It’s uncommon that I’ve tried a working shoe and had no notes. However that’s how I felt about Hoka’s Mach 5 from my first run in them: Throughout my simple warm-up miles, they felt gentle and lightweight, and after I picked up the tempo for some intervals, I used to be shocked by how bouncy they have been, and the way simple it felt to hit some fast-for-me paces. I’ve been in love ever since, particularly since they’re versatile sufficient for almost any sort of run.
So after I discovered Hoka was including a plate to the fan-favorite shoe, I used to be intrigued, particularly since I’ve additionally fallen in love with the rising class of “tremendous trainers”—or sneakers with plates (normally carbon) meant for coaching somewhat than racing (like New Steadiness’s Gasoline Cell SuperComp Coach and Nike’s ZoomFly). In different phrases, you get the enjoyable propulsion of a quick shoe, with out the guilt of “losing” your quickest, costliest sneakers or of “dishonest” on all of your coaching runs. Hokas new Mach X ($180) appears to be their reply to the tremendous coach, so clearly I wanted to take it out for a number of spins.
What’s new within the Mach X
Like with its little sister the Mach 5, I might instantly inform that the Mach X was going to be a flexible shoe. That’s as a result of in contrast to most different plated coaching sneakers that use a inflexible carbon plate—which is extremely propulsive however can really feel considerably aggressive, and inconceivable to log simple miles on—the Mach X’s pebax plate is much extra delicate and versatile.
Relying on what you’re in search of in a shoe, that could possibly be a superb or dangerous factor. Other than a little bit of snappiness and added propulsion, I hardly seen the plate in any respect, and whereas I favored the graceful, comfy journey, it didn’t really feel a lot sooner than the Mach 5 to me. This could possibly be as a result of it’s fairly a bit greater than the Mach 5, with 1.2 ounces of further weight, and 10mm of added peak and cushion (for a complete of 39mm on the heel and 34mm on the entrance). It’s additionally comparatively broad, making it secure however barely cumbersome when making an attempt to push the tempo. However with each added stability and cushion, the Mach X ranks above the Mach 5 for me for lengthy runs.

One factor I missed from the Mach 5: The rubberized EVA outsole, which is among the the reason why that shoe feels so gentle regardless of its relative lack of cushioning. The Mach X’s rubber outsole is actually extra sturdy, however feels firmer when touchdown.
What a podiatrist has to say
I requested Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, a podiatrist who owns two working shoe shops in Ohio and Pennsylvania, what he thinks of the sneakers to this point, and he, too was impressed with their versatility, including that he might see the shoe working as a every day coach, but in addition for tempo runs and even races. He’s additionally a fan of the twin density foam—it has each the extra conventional EVA foam and the softer peba foam utilized in Hoka’s racing tremendous shoe, the Rocket X 2—and the plate, “which merge within the forefoot to present a really fast and responsive power return on toe-off,” he says.
“The shoe is a bit more aerodynamic than the standard Hokas and they’re fairly comfy,” he says.
However these with a large foot or bunions ought to take notice, he warns: The forefoot is barely tapered, which I seen after a number of miles as my toes began to really feel compressed. (Runners with broad toes could need to think about sizing up a half-size; in any other case, in contrast to many Hoka sneakers which are likely to run massive, it appears to suit true-to-size, says Mendeszoon.)
His solely different notice for the Mach X? It could possibly be extra breathable. I’m fairly positive I agree, although I hesitate to evaluate breathability within the 80 diploma, 90 % humidity climate I’ve been working in.
Who the Mach X is correct for
I might see myself taking the Mach X out for something from a long term to a tempo run to probably even speedwork. Whereas the plate is versatile sufficient that the sneakers might work for straightforward miles, I’ll most likely follow one thing unplated (like Hoka’s Clifton) for sluggish miles and save the Mach X for extra uptempo runs.
Although Hoka appears to need the Mach X to be a shoe that might bridge coaching and racing, personally I most likely received’t be racing in it—it simply doesn’t fairly have that running-on-little-trampolines feeling that makes me really feel my quickest when sporting true tremendous sneakers, like Hoka’s Rocket X 2. That stated, the Mach X is a good various to the tremendous shoe for individuals who aren’t into carbon plates, or who need a extra secure “tremendous coach” that may additionally work for slower miles.