The Mafate is the first pair of trail shoes I’ve owned from Hoka, and at first, I was primarily hesitant about how stable they would be, especially in more technical terrain, given the higher stack height. I am pleased to say so far, after a number of days in the Wasatch and the Uinta mountains, the shoe has proved to be a great jack-of-all-trades type of shoe. A plush and fairly deep heel collar, middle of the road width and volume, lends well to feeling locked in while ascending/descending. Also, for those who are on the narrower side, a relaxed enough toe box is pleasant enough for those longer mileage outings as well. What stands out to me the most is the midsole foam's pleasant balance. Light, supple, and forgiving enough for even those who might find ... MoreThe Mafate is the first pair of trail shoes I’ve owned from Hoka, and at first, I was primarily hesitant about how stable they would be, especially in more technical terrain, given the higher stack height. I am pleased to say so far, after a number of days in the Wasatch and the Uinta mountains, the shoe has proved to be a great jack-of-all-trades type of shoe. A plush and fairly deep heel collar, middle of the road width and volume, lends well to feeling locked in while ascending/descending. Also, for those who are on the narrower side, a relaxed enough toe box is pleasant enough for those longer mileage outings as well. What stands out to me the most is the midsole foam's pleasant balance. Light, supple, and forgiving enough for even those who might find themselves heel striking more, but also lively enough and precise when side hilling and nimble rock hopping is on the day's docket.The Vibram mega grip outsole does excellent in a variety of technical terrain, but on occasions (mostly when I am tired), the burly lugs and wider foam platform loves to catch on any exposed rock or root. But hey, what can you do?Perhaps my only complaint will be the potential durability of the foam material itself. So much exposed foam underfoot lends well to being light, but at 150 miles in, it’s already showing good wear.Overall, I am excited to put many more miles in my current pair and also to use another new pair for longer running goals in the fall. I'd recommend going true size.

Cushy, Clunky, Clown Shoes

First off, huge ups to HOKA for getting me back into running after 15 years off with the original Stinson ATR. That shoe was a max-cushioned but nimble beast that felt right at home on the trails of the Colorado Front Range. I then graduated to the Speedgoat until they started feeling like monster trucks compared to other shoes in my closet.These days, I mainly run in shoes from another Annecy-based shoe brand. However, I enjoy the Tecton X2 a great deal so I decided to give HOKA another try for my daily trainers.Knowing the Speedgoat wasn't going to feel nimble enough, I decided to try the Mafate Speed 4. Maybe this would be the happy medium between the Speedgoat and the Tecton X2?Short answer: Nope.The Good: Vibram remains one of the best tread compounds ... MoreFirst off, huge ups to HOKA for getting me back into running after 15 years off with the original Stinson ATR. That shoe was a max-cushioned but nimble beast that felt right at home on the trails of the Colorado Front Range. I then graduated to the Speedgoat until they started feeling like monster trucks compared to other shoes in my closet.These days, I mainly run in shoes from another Annecy-based shoe brand. However, I enjoy the Tecton X2 a great deal so I decided to give HOKA another try for my daily trainers.Knowing the Speedgoat wasn't going to feel nimble enough, I decided to try the Mafate Speed 4. Maybe this would be the happy medium between the Speedgoat and the Tecton X2?Short answer: Nope.The Good: Vibram remains one of the best tread compounds out there. The Mafate's knobs work great in loose Spring soil, too. The cushion does lean to "soft" over "responsive," if that's what you're after. Plus, the Black/Gray/Purple/Green color is amazing to look at.The Bad: The upper just doesn't hold your foot reliably. Coupled with the big lugs, it's easy to roll the shoe on your foot in technical terrain. I modified the lacing to lock the heel better, but there was still some slippage there, too. I held my size 11 Mafate's against my Salomon Genesis shoes (which are very cushioned) and you'd think the Mafate's were size 13 or 14. They're clown shoes compared to the Genesis - longer, wider, heavier, and far less nimble.At the end of the day, the Mafate Speed 4 just isn't for me. For now, I'll stick to the Tecton X2 and cross my fingers the Speedgoat 6 comes through in a big way.

Great well rounded/cushioned trail-runner, a few limitations

I originally purchased these shoes after I tore the upper on a pair of SG 5's hoping to have a go-to cushioned trail shoe for everything from quick weekday runs to long slogs in the mountains. These did not disappoint however having put almost 400mi on my first pair, I have noticed some limitations.But first, the pros. On the first few runs in these shoes I was super pleased with the dual density midsole. Perfect balance between cushion and responsiveness. After many weeks of use I did notice the midsole flattening out a bit and it resulted in a bit of a firmer, less bouncy ride however I am overall impressed with the durability of the midsole materials. I feel like a bit of flattening is normal but this shoe still maintains a decent amount of snappy responsiveness ... MoreI originally purchased these shoes after I tore the upper on a pair of SG 5's hoping to have a go-to cushioned trail shoe for everything from quick weekday runs to long slogs in the mountains. These did not disappoint however having put almost 400mi on my first pair, I have noticed some limitations.But first, the pros. On the first few runs in these shoes I was super pleased with the dual density midsole. Perfect balance between cushion and responsiveness. After many weeks of use I did notice the midsole flattening out a bit and it resulted in a bit of a firmer, less bouncy ride however I am overall impressed with the durability of the midsole materials. I feel like a bit of flattening is normal but this shoe still maintains a decent amount of snappy responsiveness even after close to 400mi of use. Another positive is the upper has also been a solid performer. After tearing through the upper on the SG 5's after 200mi, I was a little hesitant but I can attest to the fact that the upper on these Mafates have held up exceptionally well. Another pro is the outsole, the traction initially from the Vibram litebase outsole is great. For a cushioned trail runner these shoes perform considerably well on technical terrain although I would not buy these for that purpose.... and here is where these shoes reach some limitations.I would say that if you're looking for a shoe to take into the mountains and tackle rocky/ technical terrain day after day, these shoes may not be a good fit. A few reasons why. First, although the vibram light base outsole has great traction and stickiness to it, it wears relatively quickly. The traction on my current shoes have about a 1/3 of the material left on the outsole and I have been slipping a ton on dry rock. Granted I have almost 400mi on the shoes but still. Also, the fit is on the roomier side which is great for long runs but for technical descents, it's slightly sloppy. Overall, impressive shoe that can do it all.

Multiple quality issues

After 3 pairs of Speed Goats, I decided to try something new. I received a pair of these as a gift for my birthday after being forced to not buy them for myself-this becomes relevant later.After 2 months, pieces of the outsole began to peel away and detach. The same week the Hoka logo also began to peel away. I reached out to Hoka and it was immediately apparent than unless I asked the person who gifted me the shoes for their receipt, there was nothing that could be done. Of course I'm not going to do that so I was just SOL.I never fully removed the pieces of outsole that started to detach and instead just let them wear off. I was content with the situation until today when the entire bottom outsole started to peel away from the shoe after only 4 1/2 months. I ... MoreAfter 3 pairs of Speed Goats, I decided to try something new. I received a pair of these as a gift for my birthday after being forced to not buy them for myself-this becomes relevant later.After 2 months, pieces of the outsole began to peel away and detach. The same week the Hoka logo also began to peel away. I reached out to Hoka and it was immediately apparent than unless I asked the person who gifted me the shoes for their receipt, there was nothing that could be done. Of course I'm not going to do that so I was just SOL.I never fully removed the pieces of outsole that started to detach and instead just let them wear off. I was content with the situation until today when the entire bottom outsole started to peel away from the shoe after only 4 1/2 months. I use these shoes to play disc golf, so the outsoles wear out much faster than normal trail running and I expect to get about 10-12 months of usage before there is no longer any grip, but I've never had an outsole detach from the shoe while using them.I'd recommend sticking with Speed Goats for anyone on the fence.

New Favorite Mountain Ultra Shoe

I have had struggles finding a suitable shoe for long mountain/trail (Colorado) runs (4hrs+). The shoes I've tried for this application that haven't worked for a variety of reasons include: Saucony Xodus Ultra 1 and 2, Hoka Speedgoat 5, Merrell Agility Peak 5, and Topo Athletic Ultraventure 2.I have put about 60 miles on these Mafate 4s on and off trail in the mountains, and they are proving to be superb. The fit and lockdown is miles above the SG5, in my experience. Upper seemed to drain water effectively. The midsole is comfortable and a near perfect balance of cushion and response. I just did a 30mi segment of the Hardrock course in the San Juan mountains, rugged and rocky, and my feet were comfortable throughout a long and tough day on trail. The outsole is ... MoreI have had struggles finding a suitable shoe for long mountain/trail (Colorado) runs (4hrs+). The shoes I've tried for this application that haven't worked for a variety of reasons include: Saucony Xodus Ultra 1 and 2, Hoka Speedgoat 5, Merrell Agility Peak 5, and Topo Athletic Ultraventure 2.I have put about 60 miles on these Mafate 4s on and off trail in the mountains, and they are proving to be superb. The fit and lockdown is miles above the SG5, in my experience. Upper seemed to drain water effectively. The midsole is comfortable and a near perfect balance of cushion and response. I just did a 30mi segment of the Hardrock course in the San Juan mountains, rugged and rocky, and my feet were comfortable throughout a long and tough day on trail. The outsole is the best I've ever used- the Vibram Lite Base as well as the lug design create a very secure traction, felt solid on wet rocks (Saucony's great fail-point). I woudn't say these are a lightweight shoe, yet they felt nimble enough in technical terrain and did not feel cumbersome.If Hoka would lose the debris funnel--the heel swallow tail--which does necessitate the use of a gaiter in many outings, they would really have a dream trail shoe

Quite nice, but

This is an early review.This is a good but not great shoe for my purposes: running/hiking/scrambling in the Wasatch over ~6-12 mile distances.The design, materials, and assembly are great. The Mafate fits my foot very well. It looks rad, too.The Hoka policy permitting/encouraging 30-60 days of use is fantastic, enabling a true assessment.I dislike the Mafate footbed. It feels subtly concave under foot. Presumably, this will resolve as my foot pounds down the foam. But it's definitely a subtle annoyance. Comparatively, the Speedgoats feels flat under foot, which I prefer.Additionally, I don't notice a benefit from the Mafate's two layers of foam versus the Speedgoats one layer. Maybe I would notice if I did ultra distances. But that's not my jam.I see why ... MoreThis is an early review.This is a good but not great shoe for my purposes: running/hiking/scrambling in the Wasatch over ~6-12 mile distances.The design, materials, and assembly are great. The Mafate fits my foot very well. It looks rad, too.The Hoka policy permitting/encouraging 30-60 days of use is fantastic, enabling a true assessment.I dislike the Mafate footbed. It feels subtly concave under foot. Presumably, this will resolve as my foot pounds down the foam. But it's definitely a subtle annoyance. Comparatively, the Speedgoats feels flat under foot, which I prefer.Additionally, I don't notice a benefit from the Mafate's two layers of foam versus the Speedgoats one layer. Maybe I would notice if I did ultra distances. But that's not my jam.I see why people love this shoe. And it's really good, but maybe not the best for my purposes. Time will tell.

The perfect trail shoe (almost)

It's not a hot take that the Mafate 4 kicks, but if you're someone reading this review and on the fence about the shoe or the price tag, just buy it. It is simultaneously one of the most responsive, technical, grippy shoes I've worn, while still being incredibly bouncy. Usually that's a tradeoff, but not here.My one nit, which is specific to me, is not being wide enough in the forefoot. After a longer run, the inside edge of my foot would have been hanging out just enough for just long enough to be irritated.That said, I ran through this shoe, used it in a 25k race (would def use it for a 50) and swapped it out to be a hiking and casual shoe once the tread got low. Through circumstance I have two other trail runners right now so don't need another pair, but ... MoreIt's not a hot take that the Mafate 4 kicks, but if you're someone reading this review and on the fence about the shoe or the price tag, just buy it. It is simultaneously one of the most responsive, technical, grippy shoes I've worn, while still being incredibly bouncy. Usually that's a tradeoff, but not here.My one nit, which is specific to me, is not being wide enough in the forefoot. After a longer run, the inside edge of my foot would have been hanging out just enough for just long enough to be irritated.That said, I ran through this shoe, used it in a 25k race (would def use it for a 50) and swapped it out to be a hiking and casual shoe once the tread got low. Through circumstance I have two other trail runners right now so don't need another pair, but can't wait to buy another soon.

The review you were looking for

Long time hobby-runner, recently getting back on the wheel so I needed something good, but also dual purpose. I am a field surveyor so I walk anywhere from 8-14 miles a day at least 6/7 days a week. I also jog 2 miles on the treadmill and walk 10+ mins at an incline. All in all I am these new Mafates are getting out to work. Opted for the deeper lugs in trail runners so maybe the tread would last longer, I am here just shy of 2 months of having the shoes and the tread is completely obliterated on the outsides. I don't know what the mileage of these are expected but to be fair I have been working them like crazy.This is my first responsive shoe from Hoka I started with the Arahis, which the tread didn't even last a month 😭. But mainly a cushion heavy shoe. Went to ... MoreLong time hobby-runner, recently getting back on the wheel so I needed something good, but also dual purpose. I am a field surveyor so I walk anywhere from 8-14 miles a day at least 6/7 days a week. I also jog 2 miles on the treadmill and walk 10+ mins at an incline. All in all I am these new Mafates are getting out to work. Opted for the deeper lugs in trail runners so maybe the tread would last longer, I am here just shy of 2 months of having the shoes and the tread is completely obliterated on the outsides. I don't know what the mileage of these are expected but to be fair I have been working them like crazy.This is my first responsive shoe from Hoka I started with the Arahis, which the tread didn't even last a month 😭. But mainly a cushion heavy shoe. Went to a challenger 7, tread lasted longer but still a cushion shoe, and now I decided to try the Mafates.Coming from cushion to this was a significant change in muscle demand from the run, so if you're looking to go from cushion to responsive, be weary it will take time for your body to adjust, it did for me at least. But with less cushion use, I genuinely feel stronger running so to those that want the challenge, I suggest it.Overall the Mafate fit great, and I love the color way I chose. I give it 4/5 stars because I wish it would have last me at least another month or 2. To shell out 200+$ on a shoe every two months hurts to think about, BUT to be fair I do high mileage so there's that.Happy shopping folks

Too Narrow

What I liked: Great traction for what my intentions were. Plenty of padding , especially in the heel area. Very lightweight.Didn't like: Way too narrow. I always wear a 9 , always.Tried a 9 ,length was okay but about an inch or so in front of the heel area the shoes pushed in so hard it was very uncomfortable. So I took them back and tried a 9.5. With the 9.5s the length is a little long ( bearable) but still too tight in that same area. This shoe isn't available in a wide width , and I've never needed a wide before in any shoe. So I'm returning these AGAIN and searching for a different brand of shoe I guess. I had such high hopes.

good trail shoe

I have the Torrent 2 and love them, wear them for racing. I mostly do trails with half technical half trail. There quick and precise with the lower profile but I feel every rock, twist and turn. In comes the Mafate Speed. I had very little issues with the technical parts of the trails. Because of the taller stack height and more cushion, I did have a few instances where I did not pick my foot up high enough, nothing too major though. I am sure the more I run in them I will learn just how high to lift. When I did hit some pointed and jagged rocks, I was waiting for that quick sharp intense pain that usually follows but there wasn't anything. The cushioning did its job. I wasn't able to let loose on the the downhill technical sections but again, I have only been out ... MoreI have the Torrent 2 and love them, wear them for racing. I mostly do trails with half technical half trail. There quick and precise with the lower profile but I feel every rock, twist and turn. In comes the Mafate Speed. I had very little issues with the technical parts of the trails. Because of the taller stack height and more cushion, I did have a few instances where I did not pick my foot up high enough, nothing too major though. I am sure the more I run in them I will learn just how high to lift. When I did hit some pointed and jagged rocks, I was waiting for that quick sharp intense pain that usually follows but there wasn't anything. The cushioning did its job. I wasn't able to let loose on the the downhill technical sections but again, I have only been out in them for a few runs. After a 13 m technical trail run my feet and legs were not beat up like with the Torrent 2's. I will still run in my Torrents because I like the responsiveness but the Mafate Speed have that well needed cushioning that our body needs. I have run in them 4 times already and have put them to the test. The uppers and the outsoles still look like new. No signs of wear, and they have been scraped on rocks and roots, like I said, I put them to the test. When I did hit a section of just dirt and twisting 90 degree turns, it was running heaven, they performed really well. They will definitely stay in my rotation and I will purchase them again. Buy them, your feet and legs will like you for it. I take an 11.5 in the Torrent 2, Nike Vaporfly, and the 11.5in the Mafate Speed fit perfectly. True to size. Plenty room in the toebox but not too much that your foot slides around, can't have that when your technical trail running. Background; I am 54 yr old, 5k 16:53, 10m-57:37. Hopes this review helps.