Why We Like The Hoka Carbon X Better Than The Nike Vaporfly

Hoka Carbon X versus Nike Vaporfly

We’re Here to Break It Down For You

It was an exciting day when Eliud Kipchoge completed a marathon in under two hours (1:59:40) back in October 2019. The world was watching and we all cheered for what this incredible athlete had accomplished. No surprise that everybody wanted to know where to buy his running shoes after such an amazing feat.

Now Nike has made the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% available for purchase. But is this a shoe that everybody should run out and buy, or not?

Why the Carbon X is a Better Choice Over the Nike Vaporfly

Why We’d Pick the Carbon X

• DESIGN – The Nike Vaporfly is designed for elite athletes to run a little quicker. The Hoka Carbon X is a competitive racing shoe for any athlete.
• COST – While the Hoka Carbon X is the highest priced Hoka One One running shoe at $180, it’s less expensive than the $250 Nike Vaporfly.
• LONGEVITY – The Nike Vaporfly costs more than $1.00 per mile as they don’t last for 250 miles. They are mainly racing shoes that can also be used for a few key workouts. It’s like having a sports car that isn’t exactly street legal and can be used only on race tracks. On the other hand, the Hoka Carbon X has a life expectancy of 350-400 miles for most people.
• COMFORT and VARIETY – The Hoka Carbon X is robust and comfortable (and wide) enough to be used as a trainer AND a racer. This is like a sports car that can be driven on the streets or raced on the track. It can also be used for 5K races up to ultra marathon distances. Between the carbon plate and the unique rocker bottom sole found only in Hoka running shoes, this is an ideal shoe for runners, regardless of how they strike (toe vs midfoot vs heel). The curvature of the Hoka Carbon X aligns the runner’s hips up and forward, which then helps athletes engage the glutes a little better. Like the Hoka Carbon X, the Nike Vaporfly is extremely light. The Vaporfly has a springy feel, but is much narrower and doesn’t have the curved sole that Carbon X has.

Buy Hoka Carbon X at St. Pete Running Company

St. Pete Running Company has proudly carried Hoka Running Shoes for years. We love these shoes, and we can’t recommend the Carbon X enough. But don’t just take our word for it. Come in, let us take you through our one-of-a-kind StrideSmart Shoe Fitting process, and then you can test out the shoes to see how they feel on your feet.