Hoka Mach 6 Performance Review

I’ll just warn you now that this Hoka Mach 6 review is going to be a love fest. The Hoka Mach 6 is my favorite shoe since the Asics Novablast 3 and gets a perfect score. If you want someone to heap criticism on the Mach 6, you need to look elsewhere.

I was lukewarm on the Hoka Mach 5 while my co-reviewer Tyler really enjoyed it. I’ve talked to a ton of runners at shakeout runs and other events that swear by the Mach 5. Hoka took a big risk in making such a large update to a beloved series (with the exception of the Hoka Mach Supersonic, which I loved and many hated).

But big rewards go hand in hand with high risk. After running in the Hoka Mach 6, I think runners are getting rewarded with an almost perfect shoe. And I imagine Hoka will get rewarded with a lot of runners’ dollars for its effort. Let me explain why…

What Changed?

Maybe a better question about the Hoka Mach 6 is what didn’t change. Honestly, his shoe is way different than previous iterations.

Starting at the bottom of the shoe, the foam outsole is gone in favor of copious rubber coverage. I’ve run over 50 miles in these bad boys and while you can see wear in the middle and lateral side of my forefoot it’s not anything above what’s to be expected. It’s easily the most durable outsole in the history of the Hoka Mach series. The Durabrasion rubber gripped well too. Marathon pace and half marathon pace workouts on rain-soaked boardwalks and muddy pavement weren’t a problem. This is a shoe that can pick up speed and having dependable traction as you accelerate is absolutely helpful.

Moving up to the midsole, Hoka dispensed with the two foam layers, instead opting to make the whole midsole out of super critical EVA. This big change was coupled with a slight rocker change that feels more Hoka Mach X than it does Mach 5. The combination of improved midsole and rocker is a winner. It’s just as light as the Mach 5 and the 37mm heel/32mm forefoot stack offers plenty of impact protection.

But most importantly, this midsole has bounce and is just as good for long slow miles as it is for the uptempo paces that litter marathon racing schedules. It’s become my weapon of choice for marathon pace days. I’m actually eschewing carbon plated shoes to wear the Hoka Mach 6 more often. Writing this review in March, that’s a March Madness level upset.

This midsole being so adept at speed work is valuable. It’s rare to find something at the $140 price point that is so versatile and can do anything a runner needs. The midsole change from Hoka was a risk but it paid off and lets this shoe punch way above its weight class.

Finally, moving to the upper, the creel Jacquard mesh returns but the fully gusseted tongue feels more dialed in. It’s a similar fit to the Mach 5 but there’s less volume in the forefoot so the upper won’t pucker when you lace it up tight. The upper is just the cherry on top of this sundae.

Pros

• Bouncy super critical EVA midsole
• Durable and grippy Durabrasion outsole
• Lightweight
• Versatility

Cons

• Breathability

Is the Hoka Mach 6 wide foot friendly?

I wouldn’t consider the Hoka Mach 6 to be wide foot friendly. Similar to the Mach 5 and other Hoka running shoes, it’s narrow through the midfoot. The toebox is still roomy and the upper materials are fairly forgiving but wide footers will need more room. There’s a wide version available so take advantage if you need it. If you’re concerned about the fit, order from somewhere like Running Warehouse and utilize their 90-day free return policy.

Is the Hoka Mach 6 worth $140?

Yes, the Hoka Mach 6 is easily worth $140. The other shoes that can do everything the Mach 6 can do are plated and cost at least $170. The Hoka Mach 6 holds its own against the lofty heights of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 for $30 less. That’s impressive and a nice change of pace for wallets everywhere.

Hoka Mach 6 Summary

The Hoka Mach 6 is now a top contender for 2024’s running shoe of the year. It can do speed work, daily miles, and long runs while providing very good durability and a midsole with fantastic pop and impact protection. If you haven’t tried the Hoka Mach line, now’s the time. If you’re a longtime Mach fan, don’t worry about the changes, they only amplify everything you ever loved about the Mach series.

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.

Disclosure

While Hoka did send a pair of the Hoka Mach 6 to facilitate this review, they had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and have not attempted to influence it.