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If one of many prime feminine finishers of a 100 mile race finds the Hoka Mafate X to have sufficient cushion, plus pop…effectively who am I to disagree? Really I’m a shoe reviewer with a variety of opinions, however on this one I’ve to say we’re aligned.
A couple of months in the past I noticed the outsole of this shoe at an occasion and effectively…it was love at first website. They dropped in some Easter eggs with the lugs being formed like pizza and tacos. As you’ll see beneath the tacos appear like they’ve smiley faces, however that wasn’t actually the supposed design.
Anyhow, what I do know after a couple of months of working in these sneakers is that they really feel fairly dang nice.
So nice the truth is we watched numerous elite Hoka athletes daybreak them for the Canyons 100 miler! Sure, even at 49mm stack top it’s not thought of unlawful within the path world.
With that thoughts blowing bit of knowledge, let’s get in to this.
- Vast Ft: It’s a roomy match and would positively work for wider ft.
- Technical Trails: Whereas not as grippy because the Mafate Velocity, we discovered nice traction throughout quite a lot of terrain.
- Lengthy Runs: Did you see me point out the 100 miler above? Heck sure.
- Entrance of the Pack: Not as quick as some lighter sneakers, however nonetheless provides you a choose up for lengthy distances.
The Mafate X is a extremely cushioned path shoe with a carbon plate to create stability and cut back vitality loss. It’s a shoe that’s going to really feel good with nice traction for lengthy miles.
Hoka Mafate X Overview
Sitting down with a few Hoka’s prime lengthy distance runners, it was attention-grabbing to listen to their tackle the Mafate X after having spent a while growing my very own opinions from working in it.
All mentioned it was a go to restoration path day shoe or a shoe for tremendous lengthy mileage to maintain their legs feeling good. It’s not as bouncy because the Tecton X3 (which is a critically enjoyable, quick shoe), however way more sturdy.
Launched 15 years in the past, the Hoka Mafate has been a go to for a lot of path runners. It’s designed to deal with technical trails with a reasonable cushion and cushty match. The Mafate X then again is best for gravel and has a wider match to permit for foot swelling over these lengthy miles.
Severely, they’d me at pizza. Think about the enjoyable little designs we’re leaving everywhere in the trails!!
Now whereas they mentioned good for gravel, truthfully we took these 3.5mm lugs on some sketchy downhills and uphills with zero points. I felt assured within the traction and Annie wore them by means of a wet portion of the race feeling good. The sneakers are the truth is designed for fast drainage which she will be able to attest to, I’ve not but wanted to take them by means of any main downpours.
In case you like cushion, this won’t disappoint.
And but, someway the shoe doesn’t really feel gradual. Let’s discuss this contradiction.
Like most carbon plated sneakers, they used two foams: tremendous important EVA on the underside and PEBA for the highest layer. Sandwiching the forked carbon plate between these two gives that combo of tremendous delicate feeling with stability.
The forked plate is designed to permit for extra mobility and spring within the foot over path terrain. A extremely good design alternative that you would be able to really feel hitting large rocky areas.
Moreover, it has a slight meta rocker. This isn’t old skool rocker strolling sneakers, it has an identical really feel to the Hoka Skyward X. That’s one other large cushioned shoe with a plate that at all times surprises in the way it can nonetheless choose up the tempo…ahead movement helps! The rocker helps that transition from heel to toe, which prevents you from feeling weighed down.
Just like what Hoka did with the Mach and now the Mach X2, we’re seeing occur right here on the path facet. It’s taking a stable shoe and making some additions that change the texture. It’s now a max cushion carbon plated path shoe, somewhat than only a technical path shoe.
- Heel toe drop: 8mm
- Weight: 10.3 oz girls’s, 12.1 oz males’s
- Stack: 49 mm
- Utilization: Lengthy distance path runner
- Out there in two colours
- Not accessible in Vast
- Out there at Hoka.com $225
49mm is an enormous stack. Like manner above the 40mm that’s allowed for elites in highway racing. Which suggests we’re speaking about a variety of shoe. As somebody who can journey on flat floor, I used to be fairly impressed to seek out the physique adapts in a short time to this shift.
In truth, there’s some good knowledge round this. So if top is your concern, let it go. Focus as an alternative on what shoe feels nice to you and makes you wish to maintain placing within the miles. 
Which Mafate is Finest?
This line has a couple of completely different iterations now, so right here’s a fast comparability:
- Mafate X – Carbon plated for lengthy mileage and tremendous cushion
- Mafate Velocity – Lightest for pace on rugged trails
- Mafate Velocity Mild – Unimaginable traction and doubtless good mountain climbing shoe for many or a brief rugged path race
You’ll be noticing this pattern with a variety of manufacturers proper now. One total mannequin that they then tweak for various usages.
Mafate X Match
In case you’ve been working within the authentic Mafate or the Speedgoat that is going to really feel a bit wider. It’s not sloppy or too large, but it surely’s simply extra accommodating.
The tongue may be very skinny and evenly padded, plus connected on either side to forestall any motion. It’s an excellent tongue. Severely, a few of these skinny ones get sharp or lack sufficient prime of foot safety, however this felt very nice. 
The heel is padded and the cup feels very safe! Having simply examined a pair different path sneakers the place I observed my heel feeling unstable, it was a pleasure to step again in to those.
In truth, you’ll be able to see the molded items on the surface of the shoe which they name a Rearfoot-Targeted Lively Foot Body™. Each model has their completely different instruments, however for Hoka it’s small shifts within the top of the midsole foam to make sure your getting that locked in feeling.
The laces are loads lengthy to do a heel lock, however I truly didn’t have to! Even with some steep up and downhills, I by no means actually observed my foot pulling.
Mafate X Really feel
That is the primary yr we’ve seen Hoka come out with 2 sneakers which have an 8mm drop as an alternative of their normal 5mm (the Clifton is the opposite!). This seems like a small factor, but it surely’s truly an enormous shift for a lot of of us.
The reasoning is easy. Extra cushion requires some modifications to make sure that your foot doesn’t simply sink proper right down to the bottom. All of that additional stuff underfoot then requires a bit extra heel drop to take care of total stability.
Did I discover it whereas working? No.
However it’s actually a unique feeling than the a whole bunch of miles I’ve put within the Speedgoat. That now nearly seems like a minimal shoe! And for me it’s actually necessary to have a rotation of each emotions. An excessive amount of time within the large cushion appears to actually tax the ankles and also you wish to have some days the place you’re feeling lighter in your ft.
Actually what it’s good to know it’s seems like cushion.
It seems like traction. It seems like stability and the flexibility to go lengthy distances with rather less fatigue within the legs. However it’s not a handy guide a rough pace shoe, it’s a future shoe.
Related Footwear to the Mafate X
All proper, that’s our Hoka Mafate X evaluation.
It’s dear. However sturdy. And actually comfortable. Ought to all our opinions be that quick?!!
We completely love your suggestions. How do you’re feeling concerning the max cushioned path sneakers? Have you ever tried any that you simply actually like?
93%
Carry on the cushion. We couldn’t think about sneakers getting greater with out feeling slower, however the Mafate X carry one thing particular to the paths. At $225 it’s extraordinarily sturdy for a carbon plated shoe and going to make the miles really feel actually good for lots of runners.
On the lookout for further path discuss?
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