BY 
Yes, the pair of trainers you see here in these pictures are very chunky and stacked very tall. You could describe them as the shoe equivalent of that plush armchair you could sink right into and immediately feel cosy in, or the Business-Class equivalent of a long-distance training show.
Introducing the HOKA Skyward X, the maximum cushion road trainer engineered with a carbon plate to push soft and smooth to the extreme, so you get to enjoy those long training days in comfort, with all the support you need to maintain your optimum pace.
All The Details
First things first, the details.
This is a tall shoe, with a 48mm heel stack that tapers off to 43mm in the forefoot for a 5mm drop. It also sits heavier on the scales at close to 320g in our US 9 size.
As the training equivalent to Hoka’s Cielo X1 super racer, this Skyward X takes the French performance footwear maker’s cushioning and carbon technology, a rich combination of foams, plates, and geometries, and morphs it all into a shoe designed for serious runners who rack up serious training miles.
All that science really includes a PEBA-based Active Foot Frame which fits snugly round the foot when you lace it up. We found that it did need some breaking in, and getting used to over some 10 kilometres. But with that out of the way, we could really enjoy the security of the mesh upper wrapping around our feet.
Cushioned, Yet Dynamic
The shoes feel plush and springy. While the sheer stack dilutes ground feel, there is a distinct sense of grip, stability, and smoothness at toe off. This is helped in part by Hoka’s signature MetaRocker and plush combination of foams underfoot.
While this isn’t the shoe you’d pick for speed, or for agility work, it’s the one you’d want to just lace on and go easy. We could push it on faster paces, but the shoe feels most comfortable at a more languid pace where the focus is on efficiency, so you enjoy the process of running rather than the strain of making an effort count.
We loved how the plush cushioning springs back with every step. Making use of an innovative convex carbon fiber plate, we loved how it bows in the middle through each stride to offer a sense of suspension that makes it so easy to hit the sweet spot between cadence and stride, and just enjoy the natural rolling momentum that comes when you’re in the zone.
We understand that the carbon plate (visible from the base of the shoe) is nestled between a PEBA-based Active Foot Frame on top and a supercritical EVA rocker frame below. And the soft, resilient top layer directly underfoot cushions the ride while the firm supportive bottom layer provides a stable platform.
Abundant Comfort
The Skyward X is paired with a new flat knit upper with zonal engineering for an accommodating fit. An external TPU heel counter delivers extra structure and dimension, while an integrated ghillie system at the lace line locks allows for a more accommodating lock-down across the midfoot.
On our test runs, the shoe fit well with limited slip and no hot spots. However, we felt that thicker, or cushioned socks worked best in ensuring a better lock down.
The most outstanding highlight of running in the shoe, is in how soft it feels underfoot as it soaks up each footfall with ease and primes you for the next step forward. As the distances add up, it’s even possible to get the sense that the shoe will do the running for you while you focus on the road ahead.
The outsole, while grippy when new, can slip a little in wet conditions. But having taken it out for a range of runs spanning short shakeouts to long easy efforts, it’s held up fantastic with little signs of wear. We fully expect this shoe to easily last through a season of training, or over 500km, and then some.
The Last Word?
We’ll be frank and call out the weight. But you’ll only really feel it over really really long efforts when there’s barely anything left in the tank. In those moments, even a sweaty headband would feel like a weighted helmet.
Otherwise, the comfort, support, naturally roll and versatility more than makes up for that single shortcoming.
We’ll re-iterate that cushioned socks helped enhance the fit for us. Even then, it’s well-ventilated, snug and has all the qualities of an excellent long distance training companion. Think of this as THAT SHOE who’ll run right along with you, help you through the dullest moments, and come to life exactly when you do.
The Hoka Skyward X is available at $349 from the HOKA brand stores in Orchard ION and Raffles City, as well as both in-store and online at Running Lab and iRun
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