OVERVIEW

They did it again! After a very challenging Hoka Mach 3, Hoka leapt forward in a big way with the fourth iteration of the Mach line up. When the Hoka Mach 4 sold like hotcakes throughout 2021, many wondered if Hoka could replicate or even improve upon one of the hottest running shoes of last year. It’s official, after 50 miles of testing the Hoka Mach 5, this road running shoe has in fact improved from the Mach 4.

As we always share in the Shoedio, the ability for a running shoe company to decrease the weight of a shoe from one year to the next is ideal. Since the Hoka Mach 4 was already a lighter daily training shoe to begin with, the fact that the Hoka Mach 5 dropped down to 7.2 oz / 204 g in my size from 7.5 oz in the Mach 4, is well, quite commendable. And yes, the stack height remained the same from 2021 to 2022, smart move shoe designers! If you pick this road running shoe up you’ll be running in 29mm of foam in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot, a nice 5mm drop that is not too aggressive for the daily trainer in all of us; although the Mach 5 can easily “tweener” between tempo, commuter to the track, and really even middle distance or long runs.  

Upper

Another pleasant update to the Hoka Mach 5 is a more breathable upper, especially throughout the toebox; FREE air conditioning in these hot hot summer months. Hard to imagine how Hoka will improve upon the “creel jacquard engineered mesh” for the Hoka Mach 6, can they do it again!? 

 Perhaps THE HIGHLIGHT of the Hoka Mach 5 lies in the lockdown over the top of the foot. “Fits like a glove” is an understatement for this upper! The stitching of the tongue material and gusset works in unison with the eyelet chain so well, likely the best yet from the 2022 running shoe line up. And let’s not forget about that heel flare in the back, which will provide a gentle hug on every runner’s achilles tendon–thank you Hoka.

Midsole

If the upper is all about comfort, the performance and special zest of the Hoka Mach 5 lies in the dual-layer midsole. What does that mean? The top layer of foam just beneath the runners foot is the ProFly+ ™ foam coming in at a 33 durometer score (Shore C), this is the softer and more responsive layer of foam that sits right on top of a firmer layer of foam that transitions directly to the outsole. This lower layer of foam is scoring a 52 durometer score (Shore C) and provides the support and impact absorption for your pavement and concrete running needs around the world. As always, the Hoka Mach 5 rocks the rocker geometry for a very smooth transition throughout the foot strike. Even for a forefoot strike (me) I feel smooth and at ease with the rocker geometry. 

Outsole

Let’s not forget about where the rubber meets the road, specifically the rubberized foam! Solid work Hoka on another iteration to the Mach line up that focuses on performance. Yes, the rubberized foam on the outsole will decrease your overall life span of the shoe, but you really are not buying the Hoka Mach 5 for a 500+ mile shoe, although some people have taken the Hoka Mach 4 to 500+ miles (see below). Rather, the current Hoka Mach line up is designed for performance and pep under step for daily miles or tempo running days, save the “steasy” daily training miles for a shoe like the Brooks Launch 9 or Skechers GoRun Ride 10.

Global Running Shoe Experience 

Jendrik sent in these Hoka Mach 4 photos with 300 miles (482 km).

Paul sent in these Hoka Mach 4 photos with 770 miles (1239 km). 

Would I Buy This Shoe Again?

Two or three times over, and stash them away in the closet for those mentally hard days when you don’t want to “turn that doorknob!” We all need a little extra motivation sometimes, and a tip of the day could be to hide a way an extra pair for those tougher mental days. Any running shoe that breaks into the 8s on the DGR scoring scale has the stamp of approval for many joyful (and zesty) miles ahead.