The Mafate has always been a highly cushioned, rugged trail offering from Hoka, and while the shoe has been given a complete overhaul from top to bottom, its DNA is still very much the same. Hoka has finally looked to the future, parting ways from EVA for this update, and is now using ProFly construction in its midsole. This fancy schmancy midsole paired with new upper and Vibram Megagrip Litebase has all the makings of a shoe-of-the-year contender.
Now, I'm relatively new to the trail running scene; actually, my longest trail run to date was about 13 miles. BUT when I was told I would be getting to try out the Mafate, I just knew I had to put these bad boys through the ultimate test to see if these shoes live up to the hype. So, with very little preparation and the mindset of "it can't possibly be that hard," I took it point-to-point on the 31-mile Art Loeb Trail here in the Pisgah National Forest for my first ever 50K.
Now, while my body was in shambles, my spirit broken, and my pain threshold completely surpassed by the end, the shoes themselves held up quite nicely, and dare I say… I might be in love. The Mafate is my first Hoka trail shoe, and I have to say, it sets the bar incredibly high for the brand. However, I have some gripes with the relatively hefty price tag; so now the question is, is the shoe the price? Let's dig in.
Specs:
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Price- $185
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Weight- 10.40 oz men's size 9 | 8.5 oz women's size 7
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Drop- 4mm
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Midsole- Dual-density, with super critical ProFly+ top and ProFly base
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Outsole- 5mm trail lugs, Vibram Megagrip Litebase
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Upper- Jacquard mesh and fully gusseted tongue