Best Hoka Shoe Rotation So Far in 2025
These are the best Hoka shoes to create a well-rounded shoe rotation. With the Bondi 9 as a daily trainer, the Mach X2 for tempo runs, the Mach 6 for speed sessions, and the Hoka Cielo X1 or Rocket X2 for long runs and racing, we think you will be well-prepared to hit all of your mileage and race day goals.
Welcome to the next installment of our shoe rotation series. Hoka is one of our favorite shoe brands, and they have so many great options. Do we go Mach 6, Skyflow or Bondi for daily miles? Rocket X2, Cielo X1 OG or Cielo X1 2.0 for race day? And where does the Skyward X fit into a four shoe rotation? We decided to highlight a marathon training rotation. To generalize, the marathon training shoes are more cushioned and supportive than half marathon training shoes.
The point of having a shoe rotation in the first place is to vary the stresses placed on the body during running. By switching between different stack heights, foam types, drops and rockers, you’ll place emphasis on different muscles. Because of this, rotating different types of shoes can prevent injury (check out the 2015 study “Can parallel use of different running shoes decrease running-related injury risk?” by L. Malisoux et al.). Traditionally, we think of higher drop shoes putting stress higher up on the legs and lower drop shoes working the lower legs. Anecdotally, we note a similar effect on higher stack vs lower stack shoes, where more streamlined platforms tend to work the lower legs more.
We should also note that you don’t NEED four shoes, to train for your first half or full marathon, but it’s certainly fun to think about the best use for each of the shoes in Hoka’s lineup. With that out of the way, here is one example of a shoe rotation you could build from the Hoka lineup.
Bondi 9: Daily comfort
At Supwell, we didn’t have high expectations for the Bondi 9—mainly because Hoka seems to be shifting its Bondi and Clifton series away from performance running and toward the walking shoe market. But with the release of the Bondi 9, Hoka has quickly shut down that narrative. This update comes in slightly softer and much bouncier than its predecessor, thanks to the supercritical process that livens up an otherwise dull EVA midsole. The Bondi 9 is now more than just a runnable walking shoe—it offers a resilient, max-cushioned experience that’s capable of everyday training and even 20-mile long runs.
Hoka Bondi 9
Mach X2: Long runs
The Hoka Mach X2 was our favorite plated speed training shoe of 2024—and it’s still a contender nearly halfway through 2025. It uses a perfectly executed dual-foam midsole design, featuring a bouncy PEBAX layer directly underfoot and a stabilizing base of EVA foam. For anyone trying to run their everyday miles on the faster end of easy—just above marathon effort, maybe following the Jack Daniels system—this shoe is a cheat code. Its moderate rocker profile and tall stack height, paired with that top layer of racing foam, create a gliding, almost floating experience that pops you along while simultaneously disappearing on foot.
Hoka Mach X2
Mach 6: Speed training
The Hoka Mach 6 is Hoka’s lightweight, non-plated tempo day shoe. It comes with a full layer of soft and bouncy supercritical EVA foam and gains a few millimeters of stack height over its predecessor. With 37 mm in the heel and 32 mm in the forefoot, the Mach 6 has handled 22-mile double days without bottoming out. Priced at $140, the Mach 6 delivers serious value for its pop, bounce, comfort, and decent protection.
Hoka Mach 6
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Cielo X1: Race day
The Cielo X1 OG is legendary in the hobby jogger community for its comfort, bounce, and long-distance stability. It’s not the fastest racing shoe on the market—thanks to its weight and bulbous underfoot feel—but that’s not the point. What sets it apart is its unrivaled protection and wild rocker geometry that keeps your legs ticking over, mile after mile. It’s our top pick for a 4-hour marathon shoe, a long-run grinder with extra carbon-plated torque, or trying to beat a personal best in time on feet.
Rocket X2: Honorable mention
For the 10K and half-marathon distance, we have to give the Rocket X2 a shoutout. Originally released in March 2023, the Rocket X2 is practically arcane by today’s standards of rapid innovation (millennials might call it a deep cut)—but it remains one of our favorite traditional racing shoes. Its rocker geometry is reminiscent of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, with the bite of more aggressive models like the Vaporfly 2 and 3. The Rocket X2 is an awesome shoe for driving some clean, raw power through the forefoot.
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