Mafate 5 vs Hierro 9

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.

The New Balance Hierro 9 is a cushioned, protective trail running shoe built for long days on mixed ground rather than chasing podiums. It sits in the max-cushion, door-to-trail camp: soft enough to soak up road sections and rocky descents, planted enough that you can switch off and enjoy the miles. At 301g with a low 4mm drop it is not light, and it is not trying to be. What you get instead is a stable, forgiving ride that keeps your legs fresher deep into a long run or ultra. Grip is confident across dirt, gravel and damp rock without the deep lugs that make aggressive mud shoes feel awkward on hardpack. If you want a faster, grippier racer for steep technical terrain the Hoka Speedgoat 7 is the sharper tool. But as a comfortable daily trail trainer that shrugs off distance, the Hierro 9 is an easy shoe to live in.