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 pace coach within the Hoka lineup. The plated Mach X didn’t exist again then, so if you needed to do your pace coaching, you reached for the Rincon. Those that discovered the Clifton/Bondi too heavy or too arch-intruding, used the Rincon as their every 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 reputation 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 convey the Rincon again. It’s now not categorised as a pace coach however a light-weight every day coach. The Mach 6 (which is now a Hoka bestseller) remains to be the flagship, plateless light-weight, pace coach.
So why has Hoka determined to convey the Rincon again? It may very well be as a result of standard 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 wish to supply a coach which resembles the earlier variations of the Mach, which had been immensely standard.
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 top within the heel and the forefoot. Its worth has remained at $125 (the identical as in 2021), which is a formidable feat.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 First Impressions
My first run was a straightforward 10K. At first, I assumed that going true to dimension was a mistake due to how slender the toe-box was however thankfully it gave me no points. If I had been to purchase it once more, I’d go up a half dimension as a result of I favor a roomy match.
The trip didn’t really feel like all earlier Rincon. It felt very acquainted although and it jogged my memory of the Hoka Mach Supersonic. The trip was comparatively agency (for Hoka) however buttery clean.
It undoubtedly felt like a light-weight, tempo coach; not a every day coach, like Hoka says, because of the firmness of the trip. 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, pace 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 course 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 slender forefoot and toe-box typical of Hokas, so most runners might want to go up a half dimension or get the broad model. It’s additionally a tad shorter in size than most trainers. I don’t suggest it for broad toes.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 Sole Unit
Nearly all of the Rincon 4 critiques on the Hoka web site are unfavorable. Most individuals complain concerning the agency trip and the tight match. In addition they say that the Rincon 4 is nothing just like the Rincon 3.
I agree that the trip is agency however I don’t thoughts the agency trip. That’s what units the Rincon 4 other than 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 comfortable 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 full of life 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 top within the heel and 31 mm within the forefoot, the Rincon 4 has substantial cushioning, nevertheless the stack heights really feel a lot decrease if you’re operating in it as a result of its agency trip.
The longest run I did within the Rincon 4 was 38 kilometres. It had sufficient cushioning and the trip was steady sufficient nevertheless I’d have most popular a shoe with a much 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 greatest suited to brief or center distance runs nevertheless, when you’re used to agency rides, you may use it for lengthy runs too. It feels most snug doing steady-paced runs. It’s too agency for straightforward/restoration runs whereas it lacks the power return and pace help for tempo runs or something sooner. There’s no stiffening machine in its midsole so it has a versatile forefoot with a pure trip.
The Rincon 4’s rubberised EVA outsole is twice the thickness of standard outsoles. That is mandatory due to how briskly it wears down. There may be 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 may not 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 clean, traction shouldn’t be superb on moist, clean surfaces. Traction is okay on dry surfaces.
Hoka One One Rincon 4 Conclusions
Whereas the Rincon 4 doesn’t have the enjoyable issue that different trendy, extra energetic Hoka trainers have, its worth is considerably decrease and it has remained the identical as 3 years in the past, when most footwear 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 trip and weight improve is likely to be off-putting for runners who had been followers of the earlier Rincon variations. Its higher can 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 every day coach. It’s lighter than the Clifton 9, Mach 6 and rather a lot lighter than the Skyflow and Bondi. This makes it really feel nimbler than most of Hoka’s behemoth trainers.
