Customer Reviews Hoka Carbon X 3

I was excited by the light carbon design, but found the shoes much too small in the toe box. Had to return. Carbon plating is often for us older runners who have destroyed our feet over the miles- so room is needed in the toe box for bunions and hammer toes.

I have ran in several models of Hoka (Tracer, Clifton, Rincon, Mach, Carbon X and Speedgoat) and the Carbon X3 is the only model I would ever consider giving a negative review. Under the foot is outstanding, as usual, and the only reason this is not a 1-star review. However, the sock-style upper is a complete miss. Without a tongue, the upper folds over on itself, creating pressure points on top of the foot. Also, with this upper, there is no way to adjust lacing to get a good heel lock. These issues make the shoe fit like a pair of baggy jeans. Like another reviewer said, I'm buying up Carbon X2 models to (hopefully) get me to the X4 model with the hope that they move away from the sock-style upper.

Can not "slip into" this shoe. Shoe horn required.

I was very hopeful that these carbon plated running shoes would exceed my expectations compared to my BarbonX2's, but I didn't;t feel that way and returned them. I'm sure they are great shoes for some runners, but not for me.

Couldn't even try it on cause entrance too small for my foot. It's like a sock design, unfortunately opening doesn't stretch. Otherwise shoes looks really good.

Wore them twice and they hurt my feet both times, might need to return for different model :(

i was trying to get something like the Bondi 6 that I purchased 6 years ago and I'm still wearing. I did not like this shoe at all. In my opinion you make too many different shoes. You keep me confused.

I got this shoe at a discount. I thought there were nothing to complain for the sake of the price. It turns out I was wrong. I have a clifton 9 and I always hold faith to Hoka. I went for a track running at the day I received the shoes, wearing it for 40minutes, and started to feel strange near me ankle. I had a picture for this(with some of my blood although) and apparently there is a hard rise-up near the lining, which is scratching my skin all the time. And despite the quality assurance issue, i think for a racing shoe it is just average. With a carbon plate but not even as responsive as those without one. I would only recommend it if you really want to try a carbon at limited budget. Otherwise there are better options.

Shocked with the poor quality. Initially thought it was the creased up sock after the second run, then realized that the carbon plate had actually cracked near the ball of the foot.

I thought I bought a pair of light blue shoes, but it came with red on one side (blue the other). They look like freaking bowling shoes. I sent them back would of loved the solid blue style

This shoe was used for daily walking. Not running, walking. The shoe is now useless after 142 miles. 12 days later, needs to be replaced.

My heel kept on slipping out, I've tried it with different socks. At one point I had minimal slippage but the top of my foot was hurting from it being too tight and i know I can't go down a size, going up a size would make the problem worse. This model needs a tongue. But I'm happy I can return it. Great company that stands by their product.

Back when Hoka started out, the company acted as if runners with wider feet did not exist. In recent years Hoka has made many of their shoes available in wide (usually in duller colors). More recently Hoka expanded the selection of wide sizes in the cooler colors. So why in this day and age would you not only fail to offer a wide size, but sell a shoe only available as a unisex? In nearly every running shoe, the men's model of the same shoe is proportionally wider than the women's version. I don't know if this unisex shoe fits wide on women, but it definitely fits narrower/tighter than other Hoka shoes (for men).

I fell for a Facebook ad. I should know better. Hoka advertised a shoe, in a kind of gray/blue for 40% off. They arrived and they were half gray blue, and half bright orange. The pics didn't say that and the description didn't nightlight it. Returned them. No real harm, except for the time it took to open them and repackage and return to the postoffkce. Eh.

I bought my first pair of Carbon X (notice, note Carbon X 3) two years ago and absolutely loved them. Though I was not, and never have been, an elite or advanced runner, I wanted to try out the carbon layer that supposedly helped to propel the wearer forward. I was not disappointed! I loved the feel and energy of the shoes, whether I was walking my dog, power-walking through the neighborhood, or doing my limited HIIT walk/jog/run sessions through the neighborhood or at my local park. They were a blessing to someone who was recovering from back surgery and trying to regain as much athletic activity as possible. HOWEVER, this new model, the Carbon X 3 is awful. Who made the decision to eliminate the tongue from the shoe? Did the company executives actually try them out? I have seen tongueless shoes in the past and, to my knowledge, none has been very successful. There must be a reason!!! Perhaps I am just too old (66) to appreciate this model, but (1) pulling on the shoes feels strange, (2) trying to adjust the laces in their funky pattern is difficult and frustrating, and (3) due to the inability to get the laces situated as I like them, wearing the shoes walking through my house for two minutes did not feel secure and comfortable. I could not put them back in the box and begin my refund process fast enough. Again, whose idea was this? If you can find a pair at a local store, try them on for yourself. You may be one of the rare -- in my opinion -- people who like them. Otherwise, this is the most inexplicable move I can imagine for this line of shoes. They were absolutely wonderful in their earlier version. Why totally mess up a great thing?

I returned and still waiting for refund!

This may be the worst pair of shoes I've ever purchased. They rub my ankles and the right shoe feels like it's falling apart under the ball of my foot. Zero support. I will be discarding these and going with another brand.

To tight around the ankles. Not comfortable at all

All looked like a the beginnings of a good race shoe, but after needing a week of recovery due to achilles injury due to heel cup narrowness, I wish I had never bought these.

Buyers should be alerted that this shoe is "sock fit," meaning the tongue of the shoe is permanently affixed to the upper. This makes for an ultra snug fit but almost makes this type of shoe remarkably difficult to get into. Thus, I am forced to return them.

Was excited to try Hoka with the carbon bottom for a marathon training. Shoe felt great but it gave me a blister after the first run, putting me out for a week. Never had this issue with ON Running shoes. This shoe has a tight toe bay area, which causes friction on long runs.

orange and blue don't mix at all what a disappointment when I saw the orange side when I opened the box can I exchange it or upgrade to another pair.

The design of the shoe makes them very hard to put on.