Hoka Mafate 5 Review: Long Haul Lunker

Introduction to the Hoka Mafate 5

TAYLOR: Mafate has always been a mixed bag of feelings for me. In its original form, it was the shoe that changed the trail running footwear game forever.  Since then, it’s splintered into various versions of itself, like Peter Parker in the multiverse. There’s literally a Mafate for everyone whether you’re casually crushin’ in the Mafate Three2 x Nicole McLaughlin, crusin’ trail miles in the Mafate Speed 4, or blending style with performance in the Mafate Speed 4 Lite Satisfy.

Overall, the Hoka Mafate series has a fairly solid track record. I believe the best performing and the, coincidentally, most popular version was the recent Hoka Mafate Speed 4. It pulled together quality, comfort, and technical performance like no other Hoka had. In my opinion, it replaced the Speedgoat as the preferred every day and/or trail racing option. 

In a massive swing of events, the next Mafate to debut was the behemoth Hoka Mafate X! While it was an impressive (albeit heavy) showcase of tech, it wasn’t quite the successor the Mafate fans were looking for. 

Now, a few months later, the Hoka Mafate 5 has landed. Earlier this year, I dubbed the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 as the most controversial shoe of the year. I have since rescinded my comment and now place it here with this one. Wow, are people in love with their Mafate’s!

Although it’s not quite the massive change we saw in the Mafate X, the newest Mafate is virtually an overhaul. What it does maintain is a dual layered midsole (though it too takes on a different form) and a Vibram Megagrip outsole.

Besides that, we’re looking at more stack, higher drop, new materials, etc. Bold move, Cotton! 

Perhaps a spoiler will lighten the mood for some of you. As much as I loved the Mafate Speed 4, I’m finding myself equally as enthralled by the newest version… just for slightly different reasons.

RENEE: Taylor’s right about the Mafate 5 likely replacing the Salomon Pulsar 4 as the most controversial update of the year (strictly trail shoe speaking). And the year isn’t over! 

The Mafate 5 arrives at the heels of the Mafate X, a shoe I initially thought would be unrunnable (is that a word?) because of the stack and weight. Sure, the X is comfortable and premium, but it proved unstable just walking on uneven terrain. And then I ran with it on its intended terrain: gravel. My typical miles are on hilly gravel roads that aren’t always maintained. The Mafate X rolls over thick, clumpy gravel like a farm tractor tire. I was surprised that I could get under 7 minute/mile pace with that shoe (not for long, mind you). Would I run with it on single track? No thanks. Enter the Mafate 5.

What We Liked About the Hoka Mafate 5

TAYLOR: I’m going straight for the tender spot both literally and emotionally. One of the most loved aspects of the previous Mafate was the midsole recipe. While that is different here, I could feel some continuity. 

The layering of this midsole still combines a softer, more energetic top layer with a more structured durable bottom layer. What’s different is that the top layer is a supercritical EVA– a fat layer of it from the midfoot through the heel. When I say fat, I mean 44-freakin-mm’s! It’s cushy and bouncy and I love the overall ride in large part because of this feature. 

An 8 mm drop brings the forefoot down to a 36 mm stack. That’s still high, but the forefoot concoction is actually quite conducive for: 1) smooth running, 2) running on a variety of terrain, and 3) various paces. 

This is a Hoka shoe we are talking about, so you automatically will have a wider platform, providing some inherent stability. It’s really the layering system that makes this such a dynamic shoe, though. The forefoot contains the two layers of foam that I already mentioned: a top layer of supercritical EVA and a bottom layer of their familiar compression-molded EVA. The bottom layer adds a noticeable amount of structure to the forefoot which feels great for control and protection on a variety of terrain. I still felt a sense of cushion and energy from the top layer.

Sandwiched between the foams is a TPU plate called the Rocker Integrity Technology. Simply put, it is meant to keep the shape of the moderately aggressive forefoot rocker, but I also think it doubles as a stability mechanism. 

This is no-brainer tech that should be used on many high/max-stack trail shoes with a rocker. The rocker shape gets lost over many miles, just like the foam. I appreciate this thoughtfulness and felt a consistently smooth ride throughout my testing period. The ride was as buttery as my fingers after the closing credits of a summer blockbuster.

As I was saying, the Rocker Integrity Technology also assisted with the various demands that trail running brings. It reminded me of the Challenger series or the New Balance Hierro v9 in that sense. It easily transitioned between surfaces and did surprisingly well on a range of terrain. 

While many shoes ditch the plate when the stack shoots up, shoes like the Speedland GS series, The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4, Rabbit High Country, and Hoka Mafate X all utilize a plate of sorts to enhance stability. I’m glad to see it in the Mafate 5 as well. It certainly allowed me to run confidently over smooth to moderate terrain without a sweat. Even bouts of technical terrain were just fine, maybe even enjoyable! 

Another major adjustment comes with the fit and upper. Thankfully, there is less material at work here. Even though the previous jacquard upper provided a secure fit, this thinner mesh with a wrap of strategic overlays provided a fit that was nearly as secure.

The Warp Knit mesh was easily more breathable. 

It was also more accommodating throughout the shoe. Even my wide/average foot felt like it had room to spare without getting sloppy. A unique dynamic vamp is to thank for that too.

At the same time, I was able to cinch up the laces for a secure fit on most trail conditions. I would compare it to the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide in that sense. It’s kind of nuckin’ futs to be able to hit some rather technical trails at speed and feel mostly in control in a true max stack trail shoe! 

Of course, 5 mm Vibram Megagrip Microtraction lugs helped in this case. Yes, there is a large bit of exposed foam on the outsole, but I never perceived any lack of grip, felt less protection, nor wane in durability. This is one of those things that runners need to stop whining about. It’s definitely a way to ward off some of the impending weight, but the rubber was strategically placed under contact points so the Mafate 5 had little to no issues with grip. 

I also like that this package remains the same cost at $185.

RENEE: One of the first specs I look at in a shoe is weight, but let’s talk about weight later. I want to focus on the bright side, and the Mafate 5 has a bright side. 

Like Taylor says, the midsole feels perfect. The shoe is massively comfortable underfoot. On first step in, the plushness from the midsole is obvious. From a forefoot landing, the midsole is not overly soft (thanks to the curved, pliable TPU plate) which gives some stability and pep. The 8 mm drop doesn’t feel that high, and with anything less than 8 mm the shoe’s high stack would likely create a clunky ride. 

I have average width feet and found the recent Torrent 4 too narrow because of the new midfoot rocker. No issues with the Mafate 5 width and the upper secures well. The breathability is okay. During a hot run (heat index around 100°F thanks to corn sweat) my perspiration pooled in the outside of the toe box along with dirt. My socks were clean. Usually this means poor breathability but I didn’t notice my feet feeling hot. 

If you need a shoe for all day comfort, the Mafate 5 delivers. The outsole is what I expect from Vibram, with a lug pattern focused on grip. Soft/mud terrain outsoles tend to have more space between larger, chevron shaped lugs. I had mud wedge between the lugs, adding to underfoot weight. For rocky terrain, the lugs serve a more useful purpose to increase surface contact.

In terms of looks, I was not so secretly hoping to receive the pink color of the shoe, which Hoka displayed at 2024 The Running Event. Watch for that colorway in the future.

What We Didn’t Like About The Hoka Mafate 5

TAYLOR: Weight is certainly the point of controversy with the Hoka Mafate 5. I get it! It is significantly heavier than its predecessor. That is inherently disappointing.

At the same time, my US men’s 10.5 came in at 11.9 ounces. That’s actually very average for trail shoes with this much going on. It would be a dagger to the series if it wasn’t such a smooth and efficient shoe otherwise.

Shoes like the Speedland GS series, New Balance Hierro v9, and Merrell MTL Adapt are all in that same range with many other max-stack options just under or over that weight as well. 

Because this shoe has such a high stack and softer/bouncy foam in the heel, there is a sense of instability in the back half. The heel did have some lateral tipping every so often, but it wasn’t as topsy-turvy as I thought it was going to be. As with the weight conundrum, there is a saving grace in the fact that the mid- and forefoot had it covered through toe-off. If you happen to be a heavy heel striker and enjoy running in the previous model of the Mafate, know that there could be some squirreliness because there is no other foam layer and not enough rubber underfoot to really feel stable.

RENEE: The Mafate 5 is a beefcake. She’s gained a bit of weight (okay, more than a bit) and it seems like all muscle. I mean, I really want to believe it’s all muscle. Maybe she finally gave in to all of the social media influencers targeting middle-aged women about taking 5g+ of creatine and 100g+ of protein daily while lifting heavy? Her quads are massive and her glutes are thick, but she hasn’t been running as much. I might just be talking about myself here. Seriously though, the shoe feels bottom heavy to hold, but it runs so much smoother than I assumed.

I’m not sure where the weight could be cut, but I would like to see some effort in the next version unless Hoka plans to release a “speed” or “lite” version. To be fair, Hoka did remove the word “speed” from the shoe’s name. Rightly so. At least it’s lighter than the Mafate X. I don’t care for the rocker in the Speedgoat and the latest Torrent (v4) introduced a midfoot rocker that didn’t work great for me. If the Torrent reverts to a more traditional geometry, it’s by far the shoe I’d choose. At $185, the serious trail speedsters might opt for a pricey, yet faster shoe (and lighter). For us midpack, recreational runners, $185 is a lot of money. Finding a premium trail shoe for less than that amount is getting tougher each year. 

And since Taylor mentioned the Merrell MTL Adapt, I’ll chime in that Mafate 5 is far more runnable for me in comparison. Yes, it’s heavy, but when looking at comparisons, the Mafate 5 runs the best gram for gram. That said, if you’re looking for a nimble shoe on technical terrain, the Mafate 5 won’t be quick or easy in terms of foot placement. At my slow paces, this means I’ll need to be even slower in  areas where I’d like to be more nimble. 

Final Thoughts on The Hoka Mafate 5

TAYLOR: As a stand-alone shoe, the Hoka Mafate 5 is a fantastic addition to the max-stack category. In fact, I’d say it’s now leading the charge with some of the best in the category because of its true sense of pillowy protection via the dual-layered midsole, a super smooth ride, and accommodating fit. I honestly think it’s what many runners are looking for in a maximal trail running shoe to go the distance. Comfort is absolutely on point. 

From the update standpoint, it almost feels like an entirely different shoe. I think Mafate Speed 4 fans will find something they enjoy in this shoe, but it is quite the alteration to their most recent recipe. Like Renee mentioned, maybe there will be a Speed or Lite version coming specifically for those fans (and there are a lot of them).

If you’re looking to go long in comfort and on a variety of terrain, the Hoka Mafate 5 could easily be a choice to  splurge on.

RENEE: I am a recreational runner who isn’t that fast and tends to walk a lot and sightsee when on technical trails (including during races . . . I will stop to get a good second look at a cool rock, tree, view, etc. When I pay to race, I’m getting my money’s worth for that midpack finish). The Mafate is a protective yet plush shoe underfoot. Not all trail runners are chasing UTMB and Western States dreams. A good amount of consumers want comfort over speed. But do I need this much shoe? Could I get by with a lighter shoe with less stack? The answer is yes, at least for anything runnable.

I haven’t raced more than 50 miles yet on trails, and I can’t imagine using the Mafate 5 for that distance or anything shorter. I typically cringe when someone says a running shoe would make a good hiker/walking shoe. Usually this means it’s too heavy and clunky for running. I dare say it: the Mafate is a good option for a mix of running/speed hiking. And honestly, for anything technical, that’s what I’m doing anyway. If I’m on terrain that’s within my ability to run, I’m going with a lighter shoe.  That’s not to say stronger runners can’t use the shoe for fast paces. I’m curious to read reviews from runners who are well above 200 lbs in weight. I think the shoe might give those runners a good balance of comfort and performance. Nevertheless, I should reaffirm that I like running in this shoe and it feels lighter than its listed weight.

Need stack? Comfort? Protection? Running or hiking for fun during all-day or multi-day efforts? The Mafate 5 has you covered.