Hoka One One Mach 4
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By Tara Summerville Editor’s Conclusion
The Mach series from Hoka One One has often been overshadowed by its older siblings, such as the Rincon or Clifton. Previous iterations were fine but didn’t really do anything to stand out from the crowd of overachievers. That is, until the Mach 4. This shoe is a fantastic daily trainer that is designed to help runners really rack up miles. It is composed of an incredibly strong and durable build that shows little signs of wear and tear, even up to 150 miles.
It’s soft and responsive, provides runners with a good deal of flex and not a lot of extra bulk, and comes in unique color options that are bound to get you noticed out on the road. What makes this design great for sling distances (besides its impressive durability) is the Rubberized EVA outsole. This style of outsole keeps this shoe light and responsive and provides the ultimate comfort through your entire gait cycle, making long and brutal runs just a little bit easier.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Mach 4 a great long-distance running shoe.
It’s soft and responsive, provides runners with a good deal of flex and not a lot of extra bulk, and comes in unique color options that are bound to get you noticed out on the road. What makes this design great for sling distances (besides its impressive durability) is the Rubberized EVA outsole. This style of outsole keeps this shoe light and responsive and provides the ultimate comfort through your entire gait cycle, making long and brutal runs just a little bit easier.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the features that make the Mach 4 a great long-distance running shoe.
Hoka One One Mach 4 Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Rubberized EVA outsole
Very durable
Early-stage Meta-Rocker
Breathable and durable mesh upper
Flared heel collar
Very lightweight
Great for running long distances
Cons
Slightly expensive
Very long and stretchy laces
Not ideal for speed
Key Features
Key Features
MIDSOLE
The blend of midsole materials is what makes the Mach 4 really shine. It is composed of a modest layer of Hoka’s PROFLY midsole foam that provides runners with a soft step-in feel that also offers a good deal of flex and agility. While PROFLY is super soft and cushioned to help mitigate pain and discomfort on those long runs, it firms up slightly when you need to pick up the pace. What I love most about PROFLY is that it walks that line between high-end cushioning and responsiveness for a well-balanced midsole design.
The midsole is also built with an early-stage Meta-Rocker that helps to propel your foot forward. The midsole boasts a slightly rounded shape at the metatarsal heads (right below your toes) to help craft easier transitions and toe-offs. Essentially, it acts as a rocking chair for your feet to make your gait cycle feel easy and effortless.
UPPER
The upper is composed of heat-pressed TPU embroidered yarns that help to keep you feel cool and comfortable. What runners love most about the construction of this upper is that the mesh materials contour to the shape of your foot for a very impressive lockdown that keeps these shoes securely strapped to your feet.
While this shoe is incredibly lightweight (weighing in at just over 8 ounces), it still provides a good deal of cushioning along the top of the foot. It boasts a cushioned flared collar that helps cradle your ankles and cuts down on rubbing and blisters. The tongue is thin but provides just enough padding to comfort the top of your foot without feeling too thick, bulky, or hot.
OUTSOLE
Soft foam cushioning doesn’t end at the midsole. The outsole of this shoe is also composed of a thick layer of rubberized foam, which is something found a lot in long-distance running shoes. This shift from classic rubber is much more lightweight and makes your stride feel more bright and cushioned. Plus, it is incredibly durable and holds up for hundreds of miles of continued wear and tear.
The only downside to the use of rubberized EVA foam on the midsole is that it just isn’t as responsive as a classic rubber outsole. Your stride doesn’t have that same snappy energy return or agility when compared to classic rubber (plus, rubberized foam outsoles often cost a little bit more).
While the construction of this outsole isn’t necessarily designed for top speeds, it really shines when running long distances, or if you just want to go on a nice and easy tempo run.
PERFORMANCE
There is no ambiguity when it comes to who this shoe is designed for. Through and through, the Hoka One One Mach 4 is built specifically for long-distance runners. The early-stage Meta-Rocker provides you with a little extra push and stability, which helps make your gait cycle feel nice and bright. Plus, the rubberized EVA foam outsole helps to mitigate the impact when running on hard and unforgiving surfaces that your knees will thank you for.
The downside of this shoe is that it is not necessarily built for speed. It doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up the pace when needed- the PROFLY midsole firms up a bit when you start to run a little bit faster. The foam outsole, however, just doesn’t provide that bright and energetic ride when compared back to back with classic rubber.
In action, this blend of materials helps to cushion and support your feet and legs, but it may make your stride feel a little mushy (for lack of a better word) when you try and shave a few seconds off of your PR.
FIT
One thing that runners love most about the Mach 4 is that it fits their feet like a glove. It boasts a semi-gusseted tongue that fits like a snug bootie, and the stretchy lacing system will help to craft the perfect lockdown so that these shoes won’t shift around on your feet. It has a super wide and roomy toe box, and the flared heel collar isn’t just for show - it also helps to mitigate rubbing and chafing on your heel to prevent blisters.
The only downside to this shoe in terms of fit is that it has a bit of an initial break-in period. Some runners reported that the forefoot of this design fit a little snug and felt uncomfortable on those first few runs. However, the lightweight mesh material stretches over time to contour to the shape of your foot, making this shoe fit a little better every time you set out to put miles behind you.
STYLE
Hoka’s are known for being a little clunky, but the Mach 4 is a little more streamlined and modern. It boasts modern features, such as a flared heel collar, low profile, and bright colors that are often only found in brands such as Nike or Adidas. Personally, the flared heel collar isn’t quite for me, but it is something found in most modern running shoes due to its popular style and functionality, so I will likely have to learn to love it!
I also love the color choices found in this design. Whether you like simple, neutral color options such as black or white, or you like your running shoes to be bright and punchy, there is a color palette that is sure to sing to your personal style.
PRICE
Overall, the price of this shoe is slightly higher than other shoes in the Hoka lineup, but when you break down the specs of this shoe it’s actually a really great value. This shoe has many of the advanced features as the Carbon X 2, just without the steep price point. It doesn’t perform quite as well as the Caron X 2, but if you were put off by the price point, the Mach 4 is your next best choice!
When you take into confederation the overall durability of this shoe, the price tag doesn’t seem so intimidating. This shoe is built to tackle long distances, and the materials hold up just as well on mile one as they do on mile 200. It’s a bit more than other daily trainers, but the value is there.
The blend of midsole materials is what makes the Mach 4 really shine. It is composed of a modest layer of Hoka’s PROFLY midsole foam that provides runners with a soft step-in feel that also offers a good deal of flex and agility. While PROFLY is super soft and cushioned to help mitigate pain and discomfort on those long runs, it firms up slightly when you need to pick up the pace. What I love most about PROFLY is that it walks that line between high-end cushioning and responsiveness for a well-balanced midsole design.
The midsole is also built with an early-stage Meta-Rocker that helps to propel your foot forward. The midsole boasts a slightly rounded shape at the metatarsal heads (right below your toes) to help craft easier transitions and toe-offs. Essentially, it acts as a rocking chair for your feet to make your gait cycle feel easy and effortless.
UPPER
The upper is composed of heat-pressed TPU embroidered yarns that help to keep you feel cool and comfortable. What runners love most about the construction of this upper is that the mesh materials contour to the shape of your foot for a very impressive lockdown that keeps these shoes securely strapped to your feet.
While this shoe is incredibly lightweight (weighing in at just over 8 ounces), it still provides a good deal of cushioning along the top of the foot. It boasts a cushioned flared collar that helps cradle your ankles and cuts down on rubbing and blisters. The tongue is thin but provides just enough padding to comfort the top of your foot without feeling too thick, bulky, or hot.
OUTSOLE
Soft foam cushioning doesn’t end at the midsole. The outsole of this shoe is also composed of a thick layer of rubberized foam, which is something found a lot in long-distance running shoes. This shift from classic rubber is much more lightweight and makes your stride feel more bright and cushioned. Plus, it is incredibly durable and holds up for hundreds of miles of continued wear and tear.
The only downside to the use of rubberized EVA foam on the midsole is that it just isn’t as responsive as a classic rubber outsole. Your stride doesn’t have that same snappy energy return or agility when compared to classic rubber (plus, rubberized foam outsoles often cost a little bit more).
While the construction of this outsole isn’t necessarily designed for top speeds, it really shines when running long distances, or if you just want to go on a nice and easy tempo run.
PERFORMANCE
There is no ambiguity when it comes to who this shoe is designed for. Through and through, the Hoka One One Mach 4 is built specifically for long-distance runners. The early-stage Meta-Rocker provides you with a little extra push and stability, which helps make your gait cycle feel nice and bright. Plus, the rubberized EVA foam outsole helps to mitigate the impact when running on hard and unforgiving surfaces that your knees will thank you for.
The downside of this shoe is that it is not necessarily built for speed. It doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up the pace when needed- the PROFLY midsole firms up a bit when you start to run a little bit faster. The foam outsole, however, just doesn’t provide that bright and energetic ride when compared back to back with classic rubber.
In action, this blend of materials helps to cushion and support your feet and legs, but it may make your stride feel a little mushy (for lack of a better word) when you try and shave a few seconds off of your PR.
FIT
One thing that runners love most about the Mach 4 is that it fits their feet like a glove. It boasts a semi-gusseted tongue that fits like a snug bootie, and the stretchy lacing system will help to craft the perfect lockdown so that these shoes won’t shift around on your feet. It has a super wide and roomy toe box, and the flared heel collar isn’t just for show - it also helps to mitigate rubbing and chafing on your heel to prevent blisters.
The only downside to this shoe in terms of fit is that it has a bit of an initial break-in period. Some runners reported that the forefoot of this design fit a little snug and felt uncomfortable on those first few runs. However, the lightweight mesh material stretches over time to contour to the shape of your foot, making this shoe fit a little better every time you set out to put miles behind you.
STYLE
Hoka’s are known for being a little clunky, but the Mach 4 is a little more streamlined and modern. It boasts modern features, such as a flared heel collar, low profile, and bright colors that are often only found in brands such as Nike or Adidas. Personally, the flared heel collar isn’t quite for me, but it is something found in most modern running shoes due to its popular style and functionality, so I will likely have to learn to love it!
I also love the color choices found in this design. Whether you like simple, neutral color options such as black or white, or you like your running shoes to be bright and punchy, there is a color palette that is sure to sing to your personal style.
PRICE
Overall, the price of this shoe is slightly higher than other shoes in the Hoka lineup, but when you break down the specs of this shoe it’s actually a really great value. This shoe has many of the advanced features as the Carbon X 2, just without the steep price point. It doesn’t perform quite as well as the Caron X 2, but if you were put off by the price point, the Mach 4 is your next best choice!
When you take into confederation the overall durability of this shoe, the price tag doesn’t seem so intimidating. This shoe is built to tackle long distances, and the materials hold up just as well on mile one as they do on mile 200. It’s a bit more than other daily trainers, but the value is there.
Comparisons to Previous Versions
Comparisons to Previous Versions
The Mach 4 was tired of playing second fiddle to the more popular designs in the Hoka lineup, so it did something about it. Previous iterations of the Mach design were fine, but they didn’t do anything that pushed them over the edge. The Mach 4 has undergone some serious design changes that make it a serious contender to be your next great neutral trainer.
One of the biggest changes made to the design of the Mach 4 is the contraction of the upper. It boasts a lighter, more stylish design that contours to the shape of your foot for enhanced lockdown. It ditched the heavy and hot synthetic overlays and replaced them with light and stretchy mesh fabric that moves much better than previous versions.
One of the biggest changes made to the design of the Mach 4 is the contraction of the upper. It boasts a lighter, more stylish design that contours to the shape of your foot for enhanced lockdown. It ditched the heavy and hot synthetic overlays and replaced them with light and stretchy mesh fabric that moves much better than previous versions.
Verdict
Verdict
Overall, I would recommend this shoe for runners that are looking for something that will allow them to really rack up the miles. It is slightly more expensive than other neutral Hoka trainers, but the extended durability makes it an excellent value. The PROFLY midsole is cushioned and responsive, and the rubberized EVA outsole adds just a little bit of extra cushioning for those long, brutal runs.
I also love that this shoe is designed for runners of all fitness levels. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, there is something special about the newly designed Mach 4. If you love nice and easy tempo runs or you just want to push yourself just a few miles further, this shoe is a really great option that is worth checking out.
I also love that this shoe is designed for runners of all fitness levels. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, there is something special about the newly designed Mach 4. If you love nice and easy tempo runs or you just want to push yourself just a few miles further, this shoe is a really great option that is worth checking out.
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