Our verdict

The Mach 5 from Hoka is a performance trainer that can do a bit of everything. If you want to train with speed, we are convinced that it can become your trusty tempo running shoe. And if you want an easy-day or long-distance trainer, we believe that the Mach 5's cushy yet stable ride will serve you just right. Even better, it'll give you all the snappiness and energy return you need.

hoka mach 3 chaussures de route pour hommes en lunar rockwhite taille 41 13 1106479 lrwh Pros

  • Super fun and energetic ride
  • Velvety smooth strides
  • hoka one torrent 2 1110497 ibba
  • Comfy for easy days
  • Cushioned for long runs
  • Absorbs impact
  • Awesome fit
  • Welcomes wide feet
  • Reflective
  • Worth the money

hoka mach 3 chaussures de route pour hommes en lunar rockwhite taille 41 13 1106479 lrwh Cons

  • Really lacks outsole durability
  • Slips on wet pavement

Audience verdict

89
Great!
  • Top 30% in running shoes
  • HOKA amortiguación media constitución ligera talla 37.5 Hoka running shoes
  • hoka mach 3 chaussures de route pour hommes en lunar rockwhite taille 41 13 1106479 lrwh

hoka mach 3 chaussures de route pour hommes en lunar rockwhite taille 41 13 1106479 lrwh | HOKA Mach Supersonic Chaussures pour Homme en Radiant Yellow Taille 46 2 3

The My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka is one of the top-pick options if you're looking for: 

  • a road running shoe that's lively and enjoyable for fast and easy runs
  • a lightweight yet cushioned trainer that can go the distance
  • an excellent value for money (£20 cheaper than the average price of speed trainers)

Hoka-Mach-5-review

This Hoka shoe is an amazing all-rounder: responsive for fast days, cushioned for long runs, and comfortable enough for easy days and walks.

HOKA Bondi 7 Schuhe für Damen Größe 43 1 3

Although it's a well-loved shoe, the Mach 5 also has its share of flaws. The biggest one is the lack of rubber outsole which leads to both a lack of durability and grip on wet pavement.

Hoka logo on front ASICS Novablast 3 and the zapatillas de running HOKA asfalto ritmo bajo distancias cortas. Both are similar in performance to the Mach 5 but come with a protective rubber layer at the bottom.

And if you want to stick to Hoka, we encourage you to check out the top-tier Hoka Mach X

Hoka-Mach-5-lab-test-and-review

Breathability

Taking the My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka through our smoke breathability test, we can claim that it's got a slightly above-average level of ventilation in the upper. It is not the most ventilated one, but great for moderate temperatures.

You can also see that the toebox and tongue parts of the shoe's fabric are on the transparent side.

Test results
Mach 5 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 234 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

There is no rubber outsole on the My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka. Technically, the shoe uses a layer of rubberized foam as a substitute for the rubber outsole.  So, we ended up measuring the firmness of this bottom compound.

No wonder our durometer showed such a low number!

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka outsole hardness durometer

At 57.0 HC, this Hoka shoe's bottom is 40% softer than average! And that's pretty dangerous for the shoe's long-term durability as softer materials wear out much faster on the harsh pavement.

Thus, we cannot expect more than 300 miles from this trainer.

Test results
Mach 5 57.0 HC
Average 80.5 HC
Hoka X Free People Movement Ora Slide in Euphoric Lilac.
Compared to 285 running shoes
Number of shoes
52.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Weight

The fact that the Mach 5 is well-cushioned doesn't seem to affect its lightness. In fact, it is even a little lighter than the average speed trainer in a men's US size 9.

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka Average
7.9 oz (225g) 8.3 oz (236g)

Lighter weight paired with the shoe's snappy ride is a fabulous combination!

Hoka-Mach-5-lightweight

Test results
Mach 5 7.94 oz (225g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 305 running shoes
Number of shoes
5.26 oz (149g)
Weight
12.56 oz (356g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

Running in the Mach 5, our feet felt quite pampered and well-protected from impact. Even though it's not a max-cushioned shoe, it certainly delivered enough cushioning to make us forget about hard heel landings.

Using a calliper, we measured heel thickness at 30.7 mm. It's not enough to make it a max-cushioned shoe but is close to the average of running shoes.

Hoka-Mach-5-heel-stack

Test results
Mach 5 30.7 mm
Average 33.7 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
Number of shoes
7.6 mm
Heel stack
45.7 mm

Forefoot stack

Measuring the forefoot stack, our calliper showed 25.0 mm. This is about the same as the average road shoe.

Hoka-Mach-5-forefoot-stack 

Test results
Mach 5 25.0 mm
Average 25.0 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
Number of shoes
7.6 mm
Forefoot stack
36.9 mm

Drop

Checking the heel-to-toe drop of the shoe, it appears to be close to the brand's official statement (which is 5 mm). Based on our own stack measurements, we found it to be 5.7 mm.

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka drop

Test results
Mach 5 5.7 mm
Average 8.7 mm
Compared to 304 running shoes
Number of shoes
-0.8 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Insole thickness

The Mach 5 features a pretty standard, moderately padded insole. Measuring its heel thickness, we got 4.2 mm - the same as the average.

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka insole

Test results
Mach 5 4.2 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 300 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

We noticed that the Mach 5 is softer than its predecessor, which also made it homier to the foot. But it's not so soft that it compromises stability.

This proves to be true in our durometer measurements. Showing 15.0 HA in the midsole, the shoe got 29% softer compared to the Mach 4, which also puts it among the softest running shoes on the market. The My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka is 60% plusher than the average!

Hoka-Mach-5-foam-softness

This speed trainer from Hoka also uses a little trick to make its ride feel extra soft. Instead of having a hard rubber outsole, it features a firm rubberized EVA foam as a secondary cushioning layer. It is more durable than the primary ProFly+ but is not as hard as a typical rubber outsole.

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka outsole thickness

In terms of softness, that made us feel as if we were landing directly on exposed foam.

Test results
Mach 5 15.0 HA
Average 21.4 HA
Hoka X Free People Movement Ora Slide in Euphoric Lilac.
Compared to 232 running shoes
Number of shoes
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
41.5 HA

Difference in midsole softness in cold

But if you're planning to expose this Hoka shoe to cold temperatures, be prepared that the ProFly+ foam gets considerably denser.

Running on chilly days, the shoe might take some breaking in. In our freezer test, the Mach 5 got 60% firmer compared to room temperature.

Hoka-Mach-5-foam-freezer-test

Test results
Mach 5 60%
Average 25.5%
Compared to 231 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Difference in midsole softness in cold
100%

Ride

The Mach 5 feels amazingly energetic! It even made us run at a faster pace than we initially intended!

There is a welcome bit of bounce but nothing extra.

The upgraded ProFly+ foam deserves a huge thumbs-up from us!

The shoe's midsole is slightly rockered. It features what the brand calls "meta-rocker geometry" which makes each amortiguaci feel buttery smooth.

Hoka-Mach-5-rocker-deisgn

Stability

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE media maratón talla 41 naranjas

For a neutral shoe, the Mach 5 offers a wonderfully stable ride. There is a slight flare in its heel which we found especially handy when cornering.

Torsional rigidity

The Mach's high level of torsional flexibility helps us remember that this is a neutral shoe after all.

Twisting it in our manual test, we found that it comes on a very flexible side. On a 1-5 scale, where 1 is the most flexible, we rated it as 2.

So, if you are someone with flat feet or pronation concerns, it's better to skip the Mach 5 in favour of the Hoka Arahi 6.

Test results
Mach 5 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 283 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter Gore-Tex

At the back, a moderately stiff heel counter helps in keeping the heel in place. Giving it a squeeze, we rated its Gore-Tex as 3 out of 5 in our subjective assessment (5 is the stiffest).

Even though it has a little give to it, the shoe's heel counter never lets our heels lift or slip out of the My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka.

Hoka-Mach-5-heel-hold

The shoe's form-fittin

Test results
Mach 5 3
Average 2.8
Compared to 267 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter Gore-Tex
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The primary source of stability in this neutral Hoka shoe is the width of its platform.

My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka midsole forefoot width

Measuring the widest part of the forefoot, we got a fairly average result of 113 mm. However, the shoe's heel width left us truly impressed!

Test results
Mach 5 113.0 mm
Average 113.7 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
Number of shoes
100.5 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
126.5 mm

Midsole width in the heel

The heel landing area of the shoe's sole is significantly wider than the average. According to our calliper, the heel is 96.7 mm wide (6.6 mm wider than the average!).

Hoka-Mach-5-sole-width

Test results
Mach 5 96.7 mm
Average 90.5 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
Number of shoes
74.9 mm
Midsole width in the heel
106.6 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

In the era of hyper-cushioned, stiff, and aggressively rockered running shoes, the My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka felt like a nice break. It has a pretty flexible nature which contributes to the shoe's overall comfort. It bent in all the right places helping our foot feel free and manoeuvrable.

Measuring the forefoot flexibility in the lab, we found that it only takes 20.3N to bend the My 5 stars στο νέο μου pick από την Hoka. This makes the shoe 50% more flexible than the average road shoe!

Test results
Mach 5 20.3N
Average 29.2N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 287 running shoes
Number of shoes
2.2N
Stiffness
94.4N

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE hombre neutro constitución ligera

From our experience, the Mach 5 has great traction on dry pavement. But come rainy days and its exposed foam gets dangerously slippery.

Hoka-Mach-5-outsole-durability-traction

Size and fit

Hoka Arahi 6 Women S Yellow Pear Sweet Corn Athletic Running

The shoe's midfoot kept us securely locked in and the toebox felt roomy enough for our medium-width feet.

Hoka-Mach-5-toebox

Looking at the numbers, however, the forefoot part of the upper appears to be narrower than the average but still in the medium-width range. At its widest, the toebox is 95.4 mm wide (2.7 mm narrower than average).

Hoka-Mach-5-forefoot-width

hoka bondi 7 chaussures de route pour femmes en blue hazeblack iris taille 36 23 1110519 bhbi

Test results
Mach 5 95.4 mm
Average 98.4 mm
Compared to 305 running shoes
Number of shoes
89.5 mm
Hoka Arahi 6 Women S Yellow Pear Sweet Corn Athletic Running
109.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The shoe's form-fitting upper is also complemented by the semi-gusseted tongue (attached to the sides). It held our feet securely all throughout the run.

Hoka-Mach-5-gusseted-tongue

Test results
Mach 5 Both sides (semi)

Comfort

Tongue padding

Putting the shoe on, we were in awe of its supremely comfortable upper. The shoe has light padding through the heel and collar, which never caused rubbing or hot spots. The padded tongue also acted like a light pillow that prevented lace pressure.

We measured the shoe's tongue at 4.3 mm, which is typical for a speed-oriented running shoe. The average across all types of running shoes is 5.8 mm.

Hoka-Mach-5-tongue-thickness

Comfort aside, another u

Test results
Mach 5 4.3 mm
Average 5.6 mm
Compared to 302 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

Comfort aside, another upper perk of the Mach 5's upper is that it's reflective.