The Hoka Mafate X is Hoka’s boldest trail running experiment yet — blending Skyward X-like maximalism with ultra-distance trail racing ambitions similar to the Tecton X 3.
It’s plush, it’s propulsive, and it brings one of Hoka’s highest stack heights (49mm) to the trail scene - yes the prospect of that, scared me too.
But while it nails long-distance comfort and flowy terrain, this is not a shoe for everyone, or every trail - in fact it's probably only targeting at 10% of trail runners.
Here's how it ran for me.
Key specifications
- Price: $225 at Hoka.com
- Weight: 11.7oz (332g) for US(M)9 (my pair)
- Drop: 8mm - 49mm under the heel, 41mm under the forefoot
- Upper: Breathable woven textile with patent-pending dynamic vamp, gusseted tongue, molded TPU heel counter, and reflective details
- Midsole: PEBA core inside a super-critical EVA foam, with carbon fiber plate and Smooth MetaRocker™
- Outsole: Vibram® Megagrip with 3.5mm zonal rubber lugs (with smiley faces 😄)
- Extra Attributes: SCF TPEE sockliner, semi-protective toe cap, rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame™
Sizing and fit
The fit is excellent, I wore my usual US Men’s 9 and it felt true to size with a medium width that’ll suit most feet.
The toe box has a good amount of room — wide enough for some foot splay, but not sloppy.
Alastair Dixon
The padded collar and heel counter feel soft and secure, and the gusseted tongue (while short) helps keep everything in place with a fairly good heel lock.
Performance review
Let’s start with the good. On light trails, gravel paths, and fire roads, the Mafate X feels pretty great.
The midsole stack is thick and plush, but the carbon plate and rocker geometry keep things rolling smoothly — especially once you’re moving at speed.
There’s bounce, there’s glide, and the comfort underfoot is classic Hoka. It genuinely feels like a road super trainer with an upgraded outsole — and I mean that in the best way.
The ride is especially nice on downhills and rolling terrain where you’re not having to navigate tricky footing.
It’s forgiving on tired legs during long runs, and the PEBA core softens the ride while providing long lasting bounce-back.
Alastair Dixon
The upper fits really well, and has top breathability which will also drain well after any river crossings you may be required to complete.
While it’s really not a lightweight shoe, considering that huge stack height, it feels lighter than its 11.7oz but let's not be too polite because it's too heavy for a $225 race day ultra running shoe in my opinion.
Now… take it off smooth trails and the Mafate X's cracks start to show.
This shoe is not very stable. That 49mm stack, combined with soft foam and a stiff carbon plate, makes it hard to trust when the terrain turns off-camber or rocky.
There’s a definite sense of being on top of the shoe, rather than in it, and connected to the trail below — and quick lateral adjustments are tough.
On steep uphills, the stiff flex fights back, making climbs feel inefficient - yeah, I'm not a fan of carbon plates in my trail running shoes but, I do prefer running on technical trails, afterall...
Traction is decent on dry surfaces, but the lugs are shallow (3.5mm) and have soft edges so they don’t bite well into the trails.
I was concerned that the gaps in the exposed foam on the outsole would pick up gravel stones but after running some gravel road, that didn't happen!
And you can see that this isn't really designed for anything more than moderate trails as there's too much exposed foam (non-rubber compound) areas on the outsole, which leads to bad durability and bad grip.
Alastair Dixon
But, they do have smiley faces 😊 and pizza slices 🍕 on them, so I'll let them off! 😆
And that short tongue? It’s fine most of the time, but I found myself wishing for a bit more coverage under the laces when cinching things down.
Hoka has a tendency of making this mistake on some other trail running shoes, like the Speedgoat 6, for example.
This is not a nimble shoe—you can’t dig in or pivot easily when the trail changes quickly.
It wants long, smooth, predictable and fast miles — not technical ones with steep inclines.
My verdict
The Hoka Mafate X is a specialist trail ultra running shoe — and in the right conditions, it performs well.
If you’re racing or training on groomed light trails, gravel, or buffed dirt roads, this shoe brings all the benefits of a super trainer to the trail - notice I didn't say super shoe, no it's too heavy to be called that.
It protects, it propels, and it keeps your legs feeling good over long distances. But it comes with trade-offs: it’s heavy, it lacks agility, and it doesn’t handle technical terrain confidently.
Would I race in it? No — if the course is non-technical and speed-focused then I'd consider it but to be honest I'd probably still pick a lighter shoe, and one without a plate.
I just find that carbon plates in trail shoes, filter out the connection to the trail beneath that I so long for when trail running.
And for anything steep, wet, or sketchy, I’d 100% want something lower to the ground, grippier, and more responsive underfoot.
Available now for $225 at Hoka.com.
See the post below for my top trail racing shoe recommendations, right now:
Alastair Dixon
