Hoka Rincon 4 Overview | Working Footwear Guru

Hoka One One Rincon 4 Introduction

Again in 2019, earlier than the Mach collection grew to become the powerhouse that it’s at the moment, the Rincon was the default, light-weight velocity coach within the Hoka lineup. The plated Mach X didn’t exist again then, so whenever you wished to do your velocity coaching, you reached for the Rincon. Those that discovered the Clifton/Bondi too heavy or too arch-intruding, used the Rincon as their each day coach.

Since then, the Rincon has fallen out of favour at Hoka. Complaints of the Rincon’s brief cushioning lifespan and speedy outsole degradation resulted in Hoka placing the Rincon on the again burner- this, together with the rise in recognition of the Mach collection.

3 years in the past, in 2021, the Rincon 3 was launched. It’s been 2 Rincon-less years since then. Now, Hoka has determined to deliver the Rincon again. It’s not labeled as a velocity coach however a light-weight each day coach. The Mach 6 (which is now a Hoka bestseller) continues to be the flagship, plateless light-weight, velocity coach.

So why has Hoka determined to deliver the Rincon again? It may very well be resulting from widespread demand or it may very well be that as a result of the most recent model of the Mach (sixth model) has modified a lot, they need to provide a coach which resembles the earlier variations of the Mach, which have been immensely widespread.

The 2024 Rincon 4 is unrecognisable and it resembles the Mach 4/5 greater than any earlier Rincon model. The most important change is that it now has a full-length, rubberised EVA outsole, just like the Mach 4, 5 and Supersonic variations.

The Rincon 4 weighs 8 oz (227 g) in a males’s US 9. That is 0.6 oz (17 g) heavier than the Rincon 3. It has gained 3 additional mm of stack peak within the heel and the forefoot. Its worth has remained at $125 (the identical as in 2021), which is a powerful feat.

Hoka One One Rincon 4 First Impressions

My first run was a simple 10K. At first, I believed that going true to dimension was a mistake due to how slim the toe-box was however luckily it gave me no points. If I have been to purchase it once more, I’d go up a half dimension as a result of I desire a roomy match.

The journey didn’t really feel like every earlier Rincon. It felt very acquainted although and it jogged my memory of the Hoka Mach Supersonic. The journey was comparatively agency (for Hoka) however buttery easy.

It positively felt like a light-weight, tempo coach; not a each day coach, like Hoka says, because of the firmness of the journey. It felt firmer than the Mach 6, Clifton 9 and the Mach X.

Hoka One One Rincon 4 Higher

The Rincon’s higher is a cosy, velocity match. It has a really skinny, engineered jacquard higher with excellent airflow and it has air flow holes throughout the toe-box for higher breathability.

Sadly, the padded tongue shouldn’t be gusseted however I didn’t discover any tongue slide due to the lace loop in the midst of the tongue that holds it in place.

There are reflective panels on the first 2 eyelets in addition to on the highest of the toe-box for low-light visibility.

The Rincon 4 has a really slim forefoot and toe-box typical of Hokas, so most runners might want to go up a half dimension or get the huge model. It’s additionally a tad shorter in size than most trainers. I don’t suggest it for huge ft.

Hoka One One Rincon 4 Sole Unit

The vast majority of the Rincon 4 critiques on the Hoka web site are detrimental. Most individuals complain concerning the agency journey and the tight match. Additionally they say that the Rincon 4 is nothing just like the Rincon 3.

I agree that the journey is agency however I don’t thoughts the agency journey. That’s what units the Rincon 4 aside from the Mach 6 and the opposite trainers just like the Clifton 9. This shoe is for runners who need one thing mild and agency that feels quick. Hoka has loads of different gentle trainers to select from.

Hoka states that it’s an injected EVA foam within the Rincon 4. That is one step down from the supercritical midsole of the Mach 6 which has extra compression and extra rebound. The Rincon 4 midsole is denser and doesn’t really feel as vigorous or energetic because the Mach 6. The midsole does nevertheless really feel extra responsive than variations 1, 2 and three of the Rincon.

With 36 mm stack peak within the heel and 31 mm within the forefoot, the Rincon 4 has substantial cushioning, nevertheless the stack heights really feel a lot decrease whenever you’re operating in it resulting from its agency journey.

The longest run I did within the Rincon 4 was 38 kilometres. It had sufficient cushioning and the journey was secure sufficient nevertheless I’d have most popular a shoe with an even bigger forefoot rocker to make it really feel extra environment friendly. Hoka advertises that it has a MetaRocker nevertheless it’s not very outstanding in comparison with their different trainers.

The Rincon 4 is finest suited to brief or center distance runs nevertheless, should you’re used to agency rides, you possibly can use it for lengthy runs too. It feels most snug doing steady-paced runs. It’s too agency for simple/restoration runs whereas it lacks the vitality return and velocity help for tempo runs or something sooner. There’s no stiffening gadget in its midsole so it has a versatile forefoot with a pure journey.

The Rincon 4’s rubberised EVA outsole is twice the thickness of normal outsoles. That is vital due to how briskly it wears down. There’s noticeable put on on my pair on the outer lateral heel areas.

For those who’re onerous on outsoles, and also you need a shoe that lasts a very long time, the Rincon 4 won’t be the perfect shoe for you however I’ve observed that the outsole put on isn’t as dangerous as variations 1, 2 and three. These variations had extra midsole foam uncovered on their outsoles.

As you’d count on from an outsole so easy, traction shouldn’t be superb on moist, easy surfaces. Traction is ok on dry surfaces.

Hoka One One Rincon 4 Conclusions

Whereas the Rincon 4 doesn’t have the enjoyable issue that different fashionable, extra energetic Hoka trainers have, its worth is considerably decrease and it has remained the identical as 3 years in the past, when most sneakers have elevated in worth. At solely $125, the Rincon 4 represents nice worth and it doesn’t really feel like a funds coach.

The agency journey and weight improve is likely to be off-putting for runners who have been followers of the earlier Rincon variations. Its higher can also be much less accommodating. It does nevertheless really feel extra responsive and extra polished than earlier variations so in my view, it’s the very best Rincon thus far. It feels extra like earlier variations of the Mach than earlier variations of the Rincon.

At solely 8 oz (227 g), the Rincon 4 is tremendous mild for a each day coach. It’s lighter than the Clifton 9, Mach 6 and so much lighter than the Skyflow and Bondi. This makes it really feel nimbler than most of Hoka’s behemoth trainers.