Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for: With an all-new lightweight foam and well-fitting upper, the Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is comfortable for long days on the trail.
- best trail running shoe.
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- The vamp (mesh over the top of the toes) stretches a little to boost comfort.
Price: $185
Weight: 10.4 oz (M), 8.4 oz (W)
Drop: 4 mm
Type: Trail
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The Speedgoat might be more popular, but we’re going to claim the overhauled Mafate Speed is Hoka’s Soft foam and a grippy sole keep you upright on steep terrain right now—especially if your trails require comfort and versatility. We found this out firsthand by using the shoe to race up and down Whiteface Mountain. With a wide range of trail options to pick from, the Mafate was the race day choice for both myself and video producer Pat Heine-Holmberg to tackle the Olympic ski hill in New York’s Adirondack Park. I found it had more than enough bite on black diamond ski trails so I could claw my way uphill, but the cushioning protected my body when I had to dash back down 4,000 vertical feet over just 3.4 miles.
Pros
- Soft midsole for long run comfort
- Grippy outsole sticks to rocks and dirt
- Roomy fit
Cons
- The design isn’t for everybody
Have you ever seen the ground at a ski resort during the summer? When it’s not covered with snow, it’s not pretty. But the Mafate didn’t seem to care. Going into the race, I was pretty certain it would perform admirably because I previously tested it on a short but extremely steep hill locally, comparing it against two other possibilities. Whether I was skidding down loose rocks or power-hiking up grass-slicked slopes, the Mafate Speed delivered big boosts of confidence.
Tweaks That Deliver Comfort
There have been a number of big changes to this model that make it more runnable and comfortable than before, including a new two-layer foam setup. The Profly+ midsole puts a lightweight, bouncy foam closest to your foot, which boosts comfort and makes the shoe feel alive when you’re running along hard-packed ground. The bottom layer is durable and firm enough to crush over sizable rocks and protect the bottom of your foot.
When you get into steep or muddy terrain, the shoe still shines. The outsole has been redesigned and there’s a lot more rubber underfoot. Each lug has three distinct tiers, giving you an enormous amount of sharp edges to cling to the ground. Plus, it’s Litebase, to help keep weight in check—Litebase makes the sole thinner and lighter, without diminishing traction.
Be Bold, Friends
The upper is not for the timid. Our samples arrived with what can best be described as upholstery for couches in the 1970s. But, get past that (or hit the first mudhole you come across) and you’ll find that it’s tailored for performance. The sides are a jacquard mesh that is thick enough to resist trail junk without any kind of extra overlays. But right above your toes is a breathable, stretchy mesh that lets the upper expand to accommodate your foot. I found that it flexed just enough when careening downhill, but I never felt like I was sliding too far.
Tester’s Take
Brooke S. | Why We Took Scissors to $330 Running Shoes
Age: 51 | Weekly Mileage: 50 | Footstrike: Midfoot
“I have always been a Hoka Speedgoat lover, but never tried Hoka’s other trail shoes. Why fix what isn’t broken? Testing the Mafate Speed 4, I was extremely surprised! I love this shoe as much as I love the Speedgoat. I tested them during my training runs for the Eastern States 100-miler.
“I like how aggressive of a trail runner it is. I was very comfortable wearing them on the difficult, rocky, technical trails with their 5mm lugs. I trusted the grip on the rocky surfaces, and I was able to train at a slightly faster pace on the downhills and the rocky surfaces of the Appalachian Trail in Eastern PA.
“The Vibram sole is top notch and handles extremely well on all types of surfaces. I had to run on sections of road to connect to another trail and the shoe did not feel heavy, bulky, or too sticky while on the road surfaces. It was a nice transition from trail to road and back to trail.”
A Part of Hearst Digital Media Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.
