Rocket X 3 vs Endorphin Elite 3

The Rocket X 3 is Hoka's do-it-all carbon racing shoe, the leaner, cheaper stablemate to the maximal Cielo X1. Where the Cielo goes big on stack and cushioning, the Rocket X 3 keeps things sharp: a PEBA midsole, a full carbon plate and a 40mm heel that stays legal for racing. At 210g it is not the lightest super shoe on the shelf, but it is versatile in a way the pure marathon rockets are not. This is a race shoe you can genuinely run across distances, from a 5K where you want turnover to a marathon where you want protection late on. We rate it as the sensible carbon racer for runners who want one fast shoe to cover everything rather than a shelf of specialists. At an RRP of 239 pounds it is priced with the elite pack, so you are paying for that flexibility.

The Endorphin Elite 3 is Saucony's no-compromise carbon racing shoe, built for one job: chasing a personal best over the half and full marathon. This is a specialist marathon shoe, not a do-it-all trainer. You get a tall 40mm heel, a full-length carbon plate and Saucony's springy IncrediRUN foam, all wrapped up at a race weight of 210g. At £306 it sits right at the top of the market, alongside the Nike Alphafly 3 and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4. What you are paying for is peak return at speed. The slotted plate and high stack give a rolling, aggressive ride that wants to move. It is less versatile than Saucony's own Endorphin Pro 5, and it asks for a fair bit of leg strength to get the best from it. We rate it as one of the sharpest tools you can lace up on race day, so long as race day is what you want it for.