A lightweight, bouncy carbon-plated trail shoe built for long-distance racing and less technical terrain, though reviewers flag inconsistent sizing and a soft upper that compromises lockdown on technical ground.
Zippier and more energetic than the Cascadia Elite with great underfoot stability from the split plate, but the too-soft upper compromises lockdown on technical terrain.
Best for: Race day ultras on less technical terrain where zip matters more than lockdown
A premium carbon-plated trail shoe that exceeds the hype — light, bouncy, and capable enough to replace the reviewer's beloved Mafate Speed 4 as his go-to trail shoe, with the main drawbacks being sizing inconsistency and a $275 price.
Best for: Long-distance trail racing and ultra marathons, but premium enough that the reviewer plans to use it as a daily trail trainer.
Best for: Buffed-out trails and trail races with road sections rather than highly technical terrain; possibly too much shoe for a 10K, 10-mile, or half marathon trail race.
An awesome, comfortable, fast, and grippy carbon-plated trail shoe with impressive build quality, but the $275 price tag and weak lacing/heel lockdown make it hard to justify — a 'try' rather than a 'buy'.
Best for: Runners wanting an elite-level carbon-plated trail shoe with plenty of cushioning and grip, if they can justify the price.
A lightweight, bouncy carbon-plated trail shoe built for long-distance racing and less technical terrain, though reviewers flag inconsistent sizing and a soft upper that compromises lockdown on technical ground.
Reviewers note: Upper felt a little loose around the collar; reviewer was swimming in them and would go a half size down or wear thicker socks next time.
Per Seth James DeMoor.
The HOKA Tecton X 3 weighs about 275g (men's 9), has a 40.0mm heel stack and a 5.0mm heel-toe drop.
Reviewers compare the HOKA Tecton X 3 to HOKA Tecton X1, Hoka Mafate Speed 4, Hoka Tecton X 2, The North Face Vectiv Pro.
Per Seth James DeMoor, Run Moore, The Ginger Runner, Believe in the Run.
Next Pair aggregates 4 expert reviews of the HOKA Tecton X 3, including Seth James DeMoor, Run Moore, The Ginger Runner.
Per Seth James DeMoor, Run Moore, The Ginger Runner.
Compared to other trail ultra in the same lane.
