Hoka Mafate 5 Assessment | Path Plushness We Can Get Behind

When Hoka mentioned plush they meant plush with the Mafate 5.  With the primary replace to Hoka’s path franchise since 2022, the Hoka Mafate 5 got here out as a strong path shoe that may put within the miles day in and time out.

With a better stack top, modified up foam mixture, and deep lugs that is an all day, all of the miles form of path shoe.  The Mafate 5 can put in all of the miles however possibly not all of the forms of trails.

As coaching for my fall race ramps up the Mafate 5 goes to make it into the common shoe rotation.  My drained legs have been as glad as drained legs may be operating these lengthy miles in these footwear.  So from my perspective Hoka’s updates have been for the higher.

And a enjoyable element is the higher has the HOKA UTMB Mont Blanc course map on it.  I’m a sucker for these hidden in plain sight issues.

Hoka Mafate 5 Overview

That prime stack top makes the mid-sole distinguished, however the Hoka Mafate 5 isn’t a very cumbersome shoe prefer it simply might have been.  

Hoka has dropped the Velocity from the identify, elevated the heel-to-toe drop from 4 mm to eight mm, and elevated the stack top from 33 mm to 45 mm for starters for the Mafate 5. (Checkout our evaluate of the Mafate 4 Velocity to see the variations.)

With the primary replace since 2022, this would possibly really feel like a wholly totally different shoe to some however nonetheless sustaining a few of the greatest emotions of previous fashions.  Hoka has additionally dropped “racing” from their greatest use description, however I’d put this as a contender for a path extremely any day. 

The Mafate 5 has a curved TPU plate that helps keep the rocker form by means of all of the miles referred to as Hoka’s Rocker Integrity Know-how.  I had no concept this shoe had any sort of plate because it simply feels secure, not stiff like some plated footwear. 

However I’m guessing this delicate little plate is what offers that good little little bit of vitality return.  

Whereas the Mafate 5 is barely heavier than the Mafate Velocity 4, I didn’t suppose that these felt like overly heavy footwear.  I actually appreciated the cushioning once I wanted to get miles in on drained legs and a drained mind.

I at all times love a shoe that I can simply overlook about once I’m out on a run.  This was positively a shoe that I might simply simply get misplaced within the miles with.

I perceive with the duel-density foam mid-sole that it has a excessive stack top, however it typically felt that I didn’t have an incredible connection to the path at instances.  So long as I wasn’t tearing down a steep descent I might overlook this and felt safe in my steps.

The outsole is a Vibram Megagrip with Traction Lug expertise.  The 5 mm lug is tremendous grippy but in addition likes to carry the mud on a moist day on the paths.  That being mentioned, I don’t know of a superb, grippy path shoe that doesn’t decide up the Colorado mud through the monsoonal summer time rains

Rolling hills and single observe had been nice regardless of the technical degree but when I used to be on the lookout for pace on overly rocky, steep descents I’d decide a extra managed feeling shoe.

Hoka Mafate 5 Match

The general match of the Hoka Mafate 5 is a real to dimension shoe in an ordinary width.  I used to be very glad in my typical dimension 9 and as a slim footed runner I used to be capable of cinch the higher down sufficient to really feel safe with out having all that awkward bunch.

I feel a wider foot will do effectively because the higher does have sufficient give to flex and stretch.  

It’s solely private desire, however I like that the Mafate 5 doesn’t have the bolstered heel collar just like the Mafate Velocity 4 or the Speedgoat 6.  I’ve simply by no means gotten used to that counter weight and to me this hugs my heel and ankle higher with out the bolstering.  This isn’t to say it’s not padded, there’s a commonplace quantity of padding holding it comfy for all of the miles.  

The tongue just isn’t gusseted/related to the higher for the size however with the highest of the tongue shaped to the ankle there wasn’t any shifting left or proper over the course of the miles. The tongue is the Dynamic Vamp materials which didn’t appear probably the most breathable however feel-wise is de facto comfy.  

With out being a large toebox shoe the Mafate 5 feels wider than different Hoka fashions with a lot of room to your toes.

Hoka Mafate 5 Really feel

Hoka promotes the Mafate 5 as plush and that’s precisely proper.  Each time I put this shoe on I used to be shocked that it nonetheless felt like that new shoe softness.  

Beginning on the prime is a noticeably sturdy warp knit higher with anti-fray remedy with TPU cage.  The draw back of the higher is it’s not tremendous breathable and my ft had been sweaty on the finish of a future on a sizzling day.  The opposite aspect of that’s I really feel like I’ll love that for operating within the winter, simply breathable sufficient however not a foot soaked in snow.  There’s a good addition of a heel gaiter hook however you could use the lace for the entrance.

The mid-sole is now a dual-density foam with the tremendous important foam layer on prime and the softer foam layer on backside.  Which sounds bizarre however works rather well.  Once you hit a rock that mushy foam wraps round it and the tremendous important layer cushions your foot.  I used to be skeptical, this doesn’t sound correct, but in addition by no means complained a few single rock.

My go to miles on the Mafate 5 ended up being the lengthy gradual miles and a few pace periods on much less technical trails. When Bert and I wanted to choose the tempo round a very curious coyote the Mafate 5 was responsive and prepared as effectively which is strictly what I would like in a path shoe.

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