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The Hoka Mach X 3 is a master of all training paces, capable of running at whatever speed and distance your training plan prescribes.
While Hoka has made a splash with several of its new shoes this year—including the Mafate X, Rocket X 3, Rocket X Trail—the brand has also been reinvigorating most of the existing models in its lineup of training shoes.
The latest shoe to get a rejuvenation is the Mach X 3. After a major overhaul last year, only minor adjustments were made to this year’s version of this versatile everyday trainer. But that’s a sign that the shoe is in a good place with only little improvements necessary, kind of like the updated edition of a sports utility vehicle with all the technological details and creature comforts.
What has always been interesting about the Mach X shoes is that it has been a multi-hyphenate model, one that can be a do-it-all everyday trainer, a speedy tool for faster workouts, and even a racing shoe for some runners. Is it a true super trainer? It doesn’t have a carbon-fiber plate and it’s not exceptionally light like some other shoes in that category, but it does offer more versatility than most. There are a handful of shoes that can do a lot of things pretty well—speed workouts, long runs, recovery runs, race-pace efforts—but the Mach X 3 is one that can do most of those things exceptionally well.
What’s New: Hoka enhanced this shoe from the previous edition with a softer tongue, a more breathable upper, and a refined collar. These enhancements improved the ability to create a secure, locked-down fit. Otherwise, it retains a similarly responsive Peba/EVA dual-density midsole, a snappy Pebax propulsion plate, a speed-centric MetaRocker geometry, and an adhesive rubber outsole for optimal handling.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Hoka Mach X 3 fits true to size with a narrow/medium-volume interior and plenty of wiggle room in the toe box. (It only comes in a standard width, and there’s not a lot of space for an aftermarket footbed once you pull the thin sockliner out.) Once you lace it up and start running, the step-in feel is moderately soft and compact, but not overly cushy or plush. Although the midsole feels responsive, it lacks an overly bouncy sensation that some shoes have and tends to take on a moderately firm sensation out on the run.
The interior comfort has been improved with a thinly padded tongue, a more breathable and pliable upper, more padding around the ankle collar and a new flared heel design to ease any strain on a runner’s Achilles tendon. The tongue is not gusseted (even partially like last year’s edition), but the new minimally reinforced upper does a good job of locking down your feet and contributing to the shoe’s agile sensation.
The ride is similar to the previous edition of the Mach X—smooth, snappy, and nimble. It’s soft enough to feel cushioned, lively enough to feel speedy, and propulsive enough to let you switch gears on the fly.
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Price: $190
Approximate Weights: 9.4 oz. (women’s size 8); 10.1 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: women’s: 4mm; 42mm (heel); 38mm (forefoot);
men’s: 5mm; 44mm (heel); 39mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: It stands out because it’s very cushioned and very lively, yet it doesn’t have the bulky feel of a typical max-cushioned trainer. Most highly cushioned shoes tend to feel thick, mushy, and somewhat unstable underfoot, but this one rides more like a lower-profile, grounded, and stable shoe. How does it pull that off? Part of it comes from the dual-density midsole, which has a layer of springy Peba foam on top and a firmer layer of EVA on the bottom. Plus, the winged Pebax plate embedded in the midsole adds a touch of responsiveness and stability in the forefoot without the sharp stiffness you’ll find in a carbon-plated model, allowing the shoe to flex naturally as it rolls from midstance through toe-off.
Combined with the semi-firm midsole foam, rocker geometry, and overall agility, the design makes the shoe’s stack height almost disappear—giving you cushioning while still letting you sense the ground beneath you.
Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love the Mach X 3 for its versatility. It blends comfort, cushioning, bounce, and propulsion into a single package—a very good balance that’s hard to find in other everyday trainers. For many runners, that versatility makes it the go-to option when you’d rather rely on one shoe in your quiver for every type of run instead of switching pairs.
I’ve worn the Mach X 3 for all types of run—long runs, tempo efforts, and easy recovery days—and it has consistently delivered more speed than I expected without extra effort. Long runs have felt more energetic, midweek easy miles moved along quicker, and my post-run strides had a sharper snap. Although I have not raced in it, I think it could be a half marathon or marathon shoe—particularly for runners who prefer a softer ride over the harshness of a carbon-plated shoe during longer efforts.
Why You Might Not Like It: Because of the stack height and cushioning, some runners will feel it lacks the propulsive pop and energy return race-day of carbon plated shoes. It serves up some energy-returning bounciness, but not the buzz of a carbon-plated super-trainer. But that might be just fine for novice runners or someone aiming for a marathon time between 3:30 to 5:00, especially because what it sacrifices in energy return it makes up for in cushioning and stability.
Pro: The Pebax plate contributes to the forward momentum and propulsion of the Mach X 3, creating smoother transitions and helping you pick up speed without the stiffness or harshness often found in plated shoes. It delivers a responsive, “snappy” ride, but with a gentler feel than a full carbon plated super-shoe—striking a balance that makes this shoe adaptable across different types of runs.
Con: This year’s version is actually slightly heavier than Mach X 2. The added comfort, structural tweaks, and redesigned upper come with some additional weight, pushing it over the 10-ounce plateau for a men’s size 9.0 and above 9.4 ounces for a women’s size 8.0. Although still propulsive, that will start to limit its ability to be an effective speed trainer for some runners. (For reference, the light and fast Adidas Adizero Evo SL and ASICS Megablast are each more than 2 ounces lighter.)
About the Author
Senior editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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