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Mafate 5
★ 90d low Tracked daily
Max-cushion trail shoe with Vibram Megagrip for long technical trails.
Best price todayLowest tracked · 90d
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Today's tracked prices
- 01365RiderLIVE£123.15£181.00−32%
- 02365RiderLIVE£123.15£181.00−32%
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Expert review
Our verdict
The Hoka Mafate 5 is a max-cushion trail running shoe built for the long haul: big vertical days, rough ground, and ultra distances where your legs need a buffer between them and the mountain. With a 45mm heel stack and an 8mm drop, it sits at the plush, protective end of Hoka's trail range, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole means it can actually cash the cheques that cushion writes on technical terrain. It is not light. At 332g it asks you to trade nimbleness for comfort, and for the runner it suits, that is exactly the right deal. Think of it as the burly ultra companion to the more agile Speedgoat 7. If your idea of a good day out is six hours on wet, rocky, root-strewn trails and arriving home with your feet still speaking to you, this is the shoe we would point you to. Racers and short-loop speed hounds should look elsewhere.
Key features
- 45mm max-cushion stackPuts a deep slab of foam between your legs and the trail so long, rocky days do far less damage
- Vibram Megagrip outsoleBites confidently on wet rock, mud and roots so you can trust the cushion on genuinely technical ground
- 8mm dropGives a moderate heel-to-toe geometry that suits the long, steady ultra efforts this shoe is built for
- Structured heel and wide baseKeeps a tall midsole feeling planted and secure rather than tippy when the ground gets rough
- Durable trail upperHolds your foot down over uneven terrain and keeps debris out through hours on the trail
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Ultra and long-distance trail runners who want maximum leg protection over the hours
- Runners tackling wet, rocky and technical terrain who need dependable grip
- Heavier runners or those who beat up firmer shoes and want more underfoot cushion
- Anyone prioritising comfort and durability over speed on the trail
Good to know
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Mafate 5 runs true to size for most feet, so we would order your usual Hoka length and leave a thumb of room at the front for long descents when your feet swell and slide forward. The fit is a medium, secure trail last: a little snugger through the midfoot than a road daily, which is what you want when the ground tilts and twists. The toe box gives enough splay room for all-day comfort without turning sloppy. Heel hold is genuinely good, with a structured counter that locks you down over uneven ground so your foot is not swimming inside a tall midsole. Runners with wide feet may find it closer than roomy, and if you are between sizes for ultra distance we would size up a half rather than down. Lace it firm across the midfoot and the lockdown holds on steep, off-camber sections.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
This is a cushioned, planted ride rather than a bouncy one. The tall stack soaks up rocky, broken ground and keeps your legs fresher deep into a long run, which is the whole point of a shoe like this. It is not springy or fast, and it does not pretend to be. On smooth, flowing trail it feels a touch heavy and deliberate, and you notice the 332g when you try to pick up the pace. Where it comes alive is the back half of a long day, when a lighter, firmer shoe would be beating up your feet and the Mafate is still calmly absorbing hit after hit. Hold a steady ultra effort and it rewards you. Push for speed and it reminds you that comfort was the priority.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline here, and it delivers. The 45mm heel and 37mm forefoot stack put a serious slab of foam between you and the trail, and it is tuned for protection over pop. On long, rocky descents and rooty singletrack that protection is worth a lot, taking the edge off impacts that would otherwise chew up your legs and feet over the hours. It is a forgiving, absorbing feel rather than an energetic one, so do not expect it to spring you forward. If you want a firmer, more ground-connected max-cushion trail ride, the Altra Olympus 6 is worth a look, but for pure shock absorption on ultra terrain the Mafate is hard to fault.
Stability
The Mafate 5 is a neutral shoe with no medial post, so it is not a stability trainer in the traditional sense. What it does offer is passive, geometric steadiness: a wide, planted platform and a structured heel that keep a tall stack feeling more grounded than the numbers suggest. On genuinely technical, off-camber terrain a very high stack can feel tippy, and the Mafate manages this better than most shoes this cushioned, though it will never feel as low-slung and connected as a firmer, lower race shoe. If you overpronate significantly or want active support, this is not the answer. For neutral runners who want protection without feeling perched on stilts, the balance is well judged.
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