Hoka Mafate X Performance Review

Many of us remember the first time we saw the Hoka Stinson (which recently rereleased), an absolute behemoth of a trail running shoe, stacked high with foam to help alleviate all the impact ultra running inevitably heaps on our bodies. Over the following years, until very recently, brands focused on slimming down trail midsoles and moving to more conventional setups that allowed more groundfeel and stability. Now, as evidenced by a trove of new concepts at TRE, we’re seeing the max stack make a trail running comeback.

The new Hoka Mafate X is a high-tech take on the Stinson of old, with dual-layered foams and a carbon plate making the shoe less of a hulking lug and more of a legit runner. This shoe represents a whole new concept (one where we’ll see other brands follow suit) of a max-cushioned, max-comfort trail racer. 

While Hoka earns some kudos for being one of the first to foray into this category, early innovators can often struggle in the trail space. Let’s see if the Hoka Mafate X can live up to its promising concept.

What is the Hoka Mafate X?

The Hoka Mafate X is a max-cushioned, plated trail shoe meant for long days on the trail where comfort and results matter. Hoka promises “[p]eak plushness for tenacious trail efforts” and throws down the gauntlet by saying, “[t]here’s a new trail titan in town.”

Though the marketing language is flowery, you’ll find the “peak plushness” claim is fairly accurate. And while “new trail titan” seems bold, if Hoka is using “titan” to mean “gigantic in size” then that would also be accurate – at least in comparison to many other trail shoes.

Cushion/Midsole/Support

Sam: The Hoka Mafate X is not short on cushion. The ample midsole is made up of a PEBA core layer and a supercritical EVA carrier with a forked carbon plate sandwiched in between. A rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame and classic Hoka Smooth MetaRocker adds chassis support and flow to the construction. On paper, it’s a pretty solid combination to give you comfort and support as well as an element of propulsion. As always, a higher stack can come with some stability issues, but Hoka opted to engineer a two-part midsole to help provide a frame-like support to your foot and stride.

The Hoka Mafate X is assuredly the highest stack shoe I’ve worn since my pair of the original Altra Olympus, and at first, it’s a shocking adjustment to get used to that much foam underneath your foot (and the added weight that comes with this much shoe). You can certainly feel all the stack height upon stepping into the shoe, and it may take a little adjustment to get used to it if you haven’t run much in max-cushion shoes. 

With great stack comes great comfort [Editor’s Note: Now that’s how you bastardize a famous saying]. I quickly found that the Hoka Mafate X provides plenty of cushion. It’s a nice break – especially during high-mileage weeks – to hop into these shoes and let the trail flow beneath you. The supercritical EVA carrier is a little stiff, but I’ve found it broke in nicely and, coupled with the PEBA core, gives me some extra bounce to extract more out of my legs when they’re tired and heavy. I’ve really enjoyed these shoes on some longer-mileage days and as mellow cruisers when I want to feel as little impact as I can. 

I don’t notice the carbon plate a ton, except for when I’m striding it out and the plate snaps back. This added pop made the Mafate X really fun for me. Often on easy or longer days, I’ll throw in some pickups and open up the stride. I’ve found that, despite the weight, the Mafate X speeds up quite nicely. The plate is somewhat noticeable going uphill, where this shoe is a little on the stiffer side and may not be what you’d expect from a Hoka. I avoided a ton of steep terrain in the Mafate X for that reason. 

Naturally, this much stack will lead to some instability, although admittedly not as much as I would’ve expected. The rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame, albeit a mouthful, helps provide some lateral chassis support that I felt kept my foot over the shoe, which is already blessed with a wide footprint. I’d definitely keep the Mafate X off of technical terrain to get the most enjoyment you can out of them, though.

Drew: I spend significantly less time on technical terrain than Sam does, and that was apparently to my benefit with the Hoka Mafate X. On the smoother trails I frequent, the max-cushion midsole and Hoka’s patented MetaRocker made the ride incredibly smooth. The PEBA top layer combined with the structure of the carbon fiber H-plate and supercritical EVA chassis create a shoe that’s super plush on landing but stiffens for some propulsion as the footstrike moves from the heel/midfoot to the toe.

It’s a luxury ride for the trails that compares favorably to the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide while delivering a slightly smoother experience. Because of that, I have no trouble recommending the Hoka Mafate X as both a trail running shoe and a hiking shoe. Whether it’s used for hiking or running, the midsole reduces so much impact that those who find trail adventures jarring will be treated to a completely different experience where the shoe absorbs the majority of the impact.

This setup left me often feeling like I was running on pillows – stable pillows as the support is very good for such a high stack, owing to the wide build, chassis, heel counter, and well-built upper. It’s not a great midsole design for speed, but my body felt great after runs. The Hoka Mafate X may be the most protective trail shoe on the market.

Traction

Sam: The outsole on this shoe has drawn a lot of attention, notably for the design, which features smiley faces, tacos, and even some frowny faces (why the frowns though? Running is fun). It’s a Vibram Megagrip compound with 3.5mm lugs, which to Hoka standards is on the lighter side. Most of the lug shapes are triangular or rectangular, with some deeper rivets and grooves in the outsole to save weight and provide more gripping texture (which Hoka calls Zonal rubber). 

As with most Megagrip outsoles, the rubber is sticky, and I haven’t had a ton of issues with grip, especially on the less technical terrain I’ve been frequenting with this shoe. Mellow and buffed singletrack is going to be just fine, and you won’t have an issue going up or downhill. I also think the shorter lugs make for a less clunky ride, allowing the Mafate X to run better over smooth terrain. 

My one concern with this outsole is the durability. I am seeing some wear to the outsole after about 100 miles, and I don’t think the pizza/taco pattern lends itself to longevity [Editor’s Note: though in concept, it does lend itself to deliciousness]. I wouldn’t be surprised if the outsole shows some serious wear by 200-250 miles, but right now that’s just a guess.

Drew: I too am not sure why all the faces on the heel lugs are frowning. I was never frowning while wearing the Hoka Mafate X. The only time I frowned was looking at the wear on the traction. Sam’s right, this outsole won’t last as long as some others as it appears softer than a typical Vibram Megagrip outsole. That said, the outsole still grabs and holds in the way I expect Vibram Megagrip to perform, even downhill when I was most worried about tipping over due to the stack height.

Upper

Sam: The Hoka Mafate X’s upper is a woven textile pattern with varying degrees of mesh thickness. Some spots are light to allow for venting, while others have a denser weave or full-on overlay. A gusseted tongue and sockliner cup your foot in place, while the tongue features a dynamic vamp up towards the forefoot. The heel counter is a molded TPU and does not feature the same outward construction as the Mafate Speed 4, which I prefer as I feel it lets less debris into the shoe. 

The upper is fairly lightweight, and I appreciate the mesh pattern that allows good breathability. The weave construction minimizes clunkiness while ensuring you’ve got enough support in the right areas. I was easily able to lock my foot down and appreciated the extra padding on the tongue to avoid any lace bite. 

You’ll notice the TPU heel counter that adds a lot of structure to the back of the shoe. I liked this feature as a means of providing stability to my heel lockdown area without sacrificing on comfort. It’s an enjoyable upper for me – not the lightest in the industry by any means, but similar to other Hoka offerings like the Speedgoat 6 or Mafate Speed 4. I haven’t had any issues with rubbing or movement of my foot. So far so good with this upper. 

Drew: The upper on the Hoka Mafate X is a good mix of breathability, lockdown, and comfort. The gusseted tongue, with its low-profile padding along with the well-cushioned back collar, help continue the luxurious underfoot ride to the most necessary areas around the foot. The rest of the upper is strong but minimal, allowing airflow with TPU overlays in all the right places to protect the foot from kicking rocks or roots. 

The team that designed the Hoka Mafate X clearly does a lot of trail running and knows where to beef up a max-comfort shoe and where to save weight. This upper is well thought out and perfectly complements the underfoot experience.

Is the Hoka Mafate X wide foot friendly?

Sam: The footprint of this shoe is pretty wide, so I’d give it a thumbs up for wide feet. 

Drew: Yes, the Hoka Mafate X is wide-foot friendly. It widens nicely at the forefoot for toe splay while providing some extra room in the back for those who need it.

Is the Hoka Mafate X worth $225?

Sam: Anything over $200 is hard to endorse, but if you’re someone who loves max cushioning, this could be a game changer for your next ultra.

Drew: $225 is going to be a hard sell for anyone who doesn’t run on trails multiple times each week. But, for those who live on the trails, whether hiking or running, the Hoka Mafate X represents a great shoe to have in your rotation due to its ability to save the body a lot of wear and tear. Occasional trail runners will find better options on our best trail shoe list.

How to use the Hoka Mafate X

It’s best to reserve the Hoka Mafate X for those long, flowy days. Anytime you have a trail run or hike that allows you to rely on the shoe for some comfort and pep, this is an easy reach. And, if your legs have taken damage over the course of the week and you need some extra comfort for a longer run or hike, the Mafate X is perfect.

Hoka Mafate X Summary

Sam: I have really enjoyed the Hoka Mafate X so far. Upon reading some initial reviews, I worried the shoe would be too clunky. What I’ve found is that the clunkiness can turn into somewhat of an advantage on the right terrain. This midsole provides enough pop and response to let you taste the race stride when you want to but still has plenty of cushion to allow you to pound the trails for hours. 

The carbon plate might throw some of you off going uphill, and that’s understandable. Where this shoe really excels is mellow and flowy trails that gently undulate or remain level. The outsole is a bit on the light side for me, so I’ll plan to keep these shoes to predictable terrain and don’t anticipate any issues. Although the shoe itself is a new concept, I think it serves a purpose for those who want something with more beef than your typical plated racer but still want some bounce to their stride. 

Drew: The Hoka Mafate X is the ultimate leg-saver for trail runners or hikers who put in large quantities of miles off-road. Using the Mafate X to preserve the legs for speedier or more technical days allows it to do what it does best: impact protection. Though the outsole is a mixed bag, the Mafate X is well-built and ready for long trail adventures. And when used correctly, the Mafate X will keep its wearers ready for the most daunting trail adventures.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): 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.

Sam Lohse (age 28, 6’0″, 170 lbs): Runs daily, sometimes morning/night doubles, with one rest day a week (typically). Hangs right around 40-50 miles a week in general unless in race-specific training. Races distances from 50K to 100 miles, almost always on the trails.

Disclosure

While Hoka did provide a pair of the Mafate X 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.