Did you know that the very first shoe from was actually ? It came out in 2010 as a technical trail shoe with high midsole and low weight. Some legends turn into myths and are forgotten over time, but Mafate has endured – maybe overlooked for the softer HOKA Speedgoat – but now a new Mafate steps into the light.
You get an X, you get an X, HOKA Mafate gets an X!
It seems like it's the trend to hand out X's left and right. If you don't know the term, it just means there's a carbon plate in the midsole of with an X in its name. It's almost become commonplace. HOKA has placed the X in all categories of their running shoes for road – from the fastest to the calmest. But when it comes to trail, it's only the insanely impressive , that received the X-treatment – until now.
Mafate X is built as a cross between and – just for trail. It's a BIG shoe, a bit on the heavy side, and the lugs on the outsole are short but charming (we'll get back to that later.) The shoe is generally quite stiff, mainly due to the massive 49–41 mm stack height along with the carbon plate.
This means that Mafate X is not a technical trail master. I was actually skeptical when I saw the specs, but after several test runs over the past weeks, I must admit: This is the shoe I didn't know I needed in my running collection!
Why is it so good? – HOKA Mafate X
It depends of course on what kind of terrain you run on. But right where I live, surrounded by small forests with not too technical trails and stretches of asphalt in between – Mafate X is in its element!
There are ALWAYS compromises when a trail shoe needs to handle hard surfaces. Either it feels like running in a soccer cleat, or the cushioning is so hard that the transition from soft to hard is too great – but not with Mafate X. I'm genuinely impressed with how well Mafate X handles both firm roads and soft trails. It'll be hard to choose anything else if I want to explore the neighborhood when I have this shoe ready.
The midsole deserves much of the credit. It combines Peba foam (especially in the forefoot) with a supercritical EVA outer shell, creating a stable platform and good cushioning. The soft Peba makes landings on technical sections comfortable, and it also helps to give a smooth, "rocker" feel – at least on flat surfaces.
Mafate X thrives best on even forest paths and flow trails, where you can maintain a steady pace, which can also be high. It's versatile in a way that makes it ideal for both daily adventures and long ultra-events.
My feet feel so good in Mafate X that I've considered using it as a walking shoe. The tongue is thin but has enough padding to avoid lace bite. The midfoot molds well around the foot, and the forefoot has enough room for the feet to swell on hot or long runs. I usually wear US 11 (EU 45 1/3), and it fits "true to size". And with the wide platform, I also think it fits people with slightly wider feet than mine.
Pizza or tacos? – HOKA Mafate X
It's not often we can write about food in a running shoe review, but today is the day! The outsole in Vibram Megagrip has patterns shaped like pizza slices and tacos. According to HOKA and Vibram without compromising grip.
But let's be honest: It's not the grip you should focus on most here. The shoe has some fine 3.5 mm lugs that work on varied terrain – but it struggles on rainy days with mud. On the other hand, it's precisely the lug depth that makes the shoe so good when transitioning between surfaces.
Why pizza and tacos? Because they are classics in ultrarunners' food strategy. When you're out on the trails for hours, it's not just about gels and energy bars – sometimes it's exactly a slice of pizza or a taco that gives you the energy to continue. It makes it obvious when we talk about HOKA Mafate X – a shoe that invites you to run longer, longer... and maybe take one more bite along the way.
Where is it not so good? – HOKA Mafate X
No shoe is perfect, and the carbon plate, which gives Mafate X its unique flow and versatility on flat routes, also makes it stiffer. It brings two disadvantages.
Stiffer shoes often have a harder time keeping the heel completely secure just when you roll off the toes. It wasn't a big problem for me – and it gets better as the foam breaks in, but a stiff shoe will never fit as perfectly as a super flexible shoe.
The stiffness and weight mean that it's not the most fun shoe to run uphill in.
But let's be honest: Mafate X is not made for technical climbs or descents. On regular trails and forest roads, it feels much, much lighter than the weight suggests.
The surprise in 2025 – so far!
I didn't start the test expecting to fall in love with this shoe. But there's nothing better than being surprised and reminded that it's not always about foam, weight, and stack height. It's about how the shoe feels – and here Mafate X delivers. Whether you're chasing snakes and foxes in the forest's depths or weaving between traffic lights in the asphalt jungle, it fits like a natural extension of your feet.
It's not perfect. But I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It feels like a new world of running on asphalt AND in the forest has just opened up for me.
Looking for another trail shoe?
