The Best Memorial Day Weekend Deals on Running Gear
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To understand what the Hoka Mafate X is all about, you have to go back to Hoka’s origin story. Fifteen years ago, when I met Nico Mermoud at a trailhead in Boulder, Colorado, to test out a new pair of shoes from the new start-up company that was about to launch, I scoffed in disbelief when I looked at what he handed me.
He was in the early stages of helping launch Hoka’s maximally cushioned running shoes to the world, but the original pair of Hoka Mafate trail running shoes he had me try on looked and felt so freakishly cartoonish that it was hard to take him seriously.
Compared to the other trail shoes of the era, those original Mafates had much thicker midsoles and were considerably higher off the ground than any shoes I’d ever worn.
But after that initial trail run with Mermoud on Mt. Sanitas, I was sold on the concept of maximally cushioned shoes. Those original Mafate were divinely cushy with a uniquely rockered shape, relatively light (especially compared to other trail available at the time), and surprisingly stable.
You know the rest of that story: Hoka revolutionized the running shoe world with chunky midsoles that provided a unique blend of soft cushion, easy-flowing comfort, and quick-cadence performance.
A decade and a half later, the Mafate has been reborn with a carbon-fiber propulsion plate embedded in a new high-performance foam midsole, and it has changed the game again. Trail running shoes — and Hoka’s lineup of shoes — have evolved considerably since 2010, and the newly configured Hoka Mafate X has is a shoe that’s ideal for running smooth dirt trails, gravel roads, and moderately technical routes.
I’ve put the Hoka Mafate X to the test, logging about 70 miles over the past three weeks on a wide assortment of trails in Auburn, California, Boulder, Colorado, and Lynchburg, Virginia. Is it the shoe for you? Read on and to find out what I discovered.
What’s New: The Hoka Mafate X has a new three-part midsole: a forked carbon-fiber plate is sandwiched between a full-length layer of extremely responsive Peba foam on top and a soft but sturdy EVA carrier foam underneath. A durable woven upper and a Vibram Megagrip outsole round out the shoe’s high quality componentry.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Mafate X fits true to size with a medium interior volume, plenty of wiggle room in the toe box, and room for an after-market insole. (I have narrow feet, so I had to really cinch down the laces to get a secure fit and reduce slippage in what I found to be a wide heel cup.) The step-in feel is cozy and plush, thanks to the combination of a medium-thick gusseted tongue, a soft footbed, and extra padding around the heel collar.
On dirt trails and gravel roads, the ride is smooth, supportive and springy. It feels like a cushy road running shoe on mild terrain, but it also feels surprisingly stable (but not optimally nimble) on more rugged terrain. It’s not super light, but the energetic rides mostly masks the additional weight. You can feel the burst of energy provided by the foam and plate, but the forked design of the plate helps keep the shoe secure as you roll from heel-strike to toe-off.
Price: $225
Approximate Weights: 10.4 oz. (women’s size 8), 11.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 49mm (heel), 41mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: It’s a fun, energetic shoe that’s ideal for cruising on mild to moderate trail surfaces, fire roads, and gravel roads. I’m still not sure gravel running is a category, but there are certainly some trail shoes that are more adept at running mild trail terrain or mountain fire roads than others, and this is definitely one of them. It has a good mix of comfort and control and more underfoot and sidewall protection than a road can offer against sharp, jagged rocks. The road shoe cushiness feels safe, comfy, and familiar, and the reliable outsole and appropriate amount of protection is reassuring to make running on slightly rugged terrain entirely worry-free.
What You’ll Love It: I love the Hoka Mafate X because it’s a versatile shoe. While it’s best on smooth trails and gravel roads, I’ve found it to be fairly adept at handling moderately technical terrain, too. (But it’s not my first choice for extremely rugged surfaces.) If you run a variety of smooth trails, gravel roads, and semi-rugged trails and you want just one trail shoe in your quiver, this is a good one to consider. The thick midsole, wide footprint, and grippy Vibram outsole can handle rocks and roots, although the feel for the ground is a bit muted, and it’s not the most agile shoe.
(The Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL shoe I reviewed recently is better on gravel roads, while the Mafate X is better on more rugged trails.)
Pro: The responsiveness of the midsole is a vibe in all the right ways. It gives off a bouncy, lively sensation that allows consistent high-cadence stride turnover when you need it, but it has enough stability and balance to keep you from wobbling on slightly rugged surfaces.
Con: The biggest drawback of the Mafate X is the weight. The Mafate X isn’t a lightweight shoe. Because the carbon-plated midsole and rockered geometry make this shoe flow really well, I didn’t notice the extra weight running downhill or on flat surfaces. But it’s definitely noticeable while slogging up steep inclines and on longer runs (10 miles or longer) when fatigue set in.