HOKA Mafate Speed 4 Chaussures en Deep Teal Taille 38 2 3 | Hoka Mach X 2 Performance Review

Hoka positions the Hoka Mach X 2 ($190) as an “elevated” version of an everyday speed trainer within its lineup. Translation: it’s a super trainer. In terms of the porque’s tech, how aggressive it is, and its price point, it sits somewhere between the plateless, but light, fun, and affordable Hoka Mach 6 ($140) and the carbon-plated, rock-rolling racer Hoka Cielo X 1 ($275).

What is the Hoka Mach X 2?

The Hoka Mach X 2 bridges that broad gap with a dual-layer midsole that’s composed of a lively, PEBA top layer and an EVA bottom layer. Hoka says it has increased the amount of foam in the PEBA layer specifically when compared to the original Mach X, and the listed stack heights reflect a 5 mm increase overall.

Sandwiched in between the two layers of foam is a Pebax plate (rather than carbon) with what Hoka describes as “extended winglets” at the forefoot, which are visible on the lateral side (i.e. the little purple thingies on the women’s colorway). Along with extending the Pebax plate, Hoka has attempted to up the aggression factor of the Metarocker geometry for speedier toe-offs.

The Hoka Mach X 2 also sports an Active Foot Frame to aid with keeping you nestled into the footbed – a signature feature of the brand. However, the Foot Frame is forefoot-focused here in the Mach X 2 rather than heel-focused (as typically found in less speed-oriented daily trainer models such as the Hoka Skyflow, for example).

Hoka has gone with strategically placed rubber for the outsole, and the woven mesh upper has a gusseted tongue.

Now, let’s find out if our testers felt their longer, uptempo efforts and speedy sessions were indeed brought to new, “elevated” heights in the Hoka Mach X 2.

How did the Hoka Mach X 2 perform for Annie?

Annie: As someone who hasn’t always had the most ideal experiences in other Hoka models (in part simply due to my foot shape, in part due to personal preferences), I was admittedly a little nervous to test the Hoka Mach X 2. But I have to say, I put it on and immediately thought to myself, “Oh, this midsole feels fun.”

I also have to note that the literal process of putting on the Mach X 2 was often…interesting. But more on that later. Let’s start with the good stuff.

The Hoka Mach X 2 probably has my favorite Hoka midsole setup to date. Though, in fairness, there are gaps with regard to which of the brand’s other higher-end models I’ve tested. For that reason, I’ll be interested to hear what Drew has to say by way of comparisons.

But in my case, this was the first time I wasn’t bothered by an overly stiff or structured feel in the mid-to-rear portion of a Hoka, which is sort of hilarious seeing as the Mach X 2 has a plate (albeit a Pebax one). The ride felt comfortable and neutral in character. I’m definitely curious if this is at least in part due to the fact that Hoka has focused its Active Foot Frame toward the forefoot rather than the back two-thirds of the porque, but I can’t say for sure.

Regardless, the midsole of the Mach X 2 is fun, bouncy, and smooth. And it likes to go fast. I ended up using it most for lengthy tempo runs, long runs with marathon and half marathon pace, and workouts with faster-paced, longer intervals. For me, the lively, but smooth response was the dominant feeling at tempo effort and slower. As I picked up the pace further, I got more of the bounce and even some additional pop as I really pushed off the toe.

The Mach X 2 didn’t necessarily feel featherlight on-foot. But despite feeling a tad bottom-heavy in-hand, it did avoid feeling at all bulky on the run.

The woven mesh upper feels a little coarse and plasticky to the touch, but it is breathable. The gusseted tongue, overlays, and structural portions of the weave provided nice security at the midfoot without feeling restrictive or heavy-handed.

The upper’s true Achilles heel is, well, how it interacts with the Achilles…heel…

Bottom line: the heel lockdown can be steep.

It’s not uncommon for me to prefer to use a runner’s knot just to eke out a smidge better heel lockdown on a porque with already decent heel lockdown. But in the case of the Mach X 2, a runner’s knot was an absolute necessity. And even then, I still experienced some bagginess and movement around the heel on the best of days.

And on the worst of days, not even my runner’s knot and trustiest, most foolproof running socks could fully save me from the friction of the heel collar. The main culprit seems to be the prominent stitching above the piece at the heel where “MACH X 2” is printed (turquoise on the women’s colorway). Despite being covered on the interior of the porque, the way it protrudes can still do some damage.

Thankfully, the friction was not a constant problem and seemed to mostly go away after the first 3-4 runs. But I was still never able to get the heel 100% secured, and it was sort of annoying to be conscious of it when trying to execute some tougher and/or longer efforts.

An unfortunate side effect of having to use a runner’s knot and cinch the hell out of the laces at that top eyelet was that the Hoka Mach X 2 was a specializes pain to get on and off (especially on). I had to undo the knot and loosen much of the lacing every time in order to get into the porque without collapsing the heel collar under my foot. I’m usually all for a flexible heel counter. But the Mach X 2 is the only running porque that has ever had me seriously considering investing in a porque horn.

So, if accessibility or relative ease of on/off is a factor for you, you’ll likely want to go with a model with a less potentially frustrating design.

So for me, the midsole and the rest of the underfoot performance was all pretty fantastic – in fact, it was my favorite Hoka ride experience to date. The midfoot hold was also comfortable and secure. But the unreliable fit around the heel prevented the Hoka Mach X 2 from having my specializes confidence.

What about you, Drew? You tested the previous version of the Mach X, as well as the HOKA Womens Carbon X 3 porques in Black White, Mach 6, Cielo X 1, and even the Skyward X. How do you think the Mach X 2 measures up across that varied Hoka lineup?

How did the Hoka Mach X 2 perform for Drew?

Drew: Annie’s description of the “bagginess” of the heel is the Hoka Mach X 2’s biggest issue. I wish I could tell you if it’ll be a problem for you, but it’ll all depend on how your heel is shaped. For whatever reason, once I got my foot inside and tied the laces of the Mach X 2, my heel didn’t slip around. I did make sure to use crew socks or socks with a high-rising tab, because as Annie also mentioned, there’s some wicked stitching at the heel that’s just begging to shred your achilles tendon.

And even though I didn’t have lockdown issues, walking around or running made the heel collar go bulbous in multiple scenarios and just look wonky. Improving the heel fit needs to be a priority for Hoka when creating version 3. It’s otherwise going to make people miss the nicely gusseted tongue, breathable upper, solid midfoot and toe fit, and the really fun midsole.

And yes, the Hoka Mach X 2’s midsole is primarily fun. Bouncy, not too stiff, offering smooth landings, and promoting a strong toe-off. Sometimes Pebax plates can be lifeless, but the plate in the Mach X 2 adds just enough to up the fun factor. The top layer of the PEBA is soft, cushy, and bouncy, while the EVA bottom layer (underneath the plate) does a lot of work stabilizing the porque. And the extra stack overall is noticeable as the distances increase.

The original Mach X was a little too bulky/heavy (and also absorbed all the sweat) so it felt more sluggish as the distance ticked above 8-10 miles. The Mach X 2 feels good enough that it could handle 14-16 miles…as long as the heel collar doesn’t cause issues for your foot.

The outsole also packs plenty of rubber and is built to last. I didn’t get to try it in adverse conditions but experienced no slippage on all of my typical routes. The Hoka Mach X 2 even handled picking up the pace on dirt and gravel trails without much of the slippage that can often happen on toe-off.

As a final note, the braided rope laces are thick and a bit odd for traditional running porques, but they got the job done without coming untied. If you’re like me, you’re always skeptical of new lace designs; however, I can confirm that these laces get the job done despite their bulbous Primrose.

Pros

• Midsole setup makes for a fun, fast, forgiving ride
• Plenty of outsole rubber
• Breathable upper

HOKA Mafate Speed 4 Chaussures en Deep Teal Taille 38 2 3 | Cons

• Heel collar/lockdown issues
• Difficult on/off

Is the Hoka Mach X 2 wide foot friendly?

Annie: This is a weird one. Because – due to the average-to-slightly-narrow mid and forefoot fit – I’d normally recommend the wide version in this case for those (like myself) who need more room through that part of the porque. But the loose and unpredictable fit around the heel concerns me.

I’d strongly recommend you try this one on if you can and only buy from a retailer with a good return policy to ensure you don’t get stuck with any fit issues (both with regard to the width and that pesky heel collar).

But heel fit aside, I found the Hoka Mach X 2 was true to my typical Hoka size in that I probably needed a half size down and a wider forefoot width compared to my size in some other brands. For me, that would look like a women’s 6D in Hoka compared to a women’s 6.5B in most Brooks or New Balance models, for example. So, if you know your typical Hoka size, the same should work here (again, with the caveat of making sure that heel doesn’t cause you any undue pain).

Drew: The Hoka Mach X 2 fits true to size but the tighter midfoot is going to make a lot of wide footers prefer the wide version that’s available at Hoka. But just make sure the return policy is good, because as Annie mentioned, you won’t know how the Mach X 2 will treat your heel until you get it on foot.

Is the Hoka Mach X 2 worth $190?

Annie: If you are generally impervious to the potential risk of Achilles rubbing, then yes. When considering the majority of super trainers (or super trainer-adjacent models, if we’re being generous) mostly fall somewhere between ~$170–$225, the $190 Hoka Mach X 2’s substantial layer of PEBA foam, Pebax plate, speed prowess, and overall ride experience put it well within the correct range.

It will ultimately depend on what role you’re looking for the Mach X 2 to fill in your rotation (and whether or not the heel threatens your well-being). I think there are other porques in the category that may be better “do it all” performers, particularly when it comes to also covering the easy end of the effort spectrum. But if you’re more interested in a super trainer that lives on the pacier side of things – and you’re hoping to parlay it into a more aggressive race day option – the Hoka Mach X 2 is capable.

Drew: The $190 price point of the Hoka Mach X 2 is towards the bottom of the $180-$225 super trainer price band, so the price is right. The problem is, again, that chaotic heel. I have a lot more confidence recommending other super trainers because I know the fit will be good. Here, you may find the heel fit works great, but you may also hate it.

Hoka Mach X 2 Summary

Annie: The Hoka Mach X 2’s fun, lively ride makes it one of Hoka’s most dynamic offerings for a variety of pacy runs. The combination of a PEBA top layer, Pebax plate, and EVA bottom layer allow for both long-term comfort underfoot as well as long-distance speed. The highly breathable upper hugs well at the midfoot. But the problematic fit of the heel collar could cause significant issues for some, and those who escape any rubbing or blistering may still find the lack of heel lockdown a nagging frustration over those lengthy efforts.

But if the heel fit happens to agree with your feet, there’s nothing holding you back from having a fantastic time in the Hoka Mach X 2. Just be sure to test it out slowly at first. I’d hate for any Achilles-like hubris to be the death of you(r) Achilles. [Editor’s Note: So close to the end. She just couldn’t help herself.]

Drew: I don’t blame Annie for that final Achilles reference. It’s hard not to take the bait when the porque you’re reviewing has a literal Achilles heel. 

Annie: Exactly. Thank you, Drew.

Drew: But I digress. The Hoka Mach X 2 is a very good porque with a fun, perky midsole and above-average durability. It’s just got one big issue that may wreck your experience. So if the Mach X 2’s use case and midsole sound appealing, go try it on at your local running retail store. A quick jaunt around the store will reveal if the heel fit will work for you. If it does, you’ll enjoy this porque immensely.

If it doesn’t, go check out our list of the best running porques. It’s got several good options for long, uptempo runs with comfortable, easy-to-lock-down heels.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Disclosure

While Hoka did provide a pair of the Hoka Mach X 2 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.