Saturday, September 14, 2024

Hoka 2024 Max Cushion Trainer/Racer Reviews and Comparisons : Skyflow, Skyward X , Mach X 2, and Cielo X 1

Article by Sam Winebaum

Skyflow ($160), Skyward X ($225) , Mach X 2 ($190), Cielo X 1 ($275)


Hoka the max cushion pioneer has in the last year released 4 max cushion trainers with 3 of them also certainly race capable. All have supercritical foams with 3 having plates. All have heel heights at 40mm or higher so, regardless of choice, there is plenty of cushion here. 


Skyflow: the only unplated, the least expensive at $160, very stable at all paces

Skyward X: the highest stacked at 46mm, the broadest platform, the heaviest and most stable 

Mach X 2: the lightest at 8.5 oz / 241g US9 , the most nimble and quickest feeling

Cielo X 1: a deluxe plush racer to trainer with the highest price ($275)


Each is quite distinct in its ride and purpose. In the article we will try to sort out their differences, strengths, weaknesses and best uses.


I have 2 clear favorites here, but each for different reasons.


Hoka Skyflow ($160)  (RTR Review)

Approx. Weight: men's 9.39 oz 266/ g US9

Stack Height: men’s  40 mm heel /  35 mm forefoot (  5mm drop spec) 

Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 105 mm forefoot 


Best Uses: daily training at all paces, and along with Skyward X, the most stable 


Strengths: Friendly at all paces, deeply cushioned, stable

Weaknesses: Its all EVA supercritical foam is the least exciting and not as springy as its PEBA siblings. Upper will not favor broad feet.

The Skyflow is the most “traditional” of the options. It has no plate relying on its rocker and some front flex for propulsion. It is in no way “lumbering” as some big stack shoes as not only the geometry helped me along but it is quite light at 9.39 oz 266/ g US9. For example the ASICS Nimbus and Brooks Ghost Max 2 at similar price points and stack heights and without plates weigh far more at 10.8 oz / 306g for the Brooks with Nimbus 10.7 oz  / 303g  US9. 


Its foam is a supercritical EVA. Whileit does not have quite the spring of its siblings PEBA foams, it is a steady, responsive foam. It could use a bit easier transition off the midfoot at slower paces but is a fine all around max cushion daily trainer that leans slower paces than the Mach X 2 or Cielo X 1 and faster than the heavier Skyward X.

The upper is a mono-mesh with knit woven in and is pretty much non-stretch and has a  performance type fit. It is true to size for my narrower to medium feet and very secure and comfortable. 

Wider higher volume feet may struggle more than with the Skyward X stretchier knit type upper. 


Closest Competition: ASICS Nimbus and Superblast, Brooks Ghost Max 2, Nike Invincible Run, 


Skyward X ($225) RTR Review)

Approx Weight: men’s 10.7 oz / 303 g US9.

Stack Height:  46 mm heel / 39 mm forefoot, 5mm drop

Platform Width:  95 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 120 mm forefoot


Best Uses: slower paces daily training and recovery runs due to weight, heavier runners and those needing some stability

Strengths: Huge depth of energetic fun cushion, most stable

Weaknesses: Weight is up there and puzzlingly so given materials. Overbuilt upper?


It’s a giant of plush energetic dual density foams with PEBA as the top layer and supercritical EVA as the bottom layer, a similar construction to the Mach X 2 but with a carbon instead of PEBAX plate. The plate has no harshness sneaking through and is effective in propelling the shoe forward at a stately pace with lots of bounce, but no speedster here. 

The stack height is huge and the platform the broadest. Its weight is up there, the heaviest of all four but not surprising given the 46mm heel height and broad platform.

The upper is by far the plushest and broadest of the four. Made of a knit type material with softness and stretch  it is super comfortable and the warmest of the four. 


It is a wonderful recovery and slow run shoe, and while plush, I think the upper and its stout, stout heel counter add to its weight. I wish it was sub 10 oz / 283g. And not 10.7 oz and 303g.

 

Closest Competition: Prime X Strung 2- even higher in stack height and slightly heavier the Prime X is more exciting and dynamic but considerably less stable at the rear due to it narrow landing.


Mach X 2 ($190) RTR Review soon

Approx. Weight: men's 8.5 oz / 241g US9

Stack Height: 44 mm heel /  39 mm forefoot ( 5mm drop)

Platform Width 85 mm heel / 70 mm midfoot / 105 mm forefoot 


Best Uses: Uptempo runs and faster daily training, racing

Strengths: Most versatile. flexible PEBAX plate and narrow platform makes them nimble and quick, and surprisingly stable for their big stack height.

Weaknesses: unpadded rough achilles area may irritate some. Tradeoff: use of firmer lower PEBA layer makes them stable but somewhat firmer in feel than others.


My kind of shoe! Very light for its stack height of 44mm at the heel as you can see below it has lots of competition in the up tempo super trainer category. Now with 5mm more PEBA under foot than before with similar supercritical EVA below, it is a changed shoe from v1 which I found blocky at the heel and quite firm. The added PEBA, while retaining the denser stabilizing EVA and a redesigned plastic PEBA plate give it a nice combination of deep friendly cushion, quick response and good stability. 

At 8.5 oz / 241g US9 it is very light for a shoe with 44mm at the heel but it cuts no corners in terms of being multi pace up to racing friendly although, unlike the Skyward X or Skyflow,it is not an ideal slower paces shoe.

The upper.. the low weights clearly come in part from the simple single layer mesh reminding of ASICS Motion Wrap. Rear achilles padding is minimal, the high heel counter is flexible and minimal as well and some of our other testers report irritation there, but not me so far.  The fit is performance and lower volume than the similar upper Cielo X 1 and with more give than the denser Skyflow’s. Nonetheless, it is true to size for me.

In terms of completion, It reminds me most of the Magic Speed 4 with its very similar stack height but with a more forgiving plate as the ASICS has a more rigid carbon plate. No question the ASICS upper is more polished and padde while also performance in fit.


Closest Competition: ASICS Magic Speed 4, NB SC Pacer v2, NB SC Trainer v3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, Brooks Hyperion Max 2


Hoka Cielo X 1  $275 (RTR Review)

Approx Weight: men’s US9 9.05 oz / 257g

Stack Height:: 39mm heel /32mm forefoot, 7mm drop

Platform Width: 80mm heel / 70mm midfoot (not including large lateral gap / 105mm forefoot


Best Uses: long racing, longer faster paced runs


Strengths: Big depth of all PEBA from is highly energetic especially off the broad stable forefoot. Solid choice for the “slower” heavier marathoner


Weaknesses: surprisingly heavy for an all PEBA based shoe, least stable at the rear especially at slower paces: narrowish landing and big lateral cutout contributing.


The Cielo X 1 has an all PEBA dual density midsole and an elaborate winged carbon plate. The ride is on the soft side at the heel and not particularly stable at anything slower than easy tempo paces, not totally unusual for a race focused shoe which it is.

I note the narrow 80mm landing and deep lateral cut out as maybe the cause.


The Cielo shines landing at the mid to forefoot with a broad stable, very energetic platform and toe off area there. Get back on the heels and not so good.

The upper is similar to the Mach X 2 in being a single layer woven type mesh but so far its better rear finish and flexible but more substantial heel counter has presented no issues for me as the Mach X 2 "almost" does.. 

It clearly has somewhat more front volume and width than the Mach X 2.

It is intended as a marathon/long racer but certainly can be a trainer as well. Given its weight at 9.05 oz / 257g US9 I do not think it slots in as a top elite marathon racer with the Rocket X 2 a bit low slung and aggressive for me. Hoka has some pinnacle racer shoe work to do. I see it as a long run, tempo shoe with the high pricing giving pause.. 


Closest Competition: Salomon S/Lab Specter 2, 361 160X 3.0 Pro, Skechers Beast


My Picks:

The Mach X 2 is clearly my favorite. It is versatile, high cushioned, fun, light and a clear improvement over its blocky and  firm v1.

I also like Skyflow for its well executed approach to a plateless daily trainer with a big stack of cushion at quite light weight.


Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.


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Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below! Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferred shoes

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