Hoka One One EVO Carbon Rocket Initial Runs Impressions Review: Explosive Power!

Article by Sam Winebaum

Hoka One One EVO Carbon Rocket  ($160)

Update: Read our full multi-tester review of the Carbon Rocket here.
The Carbon Rocket is Hoka's entry in the carbon plated race shoe arms race.
It weighs 7.55 oz 214 g for my US men's 8.5 so about 7.7 oz /  218 g for a US men's 9 and has a retail price of $160. It has a 26mm heel /25 mm forefoot not including the substantial 4mm Ortholite removable sock liner. It is available now. See shopping choices at the end of the article.

My first run featured a few slow miles in the New Hampshire cold at about 20 F / -6 C then 4 miles at 7:58 pace, so a moderately fast tempo for me. While I have been at altitude until yesterday and done all slower running on snow, I was shocked that my average heart rate  was notably low for the pace at 144 bpm.  The Rocket was very comfortable at slower paces, stable and in no way harsh.

My second run was 13.1 miles in a progression ending up with a 8:54 average. Conditions were at about freezing. I note the Rocket softened somewhat after a few miles. I suspect the rubberized foam outsole was what really softened. While the ride is firm, I ended up in no way beat up and finished with my fastest miles, near 8 minute pace. I appreciated the stability of the Rocket in the later miles and its consistent very strong response.

The next day on a slower 5 mile run, but in no way a slow slow run I had no soreness at all which surprised me but may be shouldn't have. Firmer well cushioned midsoles can help reduce leg fatigue as the muscles are not contracting to counteract softness.

At faster paces as in my first run, Rocket was truly explosive, highly responsive and very well if quite firmly cushioned (note feel likely influenced by the cold temperatures). This is not a bouncy ride (again more testing in warmer temperatures required) but a highly decisive one. Unlike the flexible and quite soft from its all rubberized foam midsole and very low stack  (17mm/13mm) race flat Rehi (RTR review), there was no mistaking Rocket for a Hoka, The Carbon Rocket has plenty of cushion with a distinct rocker effect highly magnified by the carbon fiber plate.

The sensation is unlike the Vaporfly where one feels a fall or drive forward to toe off from its softer Zoom X foam and carbon plate just above the outsole. Here the sensation is of barely touching the heel, no sinking or instability there and certainly no sense this is a 1mm drop shoe. Then a bit of a  rise felt at mid foot and then a rapid mid foot focused propulsion effect from the plate and finally a rocker type feel to toe off. The shoe is completely stiff and thus relies it seems on a combination of the the rocker geometry of the midsole/outsole and the carbon plate.

Carbon Plate
The 1mm thick carbon plate is full length and is visible through three windows: two at mid foot and one towards the heel. It is located 8mm above the yellow rubberized EVA outsole. According to Hoka, the plate is in the shape of a "fork"at the forefoot which gives it a bit of flexibility under the metatarsals where the foot is flexed and needs to produce a large amount of energy. The fork is also biased so that there is less of it, a bigger opening on the forefoot lateral side, to help supination at the end of stance. I sketched what I thought it might look like and Hoka said I was pretty close.

 

Astute readers will recognize that unlike the VaporFly 4%'s carbon plate here the plate is not continuous at the front and is placed flat just 8mm above the RMAT outsole so it does not curve down at mid foot as Vaporfly's does. The plate's run feel and energy, when combined with the 1mm drop is more concentrated at mid foot than in the VaporFly where the curvature of the plate gives more of a sense of falling forward to toe off.  The upcoming Skechers SpeedElite (RTR first run impressions) has an H shaped plate concentrated at the front of the shoe.

Ride
The ride was very well cushioned given the 26mm heel and 25 mm forefoot and on the firmer responsive side, again cold temperatures likely making the shoe firmer. For those tracking, it has as much forefoot stack as the Clifton at 25mm, and at a lighter weight, although the heel is lower in Rocket and for me far more stable. I ran the Tracer 1 and found its ride considerably harsher in comparison and without the very distinct propulsive effect of the carbon plate. I actually also prefer the ride so far to the similar weight Mach 2 (RTR review and also coming February) which while bouncy from all rubberized foam midsole outsole, while the Rocket only uses rubberized foam for the exposed outsole,  just doesn't have the snap and response of the Rocket or the forefoot cushion as there is 4mm less upfront in Mach 2.

EVO Carbon Rocket features a simple very ventilated engineered mesh upper with a race type fit and its a very comfortable one without any binding or pressures and an impeccable foot hold. There are no overlays beyond a smaller toe bumper.The Rocket has full heel counter.

The thinly padded tongue has 1.5 inch wide thin stretch panels connecting to the midsole on either side.  My first run was in medium thickness Stance socks and fit was true to size if a bit short and snug, particularly in the area of the little toe bunion so this is a quite narrow front of toe box. My second run was with "appropriate" thin Compressport Race socks and more comfortable with no bunion pressure. No question this is a race fit type upper and stuffing thick socks into them at true to size is not the way to go.

The midsole/outsole is comprised directly underfoot of Hoka ProFly dual density foam, softer at the heel for protection (white), firmer at the forefoot for propulsion (blue).  It is not called out as rubberized foam. This is the first ProFly midsole that really works for me. Is it the 1mm drop balancing the softer heel feel with firmer forefoot feel better or the considerable forefoot and heel stack with no drop to speak of?  Not sure but mint.

Then below ProFly we have the carbon plate and on the road the yellow durable rubberized foam. with strategic rubber patches in key wear locations.

Initial Conclusions
This is one heck of an explosive racer and for many it should also be a faster runs trainer. The response is just tremendous here. It clearly has enough cushion, stability, and dynamic personality for many runners up to a half and faster runners for a full. And it has great manners at slower paces as well. I am amazed this is actually a 1mm drop shoe, never would have guessed and I tend to heel strike, I would not hesitate to train any tempo run in them.

The carbon plate is beautifully placed in the mix of midsole and outsole so there is no harsh sense of "something there" at slower paces then when one picks up the pace the pop off at mid foot is uncanny in its power. Some may prefer a distinct flex point such as in Adios 4 or the drop forward approach with a curved carbon plate such as in Vaporfly to this more rocker oriented approach especially for longer races at slower paces. Those familiar with plates in shoes such as the Zoom Streak or GO Meb Speed should find the Rocket implementation far more elegant, effective, and less harsh.

I can say that I have been superstitious about racing in anything other than Vaporfly since 2017 up to the marathon with the exception of 5K to 5 miles in the Reebok Floatride Fast Pro or when I have a next short race the Skechers Speed Elite Hyper (RTR first impressions article) but no longer with the Rocket on scene. While the Rocket may be not be enough shoe for me for a marathon (3:40 or so) for a half (1:35-1:39) they will be on my feet for my next race.

Update: So I am now more than 40 miles in mostly all tempo paces in the Hoka Carbon Rocket and it continues to shine. Every run I have been able to do as had a progression of pace and easily. Earlier this week I did 10 miles n the Zoom Fly FK, a few seconds per mile overall faster overall than today's 15 miler and I was not able to pick up the pace the last miles, things got sloppy and I struggled. 

Today's run was 15 miles in 26 F weather finishing sub 8 for the last mile and smoothly after pretty much progressing to my marathon pace and beyond the second half. The overall stability and feel mile after mile is consistent, the plate providing rebound or pop just at the front of mid foot along with support. No leg or foot soreness during or after runs despite there being quite firm, from the plate I assume. 

The forefoot cushion and stability is particularly noticeable. I have found that they seem to perform best for me at near or a bit faster than 8:50 mile. Above 9 minutes they struggle a bit (as Vaporfly does for me in a different way with a soft heel feel as you need to engage the carbon lever quickly or you sink). Here the heel feels slightly lower at slower paces, but only really I think as I am aware they are 1mm, but faster than that there is no sense they are a 1mm drop shoe.  They have gotten a touch more flexible, flexing way back where the dual density ProfFly midsole changes. Next some fast stuff, or fast for slow old me! I am seriously considering them for Boston over Vaporfly given the hills and their stability.

Update: I ran my first race in the Carbon Rocket, the Old Fashioned 10 Mile in Foxboro, MA. I once (1970's) won a marathon there and forgot how hilly the back roads are there! It was my first road race of 2019 with the temperatures a pleasant if chilly mid to upper 20's, -3 C. My race was decent but not great, 7:49 pace, 4th in AG.  

As far as the Carbon Rocket I had no issues with low drop: no calf soreness, no cramps, etc... I do miss a bit more drop and may add a piece of insole to the heel. They are very stable if the pavement is smooth, not quite as good on uneven pavement as the on the ground platform is quite narrow. But they are for sure more stable than Vaporfly especially due to the fantastic upper. I wore slightly heavier ON Running socks and never thought about the upper.  
The ride is firm but very well cushioned. My legs never tired right to end and when things flattened out I was easily able to pick up the pace without getting stumbly.  If the race had continued to a half on flats I am sure I would have finished faster than I started. I found the stiffness not ideal on steeper climbs and descents.

Interestingly my pace, cadence 182 and stride length 1.14 meters was almost exactly the same as in my last half run in VaporFly FK (which is firmer than the very original Ice Blue Vaporfly.)  My heart rate average was also identical although I was 3 seconds per mile faster in that 2018 season ending half marathon.  That race was in Atkinson and also hilly and with similar temperatures. 

I think both shoes are best run on flatter type courses for me or at least ones where the hills are more gradual than these last two races. I would consider Boston more gradual than yesterday's hilly portions of the course.

The day after the 10 mile race zero soreness very reminiscent of the post race and next day leg condition of races run in Vaporfly.

Fellow Tester Dave Ames shares his Carbon Rocket first run impressions in our YouTube

Quick Comparisons
I have been a big Vaporfly fan for all distances. Here the toe off seems to rely on the mid foot and then the front rocker more than the curvature of the plate and softer foam as in VaporFly where there is more of a sense of falling forward to toe off. The feeling here is different. I do think the Vaporfly is likely easier on the legs.

The Rocket also reminds me in many ways of a more dynamic Kinvara 10  (RTR review) also a stable shoe with very decent forefoot cushion but the K shoe just doesn't have the Rocket's distinct pop and response or for that matter its cushion at the forefoot.

Compared to the lighter Skechers Razor 3 Hyper  (RTR review) , the lower drop Rocket actually has more effective drop for me as its heel doesn't compress as much, particularly at slower paces. I worry about the soft heel (lack of outsole rubber thickness I believe the cause) of the Razor in later miles of a race when back on the heels. The Razor cushion is completely different in feel, lighter and springy but without the dynamic rebound of the Rocket's carbon plate and denser midsole. Uppers are similar in fit with Razor slightly roomier at the toe box.

Compared to the Hoka Tracer the ride here is considerably more cushioned but also similarly on the firm side. The addition of the 8mm of rubberized foam to the outsole (vs more conventional rubber as the only  outsole and 2mm more overall stack at the heel and 5mm more at the forefoot is clearly felt in the Rocket leading to a much more comfortable ride with less harshness and more energy return from the plate.

I found my first run easier on the legs and less harsh than in the Adios 4 (RTR review) and Rocket easier to run faster and longer likely due to the superior forefoot cushion of the Rocket and the effect of the plate in the mix.

Read Sam's full run bio here

The product reviewed in this article provided at no cost. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

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