Shoe Review: HOKA Mach X 2

The HOKA Mach X 2 promises to keep 'things light, cool, and fast for next-level efforts'. But what makes the shoe so quick? In tandem with the launch of the HOKA Train At Mach Speed Challenge, we explore this new 'super' shoe.

Just in time for the marathon season, HOKA has released its all-new Mach X 2 running shoe, a revamped version of the original Mach X inspired by the Cielo X1 race-ready geometry. This punchy new version has already been hailed as an “upgrade on the Mach X” by HOKA UK athlete Jessica Warner-Judd. As a four-time national champion, it would be easy to take Warner-Judd’s word for it, but let’s dive into the evolution of Mach X.

Join the Challenge: To celebrate the release of the all-new Mach X 2, HOKA is challenging Strava athletes to run 10km in a week in its Train at Mach Speed Challenge, which runs from September 9 -15. Complete the challenge to receive a Train at Mach Speed profile badge and the chance to win a pair of Mach X 2. 

What’s New

The Mach X 2 has built on the success of the Mach X, by featuring a sleeker, more breathable woven upper with a race-inspired collar, a departure from the original version’s creel jacquard upper. Not only does this improve breathability, but also makes the shoe slightly lighter.

The addition of offset lacing creates comfort over your arch and locks in your feet. “It’s a lot more stable around tight bends,” Warner-Judd says, “which for me is really useful since we tend to use mile loops for our tempo runs.”

However, to get to the heart of the shoe’s evolution, we have to look underneath that upper. While the Mach X 2 keeps the 5mm drop, the stack height has increased to 42mm / 37mm in the women’s shoe and 44mm / 39mm in the men’s, with more PEBA foam (which is commonly used to improve the bounce of carbon-plated race shoes) in the top layer and an increased rocker profile for an aggressive toe-off. This higher stack height and use of PEBA foam underfoot make for a more cushioned, softer landing on the pavement, and return more energy to you on your run and stabilize the shoe. In short, you get more bounce from this re-imagined sole. 

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Alongside the PEBA foam, a PEBAX plate with extended winglets gives the shoe more support and pop while cutouts underfoot reduce the shoe’s weight, shaving 6-7 grams off the previous version. An EVA bottom layer brings added comfort for those longer runs without sacrificing the shoe’s liveliness.

Together, the top layer of PEBA foam, winged PEBAX plate, and compression-molded EVA bottom layer come together to create a truly speedy ride. The closest equivalent you might find in your closet is a pair of carbon-plated shoes, but the Mach X 2 has greater longevity and more comfort, plus the added advantage of being more environmentally friendly than their carbon cousins.   

Who It’s For

The HOKA Mach X 2 is for people who like to run... fast. A propulsive, speed-training partner, perfect for honing your pace, with a responsive, neutral ride.”It feels fast and is perfect for those threshold and tempo sessions,” Warner-Judd says, “while also being supportive enough for a long run.”

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It also has the benefit of falling into the super-trainer category of shoes, a classification for shoes that share many of the same qualities as race-day (carbon-plated) shoes – a tall stack height, high-powered super foam, and a plate – but are intended for everyday mileage, not just racing. As such, they’re more durable and resilient than a racing shoe, made to log hundreds of miles, and are typically well-cushioned for comfort on those long runs.

What The Athletes Say

Middle distance runner, and HOKA athlete, Noah Schutte saw immediate benefits when he trained in the Mach X 2: "It [is] the perfect shoe to hit fast workouts without having to put on your racers. The upper feels lighter and more breathable, and the new outer sole provides more traction. 

"It feels like the placement of the two types of foam gives you more support for the back of the foot, while being even bouncier in the front. This way you get that nice snap to propel you forward in a natural way. This makes it suitable for both longer workouts and faster, race-specific work, without being as hard on your legs as a typical racer."

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Fellow HOKA athlete Anne Reischmann was similarly impressed: "For me, the Mach X 2 is a shoe that is pure fun to run in," Anne explained. "You just get a bit of an extra bounce off the ground and the steps feel a bit more light-footed than what I'd normally expect from a training shoe. 

"I use the Mach X 2 for fast training runs, especially during a time with high training volume, when I'm going into the run already feeling a bit tired."

The HOKA Mach X 2 is available in men’s and women’s sizes, in both regular and wide. Pick up a pair–in either Frost / Electric Aqua or Black / Electric Aqua–at HOKA.com and put them to the test on your next run.

Join the Challenge

To celebrate the release of the all-new Mach X 2, HOKA is challenging Strava athletes to run 10km in a week in its Train at Mach Speed Challenge, which runs from September 9 -15. Complete the challenge to receive a Train at Mach Speed profile badge and the chance to win a pair of Mach X 2.