Article by Jen Schmidt,
Hoka Mach X 3 ($190)
Pros:
- Dual-density (PEBA) midsole + PEBAX plate create a propulsive, energetic ride - Jen
- Comfortable cushioning - Jen
- Woven upper is breathable and very comfortable, could fit a range of foot widths - Jen
- Excellent fit out of the box, true to size with accommodating toebox - Jen
Cons:
- Very rigid - Jen
- Slightly heavier than some super-trainer competitors - Jen
- Gains weight: 25g in a US W8 at the same stack height
Stats
Spec. Weight: men's 10.17 oz. 288g US10, women’s 8.57 oz. 242g US8
Sample Weights:
women’s 8.57 oz / 243 g US8 ( Mach X 2 7.7 oz / 218 g US W8)
Stack Height:
W 42mm heel 38mm forefoot;
M 44mm heel / 39mm forefoot (Mach X2: 44mm heel / 39mm forefoot)
Most comparable shoes
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 - Jen
Brooks Hyperion Max 3 - Jen
Brooks Hyperion 3 - Jen
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jen: The eye-catching neon pink and orange colorway gives the immediate impression that these shoes are designed to go fast. As a (non-carbon) plated and lightly rockered trainer with superfoam midsole, the Mach X line sits in between HOKA’s supershoe offerings and less aggressive daily trainers.
Updates from the previous version are relatively minimal and focused on the upper: switching to a more breathable mesh and softer tongue and refining the collar. I didn’t run in the previous version, so can’t compare to that upper, but I have no complaints here. One small overlay on the medial side of the big toe adds light reinforcement, but otherwise the flexible warp knit upper is unstructured for a smooth fit. I tightened the laces down quite significantly to accommodate a low to medium volume foot without any awkward bunching that can sometimes create pressure points in less flexible uppers. I think it would fit wider feet well, especially in comparison to trainers with narrower toeboxes that I’ve reviewed recently (e.g. Brooks Hyperion 3, Puma Velocity Nitro 4, Mizuno Wave Rider 29).
The tongue is soft, as advertised, with light padding towards the front (see below) and no gusset. Minimal and comfortable.
Medium padding around the rigid heel counter and ankle collar adds comfort but not much weight. While the tapered heel counter extends fairly high, it’s flared outwards enough that it didn’t cause any Achilles issues for me. RTR testers noted that the previous version was rough and not padded enough there, and the updates seem to have fixed the problem. I did get a little bit of heel slippage on my narrow foot at first, but re-lacing with a heel lock mostly resolved it.
Midsole & Platform
Jen: The dual-density midsole here has a top layer of PEBA superfoam over a PEBAX plate for an energetic ride. There are no major updates to midsole materials or stack height in this version.
That combination of lightweight, springy foam and a rigid plate has been a recipe for success across brands for supershoe racers and trainers, and the recipe continues to work here.
At a stack height of 42 mm heel / 38 mm forefoot in the women’s version, there’s plenty of cushion underfoot, though it is firmer than you might expect for 42 mm given the EVA bottom layer: think dynamic over mushy.
I appreciate that the base stays narrow enough to feel fast, unlike some high-stack trainers that balance the height by adding a super-wide heel and forefoot.
Despite the “speed-centric” Metarocker, the sensation was less rockered than I expected. My impression is that the extremely rigid plate doesn’t flex quite enough to fully rock through from strike to toe-off, so it’s more of a rebound than a roll through. This may be different for heavier runners.
Outsole
Jen: The outsole here is a compression molded sticky rubber, and the pattern hasn’t changed much from v2 (see previous RTR review for the evolution of the outsole). No complaints on grip or coverage for me for normal road and track running, although I haven’t tested it in wet conditions yet. The cutouts can trap some small rocks if going off-road, but the weight savings are likely worth it in all conditions except runs entirely on a gravel surface.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jen: I haven’t run in HOKA trainers since the Mach 4 a couple years ago, and this is a solid reintroduction. As a speed-oriented trainer, the Mach X 3 is a good complement to the Cielo X1 V2, which I reviewed earlier this year.
It’s not the lightest plated trainer out there, but does well at a range of paces. So far, I’ve taken it on recovery miles, some normal/aerobic miles, a speed session of 200s and 300s on the track, and some strides. I liked it best in the 7:00-7:30 pace range, where the rigid plate made it feel springy and quick. It is still a comfortable shoe at 8:00-9:00/mi, but feels slightly clunkier at the slower end, and on faster reps around 5:00 pace, I’d like just slightly more flex to be able to put out more power with my forefoot strike.
Overall, fans of v2 will likely appreciate the updates to the heel and upper, and runners with medium to high volume feet will appreciate the accommodating fit (and wide option). A solid option for a super trainer, although $190 is fairly steep.
Jen’s score: 9.1/10
Ride: 9 (just a little stiff feeling)
Fit: 9.5 (would fit a range of feet, but heel a touch loose on me)
Value: 8.5
Style: 9
😊😊😊😊.5
2 Comparisons
HOKA Cielo X1 V2 (RTR Review)
Jen: The Cielo is definitely intended as a race shoe, while the Mach X 3 would be its training companion. Specs reflect those different uses, with the Cielo weighing in at ~40g lighter for similar stack height. The Cielo feels much bouncier to me, though with a little instability in the heel, and I would favor it for half marathon or marathon racing and key workouts. Less heel slippage for me than in the Mach X 3 as well.
Brooks Hyperion Max 3 (RTR Review)
Jen: Both are plated super trainers meant for uptempo work, but at the heavier end of the range for the category. The Hyperion Max 3 is even higher and just a few grams heavier than the Mach X 3, at 46 / 40 mm stack height and ~255 g in my US W8.5. Both are a little rigid underfoot due to the structure of the embedded plate, but I liked the responsiveness of the midsole of the Mach X 3 more at fast paces.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Jen’s review will be joined by other testers soon.
The Hoka Mach X 3 will be available September 1, 2025
Tester Profiles
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's are nearest and dearest to her heart, and she recently took the win at the 2025 Way Too Cool 50k and placed sixth at the 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50k. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn, chasing competitive and personal goals over a variety of surfaces and distances. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team, with a marathon PR of 2:41.
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