I am a big fan of the Mafate speed 4. And so i bought the 5. I was soooo disappointed! This is a totally different shoe. Soooo heavy and unsportive. I really hate this shoe. My toes also hurted: they are not even the same size. I just don't get it! Why not keeping it on the same track as the 4? The 5 has nothing to do with the 4. I really don't get it. I just sent them back. Really hate this shoe
Mafate 5 just came out and has an updated midsole to provide even more cushion and adapt to rocks and other technical terrain. If you like the Mafate series already, I’d check it out.
HOKA said that because of the squish in the foam that their old drops were actually lower than they were supposed to be. As in, without a foot in the shoe the drop measured at 6mm but as soon as you stand in it the drop lowers to too low.
Now they have a higher listed drop but the actual drop when you’re wearing it is effectively what it used to be listed as.
Saw this in an interview at a running show, pretty sure it was with Conversational Pace.
EDIT: wasn't an on-camera interview, but here's the video https://youtu.be/C38TYU2y7ak?t=242 link should take you to 4:02 where he talks about Mafate, Challenger, Clifton, and Bondi all getting a higher "unweighted" drop because of foam compression.
Hoka mafate speed 5s (good for my size 12 flat and wide feet) and a Salomon adv skin 12 liter, sunglasses are some type of Oakley, then I have a rotating set of brooks, boa and REI shorts. The one new thing I’m trying this year is tights which for me as a bigger dude have been a game changer, the extra pocket is great for organizing trash, and the lack of chafing is nice. For a hat I just use an old ball cap of whatever kind is my designated salt out hat since I’m a salty sweat kind of guy. Like to slip into my oofoos recovery slides while I sit in the back of my car at the trailhead rehydrating and shooting the shit. I also usually run at higher elevation and rock a sun hoody also REI brand but it gets the job done and has for years now. Sometimes I also carry a weed pen and lately I’ve really liked a stiiizy because it’s nice flat design fits into pockets well.
I’ve got a few runs in them. They aren’t noticeably heavier than the 4 in my opinion. The cushion and protection is great. Grip is comparable to the 4. I like them and give them probably an 8/10
Top Trail Running Shoes on Reddit
1
Mount to Coast
H1
85% positive of 177 users
Versatile road-to-trail, but struggles on wet, technical downhills.
AlfalfaConfident6692
