Hoka Mach X Review

Hoka is a famous and established brand that is known for being the creator of the ‘maximalist’ shoe category. So when I heard that Hoka was releasing a new speedy daily trainer with a large amount of midsoles, we were very excited. These days we desire running shoes that stay on the borderline between daily trainer and speedy racers. The Hoka Mach X is exactly this sort of shoe.

Hoka Mach X for both men and women is a performance training shoe which has a versatile ride. It has a soft energetic ride as a result of the Profly X layer in its midsole. The Hoka Mach X maintains the best feature of Hoka, in the way of Rocker Technology and lightweight cushioning. It also provides a Pebax propulsion plate for more efficient run. This is the ideal choice for regular Hoka users, but for  those desiring to try something different for their faster and shorter runs.

If you love the Rocket X 2 and you are looking for a similar ride in an expensive and more durable package, the Hoka Mach X is the perfect shoe for you.

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Hoka Mach x Review

Hoka Mach Series is lightweight & helps you to transit easily between daily training and speed shoes, but it was still missing the X factor. Hoka Mach found its X factor since Hoka Mach X is like a completely new shoe full of advanced features. It holds your feet locked while transitioning from slow to fast or high-tempo paces

I am in love with the new series Hoka Mach and In this review, I will explain why you might too…

First impressions 

The Hoka Mach X is like no other Mach we have seen before and, honestly, it does not even look like any of the previous iterations. Past versions of the Mach were lightweight, comfortable & could support faster training efforts, but they were often missing the magic touch in the EVA foam in terms of responsiveness.

Hoka declared that Mach X features a Pebax plate & a hearty slab of the same PEBA foam. I found the performance of the Mach has been elevated to new heights. This new lightweight daily sneaker delivers at easy & top-end speeds to help you keep ticking off the miles.

Not only is the shoe more efficient &responsive, but the layer of EVA foam in the midsole offers an inherently stable platform that helps give the shoe versatility. Hoka has made this by ProFlyX construction which sandwiches the PEBAX plate between the new PEBA foam & their tried and tested EVA Foam.

Comfort Should be Main Concern While Choosing Shoe

The shoe was fun to run in, and I did not feel any pain points or slippage. There is a good deal of bounce, making it easy to pick up the pace—and maintain it. As a heel striker, I found the foam underfoot really comfortable. With the cushion & high stack height, though, it is kind of hard to maintain a “feel” with the ground. So I felt like I needed to take sharp corners a little more carefully to maintain my stability.

The Mach X felt truly nice & smooth at easy efforts too. When I slowed my tempo pace to a recovery jog, I was amazed when I glanced down at my watch & saw I was about 20 seconds per mile faster than my usual recovery pace—I certainly did not feel it.

I tried this shoe on a mainly swampy Northeast morning & thought the upper ran a bit hot. This was not really a problem during my 40-minute run, but I could see it getting a little more irritating if I was going longer. On the flip side, it would make it a nice option when the temperatures start to drop come fall & winter.

Lightweight Shoes Is My Top Priority

The main feature I look at in my running sneakers is weight. its design from the upper to the outsole appears smooth. The weight of the shoe is equally distributed. The Creel Jacquard engineered mesh upper is extremely lightweight, durable, as well as breathable, which is everything you want in a running shoe upper.

Sizing and fit

The Hoka Mach X fits me true to size. The fit is snug & performance-oriented. The volume is low, mostly across the toes. This combined with a quick taper particularly on the medial side makes the shoe fit almost short. This snug fit continues into the midfoot, which is secure owing to the fit and well-gusseted, thin tongue. 

The laces are slightly elastic & lock down well. The heel is slightly cozy with a low but reasonably stiff heel counter.  I have only tried sockless running once & got some mild abrasion on the medial side of my big toe. The inner feature of the liner is a little rough at the toes. So I can encourage users to consider thin socks unless they have hard skin.

Performance-The ProFlyX Midsole foam is a win

As a big fan of Hoka Mach 5, I expected big from Mach X & I found it an all-rounder shoe that is fun to use. It is best for a more relaxed and long run. Mach X does feel efficient while holding a fast pace for a long time. 

After covering a total of 50 km, there were no hot spots on any part of my foot. It is pretty critical for any runner. A nice, comfortable pain-free experience. 

ProFlyX midsole combines a Pebax plate, & dual density foam consisting of PEBA & EVA foams, all in an early-stage metarocker geometry. The PEBA foam is a Pebax foam that delivers Mach X 34% more resilience than the Carbon X3 foam.

HOKA’s stacked, dual-layer ProFlyX midsole foam setup uses Pebax and EVA foam. It delivers a very responsive ride & a higher stack height than the Mach 5. It gives a more cushioned ride.

The HOKA Mach X have a firm ride that provides an efficient push-off. ProFly midsole helps a soft landing & an explosive takeoff. That when combined with HOKA early-stage metarocker geometry & Pebax plate makes this running shoe extremely fast yet comfortable. It is now my go-to tempo training shoe.

Build Quality and Durability

The new Mach X has a ‘durabraison’ rubber outsole. These features offer improved traction and more durability. The outsole is really well-designed & it has perfect rubber placement. Generally, on the outside lateral heel area, the rubber stops short of the edge of the outsole. Yet on the Mach X, the rubber covers over the edge of the midsole. It leads to better durability for heel strikers. I have almost no visible wear on my pair & I am normally very hard on outsoles.

The previous series of the Mach struggled with durability. It was especially true if the shoe was used as a daily trainer.

Hoka Mach X Review

Breathability

Sweat is the most disgusting thing for me while running. The upper in jacquard mesh is made from recycled materials and provides good breathability. The heel cap is internally reinforced and provides a lot of support for your ankles. The lip of the shoe is thin so that it does not press or cause friction over the instep. When you wear the shoe, you really get the feeling of having a competition shoe on your feet. To save weight, a single-layer upper with good space in the forefoot has been chosen.

Main Features of the HOKA Mach X

The Mach X are HOKA running shoes designed to provide dynamism, stability, and agility to any self-respecting runner. We are talking about an innovative model in which we must put the focus on its midsole plate. The PebaX technology, already recognizable in the company, coupled with its dual density foam will make us talk about one of the most agile as well as dynamic models of the brand to date.

Hoka Mach X Review

Comparisons with other models

Category Hoka Mach X Hoka Mach 5 
Cushioning Technology PROFLY X Midsole PROFLY Midsole 
Weight Lightweight – Approx. 8.1 oz Lightweight – Approx. 7.7 oz 
Upper Material Engineered Mesh and Thin Overlays Engineered Mesh and Thin Overlays 
Breathability Good Good 
Fit Snug and Supportive Snug and Supportive 
Arch Support Neutral to Minimal Support Neutral to Minimal Support 
Outsole Material Rubberized Foam Rubberized Foam 
Traction Reliable Grip Reliable Grip 
Flexibility Standard Flexibility Standard Flexibility 
Pronation Control None None 
Stability Neutral Neutral 
Durability Durable Durable 
Best Use Versatile Running Versatile Running 
Recommended Distance Short to Medium Distances Short to Medium Distances 
Heel Counter External Heel Counter External Heel Counter 

Who should buy the Hoka Mach X?

 If you love the Rocket X2 & you need a similar ride in an inexpensive, more durable package, the Mach X is the perfect shoe for you.

If need a trainer with a similar ride to the Mach 5, the Mach X is not for you. It is softer, stiffer as well as a lot heavier than the Mach 5.

As far as versatility goes, the Mach X is the most versatile shoe I have tested this year. I can do intervals in it, I would race a marathon in it, tempo runs & even easy runs but it performs finest at speeds of 5 minutes per km or faster. It has good energy return & you need to reach a certain speed to feel the plate assist you.

Conclusion

I am definitely keeping these shoes in my regular rotation. The responsive cushioning makes the shoe feel really forgiving, so it is a great option for sessions that are a little longer than your normal everyday run & include some speed work. Although they are not marketed as race shoes, I can totally see myself lacing these up for a half marathon or a marathon. I think they have a great combo of pop and comfort that will help my legs feel relatively fresh.

Hoka Mach X has everything that I look for in a speed trainer: it is durable, soft, and comfortable and it can easily pick up the pace. The upper is really comfortable & its performance during uptempo runs is impressive. Everything about it works cohesively & it feels extremely polished for a first-generation running shoe.

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