Since its launch in India this January, Hoka has already made its presence felt in the Indian running community.  Hoka didn’t hold anything back, and ensured all their best shoes are available in India.  That coupled with a good pricing strategy, content-rich marketing, and community engagement via events, is a promising start.  Hoka has made both their carbon-plated shoes available in India. Hoka Carbon X2 and Hoka Rocket X ([which we have reviewed here](https://shoegeeks.in/review/hoka-rocketx-012010000/)).

Hoka Carbon X2 is available for the Indian market on the Tata Cliq website. When I first saw images of the Carbon X2 online, I immediately took a liking to its new design with the extended, exaggerated heel at the back.  At first look, the shoe screams it is an endurance racer. Its bold overlays, cutouts, rocker shape, and flared heels say it is a racer, while the midsole cushioning says it is all about endurance.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="012009002M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up Carbon X2?

A stack height of 32mm, puts Carbon X2 in a medium profile category.  Weight of 247g (men)/221g (women) makes it well suited for endurance running while offering plenty of comfort. 

**Midsole**

Carbon X2’s midsole like its cousin Rocket X is made of Compression-Molded EVA foam (CMEVA). However, it is a very different shoe. It has a stack height of 32mm (30mm for women) at the heel and 27mm (25mm for women) at the forefoot with a 5mm heel-to-toe drop. The midsole has two layers of foam between which the carbon plate is placed. The top layer is softer, while the bottom layer is thinner and firmer.  The midsole profile is much softer when compared to Rocket X. 

The carbon plate is much closer to the ground and has very little curvature compared to super shoes like VaporFly. This is the reason why Carbon X2 doesn’t have the springboard effect but primarily helps the transition from mid-foot to toe-off transition.

**Upper**

is made of a single layer perforated engineered mesh. Added synthetic and reflective panels give a nice aesthetic to the shoe. The tongue has no padding, while the heel is very well padded.

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      <LightBox src="/images/hcx2-top.jpg" caption="Upper is made of recycled materials" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Outsole**

The bottom layer of the midsole (foam below the carbon plate) acts as the outsole.  Not using a rubber outsole is an interesting design decision. The bottom layer is made of firmer EVA foam.   EVA is not as good as rubber when it comes to traction and durability.  

The base of the outsole is very wide, which adds to the stability of the shoe.  Able to see the carbon plate through the cutouts in the outsole is a nice touch.  

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

I was looking for a carbon-plated trainer for speed training, and faster long runs. Hoka Carbon X2 is a carbon-plated racer with attractive pricing. Its popularity among many elite athletes made it a safe choice for the purpose I was looking for.

##### Ride In Carbon X2

I have run about 100 km. This includes speed intervals, tempo runs, long runs, and easy runs too.

**Speed Run** - The shoe felt great during the workout session. The ride felt smooth and efficient because of the carbon plate; however, it does not give explosive bounce as compared to other carbon plate racing shoes on the market.

**Tempo Run** - Comfortable Tempo runs with great shoe response. The midsole gives a cushioned landing. Carbon X2 has a more natural feel to it.

**Long Run** - My farthest run was 34 km and my performance on that run was excellent. It is a more stable shoe that can take you farther. I felt it was a good balance between cushioning and responsiveness while my legs still felt fresh at the end of my run.

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      <LightBox src="/images/hcx2-side.jpg" caption="Ride is balanced; responsive & comfortable" alt="" ></LightBox>
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This is why the Carbon X2 is better suited to longer distances. During the long runs, it is smooth, efficient, and energy-saving. Stability in the Carbon X 2 is excellent thanks to its wide midsole base, so it is one of the most stable carbon plated shoes in the market.

__If I have to choose a shoe to run an Ultra distance that is beyond a marathon, the Carbon X 2 would be my first choice.__

**Fit & Comfort**

The dual foam midsole of the Carbon X2 is noticeably softer and wide enough. It’s the most comfortable shoe in the market that I have used so far.  The thin single-layer mesh upper is highly breathable and has a comfortable fit.  The midsole of the Carbon X2 is noticeably softer and wide enough.

When it comes to sizing, my recommendation would be to go one size down as the length of the shoe is slightly long. The shoe comes with long laces which you need to carefully tie-up.

**Stability**

Carbon X2 is the most comfortable and stable shoe in the carbon plate shoe market. The thicker foam results in a higher level of cushioning comfort. A firmer base also gives the Carbon X better stability. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/hcx2-heel.jpg" caption="Wide base offers excellent stability" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Road Grip** 

The grip isn’t bad on dry roads. But the foam outsole is unsuitable for slushy, damp, or dusty surfaces. Initial wear and tear happen quickly, so durability is a question.

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      <LightBox src="/images/hcx2-bottom.jpg" caption="No rubber on the outsole doesn't help traction" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
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**Aesthetics**

For Aesthetics reasons I chose white and blue which is not a smart choice for Indian roads, however, the positive side is that it is easily visible in the dark. It also has a large reflective panel on its flap as well as the last two eyelets – this makes the upper part very visible during the dark. The shoe can be easily put on and off with great heal support.

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="012009002M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Wide midsole base with a stable ride",
    "Meta-Rocker provides a smooth, efficient ride",
    "Most affordable Carbon plate shoe in the market",
    "Great shoe for an ultra-distance race."
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Less Energy return as compared to other Carbon plate super shoes",
    "Slightly on the heavier side for a racer"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
It’s an endurance racing shoe that marries a firmly cushioned midsole with a carbon fiber plate, and the result is a fast ride that isn’t harsh on the feet.
</InfoCard>


Carbon plated endurance racer for marathon distances and beyond

Hoka Carbon X2 Review

Adidas SL series of shoes have a very interesting history.  The very first version of the shoe called SL 72, was launched in 1972 coinciding Munich Olympics. Since then, Adidas has been releasing a new edition for every Olympics. The number in the shoe name represents the year of the Olympics.  While SL stands for Super Light. 

SL 20, which was launched in 2020 coinciding with the Tokyo Olympics. SL 20.2 is the recent upgrade of the shoe, designed to be a lightweight and fast trainer. It can do a little bit of everything. One can use them for easy runs, intervals, tempo runs, and probably even long runs. 

<ShoeCard shoeCode="001009022M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up SL 20.2?

True to its name prefix SL 20.2 weighs about 230 grams for UK 8. That is on the lower end of the spectrum for neutral trainers. 

**Midsole**

The midsole is made of Lightstrike cushioning which is compressed EVA. Lightstrike is a relatively newer foam from Adidas. Compared to the well-known Boost foam (e-TPU) Lightstrike, it is much lighter.  Boost foam is very bouncy, it is also heavier. Lightstrike on the other hand is much lighter, but not as bouncy. Adidas is slowly phasing out Boost foam with Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro foams in their new shoe line-up. 

The shoe has a stack size of 24.2mm at the heel and 14.2mm at the forefoot. That is about 10mm of heel-to-toe drop, which makes it an excellent shoe for mid-foot and heel strikers. 

**Upper**

The upper is an engineered mesh, and is highly flexible which suits well for a lightweight trainer with medium stack height, no carbon plates, and has classic geometry (not a rocker). It is good to see Adidas proudly claiming the shoe is made of Primegreen materials. The upper is made of 50% of recycled content, and no virgin polyester is used. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-top.jpg" caption="Upper is made of recycled materials" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Outsole**

As with most Adidas running shoes, the outsole is made of Continental Rubber, which gives pretty good durability. The rubber is placed strategically in the common hotspots which ensures the midsole wear is minimal. Unlike the other running shoes from Adidas including the earlier SL20, the outsole doesn’t have the Torsion system for added stability.

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

I was fed up with the idea of changing shoes for different types of runs. I prefer to do my threshold workouts in fast shoes and not daily trainers. My long run typically is about 120-130 minutes with 5-8K of running in between at a threshold pace. It just did not make sense to me to change shoes while doing my long run.

I was previously using Nike Pegasus 37 and Nike Zoom Fly 3. I was looking for something that fits right between both of them and which did not have a carbon plate in it.  SL20.2 fits the bill perfectly for me.  

##### Ride In SL 20.2

I have run about 300 KMs in the shoe. I have tested the shoes mainly on my longer runs. Apart from that, I have also tested the shoe for a 10-miler workout at Half Marathon pace, 400-meter repeats, and a couple of easy runs. I have tested this shoe on the roads only. I have completed a couple of easy runs on softer surfaces, mainly public parks.

I feel I was getting maximum out of shoes when I was running at my half marathon pace/thresh-hold pace. The shoe doesn’t have much energy return, and the ride doesn’t have much bounce. So, if you are primarily looking for energy return and a bouncy ride, this shoe is definitely not for you.

This shoe is very lightweight and it works just fine also in intervals and easy runs. This shoe doesn’t have much cushion either. While I was not hurting my feet because of that, I would definitely not use them for a race day.

**Fit & Comfort**

Overall fit of the shoe is on the tighter side. It runs tight for the regular size that I normally use. If you have wide feet or need some space in the toe-box, go half a size above your regular size. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-toe.jpg" caption="Toe box fit is on the tighter side" alt="" ></LightBox>
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</div>

The shoe requires a break-in, and I’ve hurt my toes a few times.  I had to run about 100kms before I felt fully comfortable, and post that the shoe feels great. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-heel.jpg" caption="Heel has good padding and is comfortable" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Stability**

Because of the low stack height, the shoe feels fairly stable to run in. Lack of torsion system doesn’t seem to affect much.  That said, this doesn’t have any stability features that you find in the stability shoes that are targeted at overpronated runners. 

**Road Grip** 

This Continental rubber on the outsole of the shoe feels great on the roads with an excellent grip. Certainly, better than the Nike’s Pegasus line I have tried. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
  <div class="col-12 col-md-8 px-1">
      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-bottom.jpg" caption="Continental rubbers offers excellent road grip" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Aesthetics**

The shoe looks minimal and yet very nice. In fact, it looks so nice that, once I retire them, I’m looking forward to wearing them as a casual sports shoe. The shoe is fairly easy to clean. It is also very easy to put it on and remove the shoe. 

I did not like shoe lacing. You can upgrade them to give a better aesthetic feel to the shoe. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
  <div class="col-12 col-md-8 px-1">
      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-perspective.jpg" caption="Reflective overlays are a nice touch" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="001009022M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "An all-rounder which is light on pocket", 
    "Very durable shoe",
    "Lightweight and an excellent choice for speed and tempo runs"
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Not well-cushioned, and the cushioning is quite firm",
    "Very little energy return compared to other foams such as Boost and React",
    "Takes time to break in "
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
I would recommend this shoe to anyone, especially new runners who only want to own one pair of shoe. This can be used for easy runs, tempo runs, and intervals as well. I would not recommend this shoe to be used on race day. You can have this along with a carbon-plated racing shoe and you are sorted for the season. 
</InfoCard>


A lightweight trainer that is fast, and is also light on pocket.

Adidas SL20.2 Review

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Reviews

Hoka Carbon X2 Review

Adidas SL20.2 Review