Hoka Mafate X Review: When More Isn't Better
On paper, the Hoka Mafate X ($225) checks every “trail supershoe” box: a massive 49/41-millimeter stack, PEBA and supercritical EVA foam with a carbon plate, and Vibram Megagrip rubber. It’s hard not to get excited about all of those buzzwords—visions of a lively and comfortable all-arounder come to mind. But in practice, it feels like Hoka built the shoe to win a spec-sheet contest, then forgot that people actually have to run in the thing. The Mafate X is a heavy, bogged-down shoe, without any of the bounce or efficiency you’d expect from its spec sheet or price tag. It starts to feel fun on smooth, buffed-out trail and dirt roads after some break-in, but there are simply too many better-value options to give it our whole-hearted recommendation.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
Gravel/road-to-trail
Weight
1 lb. 8.2 oz.
Stack height
49/41mm
Upper
Engineered mesh
Midsole
Nitrogen-infused EVA, PEBA & carbon-fiber plate
Outsole
Vibram Megagrip (3.5mm)
Pros
Cons
Hoka Mafate X
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Trail Running Shoes.
The Hoka Mafate X is one of the most maximally cushioned trail shoes ever to hit the scene, with 49 millimeters of stack at the heel and 41 millimeters at the forefoot. There’s no denying that this shoe separates your feet from the ground and cushions them for the long haul. But as will become clear throughout this review, the Mafate X’s on-paper specs and real-world performance don’t always match up.
I was incredibly excited to try this shoe. Its list of features is jaw-droppingly long; in terms of the underfoot experience, I was eager to feel the combined cushion and pop of its carbon-plated midsole, PEBA, and supercritical EVA foam. Unfortunately, on my first outing in the Mafate X (a 14-mile run with 5,000 feet of elevation gain), the underfoot feel was more one of bricks than a soft cloud. The cushioning was heavy and clunky, far from the plush, high-stack ride I was anticipating. I put the shoes on the shelf and swore I’d never run in them again.
Then, the shoe reviewer in me got the better of me, and I figured I should give them one more shot. I took the Hoka Mafate X out on some buffed-out park trails near my house, and very begrudgingly started to like the shoe. With a little breaking in and on the right terrain (gravel and dirt roads or smooth trail), it started to feel more like the uber-cushioned, comfortable shoe I was expecting. Now, I’ll sometimes wear the Mafate X for slow miles on gentle terrain (although a lighter shoe would be much more enjoyable), and appreciate its cushion and support for casual hikes at the crag or standing around at the office. But due to its weight and brick-like feel, you’ll never find me in the Mafate X on a long run or on any sort of uneven terrain.
The Hoka Mafate X packs in all the right midsole buzzwords: high-stack, PEBA and supercritical foam, a carbon-fiber plate. But in practice, it rides more like a big slab of fairly dead EVA than a modern, energetic supershoe. The foam’s firmer feel makes the towering stack height feel less useful than it should—at 170 pounds, I didn’t feel like I was meaningfully accessing most of that midsole.
Even after a break-in period, the Mafate X never really escapes its big-shoe personality. It’s heavy, not especially snappy, and more inclined to cruise than to encourage you to pick up the pace. A lot of this is simply its weight: At 1 pound 8.2 ounces for the pair, it’s heavier than most trail running shoes by about 1 to 4 ounces per shoe. That heft shows up most on climbs, where the Mafate X feels like something you’re hauling rather than something that’s helping you move efficiently. The end result is a shoe that can work fine for slower, comfort-first miles, but it doesn’t deliver the lively turnover you’d expect from the spec sheet or the price.
On paper, the Hoka Mafate X should offer confidence-inspiring stability. It has a huge platform, a high stack, and a plated build that suggests structure. But in practice, stability was a real weak point for me. My first run in the shoe was a 14-mile traverse of Icicle Ridge, a fairly runnable, buffed-out, non-technical trail. I rolled my ankle hard four separate times on this run, which is wildly out of character for me—I almost never roll an ankle, and I’ll happily run technical trails in road supershoes without much thought.
A big part of the problem is the Mafate X’s overall clunky feel. Instead of coming across as plush-but-controlled, it rides like a heavy, hard brick underfoot. That combination of a towering stack with a firm, bulky build left me feeling less planted and less precise than I’d prefer, even on relatively straightforward terrain. By contrast, shoes like the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro and On Cloudultra Pro pull off a cushioned, snappy ride without sacrificing stability, and both feel far more trustworthy when the trail gets technical. For that reason, I’d reach for one of those options for most long-haul runs and keep the Mafate X to dirt and gravel roads, where stability is less of a concern.
The Hoka Mafate X’s outsole combines Vibram Megagrip rubber with large sections of exposed midsole foam. Megagrip is a proven compound for dependable grip on dry dirt and rock, and in practice, the Mafate X holds traction well across most everyday trail surfaces and conditions.
That said, the outsole choice feels driven more by the Megagrip name than by what the shoe actually needs. For the kind of terrain the Mafate X is best suited to—buffed-out trails, dirt roads, and gravel—Megagrip is arguably overkill. Hoka likely could’ve saved meaningful weight and cost by opting for a simpler rubber compound with minimal performance downside, especially since this isn’t the type of shoe you’re reaching for when grip is the limiting factor. The Mount to Coast H1 is a good example of that philosophy: as a gravel-grinding specialist, it uses a more straightforward outsole that keeps weight down and lets the midsole be the star.
The Hoka Mafate X is a solidly built shoe with durability high on the priority list. The engineered mesh upper feels robust, and the extensive use of TPU overlays—along with a molded heel cap—adds abrasion resistance and structure. Underfoot, Vibram Megagrip is a proven, long-wearing compound. While there are sections of exposed midsole foam, I don’t have major concerns about premature outsole wear, especially if you’re using the Mafate X on the smooth terrain like gravel roads, dirt paths, and buffed-out trail. The PEBA and supercritical EVA midsole should also resist packing out better than standard EVA, helping the cushioning hold its shape over time. While the shoe certainly doesn’t achieve this durability at a lightweight build, the Mafate X still feels capable of lasting 500 miles or more in the right use case.
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Weight is the Hoka Mafate X’s fatal flaw. Hoka’s listed weight for the pair is 1 pound 8.2 ounces, and my men’s size 11 came in at 1 pound 10.2 ounces on my home scale. Even after the midsole broke in, it never feels light or quick on foot—mine still runs like a 13-ounce brick. That heft overshadows whatever performance the shoe’s high-tech midsole might have delivered, and it’s most noticeable on climbs and anytime you’re trying to move efficiently. For me, it’s enough to keep the Mafate X collecting dust on the shelf—there are simply too many other trail running shoes that do more with less weight.
The Hoka Mafate X uses a fairly standard engineered mesh upper with traditional laces and a gusseted tongue. In line with the rest of the shoe, it feels overbuilt: TPU overlays, reflective accents, a sizable toe cap, and a plastic heel cap occupy much of the upper’s real estate. If the shoe had a monster-truck personality that was built to bulldoze through loose terrain, these features would be a boon for protection and debris resistance. But given the Mafate X’s tippy, max-stack feel and smooth-trail intentions, it makes more sense that the shoe’s upper would be more breathable and less locked down.
I’m a men’s size 11, and the Hoka Mafate X in an 11 fits true to size. The fit isn’t especially precise—nothing in the upper has caused hot spots or obvious irritation, but the toe box feels a bit sloppy. The upper’s busy build (TPU overlays and molded heel structure) doesn’t inspire a locked-in feel, either. I suspect that this foot movement contributed to the stability and ankle-rolling problems I had early on (paired with the shoe’s very tall stack height).
On the other hand, the Mafate X is obviously built for comfort. The upper is plush, with a padded collar, heel, and tongue that provide a cozy hug for the foot. But this comfort comes at the cost of a precision fit, which is a tough tradeoff in a shoe that’s already big, tall, and hard to control.
Mount to Coast H1 ($160): Lighter, Simpler, More Efficient
If you’re looking for long-haul comfort for buffed-out trail, dirt roads, or gravel, the Mount to Coast H1 makes a lot of sense. At just 1 pound 1 ounce for the pair, it’s significantly lighter than the Mafate X, which allows its exceptionally bouncy, responsive midsole to shine. Specifically designed for long runs, its midsole foam resists packing out, and you get a dual-lacing system that allows you open up the toe box while keeping the midfoot locked down. The H1’s traction falters in challenging conditions and can’t hold up to the performance of the Mafate X’s Vibram Megagrip, but for the terrain this shoe is built for, it shouldn’t matter. For a $65 savings, we point gravel grinders to the Mount to Coast H1.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro ($225): The Premium Mountain Option
If the Mafate X’s long-haul cushioning appeals to you but you need a shoe that performs at speed or when the terrain gets steep, rocky, or technical, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is the better choice. With a 34-millimeter stack height, it offers all-day comfort and serviceable underfoot protection while being significantly more planted than the Mafate X. Supercritical foam and a lightweight build (1 lb. 2 oz.) combine to deliver a poppy and fast ride, and the shoe is noticeably composed and precise underfoot, especially when you’re descending fast or moving dynamically on uneven trail. In short, for the same price, the Prodigio Pro beats out the Mafate X in every category. For more, read our review of the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro.
The Hoka Mafate X looks like a dream on paper, with every buzzword Hoka could fit on the spec sheet. But on trail, it’s heavy, clunky, and dull. Wipe the stars from your eyes after reading the specs and move on: there are lighter, faster, more stable, and far more enjoyable trail shoes at nearly every price point.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
A lively road-to-trail crossover, the Mount to Coast H1 pairs a high-stack, responsive midsole with a lightweight upper and a dialed fit system. It excels on gravel roads, bike paths, and hard-packed dirt, but its unstable personality and slippery outsole compound struggle on technical trails.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
The La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is a rare do-it-all trail shoe. It boasts maximum cushion and is wildly energetic, yet genuinely grippy and stable. It's a high performer for just about any distance, speed, or terrain. Just be aware that the fit runs short and snug, and there’s no rock plate for extra underfoot armor.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
Is the Mafate X for You?
We won’t hide our opinion: The Hoka Mafate X gets a resounding “don’t buy” from the Better Trail team. Simply put, there are far too many great alternatives available to recommend a shoe this compromised.
Sure, the Mafate X could make some sense if you want a max-stack cruiser for buffed-out trail, dirt roads, and gravel. But if that’s your use case, you can get a lighter shoe that feels poppier, more cushioned, and way more enjoyable as the miles stack up. And if you’re drawn to the Mafate X for durability and protection, the same issue remains. There are plenty of equally tough options that deliver that security without dragging you down. In other metrics, the Mafate X just falls apart—it’s too heavy for all-day movement and vert-heavy routes, it isn’t locked down enough to inspire confidence when things get technical, and it never delivers the pop or speed its midsole promises. Our advice: wipe the stars out of your eyes after reading the spec sheet, and pick a shoe that actually runs well on trail.
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