Hoka Mafate 5
Men: 11.7 oz
Women: 8.1 oz
Drop: 8 mm
MSRP: $185
The Outsole
This is a shoe meant to shred trails and is built with an aggressive Vibram Magagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs. I can’t think of a terrain this shoe will not have amazing grip on and whether you’re ripping a quick race or long day in the mountains, this outsole have your back on the trails.
The Midsole
The midsole is built with two different foams that compliment each other nicely. The top layer is supercritical foam which gives a plush, springy feel while the bottom layer is firmer and built to provide extra impact protection and a more stable ride when you’re on less stable trails. A note that this is another recent release from Hoka with a higher drop than their traditional 5 mm.
The Upper
The Mafate 5 is made with a warp knit upper and what Hoka refers to as anti-fray treatment. I feel like this really holds the foot in nicely, and the warp part of the upper I believe refers to a stretchy piece of material in the forefoot that flexes and allows the upper to stretch a bit as the foot swells. On my foot it feels extremely comfortable while keeping my foot in place as I navigate uneven terrains. There is also a nice toe cap on the front to protect against any accidental rock slams or stick stabbing.
The Experience
This shoe is a winner! From the moment I tried it on I have loved this shoe. Whether you’re heading out on the gravel or the trails in the mountains, this shoe will get you where you’re going and feel fantastic doing it.
The outsole is super grippy on the trail and if you take it on the road you’re gonna feel it holding on there as well. It runs quickly through all terrains and really feels like you will know exactly where your foot is going to be landing. I’ve never felt a lack of confidence in my foot placement or that the shoe is going to go in a direction I don’t want to go.
The dual layer approach to the midsole really builds a base that provides a stable ride with the firmer foam but the top layer feels comfortable for the long haul.
My longest run in this shoe was a bit over 20 and my feet felt ready to go the same day. I can’t emphasize enough how good this shoe felt underfoot and how well it cradles my foot on the run.
There is no plate in this shoe so if you’re gonna be out in sharp rock territory, be wary, but the midsole has so much material in there that I don’t think I’d be worried about a rock punching through.
I’d recommend using this shoe at any race distance up to 100 miles, but I think it is really going to thrive at the sub ultra into the 50 mile area. If you live in a location where there aren’t super gnarly trails, one could make the argument that this is too much shoe for the location, but it is still just a ton of fun to run in.
This shoe is only available in the medium widths for men and women. For women who need a wider fit you could definitely try the men’s shoe out, unfortunately for men, it looks like you’ll need to find another option. I would recommend if this shoe isn’t wide enough you try out the Mafate X. It’s got a little more volume overall as it is built for the longer triple digit races, and has a bit more width through the shoe.