2018 Hoka One One Cavu and Mach Details and Initial Reviews: Hoka Re Discovers Its Mojo? Comparisons to Clayton its Predecessor.

Article by Sam Winebaum, Editor

Hoka One One will launch two new light performance trainers in 2018: Cavu and Mach.
Both are in Hoka's new Fly performance line. Hoka has had some great shoes the last few years but often they had compromises built in that left the final result less than ideal. Based on our initial testing these new models have no such compromises. Update: See our full reviews of the Hoka Mach here and Hoka Cavu here.  Both will be available in January 2018 launching at RoadRunner Sports.

The brand new Cavu and Mach ( a direct successor to Clayton in what should be considered a larger "update"... and name change),  have sub 8 oz weights, plenty of cushion, response, and comfort for such light weights. By the numbers they are very, very similar but actually are quite different on the run.


The all new Cavu ($110), 7.8 oz/221 g in my sample's men's size 9 has  a 24mm heel/20 mm forefoot stack, 4 mm drop. It is called out as "a little lighter and a little lower than its category mates." And it is lighter than its catalog spec of 8.2 oz and very reasonably priced something I really like!

Mach ($140), 7.9 oz/224 in my sample's size 9 with a 24mm heel/ 19mm forefoot stack, 5 mm drop so 1mm less stack in forefoot than Cavu and again in our sample lighter than the catalog weight. Mach is a direct replacement for the Clayton 2 (RTR review).and with near identical overall geometry  At first I was skeptical that this "renaming" was just that, but there are enough changes to make Mach an almost "new" shoe, worthy of consideration for those who had issues with the Clayton's upper and especially where it met sockliner and midsole with its tendency to cause arch blisters as well as those who felt Clayton transitioned a bit stiffly as I did.

Wait you'll say by the numbers, stack height and weight they look and are built almost the same yet ...not quite, and the differences make them run quite differently and present clear choices.

Differences and Commonalities

Midsoles
Both share a new dual density ProFly midsole, softer in the heel firmer in the forefoot for protection and propulsion.  ProFly is an evolution of the similar Pro2Lite midsole makeup found in the Clayton 1 and 2 (RTR review), Tracer (RTR review), and Speed Instinct 2 (RTR review) but with a new foam. This new midsole material is designed to be more resilient and energetic/energy efficient and attenuate shock better. We found it slightly more energetic. Overall both shoes are more responsive and less bouncy than the Hupana (RTR review) with its single slab of RMAT for both outsole and midsole.

Top: Hoka One One Cavu Bottom: Hoka One One Mach

The Mach midsole has the classic Hoka foot/heel "bucket seat" of high midsole walls and thus is very stable at the rear. The Cavu has lower, less thick more conventional side walls and combined with the outsole decoupling is livelier for sure getting off the heel, if a touch less cushioned and stable than Mach but is certainly stable at the heel as it has, while losing the bucket seat, a firmer heel counter than Mach.

Outsoles

Left: Hoka One One Cavu Right: Hoka One One Mach

Both have RMAT outsoles with the Cavu being thinner and with less  coverage than Mach. Cavu transitions off the heel very smoothly and quicker than the Mach but maybe with a touch less stability and firm pop due I think to its decoupled heel and interrupted outsole coverage at mid foot.

Left: Hoka One One Clayton 2 Right: Hoka One One Mach

The Mach with its longer hollowed out center section and  more continuous cross grooves and chevron shape broad lugs transitions more smoothly than the Clayton and has a longer flex, although it remains a fairly stiff shoe, especially when new. The stiffness just isn't as noticeable as it is in the Clayton.

Hoka One One Happen

By contrast, the Hupana has a midsole outsole 100% made of RMAT which gave a bouncy energetic ride but a less responsive one than either of the two here. Here the combination of RMAT outsoles and ProFly midsoles make the Cavu and Mach snappier and more responsive but less bouncy while beingsomewhat stiffer than Hupana which has a similar overall stack height of 25mm/20mm, 5 mm drop. The Hupana, continuing in the line, was our 2016 Shoe of the Year and was the first Hoka with a knit upper. It was fine but a bit dense, snug and rough. These uppers are very supportive yet far less constricting and snug with the Mach slightly denser, thicker, more chain mail like, and snugger than the Cavu with its soft shell fabric like. I would say the Mach's upper is most similar to Hupana's but roomier and less constricting.

Uppers
My samples were a half size up from my normal and somewhat overly roomy all around.  Most should have no issues at true to size and those seeking wider toe boxes should be fine particularly in the very soft unstructured toe box of the Cavu. It fits wider than it might appear in the photos below. There is no toe bumper stiffening at all in Cavu and only slightly denser mesh to create toe overhead room in the Mach.

Left: Hoka One One Mach Right: Hoka One One Cavu

I find the Mach slightly pointier than the Clayton, worn side by side but in no way was this an issue for me, or likely for most as the Mach upper is softer if dense mesh, similar to Hupana, but more open and foot friendly with no overlays but very decent overall foot hold.

Left: Hoka One One Clayton 2 (size 8.5) Right: Hoka One One Mach (size 9)

Gone are the extensive overlays and plasticky fairly stiff and awkward front flexing upper of the Clayton 2 along with the mid foot rise of the midsole on the lateral side up front. The Mach fit is true to size for me.

Hoka One One Mach

To date, I have had zero issues with the arch irritation I had in the Clayton 1 and to a lesser extent Clayton 2, This was an issue specially when new and when they were very, very stiff in the first 10 miles or so. I tested my Clayton 2 on one foot and Mach on the other for a 5 mile run and noticed some slight arch "bite" or pressure and mid foot midsole "height" in my decently broken in Clayton 2. I felt none of this in the Mach likely due to the outsole coverage being reduced at mid foot, the longer midsole cavity, the longer flex of the Mach and maybe some small reductions to the mid sole wall height at mid foot.

Top: Hoka One One Clayton 2 Bottom: Hoka One One Mach

The Mach has denser engineered mesh on the medial side (photo below)than lateral side (photo above). 

Hoka One One Cavu 

The support there and overall is very effective and unlike Clayton feels all of a piece with none of the sense of an awkward flex of the toe area upfront I felt in Clayton with all the overlays and stiffer less stretchy upper,

Interestingly it appears the mesh is woven of two separate materials with a softer yellow "liner" mesh which as the outer blue becomes more dense  on the medial side this inner mesh follows suit creating a soft supportive lining, (right side in photo below) which is all of a piece with the rest of the upper. The upper is more open on the lateral side (left side in photo below)  Seen from the inside in the photo below the lateral more open mesh is to the left, the denser dual layer is to the right,

Hoka One One Mach-Left: Lateral Side Right: Medial Side

This is a very neat approach which I am sure saves weight as we are no longer dealing with layers to attach to provide mid foot support with the upper and all its layers unitary and one piece with density varying as needed for both layers together as precisely as a single  link in the knitting. No need to laser cut holes, attach different densities together, or glue in support straps inside or out.

The Cavu in contrast has an extremely soft engineered mesh upper with a full single material lining, unlike Mach. Truly a slipper like fit but with plenty of support if a bit roomier for me in my half size up sample than Mach was so for sure. Cavu will be true to size shoe for most. There is no stiffening at all in the front of the toe box, it could use a bit. Cavu's tongue is a bit more wing shaped and ever so slightly more padded than Mach's. 

Hoka One One Cavu

The lateral and medial sides of the Cavu's  upper are pretty much identical. I am surprised that such a truly unstructured upper holds the foot as well as it does if on the looser more easy going side than Mach. 

Hoka One One Cavu

The Cavu outsole has a distinct crash pad geometry and a long decoupling groove, both of which work very well.  When combined with less of rear and  mid foot bucket seat than Mach the transition is smooth and easy with a touch less rear of the shoe stability overall and responsive heel pop of the Mach. This indicates to me that Mach might be a better choice for those seeking more rear of the foot stability control,

Hoka One One Cavu

Ride

Top: Hoka One One Cavu Bottom: Hoka One One Mach

The ride of both of these new Hoka bridge the gap between racer, performance trainer, and trainer all in one shoe, brilliantly. Both are decently responsive, well cushioned, and light. I find the Cavu with less thickness of RMAT slightly more responsive if firmer, although from also from a pure fast running standpoint the upper of the Mach is slightly more supportive.  If I had to chose one shoe to do all running from races to faster training and my mileage overall was on the low side I might lean towards the Cavu over Mach. It is a fun shoe to run any distance leaning towards shorter faster. If I was looking for a solid very light weight daily trainer and long racer for heavy mileage with a bit more cushion and flexibility I would lean towards the Mach.

Comparisons

Hoka Hupana (RTR review) vs. Cavu

Both shoes are do anything shoes. The Cavu has a friendlier, softer upper for sure that is not quite as supportive as Hupana's. Underfoot the choice comes down to balancing more response of the Cavu, given its combination of ProFly EVA and thin RMAT outsole, with Hupana's bouncier livelier ride from all RMAT midsole and outsole.

Hoka Tracer (RTR review) vs. Cavu

The Cavu is very similar to the Tracer by stats. The slightly lighter, highly responsive Tracer is for most a race shoe while the slightly softer and bouncier (due to its RMAT outsole and slightly softer ProFly midsole) Cavu topped off with a less structured  roomier upper is a more comfortable and versatile performance training and racing option. 

Hoka Clifton 4 (RTR review) vs. Mach

The Clifton 4 weighs more than an ounce more and has about 4mm more front and back cushion. While the Clifton 4 is slightly firmer than the its predecessors it is still a soft shoe particularly at the heel where a sharp bevel contributes to making it more unstable than Mach. Clifton 4 upper is snugger and less foot conforming than Mach. I prefer the firmer ride of the Mach and its greater stablity.

ASICS RoadHawk FF (RTR review) vs. Cavu

These two share similar intents of creating a versatile do anything shoe at a reasonable price. If you like firmer midsoles, more response but stiff response and lots of durable outsole rubber you will lean towards the Roadhawk. While beautiful, its upper is snugger and narrower overall and a bit rough on the foot compared to the Cavu's slipper like fit. As a result I think most will reach for the Cavu more frequently than the Roadhawk if both are in their shoe quiver.

Hoka Clayton 2 (RTR review) vs. Mach

Side by side, one on each foot on the run, the Mach transitions more smoothly with less of bump at mid foot and no arch irritation to date. The forefoot seems slightly softer maybe due to the new outsole configuration, with the heel firmness and stability about the same. The new ProFly midsole is ever so slightly more energetic.  The Mach upper is superb and does away with all the plasticky feel and overlays. Clayton fans will be very pleased with this "update" which for me solves all issues with Clayton.

Kinvara 7, 8 (RTR review) vs. Cavu and Mach

There are many similarities here, including about the same weight. However, the Cavu upper while far more relaxed, maybe to relaxed for some for racing, is also superior to Kinvara 7 or 8 in in comfort and fit. Underfoot the Cavu, while on the firmer side transitions far more smoothly than the Kinvara 7, is not as stiff, and is more forgiving. I found the Kinvara 8 overly soft in the heel and while improved still has an awkward upper. Comparing to Mach while Mach is not quite the near racer the Kinvara it is far more versatile day in day out than either Kinvara and is a better long race and longer run option.

Saucony Zealot ISO 3  (RTR review) vs. Mach
I like the Zealot ISO 3 a lot. It has a great upper similar to the Cavu with more support overall. This said, the consistency of under foot feel from the ProFly midsole and RMAT outsole has me leaning to either Hoka and especially in direct comparison of Mach to Zealot. This said RMAT while durable and which adds to the ride performance and comfort  is not the durable fuller rubber found on the Zealot.

adidas Boston 6 (RTR review) vs. Cavu or Mach
While I love Boost midsoles and their bounce, here, the lighter Hokas which are slightly firmer, more responsive, and more stable get an edge from me despite having less durable rubber than Boston's excellent Continental outsole.

Update: See our full reviews of the Hoka Mach here and Hoka Cavu here

For Sam's bio see our Reviewers Bio Page here

The  Hoka were provided at no cost.The opinions herein are entirely the author's.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below!

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