Hoka One One Mach X 2 Introduction
When Running Warehouse issues a warning on the product page of a shoe, you know that it’s a serious, widespread problem. “Due to heel fit and minimal collar padding, some runners may experience increased heel rubbing.”- that’s the warning on the Mach X 2’s product page on Running Warehouse.
On Hoka’s own US website, out of 33 reviews, 16 people (48%) have rated it 1 or 2 stars out of 5. Most of these low ratings are a result of heel blisters due to the Mach X 2’s poor design. It makes you wonder how this shoe ever passed the comfort test during development.
Luckily, Running Warehouse has a 90 days return policy and Hoka US has a 30 days return policy but if you purchased it outside of the US and it gives you heel blisters, you could be stuck with an expensive shoe that you can’t use.
The original Mach X was a beast of a speed trainer. It had everything that I want in a speed trainer- a comfortable fit, a lively ride, good speed assistance, and high durability. It was the perfect training partner for the Hoka Rocket X 2, one of my highest rated racing shoes.
This year’s Mach X 2 is based on the Cielo X 1, not the more popular Rocket X 2. Hoka says on their website that it was inspired by the Cielo X 1’s race-ready geometry.
The Mach X 2 has been completely redesigned. It now weighs 9.2 oz (261 g) for a men’s US 9, which is 0.2 (5.7 g) oz less than its predecessor. It has 7 mm more stack height in the heel and forefoot but it costs $10 more than v1.
Hoka One One Mach X 2 First Impressions
I had to go up a half size last year for the Mach X. This year, when I tried the X 2 in the store, I also had to go up a half size due to the narrow toe box. I have to go up a half size for most Hokas, even though I have really narrow feet.
My first run in the Mach X 2 was an 11 km easy run. I was worried about the heel collar issue but I wore thick socks and thankfully, I felt no uncomfortable rubbing. The trainer was comfortable and it didn’t need any break-in period.
The Pebax plate felt more prominent and the forefoot rocker was also more noticeable than in the first version. I also enjoyed the extra stack height and the softer ride.
Hoka One One Mach X 2 Upper
The Mach X 2’s upper feels more like a stripped-down, racing upper and less like a comfortable trainer upper. It’s made of a new mesh which is ultra-thin and extremely breathable.
There are cushioned pods inside the heel collar to lock your heel down but the heel tab has no cushioning, and the edge at the top is sharp. The sharp edge is what pokes into some runners’ heels and causes blistering. The original PUMA Deviate Nitro had the very same issue.
The thin tongue is gusseted and flat but the underside of it has rough edges which feel scratchy and poke into the top of my feet when I’m wearing thin socks. The rough tongue makes the shoe feel less premium.
The fit of the Mach X 2 is not true to size. It has a really narrow toe box so you have to go up a half size. Alternatively, you can get the wide version if it’s available.
Hoka One One Mach X 2 Sole Unit
The steps to make a shoe faster are simple:
- Increase the stack height without increasing the weight.
- Add more premium racing foam.
- Make the plate steeper and more aggressive.
In the case of the Mach X 2, Hoka has done all of the above. This has resulted in a faster, snappier trainer than the previous version. I find it easier to increase my speed in the X 2 and it feels more nimble.
The Mach X 2 has a softer ride than most speed trainers. This is because of how the PEBA foam in its midsole is tuned. It’s interesting that Hoka does not give their PEBA foam a name, like how Nike has branded theirs ZoomX, New Balance has branded theirs FuelCell etc. In the original Mach X, the midsole was called ProFlyX.
The soft ride makes it enjoyable for slow paces above 5:30 per km (8:52 per mile). It also shines during tempo, threshold and steady runs, making it a highly versatile trainer that can handle most runs you can throw at it. I enjoy doing zone 3 and 4 runs in the Mach X 2 most.
Usually, if Hoka puts “X” in the name, it means that it has a carbon fibre plate in it. In the Mach X 2, it’s not a carbon plate but a Pebax plate. This gives it a higher degree of flexibility than a carbon plate. In this version, Hoka extended the plate and gave it wings (to increase stability) and also made it curvier so it’s more effective when you’re trying to pick up the pace.
The Pebax plate in the Mach X 2 isn’t as stiff as the carbon plates found in the New Balance SC Trainer v3 and the PUMA Deviate Nitro v3 so it doesn’t feel as fast as those speed trainers. The Mach X 2 has more long-distance comfort and handles slower paces better but I would pick the other 2 training companions for interval training or V02 max workouts.
If you’re a heel striker, the Mach X 2 has a very stable ride, even though its heel height measures 44 mm. It feels a lot lower than 44 mm because of how much its midsole compresses when loaded. It has a firmer CMEVA frame that cups your heel on both the medial and lateral sides, preventing lean bias. I find that my foot strikes feel planted, even when going around tight corners.
Outsole durability is an aspect that I’ve been disappointed with. The outsole rubber is softer than the average running shoe and on my pair, I’ve worn right through the rubber on the lateral heel- I’ve only put 82 km on it. Traction is good on dry surfaces, decent on wet surfaces.
Hoka One One Mach X 2 Conclusions
The Mach X 2 doesn’t feel as polished or as premium as the first version. The blister-causing heel tab and the scratchy tongue are issues which the original Mach X didn’t have. Thankfully, I didn’t experience any heel blisters during testing but the rough tongue was mildly irritating.
I think the Mach X 2 is still a good update and one of the best speed trainers on the market. It feels more streamlined, more versatile, lighter and most importantly, it feels faster.
I also prefer the Mach X 2 to Hoka’s other plated trainer, the Skyward X, which feels overkill.
There are other speed trainers on the market which have stiffer plates that feel faster, like the Magic Speed 4, Deviate Nitro 3 and the SuperComp Trainer v3 but the Mach X 2 has the bounciest ride. The Mach X 2 also has the thinnest and most breathable upper.
At $190, it’s overpriced for a speed trainer, especially considering its low durability.
The PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 and the Adidas Boston 12 are only $160.
It’s also more expensive than the Endorphin Speed 4, Magic Speed 4, SuperComp Trainer v3 and the Hyperion Max 2.
The Deviate Nitro 3 and the SuperComp Trainer v3 in particular have improved more than the Mach X 2 this year.
