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HOKA ONE ONE Rincon 3 Review

October 25, 2021

The Best Rincon Yet?

Small tweaks to the upper, midsole, and outsole make for a winning combination

Likes

  • Lightweight cushioning
  • Improved upper
  • Dialed-in midsole

Dislikes

  • Lacks some responsiveness

What's New

The Rincon 3's new engineered mesh upper offers an adaptable fit and high breathability for quality comfort on fun daily training runs. The newly updated outsole features enhanced rubber, improving both durability and traction. The Rincon 3 also feels incredibly light on foot and weighs even less than the previous model.

The Bottom Line

Weighing in at just 7.3 ounces and stacked to a height of 33 mm, the cushioning-to-weight ratio of the HOKA ONE ONE Rincon 3 is a thing of beauty. The new Rincon offers a soft, smooth, and stable ride, which comes as no surprise considering that the shoe was inspired by the rolling waves of the famous Rincon surf spot. The Rincon 3 is also highly versatile and has do-it-all capabilities. That said, keep in mind that the Rincon 3 isn't going to be as durable as other everyday trainers like some of its HOKA relatives.

Shoe Performance

Shoe Softnessi

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Returni

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protectioni

LowHigh

Flexibilityi

RigidElastic

Upper Supporti

StructuredAdaptable

Specifications & Fit

How It Fits

Toe BoxMedium
Midfoot VolumeMedium
Heel WidthMedium to wide
Arch HeightMedium

Shoe Specs

WeightMen's: 7.3 oz (size 9) | Women's: 6.2 oz (size 8)
Stack Height33 mm (Heel), 28 mm (Forefoot), 5 mm Heel-Toe Offset
TerrainRoad
StabilityNeutral
SizingTrue to Size

Our In-Depth Look

Shoe Softnessi

Matt: "The Rincon 3 is soft and super lightweight, which is a winning combination in my book. The midsole foam isn't overwhelmingly plush, but it offers nice, pillowy-soft landings on each stride."

HOKA running shoe review medial view heel

Ride/Energy Returni

Matt: "I loved wearing the Rincon 3 for my faster and more 'fun' training runs. The midsole foam is not super responsive and lacks the pop I usually gravitate toward. That said, the Meta-Rocker and overall lightweight design of the shoe provided an efficient energy return that made for some really enjoyable runs."

HOKA running shoe review lateral view toe box

Underfoot Protectioni

Matt: "The cushioning-to-weight ratio of the Rincon 3 is one of the best on the market today, and even though this shoe is lightweight, it can still handle tons of mileage. I was able to take the Rincon 3 into double-digit mileage without difficulty and always felt protected while running."

HOKA running shoe review lateral view outsole

Flexibilityi

Matt: "With its higher stack height, the Rincon 3 isn't the most flexible shoe. However, it still delivers a pleasantly smooth ride thanks to its Meta-Rocker geometry."

HOKA running shoe review lateral view

Upper Supporti

Matt: "I think this is the best upper the Rincon has ever had. It is simple, breathable, and adaptable with a secure lockdown. The only flaw was the short tongue, which fell during some of my runs."

HOKA running shoe review lateral view heel

Individual Thoughts

Matt9/10

The HOKA ONE ONE Rincon 3 is one of my favorite shoes in my lineup currently. I think the Rincon 3 is perfect for anyone looking for a shoe to cover all their training needs. The shoe is protective enough for long-distance runs yet also light enough for faster-paced runs. HOKA made small tweaks to the midsole foam in this newest update, making it more durable than previous iterations. As a result, I think this is the best Rincon to date, and I was always excited to go out and run in the Rincon 3.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable