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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoe Reviews – Hoka MafateSpeed Review}}The Previous versions of the Mafate have been the most cushioned shoe in the [[http://wwwHoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]], as well as including an aggressive outsole for grip on soft trails.zapposWith the latest iteration of the Hoka range the cushioning of the Mafate, Stinson, and Bondi has become closer.com/hoka-mafate The Mafate] is only available as a trail version and still has the most heel cushioning, but it's so close to the heaviestBondi that it's hard to tell, thickest and least flexible even when wearing one on each foot. The forefoot cushioning of the HokasStinson Lite is slightly greater than the Mafate, and probably any running shoe madebut again it's close. Even when Before, you're used might select the Mafate to running in other get the Hoka shoeswith the most cushioning possible, but now the Mafate seems like is best selected if you need the aggressive outsole. '''Update''': I rated the original Mafate Speed reviewed here as "The Best of the Best", but it's a huge beastbeen replaced by the Mafate Speed 2, which lacks the RMAT outsole. I don've not tested the Mafate Speed 2, and probably won't think . Cutting open the extra thickness and weight toe box of a trail shoe works in many conditions, but is worth itless than ideal, and so I prefer the 'm tending to run trails in [[Hoka CliftonAltra]] or the shoes. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[Altra OlympusFile:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom. The jpg|none|thumb|250px|Hoka Mafate does have a more aggressive outsole than the trail Speed bottom]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka Stinson-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]] but it's not enough for me to recommend the |[[File:Hoka-Mafate over the Stinson-Speed-outside. However, if you want the most cushioned shoe, with an aggressive outsole for the trail, the jpg|none|thumb|250px|Hoka Mafate is well worth consideringSpeed outside]]|}

* '''MidsoleWhy you'd buy it'''. The midsole is made of You're after a lightweight EVA foam, but given it's thickness, it's still rather heavy[[Maximalist]] shoe with an aggressive outsole. ** '''Cushioning'''. The Mafate has the highest high level of cushioning of any shoe I've tried, with the soft ride that made Hoka of famous forpopular. It sometimes seems that The cushioning is similar to the Mafate softens up during latest versions of the first mile or two of a run, possibly due to [[Hoka Bondi]] and the foam warming up, or it might be my imagination[[Hoka Stinson]].** '''Drop & Shape'''. Like other Hoka shoes, claim the Mafate is not a zero 4mm drop shoe, and but I measured it as only 1mm. I also measured the rear is about 6 mm midsole as thicker than the front. ThatHoka claim, so maybe they don's only about half t include the drop of a standard running shoelugs in their measurements. The Mafate has a less abrupt taper at the very front of the shoe than the Bondi, but not as gentle as the Altra Olympus. The very rear of the shoe is cut away slightly to create a rocker shape that's almost identical to the Bondi. The midsole wraps around the lower part of the foot for additional stability, offsetting some of the problems of a thick sole creating a stilt like instability, which is especially a problem with a sole as thick as this.** '''Structure'''. This shoe is made of a single type of foam.(There is mention of using [[RMAT]] foam in the midsole, but I think that the RMAT is mostly limited to the outsole.)** '''Flexibility'''. The Mafate has no real flexibility, but it's so thick it does deform deforms a little. It's the least flexible shoe I've come across, and similar to a hiking boot. * '''Outsole'''. The Mafate has aggressive lugs for grip on soft surfaces, and some of these are made of hard, durable rubber at all contact points. However, most of the outsole is made of the softer [[RMAT]] foam, and I'm not sure how well this will wear. In the pictures above, the hard rubber is black and includes some substantial lugs for gripthe RMAT is red. You can see that Hoka were concerned about the RMAT wearing as they added the harder rubber in the highest abrasion areas. The Mafate outsole is reasonably happy on roads, though I've found and the softness of the outsole sometimes lacks RMAT lugs is sticky, so it has great grip on wet asphaltmost surfaces. * '''Shape'''. The Mafate has the typical Hoka shape, which includes a horribly constricted toe box. In fact, the Mafate seems a little worse than most Hokas. The Hoka toe box tends to cause a distinctive pattern of blisters, so it's critical to [[Shoe DissectionModifications| cut open the toe box of any Hokas]].{{H:TryCuttingShoes}}* '''Upper'''. The upper is thicker than most shoes, with several layers inflexible and quite has a bit of stitchinglittle padding. It's less flexible than most uppersnot quite as breathable as I'd like, but it's not terrible. There are a few seams, but they should not cause problems. I found there is not enough padding around the ankle opening, probably which can dig in painfully if you start to help keep the stilt like midsole stabletwist your ankle (a common issue with [[Maximalist]] shoes on trails. )* '''Tongue'''. The Mafate has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper, but getting into the shoe is not as difficult as many shoes that use this approach. The tongue is thickly padded along its entire lengthquite thin and unpadded. The narrow speed laces didn't cause me a problem with the thin tongue, which is rather nicebut it's something to be aware of when you try them.* '''Lacing'''. The Mafate uses round their speed lacing system, but you can replace it with normal laces. These speed laces are thin, with a plastic locking mechanism rather than being tied. This can make it quicker to lace up the shoes, but I've not had any problem with them coming undonegenerally find it harder to get the tension right. * '''Heel counter'''. The Mafate has a firm moderate heel counterthat's softer than I expected for such a large shoe. It's an external 'exoskeleton' approach that doesn't cause problems. {{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/mafate-speed-1085|1085|Hoka One One Mafate Speed}}=Mafate as a Trail Shoe=The Mafate is one of the best shoes I've come across for multiple surfaces. * It's quite at home when running on roads, as the lugs are soft enough that you're not really aware they are there. * On the soft stuff, the lugs provide good grip for mud or grass. By the time things are soft enough that I start to doubt the lugs I was sinking far enough to worry more about having the mud suck the shoes off my feet (which happened once.) * Over cobbles, similar the thick sole of the Mafate allow you to land on sharp points with impunity. On terrain where you'd have to pick your footing in thinner shoes you can hammer though with abandon.* Where the Mafate really shines is on flat rock surfaces that so often prove treacherous. The [[RMAT]] outsole provides more grip than any other Hokasshoe I've tried, even on wet rocks. I've been surprised by just how much confidence the Mafate gives you on pretty much any surface. Hoka are planning on introducing a hiking boot version of the Mafate, which I'm looking forward to in a big way if they can design one with a toe box for humans. =Compared with the Earlier Mafate=Hoka has made a number of changes between the original Mafate and the Mafate Speed. The update is rather mixed, with some improvements and some declines. Initially I preferred the original version, but this update has really grown on me.* A large portion of the outsole is now made from the softer RMAT foam. The softness of the RMAT lugs does make them surprisingly sticky, so the new version has great grip on a wide variety of surfaces including even wet rock. They are also soft enough that the shoe works well on the road. * The upper is thinner and has far fewer seams, but is less padded. * The laces are now the Hoka "speed laces", which is probably why they added the "speed" suffix. You can use standard laces instead. * The toe box seems slightly worse, as it's even narrower. * The tongue is now attached to the upper, in a sock-style arrangement. This works a little better than the original. * The latest version includes an optional thinner insole that reduces the cushioning by 3-4mm, but increases the internal room. This is a nice way of tweaking the fit of the shoe, rather like a [[Replacement Insoles| Replacement Insole]].{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-2-Low-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate 2 Low top]] |[[File:Hoka-Mafate-2-Low-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate 2 Low bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-2-Low-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate 2 Low inside]] |[[File:Hoka-Mafate-2-Low-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate 2 Low outside]]|}=Compared with the Hoka Clifton=While the Mafate has more cushioning, the [[Hoka Clifton]] is much lighter, and the weight difference translates to reduced effort for running. The Clifton will work quite well on rocky trails, but the Mafate is a far superior trail shoe. If you're running on asphalt, then chose the Clifton, but for trails or mixed use, the Mafate is better. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-top.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 top]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-bottom.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-inside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 inside]]|[[File:Hoka Clifton 2-outside.JPG|none|thumb|200px|Hoka Clifton 2 outside]]|}{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 2}}

{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Altra-Olympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus top]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus bottom]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus inside]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus outside]] |}{{FastBlr|altra/olympus-1079|1079|Altra Olympus}}=Compared with the Hoka CliftonBondi/Stinson Lite=The [[Hoka Bondi ]] and [[Hoka Stinson|Hoka StinsonLite]] have nearly as much cushioning as the Mafate, but are a little lighter. If you want more cushioning than the Clifton, I'd suggest either the [[Hoka Bondi]] or the [[Hoka Stinson|Hoka Stinson Lite]]. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]I think it's reasonable to put these four |[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka shoes on a spectrum; Mafate to Speed outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 top]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite top]]|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite outside]]|}{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/bondi-4-1083|1083|Hoka One One Bondi 4}}{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/stinson-lite-1086|1086|Hoka One One Stinson Lite}}=Compared with the Asics GT 2000=I like to Clifton. As compare shoes against the [[Asics GT 2000]] as it represents the traditional running shoe, and the comparison may be useful if you go along 're considering the list Mafate instead of a more conventional shoe. Like many shoes, the weight GT 2000 is over engineered and cushioning includes many things that go down, against [[The Science of Running Shoes]] and flexibility goes upare more likely to cause problems than solve them. Other characteristicsThe Mafate is thicker than the GT 2000, but the difference is mostly in the forefoot, such as shape and drop are quite similarthe Mafate is 10mm thicker there, but only 5mm thicker at the rear. As noted in However, the review Mafate is much better cushioned, with a soft feeling that is a core part of the a [[Hoka CliftonMaximalist]]shoe. The two shoes weigh nearly the same, it can be thought of as so they'll slow you down by about the same amount. The Mafate has a better Bondifar more aggressive outsole than the GT 2000. The Mafate has less drop than the GT 2000, with similar cushioning at a lighter but this is less noticeable when your weightis in the shoe.{| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Mafate Speed outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]|}=Dissection Gallery=Here are some images of the dissection of the earlier version of the Mafate.

|[[File:OlyMafBonTopMafeteDissect.JPG|none|thumb|500px| The [[Altra Olympus]], Mafate, and [[Hoka BondiShoe Dissection| dissected]].]]|[[File:StinMafClifTopMafeteBondiDissect.JPG|none|thumb|500px| The [[Hoka Stinson]], Mafate, and [[Hoka CliftonBondi]].]]

|[[File:OlyMafBonBackMafeteOlympusDissect.JPG|none|thumb|500px|The Mafate and [[Altra Olympus, Mafate, and Bondi]].]]|[[File:StinMafClifBackMafeteStinsonDissect.JPG|none|thumb|500px| The [[Altra Olympus]], Mafate, and [[Hoka BondiStinson]].]]

|[[File:MatateSoleCliftonMafeteDissect.JPG|none|thumb|500px| a view of the aggressive outsoleMafate and [[Hoka Clifton]].]]