Hoka Mach 5 Performance Review

The Hoka Mach 5 follows the fan-favorite Hoka Mach 4 and the Hoka Mach Supersonic, a WearTesters favorite, that was released earlier this year in April. These are a worthy successor as it appears on our overall Best Running Shoes, Best for Beginners, Best for Long Distances, and Best Hoka Running Shoes lists.

Tyler: Every Summer, I ramp up mileage and gravitate toward lightweight and faster-feeling shoes to keep my legs and feet feeling fresh. The Hoka Mach 5 couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. While there may be some quirks about it, if you’re a fan of the Mach 4, Hoka took what was already a great shoe and cooked up something fantastic for its fifth iteration.

Drew: I loved the Hoka Mach Supersonic and put a ton of miles on them. Some people I heard from didn’t like the Mach Supersonic’s upper. Personally, I thought it was comfortable and well-fitting. If the Hoka Mach 5 can reproduce similar results, I’m excited.

Pros

Comfortable Ride

Tyler: The ride and cushion of the Hoka Mach 5 easily exceed that of the Mach 4, which was nearly perfect in every way. Much of that can be attributed to the PROFLY+ construction, a dual-density setup with responsive foam right beneath the foot and rubberized EVA directly below that (we’ll get to the rubberized EVA soon). This combination leads to such a rewarding feel, both picking up the pace or picking up groceries. I typically try to keep my running shoes off my feet unless I’m running, but these started sneaking into my casual wear, which is a great sign.

Drew: To me, the Profly+ and rubberized EVA outsole combo is bouncy, protective, and an all-around winner. The stack height measurements of the Mach 5 aren’t high by today’s standards but you don’t notice the lack of foam. Contrast that with the Nike Pegasus 39, where the lack of foam results in jarring footfalls and minimal impact protection. Instead of feeling like something is missing, the Mach 5 is smooth at any speed and a reliable shoe day in and day out.

Weight

Tyler: The spec sheet says a men’s size 9 comes in at 8.2 oz (232g), and even though my 13 would add a few more grams, this thing is LIGHT. Crazy light. Disappear on your foot kind of light. With the Georgia heat really bearing down, longer runs can really hit hard, but I found that the minimal weight of the Hoka Mach 5 really shines in later miles when you don’t want anything to slow you down.

Drew: When a shoe’s stack height isn’t tall, like on the Hoka Mach 5, it has to be light. And as Tyler mentioned, the Mach 5 definitely feels light. Going fast in the Mach 5 never feels sluggish. The ounce count doesn’t even tell the whole story. The Mach 5 is well balanced between the upper and midsole/outsole to allow it to work with your foot and never against it as you might feel on a heavier daily running shoe like the Hoka Bondi 8.

Price

Tyler: $140 for the Hoka Mach 5 is a no-brainer. Considering how versatile, lightweight, and cushioned the Mach 5 is, I could see this being a $160+ shoe, but I’m glad to see Hoka keeping the price in check. I’ve already eyeballed another colorway I want, so I’ll likely be lining up for a second pair in short order and won’t be concerned with spending the money for a terrific sub-$150 shoe.

Drew: I thought the $150 price point of the Hoka Mach Supersonic was a good value proposition so paying $140 for the Hoka Mach 5 (a very similar shoe) is not a problem at all. I agree with Tyler, the Mach 5 is priced below what the market would allow.

Cons

Rubberized EVA Outsole

Tyler: Similar to the Mach 4, the Hoka Mach 5’s outsole shows wear and tear pretty quickly. Granted, I’m a bigger runner, but after an initial 5K, signs of degradation had started. Many will argue that it’s simply a result of keeping weight down, which is true, but I’d give up some weight savings to have a bit more rubber coverage on the outsole. It’s not a deal-breaker, nor has it affected performance, but I will keep an eye on it to see how it fares.

Drew: Outsole durability was my only complaint with the Mach Supersonic and it’s the same story with the Hoka Mach 5. My high wear areas (lateral forefoot and heel) are wearing quickly. The rubberized EVA outsole can’t match the longevity of the typical rubber outsoles on most modern running shoes. So yes, you’ll have to retire these sooner than you’re used to, but at that point, they can transition nicely into casual shoes.

Narrow Fit

Tyler: I talked about this during our Bondi 8 review, but the recent batch of Hoka’s I’ve tried have run a bit more narrow than in the past and the Mach 5 is no exception. While not as drastic as the Bondi, I did feel it was a more snug fit for a standard-width shoe. For those who have wider feet, I would recommend trying a wide version before committing.

Drew: Similar to the Mach Supersonic, the Hoka Mach 5 isn’t as wide as a typical Hoka shoe through the midfoot. The toebox is still roomy and the upper materials are more forgiving than the Mach Supersonic, so while a wide version won’t be a necessity, I’m glad it exists. If you’re worried about the fit, just order from somewhere like Running Warehouse and utilize their 90-day free return policy.

Hoka Mach 5 Summary

Tyler: If you liked the Mach 4, you’ll love the Hoka Mach 5. With its peppier underfoot feel and a bit more overall cushion, it’s a fast and fluid ride that can handle a wide variety of runs. Not to mention, it looks fast and is fast! At $140, this is a shoe that you need in your rotation.

Drew: To sum it up, the Hoka Mach 5 is a lightweight, comfortable, bouncy, and right-priced daily running shoe. True, the outsole durability could be better, but you won’t regret grabbing it, it’s that good.