HOKA Mach X 3 vs adidas Adizero Prime X3 STRUNG

The HOKA Mach X 3 and the adidas Adizero Prime X3 STRUNG are both super trainers, but they sit at very different ends of the category. The Mach X 3 is noticeably lighter and uses a more traditional setup built around a single plastic plate and a dual-foam midsole, giving it a familiar rocker and a stable, approachable ride. It feels like an enhanced daily trainer that adds just enough propulsion for uptempo work while keeping its geometry smooth and predictable at most other paces. The Prime X3, by contrast, is far more extreme: it has a much higher stack, a double-decker propulsion system with a carbon plate plus Energy Rods, and significantly more bounce and cushioning underfoot. It delivers stronger energy return and a more dramatic rolling sensation at marathon effort, but it's also much stiffer, bulkier, and less forgiving at easy paces.