Hoka - Mafate Speed 4

Mafate Speed 4 is still great. Big fan of the Nike Zegama 2 these days too. Both are on the heavier side but are very protective and have great grip. I feel a bit more nimble in the Mafate though. I have a Kjerag that I really like but I guess I have poor footwork because I think I need more cushion. I really hurt my foot landing on a root in the last race I wore them on. Mafate Speed 4 Lite is very cool but I want to see some reviews from trail runners. Hoka is positioning it as a lifestyle shoe which I think is odd and is causing it to be looked over by real runners (I think).

Mafate Speed 4. Just enough squishy cushion, and bonkers tread. I still remember one of the first legit trail shoes. The asics gel Moro. At the time they were a pretty great option when there was almost nothing else. They came out around the same time or maybe even slightly before the Montrail Vitesse.

Hoka Mafate Speed 4 - I find them as protective and cushy as the goats but not as "dead" feeling. Bouncier. And BONKERS tread. Recently have been hearing great things about La Sportiva Prodigio. Tried them on but didn't purchase. Felt amazing.

Mafate Speed 4. Love love love these things. Used to love Topo but now they feel so heavy.

I ran through six pairs of Lone Peaks, they rocked for traction but usually exploded around 300 miles. After 10yrs of Altras I switched to Mafates and immediately stopped rolling my ankles, had near-complete resolution of my bilateral anterior tibialis pain, and the shoes easily last 100-200 miles longer. Mafates all the way if no other reason than durability

I use mafate speed 4s for most my runs but with use tecton x2s or tecton x3s for races depending on terrain.

I thought the 5 was awful and haven't even tried the 6. Have 2 pairs of 5s with about 100k in each. Lugs wore quickly and you felt every rock in them. Very little energy return from the foam. Switched to mafates and they are a better shoe is every way for me

Mafate Speed 4. Strikes an awesome balance for everything I need.

No comparison. Higher quality upper, midsole, and outsole with Hoka (Mafate in particular). Read on RunRepeat regarding premium foams… might also consider how many pros run on trail (and road) in Hoka internationally, and the ability of the brand to invest in shoe running tech, as compared vs Altra… also try on the Nike Zegama if you want to try another trail option with premium tech…

Mafate speed 4. Favorite trail shoes ever

I use Mafate speed 4s almost universally. Only time I wouldn’t is if it’s quite a boggy route. I’ve used them on some pretty technical ridges and they were great, could see other Hoka models being similar.

The Mafate 4 doesnt have a plate

I really like the asics Metafuji trail. They also aren’t the most stable shoes. I feel like these are the most road-super shoe like trail shoes out there. They hold up pretty good and are light, comfortable and very energetic. As a non plated option maybe take a look at the Hoka mafate speed 4. Very responsive and comfortable shoes that can go the distance but also have some pace in them and are more suited to rugged terrain as opposed to the metafuji trail.

I’m both a dad and an uncle, so double truth! Also get the Hoka Mafate 4. It’s perfect.

I run in mafate 4 and speed goats and have no problem alternating between trails and a bit of road. Lots of races will have that

Vibram Megagrip - so the same as the Mafate, but the lugs are more regular so I feel like the grip is better. But honestly I think it comes down to personal preference.

Agree with this. I like Peregrines as all round trail shoes. but i think the Mafate Speed 4 is better, and the grip in Peregrine is proper thick mud or wet rocks is not good enough

This is a good suggestion, although I think the latest Speedgoats are now a clear step below the Mafate Speed 4, which are better in every way. They also both come in a wide option. For a more technical shoe with better lugs, look at Inov8 - the TrailFly is good for longer, faster paths, and the TrailTalon for deeper, muddier or more difficult terrain. They come in Max, Speed and Zero Drop options, and they have an anatomical toe box shape like Topo.

I bought the Mafate Speed 4 in the fall and found them to have really good grip on complex terrain. Ran a 30km race in them quite comfortably with lots of steep technical terrain. I also have a pair of the Tecton X3, which someone else mentioned, and used them for a relatively less technical 80km. I would not use them on the types of trails you described. They are killer fast for gentler stuff but not great when every step involves roots and rocks.

Hoka Mafate Speed 4 or the Challenger are both good options. Mafate is perfect for non and technical trails. But its main role is purely trails. One of my fav trail shoes ever. Challenger is a road to trail shoe or hybrid. Its a shoe you'd use when running from your house to the trail. It can do a bit of road running and its decent in non technical trails. The tradeoff is It'll do both roles decently but it doesnt excel in either. Any pure trail shoe you pick will wear out pretty fast if you run it on asphalt often no matter the brand. Easiest answer is to just buy 2 pairs one for road running and another for trails. Something like a Hoka Clifton + Hoka Challenger combo would work perfectly for you and both are usually on sale too.

I’ve run lots of technical alpine CO terrain up to 50k. I’ve found the Mafate Speed 4 and Xodus Ultra 2 to be comfortable and capable for long mountain days including scrambling. Merrell Agility Peak 5 also good. Speedgoat didn’t work for my foot but is a renowned mountain ultra shoe. I think pretty much any outsole will be capable in our dry climate and terrain, including some light scrambling- I would head to One of our great running stores in Denver metro and try on a bunch of pairs to see what feels good for your feet. Comfort is the most important factor for a long mountain day, more so than all the performance features *I do have a pair of Prodigio Pros that I intend to use for your stated purpose

I found a particular colour way of hoca Mafate speed 4 with same thinking as your own and bought them. I’m male and my styling may be different to yours but worth having a look at them.

I m no trail runner, I do 2-3 trail races per year of over 10K for variety in my training. I picked Mafate speed 4 and I can say they are comfortable and not that bad for technical terrain. I know I should have gotten speedgoats for technical terrain but liked the Mafate so much when I tried them that I bought them.

Hola, las que yo tengo para vestir son Hoka mafate speed 4, New balance hierro y te diría que cualquiera de On cloud.

LOVED the Speed Instinct! Ran many ultras with those. Currently doing well in Mafate Speed 4.

The Mafate Speed 4 was the first shoe I had with the newer foams, and I freakin love them. Makes Speedgoats feel mushy. Also, the tread/grip on Mafate Speed 4 is WAY better than Speedgoats. You made the right choice.

Side comment: I love the yellow colorway for men. The women's is a meh salmon pink.

The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 Lite x Satisfy wrecked my heels the first time I used them. Tore my skin up good and took like 10 days to heal. Surprisingly, they are nice now and have been enjoying them. Nike Zegama 2 is my jam as well and I’ve been rotating in the Nnormal Tomir 2.0

Not much grip and I found the foam to be unstable. Sold mine. I'd get Tomir 2 or Mafate 4.

I had a tibial stress reaction, and was cleared by my physio to go on a running holiday in the Dolomites last year after a short period of rehab. I wore Hoka Mafate Speed 4s most days. I run in pretty technical terrain in Scotland and have tried many, many trainers and the Mafates are great. I do love the Speedgoat 5 but for easier terrain.

Peregrines and nice and stable but lack grip for steep technical terrain (i made this mistake). Since, I changed up to the Mafate Speed4 and love them. They are a higher stack so not as stable, you will need to get used to that and adjust, but they fit similiar to the peregrine 13s and have amazing grip going up and down steep terrain feals like you are on velcro.

I have Saucony Peregrines that I used for snow on roads, paths etc and dry non technical trail. Solomon Spike Cross that I used on any sort of snow covered hills, they are basically a Speedcross with metal studs but they fit narrow. And Hoka Mafate Speed 4 for more technical trails, they grip in dry to mild mud like velcro and are well cushioned. The Peregrines are low stack, flexible and not very cushioned, but feel very stable, they just lack grip for steep downhills. The Spikecross grip in snow and make traversing hills securely a breeze, but they fit narrow for me. The Mafate Speed 4 is a highstack very cushioned, stiff sole, but it does have a little roll to it.

I've switched to Hoka Mafate Speed 4. Comfortable, vibram Mega grip, 4 or 5mm drop. Haven't used them in a race yet, but did use them for running this winter with zero issues

I got 800km in my Mafate 4’s and they hit some tough mountain miles. Besides them feeling flat I still use them for easy trails as they are still in good shape. I am currently wearing another pair on my travels as their grip is also one of the best I have ever tried. Well worth the money in my opinion.

yes they are... 5's were bad too. Mafate4 is the real progression for speedgoat 4's.

The 12 was horrible durability wise. Lovely shoe, ran Canyons 100k in it; but after 200 miles the upper ripped on 2 separate pairs. I switched to Hoka Mafate Speed 4 for OCC and Javelina and they look pretty good after 300 miles on them.

I didn’t like them. I found the grip not so great compared to my Hoka Mafates.

This ⬆️ (But I don’t think OP will like them, since they are less cushioned than Speedgoats)

Agreed , I much prefer the mafate speed 4 .I hated the tongue on the speedgoat 5s, I couldn’t get good heel lockdown without awful lace bite.

I love the Mafate 4 for this. Toe protection helps keep your feet dry, and the lugs are very reliable on ice.

Hoka mafate 4 is one of the most versatile trail shoes ever made, don’t worry about the heel strike, we all do it.

6’1 and 205-210. I’ve really enjoyed Hoka Mafate 4’s. Better cushion (not too soft either) and last longer than the Speedgoat 5s. Current pair is at 400 miles and still feels great. I also have really liked the Tecton X2’s. I have a couple pairs that are all in good shape at 300+ miles each.

This would be my pick! More cushioned and have held up way better than my SG

I ran the Backcountry Rise 20 mile race with the Tecton X 3's straight out of the box and it was great! Ok, I actually ran two 2-3 mile runs in them to dial in sock choice before the race. I think my favorite thing about these shoes is that they're really fun to run in. The bounce, the weight, the fit, the grip--they strike a great balance that had me smiling from the get go. I had been training in the Mafate 4's and they are so boring compared to this shoe. But the fit and grip is very similar. Now that I have about 40 miles in them total here are a few notes: \-The gaiter does make the shoe feel warmer, but it's not a super hot shoe. The gaiter for me has gotten bunched a bit on the bottom in the back and caused some blistering on my achilles--almost 100% sure it was because of the socks I was wearing. Overall, I really like the gaiter! \-The tongueless construction and ghille laces make lockdown great, and I found that it's easy to really tighten the upper laces to lock in the heel and not have any lace bite. \-The grip is super, but definitely a lot for stretches on road. \-The shoe is surprisingly good on technical terrain despite how seriously soft the midsole is. But obviously, a lower stack, firmer shoe is far superior when needing to navigate rocks or non-stop off camber action. \-The toe bumper is much softer than most trail shoes I've run in which is probably not great for protection, but felt really good on my toes. \-When I stopped to relace during a run yesterday, my fingers pinched the knit fabric under the laces when I was pulling and it pulled out a section of thread....not cool. I'll be monitoring this to see if a hole forms. https://preview.redd.it/fuj3do97mgld1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5ef4f5e49374a77c6c46749f25c2acb0a683a3c I also have the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra and they are similar but also very different. The Speed Ultra's are definitely faster. But their lockdown, grip and overall stability lose once the trail gets above moderately technical. Worth $275? I'm only 40 miles in so I don't know about durability, but these shoes are so freakin fun and comfortable that they are definitely worth it so far. Obviously, everyones budget is different, but I think they are on par with other elite shoes that are out there. Buy them from Hoka (or somewhere else) where you can return after use and find out for yourself!

The SG6 is like running on a block of wood compared to SG5, I had the 5 and currently run in Mafate Speed 4, the MS4 is better in pretty much every way, it’s more durable and the upper doesn’t stretch like the SG5, toe box is wider and generally more volume in the shoe but the heel lock is way better. The sole is equally cushioned and has better foam, SG has a basic Eva which takes a long time to warm up and then goes mushy. Oh and the grip, the MS4 has the best outsole I’ve ever run in, complete and utter confidence bombing down Lake District fells or chamonix mountains. The only things you need to be wary of with ms4; I find the upper material quite abrasive when I really cinch them down so have them quite loose on all but steep down hills and it’s quite a narrow platform for the stack height; I rolled my ankles a bit to start with moving from the SG.

Up to 9 models of trail shoe and still looking... La sportiva bushido (500+ mi): great shoe but not enough of a rocker and limited cushion for longer days. Salomon ultra glide (350 mi): great shoe but limited durability of midsole and not stable enough on varied terrain. Hoka speedgoat 5: loved this shoe but can only seem to get 300 mi out of the midsole before I notice significant decline (still brought 5 pairs of these to 300+) Hoka Mafate speed 4 (320+165mi): loved this shoe but a set or two of the eyelits are not reinforced and will eventually rip, and the toebox is too narrow for me and gives blisters on the outside of my big toes. Saucony peregrin 3 (150 mi): like this shoe but long days or steep ascents are too much and the heel counter gives blisters (disclaimer: I have bony heels). I wear this for shorter runs with some tech but not much steep uphill. Saucony xodus 1 (250 mi): like this shoe but doesn’t perform well on technical terrain in terms of stability and outsole-lugs sheered off on first technical downhill. I wear this for non technical trails. Altra lone peak 7 (300+ idk): like this shoe but just for non technical trails, Toe box is too wide to get a full lockdown. I use this shoe for hikes and walks on non technical terrain and it is the shoe i wear more than any other bc it is my daily shoe at work, where i am on my feet a few hours every day. Nnormal tormir 2 (200 mi): like this shoe but the lockdown doesn’t prevent my toes from cramming into the front of the toebox on steep descents. I wear this for technical trails without steep descents. Hoka tecton x2 (12 mi): I have only worn this shoe twice for shorter (6 mi) runs, but it doesn’t seem to have the level of midsole comfort/cushion that would get me past 20 miles. I wear this for workout/faster runs on trails. Hoka tecton x3: bought these for a race because of the upgrades to the midsole and then got injured and couldn’t do the race. Feel amazing on my feet and am excited to try these out when I have an opportunity. My trail shoe rotation is almost complete. But I am still searching for the unicorn: a trail shoe that has a grippy and durable outsole, a lockdown that is a good for technical trails and steep descents, and a midsole that is sufficiently stable, cushioned, and resilient. I like the outsole of the tormir, the midsole feel and durability of the tormir and xodus. And I like the lockdown of the bushido and speedgoat. If only the tormirs had a better lockdown…if only the speedgoat midsole didn’t degrade at 300 miles. Should I try the Nnormal Kjerag? Is there a frankenshoe out there for me? Redditors what say you TLDR: is there such a thing as a trail shoe that has a durable and grippy outsole, durable,stable, and cushioned midsole, and a lockdown for technical trails and steep descents?

Agree with this. Went speedgoat to matafe and they’re unbelievably strong yet responsive. I feel invincible in them (wet / icy road, packed trail or mud) and stomped on a random stone which I think in most shoes would’ve broken my foot (it was painful enough for me to stop and go oh shit). The challengers are comfortable but garbage as trail runners, I bought them as a walking trainer and they’re bad enough at that in wet weather. Still do daily road mileage in them but wouldn’t buy again.

Not really, they have done them fo a while, it's for flat not technical trail that you could do with normal shoes except they have more protected foam that would otherwise get destroyed by rocks. The naming is really confusing though, mafate speed is great for technical trail while the X (this one) would honestlmy be dangerous to use on something technical So overall it's not a big market, at least regular trail shoes can also be used for hiking, these ones havea very specific use case

I know la sportiva kaptiva and use them for technical terrain. Akasha is a strange shoe for me … only works on forefoot. I also use speedgoat 5 and like it - can’t go wrong with 5 or 6. Mafate Speed also more for technical. I have also experience with catamount 1 and catamount 3. I don‘t have any experience with saucony peregrine. Over all the catamount 3 ist for me the most interesting shoe right now: fast on forefoot, rolling in the center and a softer feel on the heel than the speedgoat. No Vibram but the rubber of the 3 feels pretty sticky. All in all a really great shoe of it‘s not muddy. If la sportiva - I would give the prodigio or jackal boa a try. More modern kind of shoe. But: depending on your weight, fitness level, and your foot …

For Hokas, I prefer the Mafate Speeds over the Speedgoats. The fit is better and the tread lasts a lot longer — most of the trails I run are pretty rocky, and the Speedgoats only lasted about 150 miles before the tread was worn, whereas the Mafates can get 400+ miles.

This is also my least favorite type of terrain (especially if it’s a steep downhill section). I like the Mafates for this type of trail since the tread is decent, but I’d recommend using Squirrels Nut Butter on your feet if you’re getting blisters. For the ankle twisting issue, I usually just end up hiking in sections like this, otherwise I also worry for my ankles, and my toes always seem to catch rocks and make me trip, so unfortunately I just have to take it slow.

Two pairs of mafate speeds, Both for daily training, the newer one also for racing. Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra for some none technical Trail racing, and Hoka Mach 5 for Everything Track/road

You might consider the Mafate Speed. They've become my main Hoka trail shoe (been running in various Hokas since the original Rapa Nui, including Speedgoats and Challengers, but the Mafate Speed have become my favourite).

Yeah I loved the earlier Speedgoats but started going off them from V3. Mafate Speed has become my go to. Good all rounder, durable upper, more comfortable than the Speedgoats (which now feels clunky to in comparison) but I race in them too. Saucony Peregrine used to fit that niche for me but they got a bit too firm and racy for me again (which I think is what people originally liked about them but I got into them in a comfier, plusher period).

The agravic’s narrower last would have me concerned with your foot. The metafuji may be a better option, so long as you don’t regularly roll your ankles because of the high stack height. Out of the other super shoes on the market, I wonder if north face’s options would work? If I recall that has a more traditional, less abrasive upper than most of the current gen trail supers. I wonder if experimenting within hoka’s lineup might make more sense - something like the Mafate speed (even though it’s not a super shoe) might get you most of the way there with a more comfortable upper. Current super shoes really only improve running economy by about 1%, compared to 3-4% on road, so they’re not nearly as game-changing in terms of performance as it might seem (however I do have a few pairs of supers, so that might be hypocritical of me)

I switched to the Speed Mafate and never looked back

The problem is not overall volume but rather the shape - speedgoats are tapered toward the toes. Other models like Tecton x3 and Mafate speed are better in this regard.

If you like Clifton’s try the Hoka Mafate.

No to Goretex unless you plan on running/traveling on snow for extended periods. IMO if the outsole isn't vibram then it's a no for me, but I trend towards more rugged trails. Most popular shoe is probably the Hoka speedgoat or Brooks cascadia. I love the Hoka Mafate but its pricey. What type of trails/runs are you looking at doing?

Iv gone thru 1 pair of Speedgoat 5’s and have another 2 in my collection, so this is to say I enjoy the speedgoats. Over the summer I demo’d a pair of mafate’s which I enjoyed and didn’t find too different than the speed goats. I also recently added a pair of Oncloud Clouvistas which I did a 50k in and I liked those —grip isn’t as good as the speedgoats but similar padding. Finally Iv also had a pair of oncloud cloudventure peaks but those were minimalist padding and I felt the lugs wore out quickly so I wouldn’t recommend those

Commenting to see other answers, I have same problem! I switch between my Salomon thundercross and HoKa Mafates for winter trail runs - I use my Hokas on long runs if I know there will be a fair bit of harder surface. They are « ok » on mud, better than other trail shoes like Speedgoat, but still find myself slipping about on muddy uphills and wishing I had my Salomons on.

>IMO the Genesis seems a better choice over the Tecton X, assuming you did long distances with those. That's what my gut is telling me as well. I am usually a decently fast racer that likes a propulsive shoe on raceday, but I have no ultra experience and speed is probably no real concern anyway. And I would say the Genesis is the more versatile option. The Mafate is also gonna be in my luggage as a backup shoe in case it's pouring (like it did at Mozart 100 this year where it also saved my day). I would prefer a lighter option though. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks. Yeah, if it is muddy I will run in the Mafate for sure. If it's dry I would prefer a lighter option though. I think in the end it will be either the Genesis or the Mafate as I don't quite trust the lugs on the Tecton on alpine terrain.

I'm currently using Hoka Mafates and loving them. They replaced my old speedboats and have been excellent. Fairly light, great grip and incredibly comfy.

I switched from boots to shoes years ago. I only use boots for winter conditions. The only injury issue I had was when using Hoka Mafates. They are super comfy. But so ‘tall’ that I would sometimes roll my ankle. Not bad. But enough to be wary and I switched shoes. I had been using Altras before and no issues but I would wear them out pretty fast. I have since switched to Topos and been super happy.

Get a trail runner, such as HOKA Speedgoat 6, or the HOKA Mafate. But as others said, this is a question for r/hiking.

There isn’t a shoe that will work well in fells and road. You’ll have to sacrifice one or the other. There’s unfortunately no shoe that does it all. NVII Terra TT, VJ Xtrm have a bit nicer protection than Inov8s while being a proper hill shoe with superb grip. Various Scott Supertrac versions have more cushioning but they often have a very “dead” feeling on the road. Saucony Peregrine ST are very decent in mud but not so good on the rock and feel a bit burly. More than decent on the road as far as shoes go. Hoka Mafate/Tecton are great on more groomed trails but wouldn’t be my choice for most hill races in Scotland. Ditto on Saucony Xodus.

Satisfy Hoka mafate and they are good even in the UK weather!

I'm not a huge fan of Speedgoats, though I know a lot of people really love them. I have some, but I only use them for hiking, and even then, I don't do long hikes in them. It's the only shoe I own that I feel like there's too much lateral movement in the forefoot/toe box. I love my Mafates, though.

When I started trail running, I went with the Mafates - I thought they were a good middle ground trail shoe and they were great. Then I got the On CloudUltra and hated them - for all the hype they felt like running with cinder blocks for the soles. Now with Speedgoats.

The Mafate’s outsole is infinitely better in my experience.

I see a lot of praise for AP5, I love them, my favorite trail shoes along with the Mafate. BUT not when is muddy out there. I find they collect a lot mud. Unlike Mafate. During muddy runs I prefer the Mafate.

I do like Hokas (specifically the Mafate for hiking/trail running) but if you are looking for a wide toe box you should look into Topo. Generally though, I wouldn’t wear trail shoes around town - the lugs that give trail shoes grip will wear out pretty fast on pavement. The person below also recommended Altra for a wide toe box but if you go that route, just make sure you know what a zero drop shoe is and adapt over time.

Mafate is a fun shoe but it has a plate and can hurt on pavement. I’d stay with a shoe without the rock plate, personally.

Crap, you’re right. I seem to mix this up with the Tecton. Why do I do that, I know this and yet still confound the two. I do love the mafate best out of all Hoka’s trail shoes, but they aren’t my first choice. Clearly!

Speedgoats or Mafate are the best hiking options.

Really liking the hoka mafate after being a speedgoat person for a long time!!

I’m on my 3rd season of switching to trail runners over hiking boots. Everyone may have a different experience but for me, my feet have never been happier (Hooka, Speedgoat 5).