The Mach 5 was one of my top picks for daily trainers back in 2022. Then, in 2023, Hoka took a bold step into the world of plated trainers with the Mach X, offering us a unique variant. Now, in 2024, they’re spicing things up even more with the Hoka Mach X 2.
So, when can we expect the release of the Hoka Mach X 2? What changes can we anticipate, and what aspects will remain the same? Plus, I’ll share my firsthand experience with the Mach 5 after logging 100 miles.
All the details you need about the Mach X 2 are covered below. Let’s jump right in!
Related:
Hoka Mach X 2 Release Date
The Mach X made its debut in Fall 2023. The Mach X 2 will be releasing in September of 2024 at a retail price of $190.
Now, let me share everything I know about the Mach X 2 from the Running Event 2024 and then give you my full experience in the Mach X 1…
Hoka Mach X 2 – Everything We Know
If you were looking to elevate your experience from the Mach 6 and add a bit more excitement with an extra kick, then you’re stepping into Mach X 2 territory. To me, the Mach X 2 is like the spicier version of the Mach, with that extra hot sauce kick.
The Mach franchise has taken quite the journey for those who enjoy fast, straightforward, lightweight daily training from Hoka.
Related:
What is the Hoka Mach
The Mach X is best for people who are looking for a springy modern shoe but don’t want it to be too squirrely underfoot. It’s going to be a really great daily trainer that you could take for your long runs and use all the way up through speed work as well.
However, I find it challenging to recommend the Mach X to everyone. If you’ve run in shoes like the Asics Novablast and found them too squishy for you and you felt like your ankles were all over the place, then the Mach X is really going to make a lot of sense for you.
But if you enjoyed the squishy sensation of the Mach 5 or Novablast, then the Mach X at its full retail price might not be your cup of tea.
As for whether the Hoka Mach X 2 fits into Hoka’s race category, it’s on the edge. While some may find it suitable for racing, Hoka primarily positions it as a trainer for those who prefer not to stick to easy paces all the time.
Alternatively, you could view the Mach X 2 as excellent training wheels for someone trying out a plated shoe for the first time.
Peba Midsole
The midsole is using two compounds, but they’re utilizing a supercritical foam (SCF) compound similar to what we saw in the Mach 6.
In this iteration, Hoka has opted for taller stack heights compared to its predecessor, cramming in even more Peba, their softest and bounciest foam compound. You might wonder, why the increase in stack height and Peba content?
Already GPTed: Hoka increased the stack heights to over 40mm and added more Peba in the forefoot compared to the Mach X 1 specifically so that when you’re moving faster, whether it’s during a longer tempo run, a fartlek, or some harder miles, you can truly feel that race-day experience while enjoying the stability of a daily training-oriented model with the Mach X 2.
GPT’ed: To keep the Mach X 2 energetic for faster runners with more forefoot-centric stride, they infused more pep into Peba, incorporated advanced plate geometries, and crafted a lighter, more breathable upper, all contributing to a lively fun ride that encourages pushing the pace.
Mach X 2 – Plate & Wing Geometry
The Mach X 2 is going to retain the bio-based Pebax plate from its predecessor, a material with a rich history in track spikes, and I think it was a great choice to include this nice bio-based component in the Mach X 2.
Hoka has not only maintained the plate’s composition but also tweaked its geometry, a move seen in some of their racing shoes for 2024. When you’re moving really quickly, that Peba is super soft and it’s going to deform quite a bit.
So, they’ve added a really nice kind of wrap to the wing on the lateral side to help keep you held over the platform when you’re moving at speed. It’s going to provide a little more stability and add just that right stiffness and torsional control at that zone where it wraps.
Overall, the Mach X 2 is a very fun, lively up-tempo trained-to-race shoe.
Mach vs. Mach X – Last and Fit
You’d think the Mach 6 and the Mach X 2 would be like twins since they’re built on the same last, right? But when it comes to fit, it’s like they’re distant cousins or something. Seriously, I was scratching my head when I slipped into the Mach X after wearing the regular Mach.
The Mach X feels very snug to me and I’m going to recommend for most people to size up half a size because these felt a little bit too snug not only in terms of space that I had on the sides of my toes but also in terms of volume up at the top of the shoe as well.
The Mach X feels very snug to me and I’m going to recommend for most people to size up half a size because these felt a little bit too snug not only in terms of space that I had on the sides of my toes but also in terms of volume up at the top of the shoe as well.
Again, the sizing on the Mach 5 was a little bit off, but I feel like in changing from The Mach 5 to the Mach X, they went in the total opposite direction and now there’s just not enough space in the shoe so I think most people are going to have to size up.
Mach X 2 – Upper & Weight
The upper on the Mach X 2 has some really awesome race-day cues. It’s sleek and stripped back yet still hugging the foot in a performance lens.
They’ve really stripped back the upper but made sure that it’s still hugging the foot in a performance lens. So, they’re bringing in something that’s a lot more lightweight, a lot more breathable, and more performance-oriented than the Mach X 1 just to make you feel extra speedy.
And those new laces? Sharp. They look very nice as well and overall, they always wanted to make sure that the Mach X is ready to go on race day or those really focused tempo sessions.
In terms of weight. The Mach X 2 is going to be the lightest Mach yet. And with the added traction, you can trust your shoes to keep up, whether you’re hitting the track or pounding the pavement in your daily training sessions.
My Experience in the Original Hoka Mach X
The original Mach X brought Peba foam, a Pebax plate, and a max cushioned stack height compared to the regular Mach. But, the question remains: does newer and bigger necessarily equate to better?
First off, let’s go over some specs of the shoe…
Midsole, Stack Height, Plate
The Mach X 1 boasts a 39-millimeter stack height in the heel and 34 millimeters in the forefoot for that 5mm drop.
Let’s break down its three key components. At the top layer lies a Peba layer, featuring racing caliber foam, among the finest materials available for running shoes today. Beneath that, there’s a layer of EVA, a more standard material commonly found in running shoes. And sandwiched between these layers sits the Pebax plate.
Protecting the EVA layer on the Mach X is Hoka’s dirt abrasion rubber. There’s a good amount of coverage in the forefoot, but there are cutouts to help make the Mach X bend a little bit easier, and there’s some exposed foam towards the end as well.
We have a swallow tail design which is reminiscent of the regular non-x version of the Mach series of shoe, but because this is an X version and because there’s some Peba in here, they’ve kind of made it a lot more aggressive of design splitting the left and the right parts of the heel.
Related:
Upper
On the upper, we’re looking at a Jacquard mesh material. It’s fantastic for keeping things nice and breathable, ensuring your feet stay cool during your runs, all while offering some solid durability.
The tongue is super thin and gusseted on both sides. But what stands out is the large pad where the laces crisscross over the forefoot.
This update makes sure you’re getting a little bit of protection from any excess pressure that the laces may otherwise cause.
As for the heel cup, there’s just the right amount of structure at the bottom, and it flares up into an Achilles flare before narrowing slightly. It’s a design feature we’ve seen in a few other Hoka shoes, and it adds to the overall stability and comfort.
Now, let’s talk numbers. The Mach X 1 weighs in at a respectable 9.4 ounces or 266 grams for men, although Hoka reports those weights for a size 10. My own pair, in a US men’s size 9, tipped the scales a bit lighter at 9.2 ounces or 260 grams.
But enough about specs. Let’s dive into what it was really like to hit the road in the original Hoka Mach X…
Related:
What it was like to run in the Mach X 1…
This Peba foam is very pleasant to run in. It provides a great amount of impact absorption when your foot hits the ground and provides a nice amount of spring to the Mach X we all love.
One thing I really appreciate is the EVA carrier around the shoe, especially under the arch. It wraps snugly around the softer Peba midsole a,d provides excellent support and stability. It’s like having a guardian for your ankles, ensuring they don’t roll too far in any direction.
As for performance, I took the Mach X 1 for a spin across various paces, and it was a blast. Whether I was cruising at an easy pace or pushing it at 10K speed, this shoe handled it all with ease.
Now, onto some constructive criticism. It’s not so much about this shoe alone, but more about its comparison to its sibling, the Mach 5. I feel like for this shoe to truly shine, it needs to outperform the Mach 5 in every aspect.
Mach X vs. Mach
As someone who loved the Mach 5 as a go-to daily trainer last year, I hold the Mach X to a high standard. For it to earn its place as an elevated version, it needs to surpass the regular Mach.
Here’s where I start to nitpick a bit. The Pebax plate in the Mach X 1 doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. I feel like it’s trying to do too much of what the EVA does in the rear of the shoe, essentially stabilizing the Peba foam.
Now, let’s talk about stability. When you’re dealing with super soft foams like Peba, there’s always the risk of feeling a bit wobbly if you don’t land perfectly on top of them. That’s where the Pebax plate in the forefoot comes in. It’s supposed to provide stability, but for some runners, it might not hit the mark, leading to an unsettling experience on the run.
Personally, I always tell brands to make shoes squishier and I’m all about advocating for squishier designs. The squishier, the better, in my opinion. But here’s the thing – that squishiness can sometimes make me a tad wary about potential ankle issues. Oddly enough, that’s when I know we’re onto something exciting – a Mach X that’s both squishy and thrilling to run in.
I feel like because there’s so many stabilizing elements in the Mach X 1, the firmer EVA carrier, and the Pebax plate, I feel like we’re losing a lot of the excitement that Peba can otherwise bring to a shoe.
Sure, when I picked up the pace in the Mach X 1, it was still enjoyable, thanks in part to that early-stage meta rocker. It had a nice, peppy feel to it. But there was something missing – a certain punch, a sense of power and bounce that a shoe named the Mach X should inherently possess.
When it came to speed work, like threshold repeats, I couldn’t help but feel like I was missing out a bit. The Mach X seemed to dampen the running experience, robbing me of some of the energy I needed to push through those intense workouts.
Even at moderate paces, like when I was running at marathon effort, I didn’t quite get the full decompression or springback from the Peba foam that I was hoping for. It left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, like the shoe wasn’t fully delivering on its potential.
Once again, I can’t help but feel that the Pebax plate is sacrificing some of the excitement and pep, especially at moderate efforts.
Now, don’t get me wrong – the Mach X is fantastic for easy paces. But here’s the catch: the Mach 5 also excels at those easy runs. And personally, when it comes to easy paces, I find myself leaning towards the supercritical layer of the Mach 5 over the Peba layer in the Mach X. The absence of a plate in the Mach 5 allows the foams to feel more springy, even if it means sacrificing a bit of stability.
Now, let’s put the Hoka Mach X side by side with some other shoes on the market…
Shoes That the Mach X Competes With
It seems like Hoka aimed to create something similar to the Nike Invincible which relies solely on a Peba midsole foam. The Invincible has been praised for its versatility, performing well from easy paces all the way up to marathon efforts, and it’s become a favorite among many runners.
However, when I first saw the Mach X, I was expecting something more akin to the Asics Superblast – a racing foam on top with no plate, combined with a daily training midsole foam at the bottom for stability. But the Mach X didn’t quite fit that description either.
What I was secretly hoping for was a shoe reminiscent of the Nike Pegasus Turbo. The Turbo featured a racing foam on top, an EVA midsole layer below, and no plate sandwiched in between. That combination struck a perfect balance of responsiveness and stability that I found myself yearning for in the Mach X.
Unlike the Nike Pegasus Turbo, which boasted a low stack height yet proved itself capable across a wide range of activities, from track sessions to 20-mile long runs, the Mach X fell short in delivering that versatility and performance.
By the way, if you missed the Pegasus Turbo, Nike released the Pegasus Plus which seems to deliver some similar performance benefits. Here’s our comparison of the Pegasus Plus vs. the regular Pegasus.
So, I think that the two shoes that I think I can compare it to most is going to be one, the Mach 5. The Mach 5 seems like a natural competitor to the Mach X within the Hoka lineup, offering a similar style and performance level.
On the other hand, outside of the brand, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 emerges as a comparable option. With its carbon fiber plate and Nitro Elite foam, it presents a blend of racing technology in a daily trainer format. Despite being somewhat underrated, it’s proven versatile and enjoyable across various paces and distances.
In terms of ride dynamics and underfoot feel, it appears that the Mach X aligns closely with the experience offered by the Puma Deviate Nitro 2, making it a worthy consideration for runners looking for a similar performance profile.
It’s clear that the presence of a carbon fiber plate in the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 provides a certain peppiness that’s somewhat missing in the Hoka Mach X with its Pebax plate.
However, if the positives I’ve highlighted about the Mach X resonate with you and you’re considering adding it to your rotation, here are some other shoes I’d recommend pairing it with to create a well-rounded lineup…
Pairing options
When it comes to racing, I think the obvious choice is the Hoka Rocket X2. With its all-Peba construction and carbon fiber plate, it shares striking similarities in both the early-stage meta rocker design and the sensation of the Peba material. Training in either shoe is likely to provide a seamless transition to the racing experience in the other, offering a consistent and enjoyable ride.
For longer or recovery runs, I highly recommend considering the Bondi X or the standard Bondi model. However, I have a strong inclination that the Bondi X will particularly resonate with you. The Bondi X offers a smoother roll and boasts EVA foam that feels slightly softer compared to the regular Bondi. This combination of enhanced rolling sensation and softer cushioning makes the Bondi X a top choice for those extended outings when comfort and support are paramount.
That pretty much wraps this article up. We talked about the release date of the Hoka Mach X 2, talked about what we know about the shoe, and gave my firsthand experience in the Hoka Mach X 1.
