The Hoka One One Rincon 3 has been released! Hoka One One have once again designed a shoe with minimal weight and an ultra soft and light midsole. So, if you are looking for a high-mileage training shoe which also works well for high-pace workouts, you should read my review here.
Hoka One One Rincon 3 Specifications
Type: Neutral, Daily training
Heeldrop: Women: 5 mm (26 / 21 mm). Men: 5 mm (29 / 24 mm).
Weight: Women : 204g, Str. US 7. Men: 218g, Str. US 9.
Rincon 3 – Best cushioning to weight ratio designed by Hoka One One
Hoka One One Rincon 3 is a neutral running shoe which primarily distinguishes itself on being the shoe from the Hoka One One collection which offers the largest amount of cushioning compared to weight. In my own shoe rotation this shoe fits into the category of shoes like New Balance FuellCell TC, Brooks Hyperion Tempo, Nike Zoom Fly 3, and Asics NovaBlast.
Fit / upper
Immediately after I put on Hoka One One Rincon 3 and I raised my foot, I felt how light it is. It is actually a little curious as Rincon doesn´t look like a light shoe at first glance. A couple of changes in the upper has minimized the weight. Rincon 3 is designed with a new, thin, and more breathable mesh which is also lighter than in Rincon 2. So, you won´t find a distinctly padded upper but that is also rarely the case with this type of shoe. I feel like the fit is somewhat narrow, especially in the forefoot. Rincon 3 is designed with an asymmetrical tongue which means that it swings slightly towards one side - the tongue is also made in a thin material which contributes to its minimal weight.
Midsole
I can easily spot a Hoka One One shoe from a distance - as their shoes differ a lot from other brands in terms of design with the very obvious large midsoles. Hoka One One’s shoes may look somewhat clumsy but that is far from the case. Again, its the midsole which makes a difference. Rincon 3’s midsole is designed with ultra soft and comprised EVA-foam which in spite of its voluminous shape feels as light as a feather. In fact its the Hoka One One running shoe where you get most cushioning compared to weight!
I really love this midsole as it makes the shoe so much fun to use. The minimal weight and high comfort makes it well suited for low - as well as high pace running which means that it takes up an important spot in my shoe rotation. I really get that spongy, soft, comfortable sensation when I use it, and that is important to me. I feel that I take good care of my feet at the same time as I am running in a light shoe - and its rare that you find those two things combined in a running shoe. To make this possible it has been necessary to make a slightly more firm heel cap as the shoe would have been too unstable if the heel cap had been too flexible so the shoe has a good balance in this area.
The outsole is partly engineered with a rubber coating in chosen areas. And the coating is placed on the outsole so it contributes to the responsiveness of the shoe. It works in a way where the rubber is stretched/extended during the landing and then it pulls back during the takeoff. Consequently it has a propulsive effect during your runs.
Versatile but not all-round
One of the clear strengths of this running shoe is its versatility. I would use the shoe for both short and medium-long jogging workouts, pacy runs or possibly intervals where you want to spare your feet from running shoes with a carbon-plate. Rincon 3 stands out from other high-mileage training shoes thanks to its minimal weight and its efficiency during pacier workouts. I use Rincon 3 if I am going jogging but potentially wants to up the pace towards the end of my run. At the same time I wouldn´t hesitate to use it for a long Sunday run as the midsole is so responsive to spare the body from the hardest shocks.
If you are used to running in shoes like Hoka One One Clifton or Hoka One One Bondi, Rincon 3 will feel incredibly light and fast. And it will therefore be an obvious choice as "shoe number two" which you can use for days where you want to up the speed.
If you have a tendency to overpronate or you are sceptical about somewhat more unstable shoes, I would look for another shoe. If you enjoy running in the woods or other terrain than asphalt and you are planning to do it in Rincon 3, then be aware that its a shoe with a relatively high midsole which can reinforce the feeling of unstability in your gait. Hoka One One Rincon 3 is a super shoe for different runs on asphalt but I don´t think its an allround-shoe which can handle different terrains.
Conclusion
Hoka One One Rincon 3 is for the runner, who wants a light training shoe which can be used for different types of running. It can be used for days where you are uncertain how fast you want to run and just want to see how it goes. For me, the best thing about this shoe is that it offers a little bit of "both worlds" in terms of speed and comfort. So, if you are looking for speed, comfort, high energy-return and great comfort, you should check out Rincon 3 from Hoka One One.
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