Hoka - Mafate Speed Series
Models:
Mafate (1st Generation)
Mafate X
Mafate Speed 4
Mafate Speed 3
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
508
119
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"The Trabuco 12 have been the best trail shoes I’ve ever owned. ... I’m 6”4 and charge hard over serious rocky terrain…and I feel completely safe in them."
455
151
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
125
69
"I feel invincible in them (wet / icy road, packed trail or mud) ... 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)."
"after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine."
"after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine."
237
84
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet."
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
104
10
"I feel invincible in them (wet / icy road, packed trail or mud) ... 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)."
"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."
"AP5 works great for nearly all the course."
Disliked most:
74
78
"the toebox is too narrow for me and gives blisters on the outside of my big toes. ... the toe box is just too tight for me."
"They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. ... They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. ... I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. ... after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%."
"They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. ... They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. ... I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. ... after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%."
19
27
"The stability around the ankles is terrible ... keep rolling the ankle ... it has happened with both ankles"
"The stability around the ankles is terrible ... keep rolling the ankle ... it has happened with both ankles"
"The stability around the ankles is terrible ... keep rolling the ankle ... it has happened with both ankles"
17
25
"The thing is absolutely huge. ... Just too clunky for me."
"I would be guaranteed to bite it on our downhills in Agravic Speed Ultras or Mafate X, it's just too much shoe and too unstable when dealing with the rockhopping."
"It feels heavy and dead compared to the pro"
8
5
"The tread was meh for steep/tech trails. ... The lugs are pointed like skinny arrows, rather than the massive mud-tire tread of the Mafate Speed. ... And super rocky technical trails might eat this shoe alive."
"would never use it in slippery/ muddy conditions. ... It has nowhere near the grip in those conditions compared to my Saucony Peregrines."
"the X (this one) would honestlmy be dangerous to use on something technical"
10
5
"And the tread does not cover the entirety of the foam, which makes me wonder if they will break down or delaminate like other recent models. ... There's a big rock-grabbing hole in the foam, to boot."
"The tread was meh for steep/tech trails. ... The lugs are pointed like skinny arrows, rather than the massive mud-tire tread of the Mafate Speed. ... And super rocky technical trails might eat this shoe alive."
"my pair was done after maybe 300 miles"
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).
r/trailrunning • What's your preferred trail running shoe for (US) northeast trails? ->good eye! Yes. they did well during the race. when I switched to the Speedgoats at mile 50 is when my feat started to hurt. maybe that was the speed goats, maybe it would have happened anyway. I don't know. but my feeet were feeling pretty good for the first 50 in the Mafate X.
r/Ultramarathon • The Power of Attention ->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.
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->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.
r/Ultramarathon • Alternatives to Hoka Speed Goats ->Mafate Speed 4. Love love love these things. Used to love Topo but now they feel so heavy.
r/trailrunning • Want a faster shoe but love Topo Ultraventure ->I loved as well the 5th iteration of the speedgoat, and I have been enjoying the mafate speed 4 more than the speedgoat 6.
r/trailrunning • Similar Shoe to Hoka Speedgoat 5? ->I found the fit on my mafate’s to narrow for anything more than a 25k. Honestly wouldn’t recommend them even at that distance if you have a wider than a normal D size.
r/trailrunning • What's everyone using for shoes these days? ->i’m really enjoying my hoka mafate speed 4’s. i’ve heard the new ones are shit though.
r/Ultralight • More durable/longevity trail runner and hiking shoe options? ->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
r/trailrunning • Hoka Mafate Speed 4 versus Altra Lone Peak 9 (or 9+) ->Nordas. Dyneema construction, designed for durability. May/May not be a good shoe for your needs. Designed to give double the mileage than Altras/Hokas. That said, I've found my Hoka Mafates routinely give me 500+ drama-free miles, whereas all my Altras would usually explode at ~300miles.
r/trailrunning • Most durable trail running shoes? ->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
r/trailrunning • Has anyone tried the Mafate 5 already? ->It looks cool, was one of the only ones using Vibram Megagrip as standard early on before Covid made trail running more popular. As more companies either use Vibram exclusively or have a version with it, it’ll lose its edge. My main beef with hoka is that they just seem to keep adding foam (thereby increasing weight) instead of just innovating. They also messed up the mafete series so badly. People loved the mafete speed 4, should’ve just ruggedized it instead of axing it.
r/trailrunning • Hoka Speedgoat 7 ->I've had the mafate and currently have the speedgoat 6. I hate the speedgoats and can't wait to wear them out so I can get my next pair of shoes. Mafates were excellent. I use them for trail running at all distances.
r/trailrunning • Is Speedgoat 6 that bad? ->I require a wider toe box as well, and the mafate has it. I had mafate first and then tried speedgoat and they were terrible for me. Mafate for much better. I currently have Norda 001 and the toe box isn't big enough
r/ultrarunning • Hoka Speedgoat - more durable, wider toe box alternative? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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