When Jim Walmsley obliterated the previous record on the UTMB course last summer, the question on everyone's lips was: what shoes was he wearing?
At the time, all we knew was that he was wearing Hoka prototypes, which later turned out to be two different semi-custom variations of the Hoka Tecton X 2. This August, it looks like we'll finally get to see the results of testing by pros like Walmsley (as well as Katharina Hartmuth, Fu-Zhao Xiang, Ludovic Pommeret and Thibaut Garrivier who tested prototypes at the same race) with the much-anticipated launch of the Hoka Tecton X 3.
Details of the new model have been released and compared to previous iterations, it looks like an entirely new shoe. We reviewed the Hoka Tecton X back in the summer of 2022 and found it to be super light trail shoe with plenty of cushioning designed for speed.
The Tecton X 3 has gone all in on stability, grip and protection. The California-based brand is infamous for its plush, maximalist approach to midsoles and while this clearly works for Walmsley, it leaves many of us a little afraid about twisted ankles on rough trails.
The X 3 still features a mighty stack, plus a rocker sole, but the brand says they've repositioned the two carbon plates and added winglets to improve stability and responsiveness. The plates are sandwiched between one soft and one firm layer of EVA foam for that bouncy ride you expect from Hoka, and are meant to ensure comfort over long distances to keep ultra runners happy.
Meanwhile, redesigned lug shapes and the addition of Vibram Megagrip and Vibram Litebase to the outsole are all intended to help you stick to the trails on those muddy or crumbly descents whilst reducing the overall weight of the shoe.
Finally, the update that stands out the most is the addition of what they call a " gaiter-like tongue/collar design" which is essentially an ankle cuff to keep debris out and make the shoe look more like a boot. We're curious to test these shoes out on the trail and see how the whole setup works with running socks.
If the updates work as planned, the Tecton X 3 looks like it's built for both speed and distance, making it a more versatile shoe than its predecessors. We're looking forward to seeing more ultra runners tearing down the trail in these futuristic-looking trail running shoes this fall.
