The Rincon 5 keeps doing the thing that made the line loved: most of a Clifton's ride at a fraction of the weight and price. Compression-molded EVA, a smooth MetaRocker, a minimal mesh upper, and rubber only where wear demands it — the low-frills recipe, current generation.
It suits you as the light workhorse: maintenance miles, run-club sessions, and a genuine budget pick at $125 in a market that has drifted past $160.
It is not durable the way heavier trainers are — exposed foam in the outsole has always been the Rincon's tax — and it is not plush. It is the most shoe per dollar HOKA sells, which is a different virtue.