Changes

Previous versions of the Mafate have been the most cushioned shoe in the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]] , as well as including an aggressive outsole for grip on soft trails. With the latest iteration of the Hoka range the cushioning of the Mafate, Stinson, and Bondi has become closer. The Mafate still has the most heel cushioning, but it's so close to the Bondi that it's hard to tell, even when wearing one on each foot. The forefoot cushioning of the Stinson Lite is slightly greater than the Mafate, but again it's close. Before, you might select the Mafate to get the Hoka with the most cushioning possible, but now the Mafate 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 '''Update''': I rated the original Mafate Speed reviewed here as "The Best of the Best", but it's been replaced by the Mafate Speed 2, which lacks the RMAT outsole. I've not tested the Mafate Speed 2, and probably won't. Cutting open the toe box of a trail shoe works in many conditions, but is less than ideal, so I'm tending to run trails in [[Altra]] shoes. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}

|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px250px|Hoka Mafate Speed top]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px250px|Hoka Mafate Speed bottom]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px250px|Hoka Mafate Speed inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Mafate-Speed-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px250px|Hoka Mafate Speed outside]]

* '''Why you'd buy it'''. You're after a [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoe with an aggressive outsole.

* '''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 Modifications| cut open the toe box of any Hokas]].{{H:TryCuttingShoes}}* '''Upper'''. The upper is inflexible and has a little padding. It's not 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, which can dig in painfully if you start to twist your ankle (a common issue with [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoes on trails.)

{{BuyShoesFastBlr|RW=Thoka-one-one/mafate-speed-1085|RRS=T1085|AZ=T|ZP=T}}{{ShoeGraphsHoka One One Mafate Speed}}

* 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]].

=Compared with Altra Olympusthe Hoka Clifton=The While the Mafate has more cushioning, the [[Altra OlympusHoka Clifton]] is much thinner, lighter, and more flexible than the Mafateweight difference translates to reduced effort for running. The Altra toe box Clifton will work quite well on rocky trails, but the Mafate is shaped for a far superior trail shoe. If you're running on asphalt, then chose the human footClifton, and it's zero dropbut for trails or mixed use, which makes it better shoe. However the Olympus has nothing like the cushioning of the Mafateis better.

|[[File:Altra-OlympusHoka Clifton 2-top.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra Olympus Hoka Clifton 2 top]] |[[File:Altra-OlympusHoka Clifton 2-bottom.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra Olympus Hoka Clifton 2 bottom]] |[[File:Altra-OlympusHoka Clifton 2-inside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra Olympus Hoka Clifton 2 inside]] |[[File:Altra-OlympusHoka Clifton 2-outside.jpgJPG|none|thumb|150px200px|Altra Olympus Hoka Clifton 2 outside]]

{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 2}}=Compared with the Hoka CliftonAltra Olympus=While the Mafate has more cushioning, the The [[Hoka CliftonAltra Olympus]] is much thinner, lighter, and more flexible than the weight difference translates to reduced effort for runningMafate. The Clifton will work quite well on rocky trailsAltra toe box is shaped for the human foot, and it's zero drop, but the Mafate is a far superior trail which makes it better shoe. If you're running on asphalt, then chose However the Olympus has nothing like the Clifton, but for trails or mixed use, cushioning of the Mafate is better.

|[[File:HokaAltra-OneOne-CliftonOlympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton Altra Olympus top]] |[[File:Hoka-OneOneAltra-CliftonOlympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton Altra Olympus bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOneAltra-CliftonOlympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton Altra Olympus inside]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOneAltra-CliftonOlympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton Altra Olympus outside]]

I like to compare shoes against the [[Asics GT 2000]] as it represents the traditional running shoe, and the comparison may be useful if you're considering the Mafate instead of a more conventional shoe. Like many shoes, the GT 2000 is over engineered and includes many things that go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]] and are more likely to cause problems than solve them. The Mafate is thicker than the GT 2000, but the difference is mostly in the forefoot, as the Mafate is 10mm thicker there, but only 5mm thicker at the rear. However, the Mafate is much better cushioned, with a soft feeling that is a core part of a [[MinimaxMaximalist]] shoe. The two shoes weigh nearly the same, so they'll slow you down by about the same amount. The Mafate has a far more aggressive outsole than the GT 2000. The Mafate has less drop than the GT 2000, but this is less noticeable when your weight is in the shoe.