Hoka Mafate X trail running shoe review: a shock-absorbing comfort fest for bouncing along gravel trails

Hoka Mafate X: first impressions 

A big midsole on a Hoka trail running shoe is no big deal, but the sheer stack of the Mafate X shocked us with its towering 49mm under the heel. Add to that a carbon plate for propulsiveness, and we started to wonder what trail running's fastest-growing brand was thinking of.

If you think in imperial measurements, 49mm is nearly two inches tall, or four decks of playing cards stacked one on top of the other. In these shoes, you might actually want to consider wearing a helmet while you're running to protect your head from low-hanging branches on overgrown trails. That said, what you lose in the possibility of a concussion, you certainly gain in comfort.

There's almost no other way to describe the sensation of running in these shoes than to say it's like running with memory foam pillows strapped to your feet. The plushness of the EVA foam, known its durability and water-resistance, and PEBA foam (excellent energy return) is just al dente enough to give you an undeniable feeling of bounce, even on the softest grass trails, and your feet will remain happy for hours, even if you venture onto tarmac.

If you've never run on the trails in a Hoka shoe, the height of the midsole might reasonably make you feel a little nervous about the prospect of a sprained ankle, but in our field tests, we discovered a surprisingly stable ride, thanks to that carbon plate.

Beneath that staggering stack you'll find a Vibram Megagrip outsole with uniquely shaped 3.5mm lugs in a "tacos and pizza" design (yes, really) that's surprisingly effective on more slippery terrain.

There's also a new woven upper (ultralight to offset the added weight of the plate) that allows for easy drainage when you meet with waterlogged trails. This is the latest model from Hoka to feature its patent-pending "dynamic vamp" in the forefoot upper, which is designed to help your toes splay naturally as you run, and the result is a slightly higher volume fit than we're used to with Hoka shoes and a more generous toe box. For some, that might translate into having a bit of a harder time finding that all-important lockdown fit, but there is a woven sockliner and gusseted tongue to help, which also prevents debris from putting a hitch in your wagon.

In summation, the Mafate X handles a lot better than we expected in terms of grip and stability, whilst delivering on the promise of all-day comfort, but we can't help but be a little confused with this shoe. Set aside the fact that the jury is still out on whether carbon plates actually help trail runners, and you've got a pair of shoes that are priced and built for elite runners going the distance, but arguably on the heavy side for ultras.

They're billed as gravel shoes, and they're certainly a workhorse on that surface, so if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and you're seeking comfort and responsiveness, they're worth a look.

Hoka Mafate X: in the field 

I won't lie, I was very curious to try out these shoes after spending the previous nine months running in the Hoka Speedgoat 6s. I've had a lot of success with the Speedgoats, but clearly, this was a completely different shoe and I had no idea how I'd handle that massive stack (and as the recipient of two knee surgeries, I'll admit I was a little nervous).

My first rodeo in them was a short 5k trail run on a straightforward trail in the UK's Lake District. When I got back to my car uninjured, I decided to immediately follow that up with an 8k run in steeper, hilly terrain with a mix of gravel, grass, and slate and make a day out of it. The following week, I decided to bring them with me to the Swiss Alps for a hiking and yoga retreat where I knew I'd have plenty of time to bookend our hut trip with a couple of trail runs in Verbier.

Since then, I've been testing them out on trails in the hills and mountains of Scotland to see how they handle different terrain.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I always test a UK 4 (US 6), which is technically a half size up but gives my feet room to swell and leaves room for thicker socks in the winter months. In the past, I've found Hoka shoes to be quite narrow – my old Clifton 8s rubbed my inner arches quite a bit, even though I don't have wide feet. So when I tested the Speedgoat 6s, I went for the wide sizing, and that seemed to be the solution.

For the Mafate Xs, however, no wide option exists, so I went with my usual size and was surprised to find that these shoes are much roomier than Hokas of days gone by. I have a high arch and found these to be high volume enough to handle my feet. In fact, I quickly learned that if I don't lace them tightly enough, my foot moves around just a little, but with proper lacing, I can achieve a nice snug fit around my midfoot, my heel is locked into place, and there's lots of room for my toes.

As for comfort, well I get that in supersized portions from these shoes. The initial sensation when I put them on was how plush they feel (and how tall I suddenly was). I'm not a 100-mile runner, so I honestly can't tell you how they perform over those types of distances, but on the days when I've run for hours in them, my feet have been nothing short of delighted.

The only caveat to that is that, because I didn't want to pay to check a bag for my trip to Switzerland, I also wore them for two long days of hiking, and I did find that I got foot fatigu,e which I suspect is down to the carbon plate, which provides zero flex. T

o caveat my caveat, Hoka does not advertise them as hiking shoes the way it does with some of its running shoes, so this isn't a design flaw, I just wanted to mention it in case you're looking for a shoe you can comfortably hike and run in. Since I tested these, Hoka has announced the Mafate X Hike, which may be what you're looking for, but it still has the carbon plate.

Breathability and protection

I can't say that these shoes offer the breezy breathability of my Merrell Long Sky Matryx 2s, but I've also worn them in some unseasonably hot weather in Switzerland (in the 80s) and had zero issues with hot, sweaty feet.

Like any good trail shoe, there's reinforcement around the areas where you're likely to hurt yourself on rocky trails. I'd say the protection against roots and rocks is medium, meaning you could certainly hurt yourself if you come up against a sharp rock, but you won't feel anything on gravel trails, which is what these shoes are built for.

While they're not meant to be waterproof, I've worn them through plenty of bogs in Scotland, and they drain quickl,y although they do take a little while to dry. This hasn't posed an issue as I've been running in the summer months, but it's more something I've noticed because I've washed them a few times.

Responsiveness, stability and grip

When you see a shoe with two inches of foam underfoot and a carbon plate, you expect it to be responsive. In the past, I've wondered if the sensation of energy return is just a placebo effect, but with these shoes, I can say with confidence that they feel like running on trampolines.

Because I've had a couple of knee surgeries, I can be a little timid about landing too heavily on my heel with my knees extended, but even on the downhills, I could feel these shoes soaking up all the shock and my knees were quite happy. They're actually even bouncy enough to handle tarmac with ease. Clearly, there's also absolutely no trail feel whatsoever.

Another potential worry for me with these shoes was stability. I've grown to love the trail feel and confidence I get from my Merrell Long Sky 2s, and wasn't sure about going back to a high stack. I started out quite gingerly on more technical trails in the Lake District and the Alps where I was looking at steep, rocky descents, but again, these shoes surprised me with their stability. I'm putting that down to the wide geometry and carbon plate, and while I wouldn't actually pick these for a technical trail in regular life, they really pose no problem on gravel and grass.

Grip is provided by lugs shaped like tacos and pizza, which let's be honest, feels like a gimmick. They're 3.5mm deep, which is ample for gravel, though not quite aggressive enough for mud, and I didn't expect much from them, but I have to admit, they really work. Having worn these for descending on slick slate and wet grass, I've never slid once, so I guess that lug design works.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products