ShoeGeometry

Hoka Rocket X 3 vs Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneHoka Rocket X 3: heel 40 mm, forefoot 33 mm (drop 7 mm); toe rocker 39 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 27 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Hoka Rocket X 3: toe rocker 39 % of lengthSalomon S/Lab Phantasm 3: heel 42 mm, forefoot 36 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 31 % of length, radius 34 % of length; heel bevel 9 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3: toe rocker 31 % of length
  • Hoka Rocket X 340/33 mm · toe rocker 39 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 342/36 mm · toe rocker 31 % · heel bevel 9 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offHoka Rocket X 338.9 vs 31.1 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelSalomon S/Lab Phantasm 340 vs 42 mm heel stack
More under the forefootSalomon S/Lab Phantasm 333 vs 36 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same7 vs 6.9 mm drop

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricHoka Rocket X 3
Racing · Road
Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3
Racing · Road
Heel-to-toe drop7 mmStated6.9 mmMeasured
Heel stack40 mmStated42 mmStated
Forefoot stack33 mmStated36 mmStated
Weight227 gStated181 gMeasured
Toe rocker39 %est.31 %est.
Rocker radius45 %est.34 %est.
Rocker rise angle30 degest.33 degest.
Rocker angle at toe61 degest.59 degest.
Toe tip over ground48 mmest.44 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset71 %est.—
Toe spring (relative)21.8 %est.20 %est.
Heel bevel length11.3 %est.8.8 %est.
Heel bevel height27 mm*est.17 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)108 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)76.5 mmMeasured—
Toe box shape76 %*est.—
Interior forefoot width92 mmMeasured—
Toebox width70 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness70Derived—
Midsole firmness53Derived—
PlateCarbon plateCarbon plate
Primary foamDual-density PEBAoptiFOAM+ (PEBA-based)
List price$250$280

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 7 mm for Hoka Rocket X 3, 6.9 mm for Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3.
  • Hoka Rocket X 3's heel stack is 40 mm, 2 mm thinner than Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3's 42 mm.
  • Hoka Rocket X 3's forefoot stack is 33 mm, 3 mm thinner than Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3's 36 mm.
  • Hoka Rocket X 3's weight is 227 g, 46 g heavier than Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3's 181 g.
  • Hoka Rocket X 3's toe rocker is 39 % of length, 8 % of length longer than Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3's 31 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Hoka Rocket X 3

Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Hoka Rocket X 3 details · Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 details · Add more shoes