Can I go straight from the Hoka Rincon 3 to the Rincon 5 and skip the Rincon 4?

You can, but treat the Rincon 5 as a new shoe rather than a restock. Both the Rincon 4 and the Rincon 5 reworked the ride, so a Rincon 3 owner takes two character changes at once: More resilient full-compression EVA with an early-stage MetaRocker became Compression-molded EVA with a MetaRocker profile and the drop moved 5 mm to 8 mm.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

2.3 oz on in total, 7.4 oz to 9.7 oz in a men's US 9. The Rincon 4 took it to 8 oz first.

Is the Rincon 4 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 8 oz against 7.4 oz for the Rincon 3 and 9.7 oz for the Rincon 5, on a 36 mm heel and a $125 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Rincon 4 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Rincon get taller between the Rincon 3 and the Rincon 5?

Heel stack went 29 mm to 38 mm, by way of 36 mm on the Rincon 4. Drop moved 5 mm to 8 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.

Where does the Rincon 5 sit in the Rincon lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Rincon 3 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Hoka Rincon 3 vs Rincon 5

Two versions apart. Updated October 14, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 5 years separate the Hoka Rincon 3 from the Rincon 5. Net change: 2.3 oz heavier, 9 mm more heel stack, a drop change from 5 mm to 8 mm, a new midsole, $10 more at list. Both updates in between reworked the ride, so the Rincon 5 is two character changes away from what you own.

Hoka Rincon 3Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's
Hoka Rincon 5Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Oct 14, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Rincon 3 · 2021

Rincon 5 · 2026

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Rincon 3 to Rincon 42024Changed character
Rincon 3 vs 4 What replaced the Hoka Rincon 3?
Step 2Rincon 4 to Rincon 52026A different shoe
Rincon 4 vs 5 What replaced the Hoka Rincon 4?

Rincon 3 vs Rincon 5: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Rincon 3	Rincon 5
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	7.4 oz	9.7 oz
Widths	D	D, 2E
Upper	Vented engineered mesh with an asymmetrical thin tongue	Minimal breathable engineered mesh with a streamlined silhouette
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	29 mm	38 mm
Forefoot stack	24 mm	30 mm
Drop	5 mm	8 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	More resilient full-compression EVA with an early-stage MetaRocker	Compression-molded EVA with a MetaRocker profile
VALUE
List price at launch	$115	$125

Or buy the Rincon 4 instead?

The Rincon 4 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.

Buy the Rincon 4

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Oct 14, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Hoka Rincon 3 to the Rincon 5 and skip the Rincon 4?: You can, but treat the Rincon 5 as a new shoe rather than a restock. Both the Rincon 4 and the Rincon 5 reworked the ride, so a Rincon 3 owner takes two character changes at once: More resilient full-compression EVA with an early-stage MetaRocker became Compression-molded EVA with a MetaRocker profile and the drop moved 5 mm to 8 mm.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 2.3 oz on in total, 7.4 oz to 9.7 oz in a men's US 9. The Rincon 4 took it to 8 oz first.
Is the Rincon 4 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 8 oz against 7.4 oz for the Rincon 3 and 9.7 oz for the Rincon 5, on a 36 mm heel and a $125 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Rincon 4 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Rincon get taller between the Rincon 3 and the Rincon 5?: Heel stack went 29 mm to 38 mm, by way of 36 mm on the Rincon 4. Drop moved 5 mm to 8 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.
Where does the Rincon 5 sit in the Rincon lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Rincon 3 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.