Article by Jen Schmidt, Peter Stuart, Ben David, and Michael Ellenberger
Hoka Mach X 3 ($190)
Pros:
Dual-density (PEBA) midsole + PEBAX plate delivers a propulsive, energetic ride - Jen, Sally, Peter, Ben, Michael
Comfortable cushioning - Jen, Sally, Peter, Ben, Michael
Woven upper is breathable and very comfortable, could fit a range of foot widths - Jen, Peter
Excellent fit out of the box, true to size with accommodating toebox - Jen, Sally, Peter, Ben, Michael
Cons:
Very rigid - Jen
Slightly heavier than some super-trainer competitors - Jen, Sally, Peter, Ben
Gains significant amount of weight- Peter, Jen, Michael
Tongue feels overbuilt. Thick and cushioned at the very top, tends to brush against my other foot–Peter
Stats
Spec. Weight: men's 10.17 oz. 288g US10, women’s 8.57 oz. 242g US8
Sample Weights:
men’s 10.41 oz /295 g US M11
women’s: 8.1 oz / 233 g US W8 ( 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)
Platform Width: mm heel / mm midfoot / mm forefoot
Also measure previous if available listing size
Most comparable shoes (with your name next to each)
Puma Velocity Nitro 4 - Jen
Brooks Hyperion Max 3 - Jen, Peter
Brooks Hyperion 3 - Jen
Asics Megablast
New Balance SC Trainer 3 - Ben
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 here, and the updates seem to have fixed the problem. I did get a little bit of heel slippage here at first, but re-lacing with a heel lock mostly resolved it.
Peter: There’s some big news in the update of the Hoka Mach X. On the plus side it’s no longer the shoe most likely to make your achilles bleed! The Mach X 2 was delightful for me except for the bloody socks caused by the unpadded back of the heel. It was pretty gruesome. So they’ve solved that problem with a more traditionally padded ankle and heel collar. Padding is good, foot hold is good and I haven’t seen a drop of blood yet. On the negative side the Mach has put on nearly a full oz of weight. It’s not catastrophic but at 10.4 oz it’s climbing out of the ‘speed work’ category for me.
The fit is good and feels true to size. I’m not a huge fan of the tongue of the Mach X 3. The Mach X2 had a paper thin, gusseted, barely there tongue. They seem to have over-corrected with a non-gusseted tongue that is pretty thin until it gets to the top laces where it thickens up and stays pretty thick all the way to the ankle. I’ve found that it flops around a bit and can get kind of pushed up and actually catch my other ankle as I run. Not my favorite tongue. Not terrible, but a bit overbuilt in the wrong places.
Ben: These shoes practically jumped out of the box, begging to go fast. They are bright, bold and a refreshing update over the Mach X 2. My size 9 fit perfectly and I immediately appreciated the new heel collar that replaced the travesty of a heel collar in its predecessor. Super Trainers are getting so good and so refined that the line is blurring between them and true race day shoes. I believe that, for many, the Mach X 3 would make a great marathon option, as long as you’re at peace with the relative weight.
The toe box is plush and roomy. These shoes want to be speedy but also have various features that find them extremely comfortable, like the heel collar and toe box.
As others did, I found the tongue to be a bit wonky. Because it’s non-gusseted it will take a minute to put flat on the foot with proper lacing. I found that it stayed in place after that. One also immediately notices the ample stack (44mm for men in the heel) and significant presence of PEBA. Overall, my first impression was terrific and my initial miles in the Mach X 3 have been a joy.
Michael: I went into the Mach X3 a little skeptical. The Mach X2 had an upper that really didn’t work for me - particularly the sharp, unpadded heel counter - and more broadly, I’ve found Hoka trainers in the “super-trainer” era to be a bit too harsh for my taste. Shoes like the Mizuno Neo Vista have been more my style. But! I was excited to give them a try.
The bright colorway leaves no doubt this is a shoe meant for speed (though I do think they’re quite ugly), and on foot the changes to the upper are exactly what the Mach X line needed. The heel counter now has proper padding and a flared shape that eliminates the irritation issues from the previous version. The woven upper is breathable and flexible enough to dial in the fit across a range of foot widths; I had no issues with the fit here.
The toebox has a comfortable amount of space without feeling sloppy, and overall the fit feels true to size. I had no issues with the tongue so can’t really complain there.
Midsole & Platform
Jen: The dual-density midsole here has a top layer of PEBA superfoam over a PEBAX plate for an energetic ride, with 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 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.
Peter: The Mach X 3 feels pretty similar to V2 for all of the reasons Jen mentioned above. It’s rockered and sitting of plenty of PEBA foam with a Pebax plate then a lower compressed EVA layer below. The ride is smooth and soft enough for easy miles and pops enough to make faster paces feel fun.
Ben: I was worried that the Mach X 3 would ride like the rather wild Cielo X 1 2.0 and thus lack stability and lead to some unneeded ankle rolling. It’s true that its rocker is substantial but, as Jen notes, it does not run as such. In fact, I found it to be fairly tame, offering the perfect balance of a somewhat forgiving plate, ample cushioning and really good outsole working well in tandem. I was running the shoes rather than have the shoes running me. South of the upper, the shoe is fairly similar to the Mach X 2, which is a good thing.
Michael: The Mach X3 rides on a high-stack dual-density PEBA midsole with a PEBAX plate sandwiched inside. At 44 mm in the heel, there’s plenty of cushioning, and the combination produces a ride that’s responsive and energetic while still controlled. It’s firmer than some of the softest “super-foam” trainers, but that firmness keeps it from feeling unstable or sloppy. I do wish it had a higher drop - this is a take that sometimes gets me adverse comments here, but for my Achilles (and my overall enjoyment of a shoe), I tend to prefer at least 6 and preferably 8 or 10mm of drop.
With that said… the rocker geometry is noticeable but not exaggerated. Rather than a rolling sensation, I felt more of a spring-back off the plate and foam. At moderate to uptempo paces, the shoe feels fast and fun; at easy paces it’s serviceable, though a bit rigid, especially in the heel. They can do it all, and could be a single-shoe “lineup,” but I personally will reserve them for runs that involve something close to tempo - there are just way better options for easy running.
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.
Peter: The Outsole seems identical to the previous version. Rubber is good and sticky and durability seems excellent. Ride feels smooth and unencumbered by the rubber hitting the road.
Ben: As noted above, the outsole is not really the headline of this shoe. It’s reliable and safe, offers good coverage and seems rather durable so far.
Michael: The outsole is reliable and durable, with sticky rubber covering key areas of the forefoot and heel. Grip was solid for me on both roads and treadmill. There are some cutouts to save weight, and while they can catch small rocks, it doesn’t detract much from the overall performance.
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
Peter: Overall a fun and versatile trainer. Not quite a speed shoe, not quite an easy day shoe–the Mach X3 falls into no-man’s land to some degree. The improvements on the upper go a long way to making this shoe an improvement on V2. The weight gain and changes to the tongue keep it from really lifting off.
Peter’s Score 9/10
Ride 9, Fit 9, Value 9, Style 9
Ben: I think this is an under-the-radar very good super trainer. It builds on the success of the Mach X 2 and fixes the subpar heel collar issue. As noted extensively above, it is not a race day shoe or - rather - will not work as a race day shoe for many. But it does hold up well for workouts and long runs. It’s a bit on the heavy side, but the bulk is a tradeoff: this is a workhorse option, a good potential do-it-all shoe for the right runner.
Ben’s Score: 9.2/10
Ride 9.2
Fit 9.8
Value 9
Style 9.1
😊😊😊😊😊
Michael: The Mach X3 is a versatile trainer that fixes the major flaws of its predecessor. The upper no longer gets in the way (let alone hurts your feet!), the fit is accommodating, and the dual-density PEBA midsole with plate delivers an engaging, propulsive ride. Yes, it’s heavier than some direct competitors, and yes, it’s stiff enough that slower paces aren’t its sweet spot. But I found it much more enjoyable than recent Hoka offerings and a legitimate contender in the “super-trainer” space.
It’s not the lightest, nor the softest, or the most aggressive—but it’s balanced, fun, and stable. For me, that’s a winning combination, even if it won’t steal all the headlines.
Michael’s Score: 9.0
3 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.
Peter: Hard to compare these. Mach X 3 is more comfortable and a more traditional ride. The Cielo is a feisty little rocketship. For most runs the Mach X 3 makes more sense.
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.
Peter: Yep, the Mach X 3 has a little more pep in its step than the Hyperion Max 3. I might take the Hyperion out on a longer, easier run though.
Asics Megablast (RTR Review)
Peter: The Megablast is non-plated and lighter, but occupies a similar niche in the super trainer category. Fit is better for me in the Hoka Mach X3, but the Megablast wins on lightness and turnover. Both are pretty fun shoes.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Hoka Mach X 3 released 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.
Peter lives in California and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 66:46 half-marathon and a 2:20:41 marathon PR at the 2025 Houston Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.
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