Hoka Mafate 5 review: Trail running shoes that go further (but not faster)

We’re now looking at the fifth generation of this shoe (they grow up so fast these days), with previous members of the Hoka Mafate family being among the best trail running shoes on the market in their day.

None of us is a carbon copy of our parents, but the apple has fallen quite far from the tree with the Mafate 5, which bears so little resemblance to its predecessor that I’d consider asking for a paternity test if I were Mr Mafate 4.

The Hoka DNA is evident in this maximalist shoe, but from the top to the drop, the Mafate 5 is a very different beast from the Mafate Speed 4. And the changes go beyond dropping the middle name (although this has been done deliberately, and the new shoe is less speed-orientated than its forebear).

The Mafate Speed 4 was, in turn, a pretty drastic overhaul from the Mafate 3. Which begs the question, why don’t Hoka just release these models as an entirely new range? Maybe the marketing team have run out of names. (For the record, Mafate comes from the Mafate Cirque on Reunion Island, scene of one of the world’s meanest 100-mile races, the Grand Raid de la Réunion, with ‘Mahafaty’ meaning ‘lethal’ in the Malagasy language.)

So, after all the changes, is this still a killer shoe? It was released to much fanfare during last year’s UTMB (when Hoka’s high‑performance Tecton X hooves helped propel Jim Walmsley to the win), but some of the initial reports from punters suggested the Mafate 5 wasn’t being received as well as previous editions.

For one thing, it’s heavier than the Mafate 4, which isn't a direction runners typically want their gear moving in. However, I have been testing a pair myself, and I think this is simply a slightly misunderstood shoe.

Hoka Mafate 5 review

Price and availability

The Hoka Mafate 5 is available in a veritable rainbow of colours for men and women, for a fairly hefty list price of £170 in the UK, €190 across the EU, US$185 in the United States and AU$299.99 in Australia. However, stay on your toes and keep your eyes peeled, and you can score a pair for considerably cheaper, even on the Hoka site (especially in some of the more out-there colourways).

Specifications

• Gender availability: Men’s and Women’s versions available
• Weight: Men’s: 332g / Women’s: 230g
• Colours: Skyward & black / Black / Neon rose & black / Cement & black
• Upper: TPU skeleton wrapped in warp knit Lycra with anti-fray treatment
• Midsole: Dual-density EVA with super critical foam top layer & Rocker Integrity Technology
• Outsole: Vibram Megagrip
• Lug size: 5mm
• Stack (at heel): 45mm
• Drop: 8mm
• Sizes (UK): Men’s: 6.5–14.5; Women’s: 3.5–9.5
• Best for: Trail running on a range of terrain, across all distances and in various conditions, plus speed hiking and fastpacking

Design and materials

There are several surprise changes to the design of this shoe, starting with the increase from a fairly neutral heel-to-toe difference of 4mm (as featured on the Mafate Speed 4) to a much more pronounced drop of 8mm on this new model.

The midsole has been completely redesigned in the Mafate 5, featuring a multi-tiered, dual-density design. The top layer (the black bit, which is extremely thick under the heel and tapers towards the toes) is super critical EVA foam, which brings a whole lot of fun-loving cushioning and energy return to the party.

Then, beneath that, loaded more towards the front of the shoe, is a blue layer of compression moulded EPA, which is the more sober-minded element, adding an element of firmness, control and stability, so you don’t bounce your way right off the trail and into the arms of an ankle injury or worse.

Sandwiched between these layers, mostly invisible (aside from a sliver sneakily peaking out just beneath the upside-down Mafate 5 logo on the toe) is a TPU plate that Hoka calls Rocker Integrity Technology (RIT).

This preserves the rocker profile of the shoe, preventing it from flattening out over time, and provides protection from potential puncture wounds and bruising (like a rock plate). Running almost the full length of the shoe, the RIT also adds structural integrity and rigidity to the Mafate 5.

Constructed around a TPU cage, the upper is primarily made from a warp-knit synthetic material with anti-fray treatment, designed to last a long time. The heel is very generously padded, with the cushioning continuing under the ankle.

For some reason, Hoka have made the tongue both stiff and minimalist, and bizarrely, for a trail shoe, it’s not integrated to the main chassis (more on this below).

Just below the laces is a feature called the ‘dynamic vamp’, a flexible diaphragm that allows the runner’s forefeet to expand without causing discomfort. There is a hook on the heel for attaching gaiters, and above that, an almost comedically oversized pull hoop to help get the shoes on.

Flip the shoes over and underneath, and you will find the one element of the Mafate 5 that bears a family resemblance to its popular predecessor, with a good old reliable Vibram Megagrip outsole being used.

This version has 5mm lugs, but the teeth are arranged quite sparingly, with much of the tread concentrated around the edge of the sole and a line of more sophisticated lugs running up the middle.

Performance

I’ve been running around in my pair of the Hoka Mafate 5s for the last four months, clocking up ks on paths leading through woodlands, across hills and along the cliffs and coastline of Devon, plus tackling chalk and clay trails in the South Downs, and wild boar-churned muddy tracks in the Forest of Dean.

As mentioned, this iteration of the Mafetes drew serious criticism when it was first released, and some of that was justified. It is heavier than the earlier model, tipping the scales at 332g per shoe, compared to 295g for the Mafate Speed 4s, and it’s not abundantly clear where those 37g have been spent (certainly not in the tongue).

However, unless you’re a seriously elite runner, you’re probably not going to notice this extra weight too much, particularly as the upper doesn’t get saturated in wet conditions and the outsole shakes off most mud.

More annoying for the average runner is the tongue, which isn’t especially comfortable, and – far worse – lets in grit and other debris, because it’s not integrated to the rest of the upper. This is a really odd and frankly terrible design decision by Hoka.

The designers have redeemed themselves elsewhere, though. The heel cradle is sumptuously comfortable and supportive around the lower ankle. There’s plenty of wiggle room in the toe box, which I love, and the ‘dynamic vamp’ means these shoes are extra comfortable across the top of the foot, even if you experience swelling after running (or hiking) long distances, while still maintaining a good, firm hold.

The higher drop has caused quite a bit of consternation, but although we’ve become very used to nearly neutral trail running shoes in recent years, 8mm is still pretty modest, especially in a shoe with a pronounced rocker, and it didn’t cause any stability issues for me.

It also arguably makes them more versatile, allowing you to use the Mafate 5s as hiking shoes and general running shoes.

The massive midsole – something else we’ve become accustomed to in modern times, thanks largely to Hoka leading the maximalist charge – is a real piece of work in the Mafate 5s.

The dual-density design and clever construction mean there’s loads of spongy suspension beneath the heel, and plenty of energy rebound to keep you bounding onwards, but things are kept very much under control thanks to the less-excitable compression-moulded EPA at the front, where the steering happens.

The Rocker Integrity Technology (RIT) also helps keep you on course, and the small extra level of stiffness this plate adds along the length of the shoe is super supportive – something that really helps on longer runs.

Lastly, I found the Vibram Megagrip outsole enabled me to run with complete confidence on all kinds of terrain. The 5mm lugs and their positioning provided excellent grip.

The only time I struggled was in claggy clay on the soggy South Downs, when muck accumulated on the tread, but this would have happened in such conditions to virtually every single shoe I’ve ever tested.

Verdict

Some people have been quick to condemn the Mafate 5s, but while the design has its faults (especially that thin, non-integrated tongue) it is superb in other areas.

The dual-density midsole with RIT is excellent in my opinion, facilitating a smooth, well-cushioned ride with great energy return and decent control, and the outsole did its job (of keeping me upright in all conditions) brilliantly.

It’s far from a lightweight or cheap shoe, but it is hard-wearing, protective, supportive and very comfortable over long distances, even if it’s not the fastest model to emerge from the house of Hoka.

Some alternatives

If you’re looking for a lighter, faster trail running shoe with a lower drop, then the Hoka Speedgoat 6 is a perennially popular option for good reason. For a more affordable shoe that offers excellent performance and grip that will last forever, check out the Inov8 Trailfly G270.

The Saucony Peregrine 14 is a fabulously reliable shoe for doing mid-distance trail runs and races (and it has a much more comfortable tongue than the Mafate 5), while the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is a great choice for those who just want to go fast over all kinds of terrain. My pick for an ultra-comfortable yet high-performing everyday-training trail shoe is the Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4.