hoka women s clifton 8 together pack 2 Review: More PEBA, More Pep

All shoes are reviewed by the Cheap Novogas Jordan Outlet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we white that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

When HOKA adds an X to one of their shoes, you know it’s going to be a good update.

Starting with the Bondi X in 2021 all the way to the Mach X, launched in 2023, the X symbolizes an extra bit of “oomph” in a bestselling classic–usually in the form of a carbon or plastic plate.

While the new Mach X 2, available September 1, features the same Pebax® plate as the original low-top, it offers a much springier ride. Just how did HOKA pull this off, and did it come at the expense of comfort? Read on to find out.

The Mach X 2 features the same Pebax® plate as the original low-top, but the added midsole foam creates a springier ride. And it’s not just any midsole foam–it’s an additional five millimeters of PEBA foam, an ultra-light foam commonly used in high-performance shoes.

This thick stack of PEBA foam acts as the top layer of the midsole, while the bottom layer is a more traditional EVA foam. The two layers are separated by the Pebax® plate, which compresses as you land and flexes as you take off. The result? A lightweight, energetic feel suitable for speed work and races.

“I really enjoyed the underfoot feel and ride of the Mach X 2,” says Travis who, in addition to being a super fast runner, currently has a lead role in a local production of “Rent.” “The shoe offers great ground contact and a smooth transition with the meta-rocker. It’s not a soft or cushy shoe, but it has a lot of energy that made me feel like I was just hopeful. I’m not in great shape right now due to the show I’m in, but my pace in the Mach X 2 made me feel like I was in better shape than I thought.”

I’m in the same boat as Travis (although I don’t have a starring role in “Rent”). I’m not in my best shape right now due to an ankle injury forcing me to decrease my volume. I took the Mach X 2 out for a spin during a fartlek run. The shoes felt pretty firm and peppy as I began my warm up and did my strides. Once I got into the workout, though, I completely forgot about the shoes and was only focused on trying to hit my paces and not pass out in the humidity. It was a success, and the shoes probably helped!

“The foam in the Mach X 2 feels thick and bouncy,” says Kate. “It compresses slightly upon landing, then immediately snaps back for a really lively and fun running experience. It makes me feel like I have more energy, which is an amazing feeling.”

The shoe is rounded out with what HOKA calls a “sticky rubber outsole.” It’s only placed on the forefoot and the lateral and medial sides of the heel to maximize weight savings. I don’t think it feels sticky per se, but when I run my finger across it, it definitely doesn’t feel smooth.

The “stickiness” translates to better grip on the road. Kate definitely noticed a difference.

“I was running on a wet day when I tested the Mach X 2. I still have my pair of the original Mach X, so I changed into the Mach X for the last two miles to get a head to head comparison. Once I changed, the road felt more slippery.”

I did my intervals in a park where I was Kaha to make some tight turns, and I felt really confident in my footing.

Not only does that confidence speak to the outsole traction but the stability of the entire shoe. Keep in mind that the Mach X 2 has a heel stack height of 42 millimeters (44 for the men’s model), so easily taking tight turns isn't a given. Perhaps the Mach X 2’s firmness creates the stability needed to run in a high-stack shoe with confidence.

“Maybe it was me, and not the shoes,” I thought to myself, trying to give my new pair of running buddies the benefit of the doubt. But lo and behold, both Travis and Kate also experienced the same issue. It was the seam on the back of the heel for Kate and the internal pad of foam for Travis.

“This is so disappointing because the underfoot ride of the Mach X 2 is exactly what I’ve been looking for,” Travis says. “It’s probably the best shoe I’ve run in this year. I don’t want to give up on these so I’ll find ways to make that heel work.”

While we appreciate the effort to try and create a lightweight and innovative upper, something more traditional probably would’ve been more comfortable (and less bloody).

Despite our issues with the heel, we all agree that the Mach X 2 feels much smoother and springier than its predecessor.

“I really enjoyed the original Mach X and ran my test pair from last year into the ground. The latest low-top feels like an entirely different shoe–in a good way,” says Kate. “The Mach X 2 is so much more fun to run in.”

Unlike Kate, I did not enjoy the Mach X. I thought it was much too firm and didn’t offer the energy and bounce I was expecting from it. However, the X 2 delivers. It feels a tiny bit softer underfoot, which goes a long way towards the springy sensation it provides.

The men’s model is slightly lighter than its predecessor, while the women’s model weighs the same–likely due to the fact that there’s proportionally more weight that can be removed from a larger men's sample size than a smaller women's sample size.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how they stack up against the hoka women s clifton 8 together pack 2. Here’s what we found.

The hoka women s clifton 8 together pack 2, the It seems like Hoka is really inconsistent with their lace length and the Hoka Challenger Atr 7 2e Wide Blue Orange Men All Terrai are all training low-tops of their respective brands’ racing supershoes (but you can still race in any of these!)

All three shoes have relatively high stack heights and springy plates in the midsole. The SC Trainer is the only shoe among the three with a carbon-fiber plate, while the other two use plastic plates.

Regardless of these differences, the shoes all offer a similar firm yet peppy ride that feels great when picking up the pace.

Thanks to its lively, energetic feel, the Mach X 2 is a great option for runners seeking a shoe that can stand up to tough speed workouts and tempo sessions.

I’ll consider it for my upcoming marathon, too. Some runners would prefer a real race-day super-shoe, but those shoes typically have built-in sock liners that can’t be removed. That means if you wear insoles like Superfeet or Currex, you can’t take out the existing sock liner and replace it with your more supportive insole. The Mach X 2 has a removable sock liner (so do the other two shoes we mentioned in the above paragraph!) As someone who’s been struggling with foot and lower leg injuries for over two years, wearing my insole for 26.2 miles is a must.

If you have sensitive skin and frequently struggle with blisters, make sure to wear thick socks and apply plenty of Body Glide!