HOKA Rocket X 3 vs New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

HOKA Rocket X 3
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Feb 02, 2026 03:13 PM

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Hoka.com

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Jan 07, 2026 05:31 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

HOKA Rocket X 3

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5

The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 and HOKA Rocket X 3 are two race shoes that deliver some high-performance elements while maintaining their respective brand's comfort-forward designs. The shoes are very similar in weight and energy return, but the HOKA shoe has better cushioning, especially over long distances. 

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Variants

  • Rocket X 3 (White/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Rocket X 3 (White/Black - (Women - US 7))
  • FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 (Urgent Red/White/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 (Urgent Red/White/Black - (Women - US 7))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

8.4
8.4
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

7.9
8.1

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

208.4 g (7.35 oz)
200.5 g (7.07 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

40.3 mm
39.4 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.7 mm
30.5 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.6 mm
8.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.0 mm
8.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
HOKA Rocket X 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

76 mm (3.0")
75 mm (3.0")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

69 mm (2.7")
55 mm (2.2")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

107 mm (4.2")
106 mm (4.2")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

1.89
1.90

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.38
3.48
Show Text 

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
HOKA Rocket X 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

274 mm (10.8")
276 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

65 mm (2.6")
64 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
90 mm (3.5")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber
Show Text 
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

8.5
8.6

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

83.7%
84.8%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

8.5
8.6

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

83.8%
84.6%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.3
7.2

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

4.40 J
3.89 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

10.16 J
8.66 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.84 J
13.82 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.9
7.9

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
HOKA Rocket X 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.14 J
5.08 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.44 J
8.46 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.09 J
12.15 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.8
6.9

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

46.8 N/mm
58.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

124.4 N/mm
143.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

305.2 N/mm
328.3 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.2
8.1

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

108.3 N/mm
103.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

223.2 N/mm
223.0 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

462.5 N/mm
445.3 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

7.6
7.2

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Rocket X 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.27 J
7.78 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

8.16 J
7.65 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

8.08 J
7.56 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

8.02 J
7.49 J
Show Text 

HOKA Rocket X 3

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5

Comments

  1. Comparison

HOKA Rocket X 3 vs New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5: Main Discussion

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