon paces, unlike the squishier-only options on this list. Heaviest shoe Ben has ever tested.

  Fit:True to size with good lockdown.

  — Ben Parkes , source

• A genuine love-hate relationship after 266 miles and a marathon — Steve calls it one of his top 2-3 favorites of 2024 for effortless long miles, but the narrow stiff toe box hurts his feet and the outsole has worn faster than peers at the price point.

  Ride:Effortless protection — bounces along on PEBA + EVA + carbon plate without ever feeling the ground. Stiff through the toe box. Best go-to when legs are already beat up. Outsole has worn down faster than competitors at the same mileage on similar terrain.

  Fit:Stiff narrow toe box that aggravates bunions and width-sensitive feet — gets slightly wider with break-in but never fully resolves; foot soreness later in the day is a regular tradeoff. Hip wear-and-tear noted from Steve's tendency to supinate in this shoe.

  — Run Moore , 266 mi tested , source

• An expensive luxury cushion shoe that Ed sold on — the foam is good but the heft makes it strictly a recovery-day option, and even there he prefers the lighter Superblast 2.

  Ride:Cushion is nice but the carbon plate dictates a heel-to-toe rocker rather than letting the runner drive the shoe. The 5mm drop felt like an attempt to stabilize a very tall stack — Ed thinks 8mm with less midfoot foam would have made the shoe more aggressive. Far too heavy for him as a lighter-framed runner — strictly a recovery option in his rotation.

  Fit:Plush, padded tongue and heel collar; similar forefoot/heel widths to the Superblast 2.

  — EDDBUD , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• A much-improved version 2 that drops weight and softness for a firmer, more stable and runnable rolling ride; excellent for long runs and ultras but not a fast shoe, and held back by a narrow tapered forefoot.

  Ride:Tall, stable-neutral max-cushion ride that is firmer and snappier than expected from this much foam. Two foams: PEBA top over EVA base. Long forefoot rocker and heel bevel produce a rolling, efficient ride rather than a bouncy one. Zero flexibility. Wide platform with tall sidewalls keeps you centered. Foam held up identically over 100 miles.

  Fit:Snug fit that tapers and narrows significantly in the forefoot, making the shoe feel slightly short; took 70-80 miles to break in. Caused toe blistering on long runs. Reviewer between 10 and 10.5, considers sizing up a half size though that shifts the rocker apex. Midfoot opens wider and needs the laces locked down. Rounded heel counter that's still very stiff.

  In their words: "a really rolling ride" · "really rolls you forward" · "zero zero flexibility to this shoe" · "much better than version one"

  — Doctors of Running , 100 mi tested , source

• More of a comfort cruiser, not for picking up the pace, but very comfortable and fun for recovery and easy days.

  In their words: "more of a comfort cruiser" · "very comfortable, lots of fun"

  — Believe in the Run , source

• Skyward X 2 finally clarifies what the shoe is — a premium, bouncy, max-cushion daily/recovery shoe. Trimmed stack and new carbon framework let the PEBA layer breathe.

  Ride:Refined PEBA-to-supercritical-EVA ratio gives the v2 a softer, bouncier, more airy feel than v1. Carbon framework (not a full plate this year) keeps the soft materials stable without locking the PEBA down. Lost 1.4 oz vs v1 (9.7 oz men's 9). Speedier feel comes from the PEBA layer, not the plate. Walkers may prefer the firmer Bondi 9.

  Fit:Jacquard mesh upper, slightly thicker heel padding than v1, less plastic armor around the heel cup. True to size — same as v1; Kofuzi used men's 9 (his usual). Less padding overall than the Bondi 9 (which he sizes up half for); no sizing-up needed here.

  In their words: "refreshingly bouncy max cushion shoe" · "softer, but also more bouncy and airy" · "makes a lot more sense to me"

  — Kofuzi , source

• First-run impressions are very positive — the lighter, slimmed-down v2 keeps the bouncy big-stack feel while becoming more usable as an everyday cushioned trainer.

  Ride:Bouncy top PEBA layer with stable supercritical EVA base; smooth rocker; firms up slightly at faster paces. Notably smoother and nimbler than the v1 thanks to the ~25g weight drop.

  Fit:Typical narrow Hoka forefoot, tapers sharply; tongue is less padded than v1 and more breathable; secure heel with stiff internal counter.

  — The Run Testers , 5 mi tested , source