Article by Sam Winebaum
Hoka Mafate 5 ($185)
Introduction
For sure not being left behind, Hoka, the max cushion pioneer, significantly updates the OG of all max trail shoes, the Mafate. I actually ran and hiked around the Mont Blanc in the OG Mafate in 2011. Its big cushion was a groundbreaking innovation in an era dominated by highly minimalist shoes. We now know who won that race!
While the upcoming Rocket Trail X and in line Tecton X 3 with their carbon plates and lighter weights focus on the front of the pack, the Mafate 5 focuses on the mid to back of the pack and long days on trail.
It ups its cushion game with 5 more mm of stack height at the heel and 2mm more upfront compared to Mafate Speed 4.
It now incorporates a somewhat flexible plastic forefoot plate with winglets for stability (Rocker Integrity Technology) and its loaded with a plush and soft yet energetic dual density supercritical top layer and EVA bottom layer midsole.
The segmented Vibram Megagrip 5mm with Traction Lug continues.
The upper moves to a dense yet highly breathable warp knit with extensive overlays.
I have so far taken them for outings on consecutive days: a 12 mile flatter terrain hike and a 5 mile rail trail run with mountains to come. The picture is already quite clear. What an any trail terrain, leg friendly and fun riding giant!
Pros:
Ride, geometry, and upper designed for long hours on trail at moderate paces: ultras
Very plush, soft, deeply cushioned ride with sufficient stability from plate and outsole
Generous upper: plenty of room for most feet and foot swelling
Deep, very segmented MegaGrip outsole conforms to terrain, has flex and acts as suspension elements: no harsh riding outsole on smoother terrain here.
Cons:
Tongue could have a gusset or be padded to better support the midfoot
While it has an energetic and supremely cushion ride the weight at 10.85 oz / 308g US 9 is up there and felt.
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 10.85 oz / 308g US 9 (prior 10.45 oz / 296g) women’s oz / g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 10.6 oz / 300g US 8.5
women’’s oz / g US
Full Stack Height:
men’s 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot (prior full stack height approx. 40/35)
women’s 43 mm heel / 35mm forefoot
Platform Width: 100 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
La Sportiva Prodigio Max
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
The upper features “warp knit with anti-fray treatment, a TPU cage, gaiter attachment points, a dynamic vamp and reflective details”
The warp knit material combines plenty of structure with the generous and non constricting foot conforming wrap helped by the external overlays. While dense, it has some give but not so much to feel sloppy and is both debris proof and very breathable. It was hot during my testing.
The semi rigid heel counter is plushy padded, moderate in height with the foot well held
The tongue is a thin dense closed mesh with an internal leatherette lining and has pads located just behind the lace eyelet reinforcement area.
There is no gusset and the tongue is not attached to the top near the eyelets. The midfoot volume is generous, a good thing, but I think an elastic gusset would help those of us like me with lower volume feet get a more precise hold for more technical terrain uses given the giant stack height. Not an issue so far but I wish for a bit more midfoot security,
The toe box may appear somewhat narrow but I found this not to be the case as the warp knit front of the shoe is soft and pliable with the external overlays providing just right support and some give, in combination with the long seen at Hoka black dynamic vamp insert which has some stretch.
The very front of the toe bumper is stout and firm with the sides quite soft and pliable, as much about protecting the upper as helping with room while also allowing the shoe to flex.
The fit is true to size in all respects for my narrow to medium volume foot and should also accommodate moderately wide feet as well. My only fit issue being the aforementioned potential need for a tongue gusset.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole features Hoka’s Rocker Integrity Technology and a new dual-density midsole with a firmer supercritical foam top layer (black above) and a slightly softer compression molded EVA bottom layer (teal)
The platform is very high at 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot (prior full stack height approx. 40/35) and broad at 100 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot. This is a platform designed for maximum cushion on trail
The dual foams midsole is soft and plush due to the effective use of supercritical EVA underfoot (black) with a lower layer (teal) of more conventional denser compression molded EVA below upfront. We are not certain at this time if the EVA extends as a core to the rear.
To provide some front stability and propulsion to the giant 37mm forefoot stack height, Hoka incorporates Rocker Integrity Technology, essentially a winged plastic forefoot plate.
In combination with the segmented Vibram Megagrip, the front of the shoe is surprisingly smooth and agile with a moderate rocker that is clearly felt at all paces and especially on flat smooth terrain as most of my testing to date has included.
The cushioning is incredibly deep and forgiving without being mushy or with that bogged down feeling which big stack height shoes with soft foam can have.
This is a platform, cushioning, and plate system specifically designed for very long days on trail at moderate paces, be it on the run or hiking on any terrain and not for weight savings . After my 12 mile hike on firm smooth terrain and even some pavement on a hot day, absolutely zero soreness the next day.
Outsole
The Mafate has a Vibram outsole with 5mm lugs and side Traction Lug, mini lugs said to increase traction up to 25%. So I expect plenty of traction for even the roughest terrain and on snow in winter.
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The outsole is highly segmented both through to the midsole and via its thin underlying rubber plate. The front layout gives the shoe a flex point towards midfoot (great for uphills and walk paces) with, to the front, a stiffer rocker profile due to the plastic plate.
There is a distinct sense that the outsole (and soft midsole above) adapts to terrain variations due to its design. Unlike more continuous rubber over usually firmer foam than here the rocker effect is also clearly present with a nice stately roll at all paces and very little slapping noise on hard surfaces.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
A big shoe for big days in the mountains or just an easy days cruiser and superb walking and hiking shoe.
Not light, but loaded with lots of friendly and leg friendly cushion stacked way high and a very aggressive but at the same time also smooth terrain friendly outsole design, the Mafate 5 has been a worthy successor to its pioneering OG.
I did not run the Mafate Speed 4 but others joining in the review who have will soon chime in. I will also be updating as soon as I take them to the mountains. '
They are for sure a candidate for our 8 day trek in the Alps this summer. I particularly like the roomy yet secure and breathable upper for those long days with lots of vertical and a decent size pack and of course all that leg saving cushion depth.The ride feel is a sort of like "independent suspension",ground conforming to obstacles and on the firm due to the foams/plate combination and modular and segmented outsole design
The weight is up there at 10.85 oz / 308g US 9 but one must consider the clearly already felt advantages of the giant 45mm heel stack height and deep Vibram outsole. By the numbers, the 5 is 5mm higher at the heel and 2mm more at the forefoot than the Speed 4 and gets a new supercritical foam at the rear and underfoot and this plush cushion is for sure felt.
I wish Hoka would consider reducing the outsole lugs to 4mm and bring the stack height down a few millimeters to reduce weight. I might also prefer that the lower softer EVA layer be firmed up a bit for yet more stability over terrain without losing its ground conforming feel.
The Mafate is positioned as the distance comfort shoe in the line with the upcoming considerably lighter, slightly lower stack height Rocket X Trail and Tecton X 3 Hoka’s ultra race shoes.
More to come as I run and hike them more, and the rest of the RTR team joins the review, but clearly Hoka is sets a high bar for long distance trail comfort with the Mafate 5.
9.3 /10 😊😊😊😊
Deductions for weight/overbuilt: why not 4mm lugs and less stack height although for sure the Mafate makes a very strong statement when it comes to well balanced super max cushion for trail.
4 Comparisons
Hoka Mafate Speed 4 (RTR Review)
I personally did not test the Mafate Speed 4. Our other testers joining the review soon did and will closely compare. Their review is above.
Hoka Rocket X Trail (RTR Review soon)
Considerably lighter on a broader platform of all supercritical A-TPU foam with a forked carbon plate to adapt to terrain, the Rocket is Hoka’s new pinnacle elite ultra racing shoe.
It has a more minimal 3.5mm lug outsole, although so far its grip is very aggressive best suited to more moderate terrain and an airier more performance oriented upper. It is surprisingly stable and easy to run with a much quicker and more energetic ride.
La Sportiva Prodigio Max (RTR Review)
Not significantly lighter (-10g) on a considerably lower but still big 37/31 stack height, the Max has a dual supercritical foam midsole and full coverage outsole (helping explain the weight difference). It is more stable and has a more secure upper (2x gusset when Mafate has none) although its toe box mesh is stiffer and less comfortable.
It is a considerably faster and more responsive (foams and outsole) shoe on any terrain and while deeply cushioned it does not have the super plush if more bogged down feel of the Hoka. For running the Max has the advantage. For hiking and very long days on feet the Mafate although both of course do both well.
Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx (RTR Review)
At just about the same stack heights, the Merrrell is a bit lower at 42/36 as well as 8g lighter, both shoes play in the same category of max cushion for trail.
The Merrell has a somewhat firmer and more responsive ride with an inner core of supercritical foam and an outer carrier of EVA while the Mafate has a top layer of supercritical including a full heel of it and front wedge EVA
They share a similar design Megagrip outsoles with the Merrell having 4mm lugs to the Hoka’s 5mm. No plate in the Merrell as the Mafate has it does have ingenious cuts into the midsole from above give it nice steady flex. The Merrell Matryx upper is more secure while the Mafate’s is more generous in fit and not quite as secure. Both are superb max cushion shoes with as in the comparison to the La Sportiva, the Merrell a bit more run and performance oriented and the Mafate more plush.
Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide (RTR Review)
Salomon's more mellow paces ultra shoe is plushly cushioned but not nearly to the depths of the Mafate. It is lower stack and considerably lighter. It’s outsole is not nearly as aggressive as the Mafate’s. I found it to be a superb and fast road and light trails shoes while the Hoka will shine brighter in the high mountains.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Latest Reviews-chronological order HERE
From Hoka US: To celebrate the launch of the shoe and its design featuring the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc course (UTMB) HOKA is hosting a nationwide Strava challenge from August 8-September 12. Users who run the full distance of the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc (109.6 miles) will earn a digital finisher’s badge and be entered to win the grand prize: an entry and all expenses paid trip to next year's HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc or a UTMB® World Series race of their choice, plus a Mafate 5 shoe and gear prize pack. Five additional winners will receive the Mafate 5 and a full HOKA trail running apparel pack.
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 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 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
4 comments:
Thank you for the review. Would be interesting to read comparison to VJ Ultra 3.
@anonymous. Coming in our multi tester review. I personally have not run Ultra 3 but others have. Sam, Editor
Mafate has traditionally had 5mm lugs so I’m happy that continued. Not allot of good choices in that range. I’ll hold judgement on the somewhat thin sounding tongue. I much prefer a lightly padded tongue but I’ve got some Speedgoats and VJ shoes that are very thin and it’s workable if you lace carefully. Allot of folks will cry over the 8mm drop but I’m looking forward to trying it out.
This will be a great hiking and for slower running in the Whites. Not overly concerned about the increased stack height.
@anonymous Well said!
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