Kicks

HOKA Launches a Fierce Carbon-Plated Trail Running Shoe

The Tecton X 3 was inspired by HOKA elite athlete Jim Walmsley.

Michael Ehrlich

The HOKA Tecton X 3.
The HOKA Tecton X 3. / HOKA

HOKA - the running shoe brand tearing up trails, tracks and roads this Summer - has officially launched their highly anticipated performance trail shoe, the Tecton X 3.

The newest silhouette in the brand's trail category was inspired by HOKA elite athlete Jim Walmsley as he trained to become the first American male Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) champion, setting a new course record in prototypes of the Tecton X 3.

Named after the earth’s tectonic plates - which inspired its parallel dual carbon fiber plate design - the Tecton X 3 is highlighted by this evolved parallel carbon plate technology, PEBA midsole and debris-free upper design.

According to the brand, the Tecton X 3 features a fast-feeling ride that enables runners to unlock speed on all types of terrain, technical mountain trails, or unforgivingly fast race courses.

HOKA Tecton X 3
HOKA Tecton X 3 / HOKA

“The Tecton X 3 was tested in the Alps and HOKA Elite Athlete Jim Walmsley was pivotal in providing insights into our development process, as he wore various versions of the shoe in his training, eventual victory at the UTMB Mont Blanc Race, and most recently at the Western States 100.” said Colin Ingram, Vice President of Global Product at HOKA.

“We leveraged the learnings from one of the most technical and varied terrain trails in the sport to create our most innovative and fastest trail racing shoe yet, and we’re thrilled to bring it to the public to help them find their own speed on the trails.”

The Tecton X 3 features an upgraded midsole featuring two layers of PEBA foam, with one softer layer on top for cushioning and impact, and a slightly firmer layer underneath for agility on technical terrain. The upper has a new knit collar that acts as a gaiter to help mitigate trail debris from entering the shoe.

Launching ahead of the UTMB Mont Blanc World Series in Chamonix, France on August 26 - where Walmsley owns the course record - the Tecton X 3 will be seen on HOKA elite athletes competing. On-site during the competition, the brand will host a FlyLab experience where attending fans can get an inside look at the innovation behind the Tecton X 3.

The Tecton X 3 is available now for $275 at HOKA.com and at authorized HOKA dealers worldwide. Athletes and fans can follow Kicks on SI for all their sneaker news from the sports world and beyond.

Further Reading: HOKA's new "Bird’s Eye" anthem film tells the story of human flight.

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Michael Ehrlich

MICHAEL EHRLICH

Michael Ehrlich is a seasoned sports marketing executive with experience across the global sports brand, athlete representation, media and education sides of the business. The Founder and CEO of Playbook Marketing, Ehrlich consults with brands on all things NIL and athlete partnerships, advises student-athletes on their personal brand building endeavors and is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of Southern California where he teaches a course on athlete communications and marketing. As a writer, his previous bylines include Boardroom, Business of College Sports, DIME Magazine and UPROXX, among others. You can follow him across social media at @MichaelEhrlich and reach out via michael@playbook-marketing.com

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