Price – $170
Weight – 12.2 oz
Heel to Toe Drop – 4mm
Hoka has been tinkering with and refining everything about their selection of trail shoes (design, colors, performance, fit) and the Mafate 4 is no exception. These are specifically designed for lighter, quicker running on more technical trails, the max-cushion way. Although it might be necessary to become accustomed to the stack height plus the hearty lugs, the shoe performs excellently on rugged, rooty, rocky and muddy trails. The upper is sturdy, but breathable. The revamped outsole of the Hoka Mafate 4 creates a fairly high level of cushioning with its new, “oversized Active Foot Frame” which provides an extra layer comfort and stability. Perhaps the best aspect of the shoe is its roomy toebox. Strikingly different from other Hoka One One models, the toebox is anatomically designed, thus providing ample room for toe movement and swelling from long and difficult efforts. The only part of the shoe’s design that caused some discomfort is its lack of flexibility in the sole. It is a tradeoff, however, that is worth overlooking for all of the other numerous benefits of the shoe.
TAUR Tester Rating based on a 5 Cairn scale
Upper – 4
Midsole – 3.25
Outsole -4.5
Performance – 3.5
Durability-5
Fit-3.75
Appearance-4
Overall Score 4
TAUR Tester Quotes
“This was the best performing max cushion shoe that I have worn.”
“I really like the colors and overall look. To me most max cushion shoes look bulky, but the Mafate doesn’t have that bulky look and looks more like a regular shoe. I am impressed with the look.”
“Even though the toe box on the Hoka Mafate is more spacious than in the other models, it still runs pretty narrow for normally proportioned feet.”
“I put 150 mostly mountain miles on the shoe and it was holding up very well. The tread was not wearing at all and the upper still looks brand new. This is a very tough durable shoe.”