HOKA - Mach X 2

I used Nike Vaporflies for marathons since they came out even though I'm slow (slower than you)...i was so much less slow in them! But they were pretty unstable for my form. I wore them for my first full IM, and I survived in them, but I think I paid a fatigue penalty because of them too. Then I was gifted Hoka Mach X2's for my last IM, and what a game changer! They are the perfect combo of light and springy and wide/stable for someone like me. If they fit your feet, I highly recommend them.

Second the Mach x2 and excited to try the 3!

I would say take the Mach X2 out a little farther distance and see how it goes. Even if they don’t work out it’ll still give you a baseline to go off of.

For me it’s Hoka Mach x2/Rocket x 2 the shoes are very similar.

Hoka Skyflow - 736km - bought these after a long time as a Clifton wearer. A bit disappointing tbh, heavy and unresponsive, though from time to time I quite enjoy a run in them. Wearing them on slow runs only now and won’t be buying another pair. Evo SL - 595km - loved the Hoka Mach 5 for longer and tempo runs, but preferred these over the Mach 6 (seriously Hoka, what have you been playing at the last few years?). My best all rounder, will certainly replace them unless the Mach 7 is amazing. Kinvara 15 - 134km - light and quick and the closest I get to a minimal shoe. Good for speed work, track sessions and fast stuff up to about 5 miles. Low drop, get me nicely onto my fore/midfoot and give the calves a good workout! Begin to feel the lack of cushion eventually though. Hoka Mach X2 - 253km - great for longer faster stuff and racing, quicker than the Evo SL and more stable. Should wear them more really, especially as it looks like the Mach X3 looks decent. Hoka Challenger 7 - 363km - my current go to trail shoe - not that exciting but suit the kind of mixed road/trail routes near where I live. Peregrine ISO - 168km - a heavier duty trail shoe which I’ve used much less than I thought I would since they’re fairly horrible on hard surfaces. Good in the mud though, and useful for XC where the ground isn’t suitable for spikes. Nike Dragonfly XC - 35km - have gone all in on XC this season, and these have been excellent, especially as I found them for £40. Light and responsive and a joy to run in.

Favorite shoe is definitely Asics superblast 2 (I have a lot of shoes and have tried virtually every well-known shoe on the market). To briefly comment on others that I see listed for OP: NB1080 (soft, not that responsive, could potentially have slight inner toe rub due to smaller toebox), on par with asics NB5. Mach X2- bouncy, taller stack, a little too bouncy for me. Heel collar rub uncomfortable. Mach X3 coming soon so if you like Hokas I'd just wait. I find that I can take my SB2 for virtually anything - easy run when legs are dead, tempo session, slightly longer runs (<18mi). Except track workouts or races.

Just took a risk and bought the Mach X2 with $90. Found it more fun than Sperblast 2. The bounce from forefoot feels so good. Also no issues with the ankle.

Hoka mach x2. Heerlijke allround schoen. Duurzaam, comfortabel en snel.

Zijn er al echt grote releases geweest dit jaar? Denk dat alles grotendeels nog onder 2024 gerekend zal worden. In dat opzicht ben ik op dit moment het meest tevreden met mijn Hoka Mach X 2. Veel meer bounce dan de Nike Zoom Fly 6. M'n Novablast 4 gaan richting de 500 km toe, en dat begin ik ook wel te voelen. Dat is het een beetje voor mij.

Evo SL? Perhaps the Hoka Mach X2 if you can get by the heel collar.

Understand. I have all 3 and the Mach x2 feel better and faster to me than the ES 4.