Hoka Mach Supersonic Performance Review

The Hoka Mach Supersonic is an upcoming Hoka shoe that zags a little from Hoka’s typical formula of high stack, super plush, chunk-tastic shoes. As you probably guessed from the name, the shoe is built to go a little faster than the typical Hoka. Think of it as a Hoka Rincon 3 with more bounce. The Mach Supersonic also has the ability to go long…which is not always the case with speedy shoes. It’s a winning formula.

Pros

Bouncy midsole

A layer of Profly+ on top of the rubberized EVA outsole works well. I could easily pick up the speed and get a little extra bounce from the supercritical Profly+. Is it as bouncy as other supercritical foams such as Brooks’ DNA Loft V3 or Puma’s Nitro? I don’t think so. But it’s hard to tell because the Mach Supersonic doesn’t have a thick layer of supercritical foam to judge. Regardless, Profly+ provides both bounce and impact protection. The impact protection is good enough to handle a lot of miles. If I were to pack one shoe for vacation, I’d pack the Hoka Mach Supersonic. Its midsole can handle any type of run and feels great doing so.

Comfy upper

Hoka does engineered jacquard mesh uppers really well. The Mach Supersonic is no exception. It’s got a well-cushioned, contoured collar with a soft tongue that’s not too thick. And while it’s maybe not as wide through the midfoot as a typical Hoka shoe (like the Hoka Kawana for example), it opens up nicely in the toe box to allow plenty of toe splay. The tongue is gusseted so it’s not going to move side to side, which is a nice touch. Hoka also gets the small details right. The heel pull tab is beefy and useful (never a given on any shoe). And to top it off, the comfy upper is vegan, a trait that’s increasingly becoming important to shoe buyers.

Great traction

I ran 75-100 miles in the Hoka Mach Supersonic because I liked it so much. Running that many miles in my test allowed me to test the traction in a wide range of weather situations. Rain, snow, ice, frost — basically every condition you can face. And through it all, the Mach Supersonic was surprisingly sure-footed. Usually, rubberized EVA can’t handle frost or ice very well. For whatever reason, the Mach Supersonic didn’t have any issues. Even when a slight slip would start, the traction would catch and prevent an all-out slide. It’s one of the best rubberized EVA outsoles I’ve ever tested.

Versatility

I sort of touched on this in the cushion section but it deserves its own bullet point. This shoe can do everything. Fast track workouts, long runs, treadmill sessions, whenever you throw on the Mach Supersonic, you’re ready. It can even be a great casual shoe. We have a lot of readers that appreciate do anything running shoes so I like to point them out when I find one.

Cons

Outsole Durability

The only quibble I have with the Mach Supersonic is the outsole durability. My high wear areas (lateral forefoot and heel) are wearing quickly. The rubberized EVA just doesn’t have the longevity of the majority of modern running shoes that utilize rubber outsoles. The exact mileage will vary based on your particular wear patterns, but after 75-100 miles it’s easy to see I’m wearing out the traction faster than normal. Is it a dealbreaker? No. Just be ready to retire them earlier than your rubber soled running shoes.

Hoka Mach Supersonic Summary

The Hoka Mach Supersonic is one of my favorite shoes of 2022 so far. It’s does everything, feels great on foot, and makes me feel bouncier than a typical daily trainer. It’s not going to be the longest-lasting shoe, but the benefits easily outweigh that one drawback.

The Mach Supersonic will be available April 1, 2022 at Hoka, Running Warehouse, and Eastbay.