You want a carbon plated trail shoe? Sure, why not.
More foam than a super shoe? Let’s do it!
Bulletproof protection? ✅ ✅ ✅
The Mafate X doesn’t hold back on any bells or whistles.
The Mafate X is pretty much a monster truck for the trails. It feels like it could crush a small boulder. But here’s the million-dollar question: can a shoe this big, this bold, this unapologetically overbuilt actually handle real world trails?As you may have gathered, the Mafate X is not the successor of the Mafate Speed 4 but rather its own stand-alone beast. The Mafate X is called Mafate because it so reflects Hoka’s identity. If you’re wondering what that means, you’re in the right place.
Upper and Fit of the HOKA Mafate X
What works for me
If Hoka’s known for one thing, it’s gotta be for comfort. Okay, and its bright and spunky colourways. The Mafate X doubles down on both promises. Men’s and women’s flagship colourways are going to subtly remind you of the sunrise runs you missed while sleeping in. On the comfort front, the Mafate X are amazing. I loved the feel of them from the moment I put them on.
Every part of the upper feels intentional, with a luxurious woven mesh alternating structure with breathability. A durable tweed-like knitting blends with a looser weaving for water drainage. For all the Hoka runners who have blown out an upper or ran through a river, this mesh looks both promising and functional.
The Mafate X fits like a glove. It runs true to size and if you’re a longstanding fan, it sizes, well… like a Hoka. That said, this model is a smidge narrower through the midfoot in comparison to other Hoka trail models, but that gives you a really good lockdown when drawing in the laces. On a shoe with such a tall platform, that lockdown is pretty key to its effectiveness.
The laces are flat and soft and sit on a shorter paper-thin tongue with subtle padding under where you’d tie your shoes. I have heard some complaints about this tongue but there weren’t any pressure points for me at all, even after three hours of use.
The heel collar is plush and an external heel cage keeps things stable through your stride. Long runs, short runs, post-run coffee shop runs, that ankle is going to stay put.
What doesn’t work for me
I don’t really have any complaints on the upper and fit at this point.
Midsole and Ride of the HOKA Mafate X
What works for me
It took the right terrain to really unleash the Mafate X engine. By “right,” I mean a local river path, where this monster truck of a shoe finally made sense to me. On light gravel and rolling fire roads, it ran butter smooth. Locked into a steady pace, the signature rocker did the rest of the work. A run made pretty effortless despite back to back training days.
If your idea of a good time involves long-haul efforts on mild terrain: we’re talking gravel, road-to-trail, or anything under a 10% grade, this shoe absolutely shines. On this terrain, the Mafate X is a (not so) little gem.
The magic underfoot comes from a bouncy top layer of PEBA foam sitting pretty atop a thick slab of supercritical EVA (the big marshmallow-looking part), with a carbon plate sandwiched in between. The plate isn’t exactly launching you to the moon, but it does help with propulsion somewhat and, more importantly, keeping the structure intact. You’re not going to bottom out any time soon here.
This level of cushion is a dream for heel strikers. And with an 8mm drop, which is higher than the typical Hoka 4–6mm, you get some nice forward roll to keep things moving.
Now for the skeptics asking, “is it stable though?” Surprisingly, it is. The wide platform and EVA cradle do a stellar job of guiding your foot, even with all that stack. As absurd as it sounds given the stack, the Mafate X almost runs like a stability shoe, enough to tame my own pronation tendencies without feeling overbuilt.
What doesn’t work for me
My first run in the Mafate X was on my usual trails: plenty of vert, rocks, roots. And while the shoe could possibly handle short stretches of those areas, the Mafate X wasn’t built for that.
With a towering 49mm stack and some weight, it’s one of the tallest and heaviest trail shoes out there. It’s stiff, a bit clunky, and not the technical support partner you want when the terrain becomes uneven.
But really, docking the Mafate X for struggling on tech terrain is maybe like blaming a road bike for not nailing a downhill course. That’s not what this shoe was made for.
Keeping the cruiser cruising on light trails, it fell short for me in just one area: on steep hills, be it uphill or downhill. Whereas on the flat, you really don’t feel the weight, on the uphills the weight becomes hard to ignore. And you’ll be regretting the stack tumbling downhill.
Outsole of the HOKA Mafate X
Grip and Traction
The lugs on the Mafate X aren’t the deepest at 3.5mm, but paired with Vibram rubber, they actually grip better than expected. Traction was solid on light to moderate terrain, with no sketchy slips. There’s a bit of exposed foam underfoot, likely a weight-saving move (phew), and heel pods that add some adaptability to uneven terrain.
That’s all great but it’s the lug design that deserves a special mention. We’re talking pizza slices and taco faces, smiling or frowning at you. Whoever greenlit this in the design room deserves a raise. It’s a subtle reminder that not everything in trail running has to scream “performance lab.” Sometimes, a little nod to ultra-runner cuisine goes a long way.
Durability
For the time being, my Mafate X midsole and peppy feel are holding strong. I suspect the plate will keep the structure of the shoe for a good number of miles to come. More concerning is the wear on the beloved pizzas and tacos that are losing their “faces” after a mere 25km in my case. I wasn’t expecting that. There is plenty of outsole rubber on this cruiser shoe, but I wouldn’t take this out on more road stints than needed.
Conclusion
Value for Money
At $225, they certainly aren’t giving the Mafate X away. But you’re paying for quite some technology. For this amount you’re getting a carbon plate, a dual-foam midsole, and serious cushioning built to last through a major ultra training block. And if you’re pinching pennies, maybe even through race day.
As a main workhorse, it’s a solid investment. If it replaces two pairs of something like the Mafate 5, the price starts to make sense. As a rotation shoe it’s a harder sell, unless you’ve got a soft spot for plush and a flexible budget.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
At the end of the day, the Mafate X is a rather niche shoe. Sure, you could use this model for daily training or for an ultra on race day, but it’s going to be happiest when limited to cruising on light trails.
It would pair well with a lighter, more responsive shoe like the Hoka Tecton X3 for faster efforts. And if your trail life includes anything remotely technical, you’ll still want something nimble in the mix, like the Topo MTN Racer 4, to cover that ground.
Final Verdict
The Mafate X isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, and that’s exactly where it finds its place. Meet a purpose-built cruiser made for long, easy miles where comfort and cushioning take centre stage. If your runs lean towards gravel paths, rolling fire roads or level double tracks, this shoe delivers a plush, stable, and unexpectedly enjoyable ride.
It’s not light. It’s not agile. And it’s not made for technical terrain. But judged for what it is: a high-stack, max-cushion trail shoe, it does the job impressively well.
For trail runners requiring a one-shoe solution for big mileage, the Mafate X could just be the right solution. The Mafate X embraces everything Hoka is known for, and turns the volume up with all the bells and whistles.
And it comes with pizza lugs. Because Hoka knows that when you’re on a long run, you need to lighten up and not take yourself so seriously.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Hoka Mafate X vs. Asics Metafuji Trail
These two shoes both come in at a similar starting price point, both are plated and both have high stacks (the Metafuji trail sitting a smidge lower at 44mm) and they both have relatively shallow lugs. While they are destined to similar rolling, dirt terrain, their purposes are possibly polar opposite. The Metafuji is aimed at the speed runner seeking precision, while the Mafate X is for the long-haul cruiser not too fussed about cadence or steps per minute.
Hoka Mafate X vs. Topo Vista
Despite being 10 grams heavier in my size, the plated Mafate still manages to be a bit more snappy and responsive than the Topo Vista. We’re looking at an 8mm drop in the Mafate X over 5mm in the Vista. Both models use the pod idea in the heel to increase trail adaptability. After a handful of runs alternating models, the Mafate X lugs seem to bite the terrain a little more with the little pizza and taco lugs. The Vista on the other hand is so far proving to have a much more durable outsole. And it’s around 60 Euros cheaper. Let that sink in!
Other People’s Opinions
Theo’s Take on the Mafate X
The first thing you notice when opening the box are the bright colours of the HOKA Mafate X. I see how this could be divisive. However, this is in HOKA’s DNA. Although I would rather have a shoe with a more classic colour which goes with everything, it is good to add some colour and fantasy to a run. Overall, I love the look of these huge shoes. Comfort is very present. The upper personifies this with the tongue and laces combining to make a super pair. Added to this, the foam around the ankle is also a very agreeable touch. It makes you feel like you are stepping into a cocoon. The cocoon protection extends to the toe bumper which will keep your nails from blackening on rocks.
On the other hand, the upper can be a little abrasive to the touch. Even though it wasn’t an issue for me, I can see how some people would benefit from a softer mesh. The flip-side of this is that HOKA have taken flak for the durability of their mesh in the past. This will certainly sort that out. Despite all the padding around the ankle, there were times when I felt my ankle wishing for a little more stability on uphill pushes.
As far as the running goes, I couldn’t agree more with Esther. It is a shoe which is probably at its best for heavier heel strikers. Although, I am sure that this massive midsole would protect any runner during their miles with very few issues. Personally, I felt HOKA Tecton X 3 vibes from the Mafate X. Like Ester, I very much enjoyed the ride on easy trails. It was light floating on an effortless cloud. That said, I still enjoy them on more demanding and technical trails as they are stable and precise. In a race situation, I would rather use them for UTMB than Tor des Geants. Although, these are shoes which I would only choose on a race day where my only goal was to finish the course. They are at their best when they are used for longer, easy runs on tired legs.
My dislikes are also very similar to Esther’s. This shoe is overly bloated. Because of this massive weight, it loses the fun. Despite the PEBA foam and carbon plate, there isn’t the dynamism you’d expect from such a race shoe. Moreover, while the Mafate X “only” weighs 344g, it is all in the midsole which makes it feel a lot heavier. Perhaps it is because I am a big fan of lightweight shoes for racing, but I do not see the point in having the carbon plate in this shoe.
While I fear that the lugs may be a little weak for muddy conditions at only 3.5mm, they gave me no issues on gravel or any other surface I ran on. On uphills, the lugs gave me plenty of traction. Finally, I really like the fun design of the lugs, especially as they work.
As far as durability goes, I have no worries with the mesh or midsole. In fact, the midsole has improved during my testing period. It is a shoe which has some working in. With value for money, this is always subjective. If you are looking for an all-out race shoe, I would probably not buy this. However, if you want a smooth, floaty feeling shoe for easy miles on easy trails, the value increases due to my expectations for durability.
