HOKA Mach X 3 Review: Third time’s the charm
With a snappy ride, the HOKA Mach X 3 is ideal for runners who want a firmer shoe for uptempo paces.
Gear
All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.
When we tested the HOKA Mach X 2 last summer, we were in love with the peppy cushioning and bouncy ride. It was a big improvement from the original Mach X, which felt a bit flat. There was just one problem…the heel collar rubbed our skin absolutely raw. In speaking with other runners, we weren’t alone. If Tina Fey’s character in Mean Girls had said “How many of you have ever felt personally victimized by the HOKA Mach X 2’s heel collar,” there would have been an auditorium full of disgruntled runners with their hands in the air.
HOKA listened to the disgruntled runners, and vowed the Mach X 3 would be different. This time, we’d be able to enjoy the propulsive sensation of the shoe without worrying about the wellbeing of our heels. With the Mach X 3 launching on September 1, we wanted to find out if HOKA lived up to that promise. Here’s what you need to know.
HOKA Mach X 3
Tech Specs
| Weight |
8.6 oz (W), 10.2 oz (M)
|
|---|---|
| Stack height (heel/forefoot) |
44 mm/39 mm
|
| Heel-to-toe drop |
5 mm
|
| Experience |
Speed (training)
|
| Surface |
Road
|
| Price |
$190
|
| Comparable to… |
Brooks Hyperion Max 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
|
| Ride | 2/5 on the Firm to Plush Scale |
| Cushioning | 4/5 on the Minimum to Maximum Scale |
| Energy | 4/5 on the Relaxed to Propulsive Scale |
Firm, fast and smooth
What do you get when you mix PEBA midsole foam with a PEBAX plate? A firm, responsive ride that felt good during my easy runs, threshold workouts and even a long run with some race-pace miles thrown in.
My initial reaction upon stepping into the Mach X 3 was that they felt a bit too firm for my liking, but once I got moving they came alive. I’ll admit, this is my experience with a lot of shoes –– I expect them to feel bouncy and amazing right away, even though I often can’t get a true feel for them until I begin running.
Kate agrees, saying, “Walking in the Mach X 3 is a bit of a weird experience. They actually felt hard to walk in the first time I put them on, like something was making it hard to move properly in them. But once I started running it was a much different story.”
“I usually say you don’t have to break in a pair of shoes,” Kate says, “ But the Mach X 3 felt best after I warmed up for a mile. I took them for a spin in my hilly neighborhood. I hadn’t committed to a ‘full run’ but figured I’d just see how the shoes felt. For the first half mile or so, I wasn’t so sure about them. But as I progressed through my run, the shoes started to come alive. They felt more bouncy and propulsive as I went. Even though it was midday and hot, I went from considering a mile or two to knocking out six hot, hilly miles. These shoes feel peppy and fun to run in!”
Similar to Kate, my first run was an easy run. They felt fine, but nothing to write home about. They’re definitely on the firmer side of what I’d want on an easy run. My next run was a 16-miler with four miles at goal marathon pace at the end. They held up nicely to the different paces, and I found the shoes growing on me more and more. My last run was four sets of one-mile repeats at my threshold pace. I hit my paces and the shoes seemed to disappear underfoot, leaving me with nothing to focus on but controlling my breathing and form. That makes the Mach X 3 a winner in my book!
“Pittsburgh has been super humid the past week or so, and every run has felt absolutely sluggish for me,” says Travis. “I was able to test the Mach X 3 on a tempo effort, and I felt like I was just effortlessly rolling along. Even though my body has been feeling weak and drained, my watch showed that my paces in the Mach X 3 were consistent with my paces in cooler temperatures. While it’s definitely not a soft shoe, the cushion has some nice bounce to it and the PEBAX plate and rocker construction make it feel very smooth.”
HOKA solves heel snafu
The biggest update to the latest iteration of the Mach X is the upper. HOKA uses a warp-knit upper in the X 3 rather than the woven mesh used in the X 2. It’s designed to feel softer and more breathable. I didn’t have issues with breathability in the X 2, and I can’t say I noticed a difference here in the X 3. Where I did notice a much welcome change was in the heel.
The Regina George-esque heel collar I mentioned earlier has been eliminated and replaced with a more traditional collar. It’s padded and flares away from the achilles to eliminate any rubbing, similar to what you’ll find on the bestselling HOKA Clifton 10. It brings reliable comfort and security back to the equation.
Reviewers found the Mach X 3 to feel true-to-size, although Max mentioned it felt a bit snug in the midfoot. And Tom, who doesn’t usually find his perfect fit in HOKA shoes, was able to enjoy the Mach X 3.
“For years, I’ve struggled to find HOKA shoes that work with my footshape, so I’ve always felt like I was missing out,” he says. “I’m happy to report that the Mach X 3 is the first from HOKA I can run in without discomfort. The mesh upper feels durable, breathable and doesn’t cause any uncomfortable rubbing, which seemed to be a major complaint of the previous version. The lacing is easy to work with to get a secure fit, plus the extra eyelet helps me prevent any heel slippage. The tongue, while soft and comfortable, feels a little too long and comes up higher on the ankle. To be fair, this didn’t cause any discomfort, it just felt a little funky when putting the shoes on. Otherwise, these shoes look cool, fast and fit well enough to log some good workouts in.”
The Mach X 3 is available in wide sizing, making it easier to find your perfect fit. Not sure about the width of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.
HOKA Mach X 3 vs HOKA Mach X 2
Tech Specs | HOKA Mach X 3 | HOKA Mach X 2 |
Weight | 8.6 oz (W), 10.2 oz (M) | 8 oz (W), 9.2 oz (M) |
Stack height | 44 mm/39 mm | 44 mm/39 mm |
Heel-to-toe drop | 5 mm | 5 mm |
Price | $190 | $190 |
Not much has changed on paper between the Mach X 2 and Mach X 3 but, as our review will tell you, the updated upper has made a big difference. The shoe has gained quite a bit of weight, but perhaps that’s the price we pay to have a more comfortable heel collar.
HOKA swears that the cushion in the Mach X 3 is the same as the Mach X 2, and several of our reviewers echoed this in their wear test notes. However, I can’t help but feel that the X 2 had a bit more bounce to it. Perhaps I’m just looking back on the workouts I did in the Mach X 2 with rose-colored glasses.
How does the HOKA Mach X 3 compare?
We took a look at some comparable models to see how the HOKA Mach X 3 stacks up. Here’s what we found:
Tech Specs | HOKA Mach X 3 | Brooks Hyperion Max 3 | Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 |
Weight | 8.6 oz (W), 10.2 oz (M) | 8.8 oz (W), 9.8 oz (M) | 7.5 oz (W), 8.4 oz (M) |
Stack height | 44 mm/39 mm | 46 mm/40 mm | 36 mm/28 mm |
Heel-to-toe drop | 5 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm |
Experience | Speed (training) | Speed (training) | Speed (training) |
Price | $190 | $200 | $175 |
The HOKA Mach X 3, Brooks Hyperion Max 3 and Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 are all their respective brands’ versions of a plated training shoe that can hold up to fast paces. All three shoes offer plastic plates embedded in their high-performance midsole foams to deliver peppy rides.
The HOKA Mach X 3 and Brooks Hyperion Max 3 are on the max-cushion side of the spectrum, while the Endorphin Speed 5 offers a more moderate amount of cushioning. However, I found the Mach X 3 to feel similar to the Speed 5 in regards to their firmness.
Who is the HOKA Mach X 3 best for?
With a snappy ride, the Mach X 3 is ideal for runners who want a firmer shoe for uptempo paces.
“The Mach X 3 checks a lot of boxes for runners looking for one shoe to wear from training all the way to race day,” says Tom.
I’d prefer to wear a lighter option for race day, like the HOKA Cielo X1 2.0 or the Rocket X 3, but I enjoyed the Mach X 3 for my workouts.
Some reviewers noted it fit a bit narrower than they’d like, but the Mach X 3 is available in wide sizing for those who need some extra room.
